Saturday, August 23, 2014: India’s solar energy programme will soon face a huge roadblock as the Rajasthan government is likely to cancel the 4,000MW solar UMPP (ultra mega power project), which was supposed to be set up near Sambhar lake. The government has reasoned that if the plant is installed it can have negative ecological and environmental impact on the nearby locations.
The State government, led by Vasundhara Raje, has written to the Centre the area belongs to migratory birds and it will be completely damaged if a power plant or any transmission line is planted here. Persons who are close to the latest developments have also pointed towards political reasons too. The project was initiated by the UPA-II government and the BJP government is not interested in going ahead with this anymore. The CM is interested in another solar power programme in the state.
In last September the massive solar project was launched and it was a joint venture by public sector units like Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Power Grid Corporation of India, Solar Energy Corporation of India, Hindustan Salts Limited and Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited. As estimates revealed the project would cost Rs 75,000 million. The land near Sambhar lake, which is approximately of 23,000 acres, is listed as an ecologically sensitive area by the global Ramsar Covention.
A senior official from the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said, “The area that is ecologically sensitive is only 5,000 acres, which was avoided in the planning. The rest is very clear land and it is strange the state government has raised this issue now.” The ministry has been involved in this project through its subsidiary, Solar Enrgy Corporation of India. Now they are looking for new land for this project. Currently Rajasthan has a capacity of 666 Mw of solar power, following Gujarat. Rajasthan aims to add 4,000 Mw by the year-end.
The MNRE official added further, “The government in the Union Budget this year announced setting up of four solar UMPPs across the country, including one in Rajasthan. The state was the first to announce a solar UMPP, that too of such a huge capacity. We would have to find a new land for executing this project.” The Union budget has focused a lot on clean energy sector and the government is also working hard to fulfill its promises, undoubtedly.
