Lucknow, 10 May

(HS): The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that it is integrating rural

water infrastructure with renewable energy deployment in order to ensure

long-term water security, energy efficiency, and sustainable rural development.

33,157 solar-based rural water supply schemes are being implemented across

67,013 villages, benefiting nearly 2.07 crore households and an estimated 13.30

crore people. Anurag Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary of the Namami Ganga

and Rural Water Supply Department claimed that Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is

transforming the state's rural water delivery structure by strategically

integrating solar energy technologies.

“The State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) is

implementing this effort to ensure sustainable, dependable, and continuous

access to safe drinking water across rural communities. Approximately 33,157

solar-based rural water delivery projects have been constructed in 67,013

villages, affecting roughly 2.07 crore families and an estimated 13.30 crore

people,” he added. He stated that this large-scale execution demonstrates UP's

dedication to developing rural infrastructure and increasing quality of life.

Srivastava noted that an important technical

component of the program is the construction of solar-powered pumping

equipment, which has resulted in a huge savings of about 900 MW of electricity

that would otherwise have been pulled from the National electricity Grid. These

systems also offer operational continuity in distant and power-deficient areas

where continuous electricity delivery has historically been limited. Uttar

Pradesh's approach provides a scalable and reproducible foundation for other

states. He stated that by combining rural water infrastructure with renewable

energy deployment, the state is setting a standard for long-term water

security, energy efficiency, and sustainable rural development.

According to Raj

Shekhar, Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), the

solar-powered schemes would have a 30-year lifetime and a total capital cost of

around Rs. 7,812 crore. Using traditional power sources would have resulted in a

one-time connection cost of Rs. 2,487 crore and an anticipated yearly

electricity bill of Rs. 1,115 crore. Solar-powered systems are expected to save

Rs. 28,112 crore over 30 years, assuming a 60-month breakeven time (excluding

tariff escalation). Shekhar estimates that a 2% yearly increase in power

tariffs will result in considerable savings of around Rs. 37,395 crore.

According to the Managing Director, numerous states

have expressed interest in UP's unique Green Initiative. This innovative

endeavor resulted in the Namami Gange Department of Uttar Pradesh receiving the

'Prime Minister's Excellence Award for Administration. According to Shekhar,

the Prime Minister presented this award to Anurag Srivastava, ACS Namami Gange,

Uttar Pradesh, during a ceremony in Delhi last year.

Shekhar, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

officer from the 2004 batch, stated that the program not only saves money but

also adds significantly to environmental sustainability. The

solar-powered projects are anticipated to cut CO₂ emissions by around 13 lakh

metric tons (MT) annually, equivalent to generate nearly 13 lakh carbon credits

per year. Over time, this puts the effort as a significant contributor to

India's net-zero emissions objective of 2070.

The effort has the potential to produce USD 78

million (roughly Rs. 624

crore) over 30 years, assuming a conservative value of USD 2 per carbon credit.

The Carbon Market Association of India (CMAI) has been tasked with

providing technical help and assessing these carbon credits. Furthermore, these

solar-powered projects are typically self-sufficient, eliminating the need for

various legislative permissions, such as No Objection Certificates. Solar

plants are constructed on the grounds of water infrastructure facilities, thus

extra land is not required, according to the Managing Director.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi