Karnataka: Mega solar plant to bring jobs to Pavagada

Tumakuru: Karnataka, which entered the global power map by setting up Asia’s first hydroelectric station, is now embarking on another milestone mission to set up a mega solar power park, said to be the world’s biggest.

The park, with a capacity of 2,000 MW, will come up on 10,000 acres of land in the parched taluk of Pavagada in Tumakuru district. It is said that the project will cost Rs 13,000 crores.

According to sources, the state energy department will start the proposed project soon. The 1,000 MW solar park being implemented in Andhra Pradesh is the biggest such project so far in the country. The Centre will support the park by offering a subsidy of Rs 20 lakh per mega watt, said the Department of Energy.

According to sources, Pavagada was chosen for the solar park because of a combination of various factors, including high sunlight exposure, backwardness of the area, and lesser demand for land.

Keeping in mind the backwardness of Pavagada, the government chose to set up the Solar Power park here and, claimed  there would be  great job opportunities for the locals once the project is completed, said Minister for Energy D.K Shivakumar.

The government will obtain farmers’ land on  lease or rent, he said allaying fears that they would lose their fertile land. Mr Shivakumar assured  farmers that they would get better rent or lease than what they get from the crops in dry Pavagada.

It is said that the government plans to set up the park near Tirumani village in Pavagada taluk in Tumakuru. The minister appealed to villagers to  voluntarily support the project.