Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday launched the ambitious CM’s rural solar street light scheme to light up the village roads across 1.09 lakh wards on the self-sustaining mode.
The scheme envisages installation of 10 solar street lights in each ward of 8061 panchayats in the state. The panchayati raj department has allocated a sum of ₹3588.51 crore to Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (Breda) for installation of 11.77 lakh street lights.
The Breda not only select the vendors and get these lights installed, but also ensure that each of the lights are maintained by the contractors till five years of installation. The CM said the plans were made after conducting a study about the places to benefit under the scheme.
“In addition, 10 additional solar street lights will be installed in public places in each panchayat. Solar lights will be installed in panchayat bhawans, schools, Anganwadi kendras, health centres, religious places and other places in all panchayats of the state,” said Kumar.
Initially, five districts were selected as pilots for the scheme, where it was tested in every way. Everything was found to be fine after that all places have started this work. The CM instructed all the district magistrates to monitor the work of solar lights installation and ensure that it’s completed within the stipulated time.
The CM assured panchayati raj minister Murari Gautam of providing all help and resources to finish the project on time. “We have built buildings in panchayats which have been named Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan. The panchayat level office will have all kinds of facilities which will provide great convenience to the people. It will also be very convenient for the public representatives. Panchayat Sarkar Bhawans are also being constructed in the remaining panchayats,” added the CM.
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Citing the miseries of farmers owing to scanty rains, Kumar said said the government hiked diesel subsidy to ₹75 from Rs 60 and soo far, 4.29 lakh farmers farmers have been given the subsidy. “Government is providing 18 hours power to the farmers for irrigation at the rate of 85 paise per unit,” said the CM, while raking up the long-pending demand for special status to the state.
“The state would have made faster progress in all sectors had Bihar been granted the special state status by the Centre, which was promised. We will continue to demand special state status. Not only Bihar but also other backward states should be given special status,” stressed the CM.
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A short film based on rural solar street light scheme was also screened in the programme. Director, Breda, Mahendra Kumar gave detailed information regarding remote monitoring system through presentation.
Deputy CM Tejaswi Prasad Yadav, chief secretary Aamir Subhani, principal secretary, panchayati raj, Mihir Kumar Singh, principal secretary (energy) Sanjeev Hans also addressed the programme. Water resources cum information and public relations minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, development commissioner Vivek Kumar Singh and principal secretaries to the CM Deepak Kumar and S Sidharth were also present.
