Solar power projects in Punjab will take some time to see the light of the day. In the absence of land for setting up the solar photovoltaic power projects, the sun is yet to shine on the power sector in Punjab.
Though the Punjab Government on Tuesday handed over the letter of awards for to 26 developers for setting up 250 mega watt (MW) solar power projects, they have come up against the problem of “land” to set up these projects.
Candid enough, the State’s Non-Conventional Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia too admitted that land was in scarcity for setting up the projects. But, at the same time, he added that the Government was in the process of identifying small and scattered chunks of land for consolidation for subsequent allocation to the investors.
To set up a solar photovoltaic power project of one MW, five acres of land is required. Thus, for 250 MW solar PV power projects, a land measuring nearly 1250 acres would be required.
Besides availability of land, the developers are also concerned over the “high land prices” across the State.
“In Punjab, it is primarily an agricultural land, and the prices here are very high. All developers are facing the issues related to land,” said Kishore Nair, president of Welspun Solar Punjab Private limited, which has bagged 30 MW solar PV power project, while expressing the concerns on behalf of all the developers.
Nair pointed out, “The State Government should consider Panchayat and Government land for allocating the same to the developers to set up their projects. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, their State Governments have handed over the abundant barren land to the investors free of cost or at concessional rates.”
Notably, in Punjab, the shamlat (common) land of the Gram Panchayat cannot be sold, mortgaged or disposed as per Section 13A of the Punjab Village Common land Regulation Act to the private players.
Admitting the same, Majithia pointed out that the matter in this regard is sub-judice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and “nothing is certain till it is settled.
“However, there are a number of land pieces identified across the State, and we are identifying more. We can assure that soon these would be made to allot to the developers, and that too via single window clearances. Making the process hassle-free, they would be given all clearances through a single window,” Majithia told The Pioneer.
On the other hand, the developers are of the view that Government should find out ways to provide land on “concessional rates” or allot the barren land. “We have asked the state government to provide us the barren land at concessional rates. Or else, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) take the land on lease and then give to developers,” said Nair.