Workshop held

SHILLONG, MAY 15: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in collaboration with the World Bank and the State bank of India (SBI), on Tuesdayorganized a Solar Rooftop Technical Assistance workshop on ‘Senior Management Consultation on Development of Grid Connected Rooftop PV (GRPV) Program in Meghalaya’ at the State Convention Centre, Shillong, in which WMS Pariat, Chairman, Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Pariat iterated that in order to carry out the program forward, he emphasized on the need to carry the entire team together as a pivotal aspect to achieve the objectives of the program and also on the need for coordination for its success. He also stated that for implementing the program, the immediate need is to start with the limited resources that are available and to further work and coordinate with the distribution companies for the procurement of inputs needed for the implementation, so as to later welcome stakeholders to the picture.

Pariat further stated that with the implementation of the program, it will be of great benefit to schools, colleges, offices and especially to individual households as they can set up their own solar rooftops, so as to create and conserve power of their own.

Concluding his address, he stated that as far as new technologies are concerned, there is always hesitation in adopting such technologies, as to whether or not they will fetch a good run in the future and insisted that such kind of a behavior should be abolished by venturing forward with optimism and a positive mindset.

Concerning the program, in his keynote address, MS Rao, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, in-charge for Power, stated that the program can be implemented in the state only by bringing forward first the issue of domestic sector, through an efficient policy framework and by laying emphasis on the consumers as the focal point by making it attractive to them.

Among the dignitaries who spoke on the inaugural session of the workshop include RR Marak, Joint Secretary, Power  Department, who delivered the welcome address, Ajit Pandit, Policy and Regulatory Expert, MNRE-World Bank-SBI Solar Rooftop Program, who gave an overview on the GRPV initiatives, in the presence of representatives from various departments.

After the inaugural session, a technical session on Policy, Regulatory and Implementation Framework of the program was followed.

By Our Reporter