Centre to Act on Haryana’s Solar House Plan; State Seeks Reforms, Cybersecurity and Transmission Aid: Manohar Lal

Chandigarh, June 6, 2025: The Union Power Ministry will consider Haryana’s proposal to establish solar-powered homes in rural areas to provide daytime electricity to farmers, Union Minister Manohar Lal confirmed during the Northern Region Power Ministers’ Conference on Thursday. The proposal, initiated by Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij, is part of the state’s broader push to become self-sufficient in renewable energy.

A pilot project for these solar houses is already in progress and may be scaled up across the state if successful. Vij highlighted that Haryana is rapidly boosting its solar capacity as part of its long-term strategy for energy independence.

Raising concerns about cyber threats to critical infrastructure, Vij called for a comprehensive national cyber security policy. He referenced recent cyberattacks during the May 2025 Indo-Pak conflict that disrupted the portals of Haryana’s two major discoms—UHBVN and DHBVN. In response, Haryana has deployed Web Application Firewalls, begun regular security audits, and initiated the development of a disaster recovery center.

Vij also advocated for a policy to regulate overhead infrastructure on farmlands and urban areas, suggesting underground cabling in congested zones. He pressed for quick action on nuclear energy development and better disaster-resilient power infrastructure.

Power Generation, Transmission and National Cooperation

Currently, Haryana’s installed power capacity stands at 16,130.07 MW, of which 6,018.15 MW comes from renewable sources. The state plans to raise this to 22,222 MW by 2031–32. Construction of an 800 MW ultra-supercritical unit in Yamunanagar is underway, with similar expansions planned for Hisar and Panipat.

The Haryana Power Transmission Corporation is implementing ₹5,854 crore worth of projects, including 41 new substations, 3,570 km of transmission lines, and upgrades to 178 substations, all to be completed by FY 2029–30.

Vij urged the Centre to approve viability gap funding for a 600 MWh Battery Energy Storage System and early release of ₹3,179 crore under RDSS for power distribution upgrades in Sonepat and Jhajjar. He also requested ₹1,809 crore in interest-free loans from the national transmission fund and a ₹366 crore PSDP grant for upgrading 26 transmission lines.

Haryana reiterated its support for national energy priorities like Green Energy Corridors, One Nation-One Grid, electric vehicle infrastructure, nuclear power expansion, solar adoption, and smart metering.

The conference saw participation from power ministers and officials from J&K, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, alongside senior representatives from the Union Power Ministry and Haryana’s Energy Department.