The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has cleared an investment of Rs 4,375.35 crore for the coal-based 750 MW Thermal Power Project at Salakati in Kokrajhar district. In a Rajya Sabha reply to a question by UG Brahma, Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde said that a Transfer Agreement has been executed among NTPC, Government of Assam and Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) for transfer of the existing infrastructure of 240 MW Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BTPS) to NTPC. All the necessary key inputs and clearances including environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest have been obtained for the Project. Site-specific studies have been completed. The main plant equipment packages have been awarded to NHEL in February, the Power Minister said. On January 31, 16 employees have been posted at Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project, he added, in reply to a question. Meanwhile, during the current fiscal, 750 solar home lighting systems, 50 solar street lighting and 500 solar lanterns have been allotted to Assam. In addition, projects have also been sanctioned for electrification of 555 villages through solar energy system, said Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Vilas Muttemwar in reply to a question by Kumar Deepak Das. However, there is no proposal to formulate any special scheme to provide solar energy system in the remote villages of Assam. The Assam Government has identified 2,139 villages including those in the char areas for coverage under renewable energy sources, the Minister added.