As A significant milestone in India’s journey towards energy security and manufacturing self-reliance, Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister, on Saturday, performed bhoomipujan of Waaree Energies 10 GW Integrated Solar Ingot and Wafer Manufacturing Facility at Additional Butibori, Nagpur. Chief Minister Fadnavis expressed confidence that this project will create a new identity for Nagpur as a major centre for solar power generation. The Chief Minister further said, the facility promises to be India’s largest integrated solar ingot and wafer manufacturing facility with an investment of Rs 6,200 crore.

 

The project is spread across 300 acres and will be completed in the next 18 months. It is expected to generate 2,000 direct and 6,000 indirect jobs. Adv Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State of Finance, Planning, Agriculture, Labour, and Law & Justice; Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Home (Rural), Housing, School Education, Co-operation, and Mining; Shyamkumar Barve, MP; Sameer Meghe, MLA; Ajay Sancheti, ex-MP; Dr Vipin Itankar, Municipal Commissioner and District Collector, Hitesh Doshi, Chairman and Managing Director, Waaree Energies Ltd; Kirit Doshi, Director, Waaree Energies; Viren Doshi, Director, Waaree Energies; and other dignitaries also were present. Contd from page 1 Fadnavis said, an investment of Rs 30,000 crore is expected in this entire project and priority is being given to creating the necessary infrastructure for full capacity generation.

 

Integrated ingot and wafer production is already being done in China and its production will start in Nagpur through this project, he added. The Chief Minister also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved 7 projects in the country and out of them 4 projects are in Maharashtra. The foundation stone of 3 of them has been laid.

 

As Maharashtra is moving towards a USD 1 trillion economy, giving priority to industrial development, a large number of MoUs have been signed in Davos for investment in the State. “Maharashtra is working fast to complete the 16,000 MW capacity through the Chief Minister’s Solar Scheme, and, so far, 5,000 MW of electricity has been generated,” he pointed out. Stating that it is committed to providing solar energy to all farmers, the Chief Minister said that more than 300 crore trees will have to be planted to prevent pollution caused by thermal power. But solar energy will help in keeping pollution and the environment in balance.

 

The generation of solar energy will reduce electricity prices by more than 9 per cent and solar energy has revolutionised the entire world, added Fadnavis. On the occasion, a special photo with the image of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was presented by Hitesh Doshi. Doshi said, this industrial group was started by taking inspiration from Waaree village in Akola district. Today Waaree Group is exporting to 25 countries. He thanked the CM and Government officials who have approved this project in a very short period of time.