At one time, we believed that availability of solar power would do away with power shortage in the country. Relying on plenty of sunshine round the year, experts believe that India could wriggle out of energy crisis.
We have a full-fledged Ministry of Renewable Energy at the Centre and it has the sanctioned budget. The common sense is that it will announce projects like solar power units keeping in mind the quantum of funds it can make available.
The 100mw Solar Photovoltaic Power Project announced by the previous Government for Kathua in April 2013 was allotted in favour of M/s Then India Energy Private Limited. The then Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Science and Technology Department, who happened to be the Chairman Project Approval Committee, had sanctioned the project in favour of M/s Then India Energy Private Limited, Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 950 crores on 300 acres of land. The project was to come up in six months time. Two and a half years have gone by and the project has not taken off.
However, the previous Government did not go beyond making the announcement. On the ground, it did not do anything that would show it was seriously interested in providing solar energy to Kathua district. However, Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed has expressed his deep interest in the revival of the project and has asked for similar project for Srinagar. After all, the State is battling power shortage in both the regions.
The Chief Minister’s office has also formally asked the Power Development Minister to expedite the completion of the project. Within six days of receiving the instructions from the Chief Minister’s office, the Deputy Chief Minister passed on the instructions to the Commissioner-Secretary PDD to move the matters and get the PPA formality completed. Deputy Chief Minister’s office categorically wrote to the Commissioner PDD to facilitate signing of PPA with the developer at the rates issued by State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) so that 100 mw Solar Power Project, a first of its kind in the State, comes up without any further delay.
The project is delayed for obvious reasons. The previous government did not take its execution seriously. Incidentally, the delay has proved a boon for Kashmir region as the Chief Minister has now demanded a similar project for Kashmir division. It will take its time but the hope is that both the projects will be brought to completion within the stipulated time.
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