Agartala, Sept 11: Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma on Friday announced that 23 remote villages of the state would get micro-grid solar power plants soon.

The Deputy Chief Minister said this after inaugurating a 2-KW micro-grid solar power plant at Sarki Para in Nunacherra ADC village under Mungiakami block on Friday. The new plant was a long-standing demand of the villagers.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister, installation of the proposed micro-grid solar power plants in 23 villages would cost Rs. 2.30 crore. He said that some villages in the state didn’t get power service even after 75 years of independence. The BJP-IPFT government was working to make electricity available in such villages, he added.

The Deputy Chief Minister also said that as many as 12,000 solar lights were already distributed in various remote areas and a plan to distribute another 15,000 solar lights was also in the pipeline. In that case, the Aspirational Blocks would get priority, he added.

According to a government press release, with the initiative of TREDA and financial assistance of Janajati Welfare department, total 11 solar street lights, three solar lights to 14 families each and one charger point were provided to Sarki Para.

MLA Krishnapur Dr. Atul Debbarma, executive member of TTAADC Kamal Koloi, MDC Bhumikananda Reang, Mungiakami BAC chairman Sunil Debbarma and vice-chairman of Mungiakami block Bikash Debbarma among others were present in the inaugural ceremony.