Parliamentary Panel Reviews Solar Energy Progress in Sikkim

28 Apr 2025 CW Team

The Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation, Rajya Sabha, chaired by Member of Parliament Milind Deora, held a meeting with key stakeholders from Sikkim’s power sector in Gangtok. The discussions centered around the implementation and progress of renewable energy initiatives in the state, with a particular focus on solar energy.

The session saw participation from representatives of the Sikkim Renewable Energy Development Agency (SREDA), the Power Department, the Sikkim State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SSERC), and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.

During the meeting, Deora drew attention to recent amendments introduced to promote the use of renewable energy technologies, particularly solar power, as part of the country’s broader energy transition efforts.

Bikash Deokota, Principal Chief Engineer-cum-Secretary of the Power Department, informed the committee that Sikkim was actively advancing solar energy projects, especially rooftop solar and off-grid systems. He mentioned that rooftop solar installations were significantly contributing to strengthening the state’s energy independence and financial resilience.

Following the meeting, an interactive session was conducted where participants exchanged ideas on implementation strategies, discussed regulatory challenges, and explored opportunities to expand the adoption of rooftop solar across the state.

The session was also attended by MNRE Director Jeevan Kumar Jethani; Principal Chief Engineers Sonam Rinchen Bhutia, Karma Sonam Bhutia, and TT Bhutia; Chief Engineer Shova Thapa; SREDA Director Jeewan Thapa; and SSERC Director Palchen Chaktha.

News source: Northeast Today

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