Telangana’s green energy policy attracts significant investments: Bhatti

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the government is leasing vacant lands to SHG women to enable them to become entrepreneurs.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka stated that Telangana’s Green Power Policy has attracted significant investment, with companies committing between ₹80,000 crore and ₹1 lakh crore to the sector. Several firms have already signed Memorandam of Understanding (MoUs).

Addressing queries on the Green Energy policy in the Legislative Council on Monday, Mr. Vikramarka, who also holds the Energy portfolio, emphasized that the government aims to generate 20,000 MW of green energy by 2030 from the present 8,938 MW generation capacity, and 40,000 MW by 2040.

“Telangana had not seen any major policy initiatives in the last decade under the previous BRS regime,” he pointed out. To encourage investments in green power, approvals are being granted through a single-window system with several other incentives.

He announced that the government had facilitated an MoU between women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (GENCO) for the production of 1,000 MW of solar power.

Mr. Vikramarka said the government is leasing vacant lands to SHG women to enable them to become entrepreneurs, with a provision for the State to buy back the power generated by them. He, further, stated that the government is encouraging youth to participate in the green energy sector.

“Telangana government has recently signed an agreement with Rajasthan for solar power generation,” he said, adding that steps are being taken to promote electric vehicles, including waiving taxes on their registration, which has resulted in increased EV adoption across the State. The government is also encouraging the establishment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along highways. Besides these measures, the government is introducing electric and battery-operated buses while phasing out diesel-powered buses.

Additionally, no new permits are being issued for diesel auto-rickshaws in Hyderabad, with the government actively promoting battery-operated alternatives. Plans are also being considered to relocate high-pollution vehicles beyond the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Mr. Vikramarka further stated that if MLAs and MLCs are interested, a special session on the Green Energy Policy could be organised.