Patna, June 29: The government on Tuesday approved solar power projects worth Rs 237 crore in a major boost to the use of renewable energy.

The projects include 3,300 solar-powered water pumps and rooftop solar power plants of 1kilowatt power for rural and urban residential, as well as, commercial buildings during 2016-17.

"The decision to promote renewable energy and establish projects based on them was taken at the state cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar. The solar-powered pumps and 1kilowatt power rooftop solar power plants would be especially beneficial for the development of rural and urban areas," cabinet secretariat department principal secretary Brajesh Mehrotra told journalists.

The rooftop solar power plants will be "off grid" (unconnected to regular electricity supply grids) and will help mitigate the scarcity of traditional power supply to the beneficiaries.

These will be established as per the guidelines of the Union ministry of new and renewable energy. Of the Rs 237 crore, the state will share Rs 115 crore and the projects would be implemented through the Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA).

The cabinet approved a subsidy of Rs 590 crore for various food-processing sector projects during 2016-17. Release of Rs 463 crore of total subsidy amount was approved at the cabinet meeting.

The subsidies include complete waiving off of stamp duty and registration fee, capital grants for industrial units, compensation of value added tax (VAT) and entry tax payment, subsidy to promote captive power generation, diesel generators and renewable energy sources among several other things in the food processing sector.

The cabinet approved withdrawal and expenditure of Rs 670 crore from the state government's share and Rs 1,005 crore from central government's share for implementing midday meal scheme in government schools.

The cabinet also approved 8.1 per cent interest on general provident fund (GPF) and contributory provident fund accounts of the state government employees for the first quarter of the current financial year.

It will now match the interest paid on GPF by the central government for its employees. Approval for the creation of a post of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) to strengthen security at the Patna High Court premises was also accorded at Tuesday's meeting.