Lucknow, Dec. 12 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the state's first floating solar power plant to be set up on a reservoir in Lalitpur. The project will be developed by the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), which will use the power generated as captive energy for its gas processing operations in the region.

"The state's first floating solar plant will be set up at the Maudaha dam/reservoir in Lalitpur with an investment of Rs.257 crore by GAIL," a senior energy department official said. "The 49 mw (megawatt) plant is expected to be operational in 18 months," he added.

Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), the state government's nodal body, had invited applications through its dedicated portal f...