Prayagraj, July 4 -- All 52 cold storages in Prayagraj will be shifted to solar power under a state government initiative aimed at reducing electricity costs, ensuring uninterrupted operations and promoting clean energy in agriculture. The horticulture department has directed cold storage operators to install rooftop or on-campus solar power systems with battery backup. The state government is providing a capital subsidy of 35% to 50% of the project cost, up to Rs.12 lakh. Officials said the installation of a solar power system costs around Rs.65 lakh. District horticulture officer Mewa Ram said the move would help operators reduce high electricity bills and ensure continuous cooling even during power cuts. He said battery-backed solar systems would reduce dependence on grid electricity and diesel generators. Three cold storages in Prayagraj have already adopted solar power. One of them, Himalaya cold storage in Gudapur, has installed a 200-kW solar power system. Manager Shivam Gupta said the switch had reduced electricity bills and helped maintain uninterrupted operations even during periods of high power demand. Officials said the initiative would also benefit farmers by lowering the operating costs of cold storages, which could eventually reduce storage charges. A reliable power supply would help prevent spoilage of potatoes, tomatoes and other perishable crops caused by electricity disruptions. According to the horticulture department, the Prayagraj division has around 100 cold storages, including 52 in Prayagraj, 24 in Fatehpur, 13 in Kaushambi and 11 in Pratapgarh. All have been asked to adopt solar power under the scheme. Officials said the move would reduce the carbon footprint of cold storage operations, improve energy security and ease pressure on the state's electricity grid during the peak summer season. They added that lower energy costs would make cold storage facilities more efficient, improve farmers' access to affordable storage and help reduce post-harvest losses....