20 MW floating solar plant on Chilua Tal, Gorakhpur
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UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.
On 23 March 2026 the UP Cabinet approved a 20 MW floating solar plant on Chilua Tal in Gorakhpur to help develop the city as a solar city. Coal India Ltd will build it from its own funds on 28.20 acres of Tourism Department land given free. It will produce at least 33.29 million units of green power a year.
- Date
- 23 March 2026, UP Cabinet
- Plant
- 20 MW floating solar, Chilua Tal, Gorakhpur
- Builder
- Coal India Ltd, from its own resources
- Land
- 11.4181 ha (28.20 acres) of Tourism Dept land, free
- Output
- at least 33.29 million units a year
- Solar city goal
- 121.8 million units from renewables
The Chilua Tal floating solar plant: what happened?
A floating solar plant sits on a lake, so it needs no farmland. Gorakhpur wants to become a solar city, and Chilua Tal near the HURL fertiliser plant offers open water for it.
- The Cabinet approved a 20 MW floating solar plant at Chilua Tal to develop Gorakhpur as a solar city. [UP Cabinet]
What is a solar city?
- As defined by MNRE, a city that cuts at least 10 per cent of its projected conventional energy demand at the end of 5 years through renewable plants and efficiency.
- For Gorakhpur, 10 per cent means 121.8 million units from renewable sources.
What about the land?
- The plant needs about 80 acres of submerged land and tal, owned by the Tourism and Revenue Departments and HURL.
- The tal land is in a protected category; using it for solar will not change the nature of the land.
- The power will be fed into the grid to meet Gorakhpur’s demand.
Why does the Chilua Tal floating solar plant matter?
- Clean energy: Green power without using farmland.
- Urban: A step to Gorakhpur’s solar city goal.
What can Prelims ask on the Chilua Tal floating solar plant?
- Chilua Tal (Gorakhpur): 20 MW floating solar by Coal India Ltd.
- MNRE solar city: at least 10% cut in projected conventional energy demand in 5 years.
Read all of March 2026 in the monthly UP current affairs compilation →
How to use this in Mains
- Floating panels use water bodies, saving scarce urban land.
Quotable data pointThe Cabinet approved a 20 MW floating solar plant at Chilua Tal to develop Gorakhpur as a solar city [UP Cabinet].
UP Information Dept: Cabinet decisions, 23 March 2026 (Hindi PDF)
Exam angle
GS-VI: renewable energy in UP. Use Chilua Tal as a floating solar example.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
The 20 MW floating solar plant approved in March 2026 for Gorakhpur will be built on
Answer (b) & explanation
UP Cabinet note, 23 March 2026.
Questions students ask about this
Where will the floating solar plant come up?
On Chilua Tal in Sadar tehsil, Gorakhpur, near the HURL plant.
Who will build it?
Coal India Ltd, from its own resources.
What is a solar city?
A city that reduces at least 10 per cent of its projected conventional energy demand in 5 years through renewables and efficiency, as defined by MNRE.
Keep studying
Official source: UP Information Dept: Cabinet decisions, 23 March 2026 (Hindi PDF)
facts from cited sources only; numbers machine-checked against source text; faculty review pending