Adilabad district will boast of a 500 MW solar power plant in the near future if the plans of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited bear fruit.
The power giant, through its subsidiary National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) and the Solar Energy Corporation of India, is currently exploring sites in the district feasible for establishment of a solar power station.
A team of eight NTPC Ltd. officials led by Chief Engineer H.N. Satyanarayana inspected three sites near Adilabad, one in Mavala gram panchayat second in Pippaldhari village limits and the third in Gattepalli of Indervelli mandal on Monday. The team will also visit a fourth site in Elkapalli of Bejjur mandal on Tuesday.
The Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) is coordinating with respect to acquisition of land for the proposed project.
The officials evaluated the utility value of the land for the purpose of the solar power station from different angles.
“The extent of land within the land inventory which is not suited for establishment of industries can be used for setting up of solar power plants,” observes D. Vinay Kumar, TSIIC Deputy Director. “Though we will not touch reserve forests, we can always utilise forest ‘land’ found suitable for the purpose by offering the department an extent of land elsewhere as compensation,” he says further of the government's stand.
In Mavala, the Forest Department has non-reserve forest land of about 2,869 acres in survey number 135 which is best suited for solar power generation, if the ownership does not create a hitch. In Pippaldhari, as much as 3,83 acres of land is available in survey number 12 which has less interference as it is surrounded by hillocks.
In Survey Number 12 of Gattepalli, about 1,87 acres of land is available on the top of a hillock.
The site is conducive for setting up solar panels as the elevation exposes the panels to maximum sunlight during the day, according to experts.
