Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr. Mohan Yadav, elevated Madhya Pradesh’s solar energy sector to a new and historic height during a grand event today. Both leaders jointly dedicated two massive solar power plants with a total capacity of 950 MW to the nation—the 500 MW capacity Neemuch Solar Park and the 450 MW capacity Shajapur Solar Park.
The State Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Rakesh Shukla, was also present on this occasion. Following the inauguration, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi congratulated the Government of Madhya Pradesh, electricity consumers, and the citizens of the state, stating that Madhya Pradesh has set a new benchmark for the entire nation in terms of solar energy tariffs.
The Union Minister remarked, “Today is a milestone in the history of India’s Green Energy Transition. Tariffs of ₹2.14 to ₹2.15 per unit for the Neemuch Solar Park and ₹2.33 to ₹2.35 per unit for the Shajapur Solar Park have been achieved, which are among the lowest and most highly competitive rates across the entire country.”
Appreciating the agreement signed for the state’s first solar storage project (the Morena Project), the Union Minister stated that merely generating solar power is not enough; battery storage technology is crucial to keep the grid stable during the night or times of need. He added that achieving the country’s lowest rate of ₹2.70 per unit (including storage) for the Morena Project proves that India is now leading the world in both technology and financial viability.
Alongside the inauguration of the solar projects, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi also performed the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ (groundbreaking ceremony) and laid the foundation stones for various industrial units and development projects worth ₹1,593.98 crore to boost industrial development and employment in the state. The Union Minister reiterated that Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a leading state in fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Panchamrit’ goals and the resolve to make India ‘Net-Zero’ (zero carbon emissions) by the year 2070.
