Power generation major and a Maharatna company NTPC and the State Government has entered into a pact for setting up windmills at potential locations in Kerala to generate an estimated 200 MW.
A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed here on Monday by Mr Inderjit Kapoor, Director-Commercial, NTPC, and Mr S. Subbiah, Secretary, Power, Kerala.
NEW VENTURE
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister for State for Power, Mr K. C. Venugopal, said that by exploring wind energy potential, NTPC was venturing outside thermal generation, its conventional area of operation.
This has not been quite the NTPC area of play, but all the same it would like to branch out and wind energy provided a ready option, Mr Venugopal said.
According to him, NTPC could commission the proposed wind mill projects as early as within one year of the State Government handing over the required land at the identified locations.
They are Ramakkalmdeu and Udumbanchola in Idukki district and Kanjikode and Attapadi in Palakkad district, the Union Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Power Minister, Mr Aryadan Mohammed, who was present on the occasion, said the land at Ramakkalmedu would be handed over to NTPC immediately.
SWIFT ACTION
The Kerala Minister extended an assurance to the power major that the State Government would expeditiously deal with the issue of land requirement at other places also.
He added that the Kerala State Electricity Board has identified locations with a total potential to generate 650 MW in various parts in the State. He also urged NTPC to conduct a comprehensive study of wind energy possibilities in the State.
Mr Mohammed is already on record saying that the second phase of Rajiv Gandhi Rural Gramin Vidyakaran Yojna (RGGVY) project is being implemented in seven more districts in the State.
Approval for projects worth Rs 100 crore has already been obtained from the Centre. In the first phase, the project has been completed in Idukki district and work on projects in the Malabar region is progressing.
DEAL WITH TRIBALS
The State Government has decided to tap wind power and offer incentives to tribals to push this strategy. Incentives will be offered to the tribals willing to construction of windmills on their lands.
Not only would the tribals be adequately compensated but the State Government would also enter into a long-term agreement with them.
As part of this, they will be paid a fixed amount of money from every unit of power generated from windmills that come up on their land.