Uttarakhand

• 24 Dec 2022

One Thousand Villages to be built as a Solar Villages in the State

Why in News?

• On December 22, 2022, Uttarakhand Energy Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram said that a New Solar Energy Policy is being formulated in the State, which will be implemented on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 14. Under this, one thousand villages will be declared as Solar Villages.

Key Points

• Energy Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram said that the State Government will generate electricity in the villages most prone to sunlight in the State. Teams of Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) are identifying villages in every district where sunlight lasts the maximum time. Marking of 1000 such villages has been started.
• The Government will give special concessions to those who set up Solar Projects in whichever villages will be declared as Solar Villages. A Special Action Plan will also be made to take the power generation in those villages to the grid.
• This will pave the way for generating more than 2000 MW of electricity.

600 Experts from around the World Associated with Tunnel Construction to gather in Dehradun

Why in News?

• On December 22, 2022, Uttarakhand Public Works Department Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu said that an International Seminar will be held in Dehradun from April 17 to 21 next year to explore the possibilities of Tunnel Construction in the Himalayan region, in which more than 600 experts from 148 countries related to Tunnel Construction and its design and technology will participate.

Key Points

• Public Works Department Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu said that in the proposed International Seminar in Dehradun, Experts will discuss the Advanced Design, construction and operation of the tunnel.
• The Seminar will be attended by the Indian Road Congress along with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Permanent International Association of Road Congress (PIRC), International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA).
• Engineers, Experts and Experts from 148 countries will be invited to the Seminar.
• The Seminar will meet on April 17 and 18. The Seminar will be held from April 19 to 20. On April 21, representatives of various countries will make technical visits.
• He said that this event will give Uttarakhand recognition at the global level. At the same time, the participants will be taken to major tourist places along with the tunnels being built under the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Line and All Weather Road Project.
• During the Seminar, an exhibition of machines being used in tunnel construction in other countries of the World will also be held.
• Significantly, most of the land of Uttarakhand State is mountainous. With the construction of tunnels in the State, efforts are being made to make the movement comfortable and accessible in the mountainous region and reduce the travel time. The State will get information about the latest technology of tunnel construction.
• At present, the Railway Development Corporation is 125 km between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag. A Long Railway Line is being built. It is 105 km long. Tunnels are being built in length. It is very beneficial in terms of Tourism and Economic Development.
• Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will lay the foundation stone of Mussoorie tunnel in March.