Maharashtra MLAs welcome the launch of new RE policy in the state

‘Maharashtra Government’s recent decision and public announcement to launch a new integrated policy for the renewable energy in 2015 is a much-welcomed decision. A comprehensive and integrated renewable energy policy, with higher capacity addition targets in line with the national ambitions, increased emphasis on the development of solar energy including net metering, enhancement of grid infrastructure, addressing rural electrification supply issues and human resource development, will tremendously improve the power scenario of the state’, said Mr. Jai Kumar Rawal, MLA and Chairperson of Climate Parliament Maharashtra Chapter, after the state Energy Minister announced that the Maharashtra Government will soon formulate a new renewable energy policy and formed a team of experts to prepare a draft.

Mr. Jai Kumar Rawal also thanked the Chief Minister Mr Devendra Fadnavis for accepting the demand of Climate Parliament network of MLAs to formulate a ‘comprehensive state RE policy’

It is noteworthy that during the recent assembly session in Nagpur, a multi-party delegation of Climate Parliament MLAs met with the Chief Minister on 18 December 2014 demanding for a new renewable energy policy in the state. The MLAs submitted to the Chief Minister a memorandum signed by 21 MLAs that included Jai Kumar Rawal, Sanjay Bala, Sangeeta Thombre, Sanjay Kute, Prashant Tahkur, Shirish Chaudhary, Harish Pimple and Raju Narayan Todsor. They also submitted to him an expert report titled ‘RE Energising Maharashtra: An Assessment of Renewable Energy Policies, Challenges and Opportunities’ and the ‘Guidelines for a Model Renewable Energy in Indian States’, on the basis of which Maharashtra government can suitably modify or replace its existing renewable energy policy. The Chief Minister then assured the Climate Parliament MLAs that he would coordinate with the Energy Minister and will consider a comprehensive and strong legislation in the state for the development of the renewable energy. (attached photo and press note issued after the delegation.)

Mr. Jai Kumar Rawal said today that the memorandum and the expert report mention a number of suggestions that should be taken up immediately for the renewable energy sector in the state. They are like, formation of the State Cooking Energy Mission, Rural Electricity Service through RE micro-grids, Grid Infrastructure & RE integration, Single Window Clearance Mechanism, Capacity Building and Operation & Maintenance Network and Standardization and Quality Control. He also said that the Climate Parliament network of MLAs will work further with the Chief Minister and the Energy Minister and the team of experts towards the launch of the new renewable energy policy in the state.