No land, TS can’t start work on big solar unit

A 1,000-MW solar power project proposed to be built in the state two years ago has been stalled for want of land. The National Thermal Power Corporation had decided to set up the unit in the state on the Centre’s directions.

Energy department officials identified land in Gattu in Mahbubnagar district — it takes five acres and `1 crore to set up a 1-MW solar unit. The 1,000-MW solar power project required 5,000 acres and cost `4,000 crore investment.

NTPC officials who visited the site along with state energy officials were worried about having to pay more compensation.

State officials then searched in Nizamabad and Adilabad districts but could not find a big enough parcel of land at one place. The matter has stuck there for two years.

Asked about the status of the project, Mr G. Raghuma Reddy, chairman and managing director, TS Southern Power Distribution Company, said 5,000 acres of land had been identified Mahbubnagar district, but it was assigned land.”

Sources said the Centre did not want the assigned land.

An official said they had found a 1,000-acre site in Indravelli mandal of Adilabad district, but the land was big enough only for a 200-MW solar power plant.