New Delhi: In a significant step towards sustainability, Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena laid the foundation stone for a 500-kW solar power plant at the Delhi Assembly on Monday. The event was attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Speaker Vijender Gupta, Power Minister Ashish Sood, Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma, several Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and senior officials.
This new 500-kW installation, expected to be completed within 45 days, will greatly enhance the Assembly’s existing solar infrastructure, as stated by the Assembly Secretariat. The current 200-kW rooftop solar system will be dismantled to accommodate the new installation, which will enable the Assembly to operate entirely on solar energy.
The initiative is projected to eliminate electricity bills entirely, resulting in estimated savings of approximately ₹15 lakh per month while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the Assembly premises. Once operational, the Delhi Assembly will become the first legislative body in India to run entirely on solar energy.
Speaker Vijender Gupta emphasized the project’s financial benefits, stating that it will save the Assembly ₹1.75 crore annually through the elimination of electricity costs. He also noted that the total investment in the 500-kW solar plant will be recouped within a year.
“I hope this initiative inspires the people of Delhi to embrace green energy by installing solar panels on their rooftops,” the Speaker remarked.
Lieutenant Governor Saxena described the laying of the solar plant’s foundation stone as a historic milestone. He also announced that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will support another ambitious project aimed at transforming the Assembly into a heritage site.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta highlighted her government’s commitment to establishing a solar energy network throughout the city, envisioning solar panels on every government and private building.
