UP govt expanding green cover, promoting green energy to counter climate change challenges

In a significant push towards climate resilience, the Uttar Pradesh government is accelerating its efforts to expand green cover and promote renewable energy, especially solar power, as part of its long-term environmental and energy strategy.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the state government said it is responding to the mounting challenges of climate change, reflected in rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather events, by becoming a national frontrunner in sustainable development.

During a recent visit to Lucknow, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi commended these initiatives. “Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a role model in meeting rising energy demand. The solar energy initiatives in Ayodhya and Varanasi are exemplary,” he said.

Under the Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy 2022, the state has set an ambitious goal to generate 22,000 MW of solar power by 2027. Several solar parks are already being developed across districts such as Jhansi, Lalitpur, Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Chitrakoot, and Jalaun.

Since Chief Minister Adityanath took office, the state’s solar power capacity has increased tenfold—from 288 MW to a significantly higher figure. The government added that efforts are ongoing to further expand this capacity.

Planned measures include establishing solar parks in all municipal corporations, installing solar grids along railways and expressways, and converting streetlights to solar power. Infrastructure upgrades are also underway to ensure the grid can handle the increased power load.

Ayodhya is at the forefront of this transition and is being developed as a solar city. The government plans to roll out similar transformations across all 16 remaining municipal corporations and Noida.

Notably, the Bundelkhand Expressway is being positioned to become India’s first solar-powered expressway, underlining the state’s innovative approach to integrating renewable energy with infrastructure.

In parallel, the government is advancing rooftop solar installations through the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The installation target for the 2025–26 fiscal has been doubled, aiming for 2.65 lakh rooftop panels. Additionally, the housing and urban planning department has mandated solar panels for building plans on plots larger than 5,000 square metres. The total rooftop target now stands at eight lakh installations by 2026–27.

On the afforestation front, the state is aiming to plant 35 crore saplings during the upcoming monsoon season. Over the last eight years, more than 214 crore saplings have already been planted, significantly enhancing the state's green cover.

As per the Indian Forest Status Report 2023, Uttar Pradesh recorded the second-highest improvement in forest cover nationwide, trailing only Chhattisgarh, with an increase of 559.19 square kilometres.

The state’s plantation drives are focused on species with high nutritional and medicinal value, aligning environmental efforts with public health benefits, the statement said.