Shimla : The Union Ministry of Renewable Energy has agreed in principle to develop Shimla and Hamirpur towns as solar cities and Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, and National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, as energy parks. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held here today between Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Union Minister for Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah. Abdullah said the union ministry would be extending all possible assistance to the state to help execute mini and micro hydroelectric projects. He said he had been personally visiting every state to sensitise the administration about the lasting benefits of renewable energy and people in general needed to be motivated to incorporate solar energy system into their day-to-day activities to minimise energy bills. The Government of India would soon come out with the National Solar Policy, which was likely to be launched on November 14, 2009, offering vast incentives to the user of solar energy in the country. The ministry would also be training local youths in maintenance of the different solar systems. The state had many prominent religious shrines, which could avail the solar system for energy and kitchen purposes. The ministry had launched 'Griha' scheme aimed at creating quality solar infrastructure for domestic and commercial purposes. It would also be providing financial assistance for solar lighting of Raj Bhawan, Civil Secretariat and other important offices. Dhumal detailed the steps taken by the state for speedy exploitation of hydel power potential of 23,185-MW and future plans to achieve the objective. The state had set a target of commissioning 1,075-MW capacity projects by 2014. In all, 292 micro projects up to 5-MW had been allotted during the past one year of which 273 projects with aggregate capacity of 456-MW had been allotted to Himachali entrepreneurs. Deepak Gupta, secretary, Ministry of New Renewable Energy, detailed various provisions under various schemes of the Government of India and said Himachal Pradesh had the potential to execute large number of mini and micro hydel projects for which the union government would be extending all help.