Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday released the ‘Solar Awareness Souvenir Booklet’ prepared by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office.
Speaking on the occasion, Dhami said the initiative symbolised a collective commitment towards building a bright, self-reliant and green future for Uttarakhand.
He said climate change, energy shortages and environmental challenges have made solar energy a necessity rather than merely an alternative. Referring to the PM Surya Ghar Yojana launched under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said Uttarakhand has achieved significant progress in rooftop solar installation.
Dhami said the state achieved its initial target of installing 40,000 rooftop solar plants ahead of schedule and has completed nearly 95 per cent of the overall target under the scheme.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand has recorded nearly a ten-fold increase in solar energy capacity since 2024 and has successfully installed residential rooftop solar plants with a capacity of around 290 MW.
Calling it a major achievement towards building an energy self-reliant Uttarakhand, Dhami praised the coordinated efforts of UPCL, UREDA, regional officials and departments associated with the campaign.
He said public awareness drives such as Solar Kauthig, street plays and training programmes for officials have helped increase awareness about solar energy across the state.
Dhami said the government’s aim is not only to install solar plants but also to make every citizen an active participant in the clean energy transition. He added that wider adoption of solar energy would help reduce electricity expenses and strengthen environmental protection.
MLA Suresh Gadiya, Chief Secretary Dr R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey, CEEW CEO Dr Arunabha Ghosh and senior officials were present at the event.
