Aug 7, Sept 16 and Sept 17

August 7 - The Haryana Government has sent a proposal of Rs 10 crore to the Union Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Source for setting up of a renewable energy training institute at Maharishi
Dayanand University, Rohtak. This was disclosed by the Deputy Chief Minister, MR. Chander Mohan who holds the portfolio of Renewable
Energy Department also. He said that in this institute the training would be imparted to the youth for the repair, operation and maintenance of renewable sources of energy and solar system.
Mr. Chander Mohan said that efforts were being made to popularize the Solar System in the State. He said that the solar heating system was being installed of 100 litre capacity to meet the requirement of hot water in the delivery huts being set up by the Health Department in the rural areas and the precess of installing solar heater system had been started in 120 delivery huts. A sum of Rs 32 lakh had been earmarked during the current financial year for this purpose, he
added. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the scheme was also being chalked out for installing solar street lights in those villages where the population belonging to scheduled castes were more than 50 per cent and the proposal had been prepared for Ambala, Panchkula and Yamunanagar districts. An amount of Rs 3.82 crore had been earmarked for this purpose. Out of this, Rs 1.42 crore would be provided by the Non-conventional Energy Source Department, Government
of India and the remaining amount would be provided by the Union Social Justice and Empowerment Department. Mr. Chander Mohan maintained that with a view to apprise the people about the applications of renewable sources of energy in their villages, a scheme had been launched besides to motivate the students, eclamation
contest, painting competition and race would be organized on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi Birth Anniversary on August 20, 2006 in all the district. The Deputy Chief Minister said that a scheme had been
launched by the department for promoting of renewable energy programme in the villages and Gram Panchayats would be awarded under the scheme at block, district and state level. He said that at block level a sum of Rs 10,000 and a certificate of appreciation, at
district level, there would be two prizes of Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively, besides a certificate of appreciation. Similarly, at the state level, three awards would be given of Rs two lakh, one lakh and 50,000 respectively and a shield. Mr. Chander Mohan revealed that during the current financial year, a sum of Rs 7.9 crore had been earmarked to implement a number of schemes launched
by Renewable Energy Department. Out of this, Rs 5.95 crore would be spent under state budget plan while a sum of Rs 1.95 crore would be incurred under the Central Sponsored Schemes. He said that department had also envisaged a plan of generating 500 MW of power by
2012 based on various renewable energy sources. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the department had also chalked out a plan to install solar energy system in the 'Hemlets' of Morni block of district Panchkula where it was difficult to install the grid
power system`. He said that in the first phase 45 cluster of villages had been electrified through solar energy system at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore out of this Rs 1.46 crore were made available by the Central Government as subsidy. He said that a scheme had also been forwarded to the Union Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources costing Rs 1.65 crore for approval to electrify 149 'Hemlets' of Morni block.

September 16 - The Haryana State Pollution Control Board in association with the Forest Department has decided to organise 'Paryavaran Chetna Yatra' during this fortnight upto September 30 to create awareness among people about the preservation and protection of environment. While stating this here today, a spokesman of the Board said that Paryavaran Chetna Yatra and Haryana Pustak Parikarma were being organised by the Forest Department, National Book Trust, New Delhi and Union Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of Secondary and Higher Education in the districts of Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Karnal,Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Gurgaon and Faridabad upto October 15. Plays would also be organised in the districts of Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunagar, Karnal, Sonipat and Panipat.
He said that street shows based on social awareness on environmental related matters including ban on use of plastic carry bags would also be organised. Initially, ten shows would be conducted in the districts of Panchkula and Ambala to create awareness about the environment related issues. One such show would be held tomorrow evening at Yavnika, Panchkula, he added.

Sept 17- Haryana Government has decided to set up Renewable Energy Clubs in nine engineering colleges in the State so as to create awareness about new and renewable energy sources, their systems and devices among the students. While stating this here today, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Chander Mohan said that these clubs would organise seminars, workshops, lecturers, quiz and competitions in slogan and essay writing and poster making on renewable energy for students. The Central Government has provided a grant of Rs 2.25 lakh to set up these clubs. He said that a State level Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Park was being set up in Gurgaon at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore to create awareness among the people about renewable energy devices and technologies through demonstration of working models. A financial assistance of over Rs 72.66 lakh would be provided by the Central Government for the project. He said that there was a plan to set up six more district level energy parks at Faridabad, Kaithal, Bhiwani, Gurgaon, Rohtak and Jind at a cost of Rs 40 lakh during the current year. As many as 13 such energy parks have already been set up. He said that the State Government has also forwarded to the Central Government a project to set up a Renewable Energy Training Institute at Maharishi Dayanand University campus in Rohtak at a cost of Rs 10 crore for its approval. It aimed at creating infrastructure for imparting training to unemployed entrepreneurs in the operation, repair, maintenance and testing facilities in the field of solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and biomass gasifier.