Lucknow, March 23 The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to set up a 20 MW floating solar power plant at Chilua Tal in Gorakhpur, officials said.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
State Energy and Urban Development Minister AK Sharma said the project is part of the government's broader push to promote solar energy and develop cities as solar hubs.
He said Gorakhpur is being developed as a solar city, and, in this direction, approval has been granted to install the floating solar plant over water at Chilua Tal.
According to the minister, Coal India Ltd will set up the 20 MW floating solar facility. Around 80 acres of land have been made available by the district administration for the project and handed over to the company.
The project cost is currently being assessed, he added.
Sharma also noted that Ayodhya has already been established as the state's first solar city, and a campaign is underway to develop 16 other municipal corporations along similar lines.
He said Uttar Pradesh has earlier set up two floating solar plants -- a 20 MW project in Auraiya and an 11 MW plant in Khurja (Bulandshahr district).
