Govt ready to expand Pavagada Solar Park if people come forward to offer land: DKS

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Wednesday that his government has planned to extend Pavagada Solar Park to another five to ten thousands of acres of land if farmers voluntarily come forward to provide their land for its extension. He said this after inspecting the park along with Energy Minister KJ George by helicopter. He said that a fresh proposal would be submitted to the Union government if farmers agree for its extension and provide land on rental basis.

Farmers who have provided land for the park are now satisfied. The State has also initiated measures to set up other such ones in Kalaburagi and Raichur districts. Farmers who provided land on rental basis are now receiving Rs 25,000 per acre. Till recent years, Pavagada Park was adjudged as world’s largest solar park.

Now, such parks have been established in Rajasthan giving a tough competition to the Pavagada Park. He said that Pavagada’s solar park was set up at an investment of Rs 16,500 crore in Tumakuru district, which was launched by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during 2018. The 2,000 MW park, named as 'Shakti Sthala', spans across 13,000 acres spread over five villages and is a benchmark in the unique people's participation in the power model put on ground.

The park's development is anchored by the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corp Ltd (KSPDCL), an entity formed in March 2015 as a joint venture between Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) and Solar Energy Corp of India (SECI).

The project has been executed within a record time of two years, with zero land acquisition. The beneficiaries of this project are 2,300 Pavagada farmers, he said. He said the State has emerged as the third largest producer of renewable energy in the nation, and is an energy surplus state in recent years.

The State has also initiated measures for the extension of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM Kusum) Scheme for farmers to make them sufficient in solar energy production to utilise for irrigation pump-sets and agriculture promotion activities.

Shivakumar also dismissed allegations of the presence of Surjewala at the officials’ meeting as the Congress leader came to attend another meeting convened to discuss issues related to hold BBMP elections. Let BJP leaders complain to whoever they want to, he added.