The controversy over Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (KREDL) receiving 295 online applications from farmers within a record time of 7.25 minutes for setting up mini-solar power plants has taken a curious turn with an aggrieved farmer filing complaints in this regard before Governor Vajubhai Vala and the Secretary to the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Farmer D.M. Ramanjanappa, who wanted to set up a solar power plant in Sira taluk but could not do so as the applications were closed even before he got access to the website, has appealed to the Governor and the Union Ministry to not only cancel applications received on October 9, but also conduct an inquiry to find out if the process was authentic and transparent. The complainant suspects that “those close to the power centres managed to submit their applications”.
Government offerThe State government had decided to allow farmers to set up mini-solar power plants with a capacity of 1 to 3 MW on their farmland with an assurance that Escoms would buy power from them at Rs. 8.40 a unit. Following this, the KREDL called for online applications from farmers at 11 a.m. on October 9 with a condition that the applications would be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Against the total offer of 300 MW, KREDL had announced that it would receive applications to the level of 600 MW to make up for those opting out in the middle.
But farmers who sat before the computers along with experts to apply for the scheme were in for a shock as even before they could open the website or enter the details, the process of receiving applications got completed with the KREDL getting 295 applications, totalling up to 600 MW, within 7.25 minutes.
In his complaint, Mr. Ramanjanappa has referred to a report in The Hindu stating that 16 applications were received within the first minute and 50 were received in the first 1.20 minutes though farmers were of the opinion that it would take a minimum of two minutes to fill the online application that had 10 fields.
‘Equal opportunity denied’He maintained that it was not possible to complete the application process before two minutes and alleged that the principle of natural justice had not been followed while receiving applications as equal opportunity was denied to him and thousands of other farmers.