By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 19 May: The Uttarakhand Government today signed an MoU with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for cooperation in the development of renewable energy projects in the state. The MoU entails 100 percent financial investment in the state for renewable energy projects in the state. The MoU was signed at the CM’s Official Residence. On behalf of the Government of Uttarakhand, Secretary, Energy, R Meenakshi Sundaram and, on behalf of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Chief General Manager, Renewable Energy, Shaily Abraham and Executive Director Amit Garg signed the MoU.
Expressing happiness at the MoU, Chief Minister Dhami said that this would lead to significant progress in renewable energy, especially solar energy, in the state. Energy and tourism were the two major pillars of the state’s development. Along with the economic development in the state, the demand for energy in industries and domestic sector was also increasing. The state government is trying its best to make Uttarakhand an energy surplus state. For this, the government is also focussing on renewable energy and, in particular, solar energy projects. The Chief Minister said that the top priority of the government is to simplify the processes so that more investment could flow into the state. For this, a professional approach is being adopted. He also emphasised on the need to have an optimum balance economy and ecology. Renewable energy is very important from this point of view.
On this occasion, the CM thanked BPCL for coming forward in solar energy in the state and said that all possible support would be given by the state government. The Chief Minister directed the officers of the Energy Department to ensure that all possible support is given to the institutions and entrepreneurs, especially those who wanted to work in the field of solar energy.
BPCL CMD Arun Kumar Singh said that the company would work for the development of renewable energy in Uttarakhand. There was no dearth of resources and talent. It was the need of the hour to contribute to the progress of the country through mutual coordination and cooperation. Uttarakhand had seen rapid development in the past few years. He thanked the Chief Minister that the necessary formalities had been completed expeditiously by the Uttarakhand Government. Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Director Sukhmal Jain, State Head Mihir Joshi, Additional Secretary Ranjana and other officers were present on the occasion.
