The cooperative assembly set up this plant on 30 bigha barren land; 5 lakhs of month, many got employment!

Agency:News18 Himachal Pradesh

Last updated:February 03, 2025, 13:59 IST

Mandi Solar Plant News: ‘The Batahuta Agriculture Service Co-operative Society Limited’ has set up a 1 MW solar plant at Patdighat in Mandi. This project, built at a cost of 5 crores, has 50-55 La …Read more

Market. Located in the Gram Panchayat Patdighat of Sarkaghat subdivision of district mandi, ‘The Batahuta Agriculture Service Co-operative Society Limited’ has established a project based on renewable energy under the government’s solar energy policy. With this plant, the society is earning from 4 to 5 lakh rupees per month. The society has set up a megawat capacity solar power plant by leasing 30 bighas of land.

Society Secretary Pitambar Lal said that he always had a dream of doing something new in rural areas. Due to lack of irrigation facility in the area, farming was dependent on rain, due to which the works like greenhouse and dairy farms were difficult. Also, there were difficulties in cold storage, crop grading system and marketing due to distance from the city. For this reason, he thought of doing such a thing that could be established without any major problem. Under this idea, the proposal of solar plant was put before the management committee.

Project completed in 9 months, cost of 5 crores
In August 2023, the plant was allotted to the Society from the Department of Snow Energy. Within nine months, its work was completed in March 2024, a cooperative meeting of a megawatt solar power project was established at Gulela, Harsar of Patdighat. On setting up the plant, it cost about Rs 5 crore. A loan of Rs 2.70 crore was taken from State Bank of India, Sundernagar and the remaining Rs 2.30 crore invested.

Power purchase contract for 25 years
Electricity produced from the plant is being sold to Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited at the rate of Rs 3.75 per unit. The society has signed a contract to purchase power for 25 years for this. In summer, the production capacity of the plant is 90–95% while in winter up to 70%. With this, income of 50 to 55 lakh rupees per year is estimated. The cost of the project will be completed in the next 10 to 12 years, after which the increase in profits is certain.

Employment opportunities were also created
This plant has also provided employment opportunities to the youth directly and indirectly. Solar fencing, CCTV cameras and washing systems have been arranged for the maintenance of the power plant. The society has also appointed an electrician and a watchman.

Income from vacant land also
To set up a solar plant, 30 bighas of land has been taken from Dila Ram, a retired teacher of Gulela, Harsar, for 30 years. Farming on this land was a loss deal, but now Ram Ram is earning about one and a half lakh rupees per year.

Government incentive and expansion plans
Pitambar Lal said that the initiative taken by the state government to promote solar energy is commendable. Deputy Commissioner Apoorva Devgan said that people are being motivated to set up more solar plants in the district under the government’s solar policy.

Senior Executive Engineer Electricity Department, Sarkaghat Raj Kumar Gupta informed that six solar power plants have been set up in the subdivision in the sub -division at Janadru Kalan, Lower Ghata, Sulpur Bujarana, Sulpur Book, Appar Bhambla, Gulela Harasar and Maseran Bhadwar. The government produced from them is buying at the rate of Rs 3.75 per unit.