Cachar (Assam), 01 October (HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday inaugurated a 595-kilowatt-peak (kWp) ground-mounted, on-grid solar power plant at Koomber Tea Estate in Cachar district, marking another step towards expanding clean energy solutions in the state’s tea garden sector.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sarma said the state government was working to promote tea garden tourism and connect tea estates with solar power to help them become more energy self-reliant.

Ranveer Singh, representing Ares Ingenieria CEO Lieutenant General (Retd) A.R. Prasad, welcomed the Chief Minister by presenting him with a traditional Assamese gamosa.

Lakhimpur assembly constituency MLA and minister Kaushik Rai, Public Health Engineering Minister and Patharkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul, Silchar MLA Dr Rajdeep Roy, Udharbond MLA Rajdeep Gwalla, Koomber Tea Estate Manager Anil Gurung and Assistant Manager Jitul Chetia were among those present.

The project involves Tata Power Solar, Goodricke, Sustvest and Ares Ingenieria, with Ares Ingenieria serving as the installation partner. The project was advanced through the collective efforts of TP Renewable Energy Limited officials Kundal Kant Singh, Abhinanda Basu, Santosh Singh and Baliram, along with Sustvest CEO Hardik and Devyansh.

The solar plant was installed by a team from Ares Ingenieria, including ex-servicemen Birendra and Dinesh.

The project carries the theme, “Accelerating the Prime Minister’s Panchamrit and Chief Minister’s Green Assam Goals,” and is aligned with India’s climate commitments as well as Assam’s clean energy agenda.

Ares Ingenieria is an MSME established by ex-servicemen. Its motto, “From Olive Green to Go Green”, reflects its effort to bring military discipline, leadership and mission-oriented values into the renewable energy sector. The company also provides employment opportunities to ex-servicemen as part of their second career.

Officials said the inauguration demonstrated how the government, industry and tea estates can work together to expand clean and sustainable power across Assam.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash