New and Renewable Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Dang inspected the proposed site along with reviewing the preparations for the world’s largest solar floating plant of 600 MW capacity to be set up at Omkareshwar Sagar in Khandwa district at a cost of Rs 3,000 crores on Monday.
He directed to complete the project within the stipulated time-frame by coordinating with the departments concerned. Dang said that along with the thermal and hydel power projects, solar power project is also going to be set up in Khandwa district. This will make Khandwa district a Prominent Power hub. MP Nandkumar Singh Chouhan, MLA Narayan Patel and Devendra Verma, Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Energy Development Corporation, Deepak Saxena were also present.
Minister for Renewable Energy Dang informed that the plant will be developed as a multi-purpose project. This will ensure power production besides other objectives like tourism, water conservation, land conservation, etc. The DPR of the power plant will be ready this month and the tender process will be completed by the end of July. By July 2023, the Solar Floating Power Plant at Omkareshwar Sagar will start functioning at its full capacity. The water level in Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar Sagar is almost constant in all seasons, due to this reason, about 2,000 hectare site has been selected for the floating power plant project near the confluence of Narmada and Kaveri rivers.
Dang said that solar and wind power plants are being set up in the country due to the farsighted thinking of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The country aims to generate 175 GW of renewable energy projects by 2022. So far, about 5 thousand MW renewable energy projects have been set up in Madhya Pradesh. Solar power is much cheaper than thermal power and its project has very low maintenance. He said that pollution in thermal power projects is high and there is a possibility of ending coal reserves after a certain time. He informed that a total of 800 MW including 200 MW in village Chhirevel and 600 MW Omkareshwar of solar power project will be produced in Khandwa district which will be the highest production in any one district of the country.
Managing Director Deepak Saxena informed that the International Finance Corporation, World Bank and Powergrid have given approval in-principle for development in the project. This month, Powergrid will start the transmission line route survey from the project area to Khandwa Sub Station. A tender is also being released to study the environmental and social impact of the project area. Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company has agreed to purchase 400 MW power.
