Table of Contents
- The dry Bundelkhand region of central India has remained backward for decades, and its agriculture has been hit owing to scanty rainfall.
- Now, the solar power sector is booming in Bundelkhand.
- Bundelkhand’s population density – just 329 per sq. km compared to UP’s 829—means a lot more open spaces.
- The 70,000 sq. km region comprises seven districts – Bundelkhand, Banda, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur – makes up 28.7% of the total area of Uttar Pradesh.
- Bundelkhand now accounts for 500 MW daily of the solar energy produced by UP.
- It is part of an ambitious plan by the Yogi government to develop the region into a solar power hub.
- The solar energy policy in 2017 was created to promote private participation in the field of solar energy.
- Under this, solar parks were established and solar power was given open access to third-party sales.
Benefits of the incentive provisions:
- Provision of online single window clearance,
- A 100 per cent stamp duty exemption for solar power projects,
- 100 per cent exemption in electricity duty for 10 years.
- Eleven private solar power companies have so far set up power stations in the region.
- By 2016, about 200 MW power was being supplied from private solar power plants installed at Panwadi (Mahoba) and Hamirpur.
- A 20 MW solar power plant at Chahitara village in Banda district has also been in operation since 2016.
- Today, more than 500 MW is generated daily by the solar plants.
- Adani Solar Energy Ltd has commissioned a 25 MW solar power plant in Chhibon village, in Chitrakoot.
- Another 50 MW solar power plant has also been installed in Chhibon village, which became operational on 30th January, 2021.
- The project will be set up by Bundelkhand Saur Urja (BSUL).
It is a joint venture company between:
- Uttar Pradesh Non-Conventional Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) and
- National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC).
- The project will be set up under the Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP) scheme of the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE).
- The MNRE will provide ₹20 lakh per MW or 30% of the project value, whichever is less, for development of internal infrastructure and connectivity from the park to the nearest transmission system.
- Land will be taken on lease basis from the farmers for 27 years.
- They will be a paid a rent of approximately ₹15,000 to 20,000 per acre per year.
- BSUL will put the entire infrastructure in place before it invites bids from private players to set up plants in the park :
- construction of roads and
- setting up evacuation lines.
- UPNEDA also has a joint venture with Tehri Hydro Development Corporation of India (THDCIL), named TUSCO.
- TUSCO will develop two 600 MW solar parks, one each in Jhansi and Lalitpur districts.
- UPNEDA has a 26% share in that JV too.
- With competition among solar energy companies, electricity rates have also come down.
- Earlier the solar power companies were selling electricity at the rate of ₹ 7 per kilowatt (unit).
- Now it is down to ₹ 3 per unit.
- The Yogi government is planning a green energy corridor to generate 4,000 MW of solar power in Bundelkhand.
- This will need an investment of about ₹5,500 crore on the development of transmission system for the extraction of energy produced in this corridor.
- The target will be achieved by installing 1,000 MW worth projects every year from 2021 to 2025.
Other development projects in Bundelkhand
- Under the project, irrigation will be carried out in the region using advanced agriculture techniques and integrated drip irrigation.
- Water from the Pahuj Dam in Jhansi will be used for the drip irrigation facility which will be extended to all of Jhansi and some areas around it.
- The state government is giving a major push to drip or micro irrigation, especially in areas like Bundelkhand where water availability is limited.
- Israel treats about 92% of its water.
- Of this, 75% is used for agricultural irrigation.
- By the end of 2025, the country intends to recycle 95% of its waste water for irrigation use.
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