India sets up solar energy park

The state government of Karnataka in India set up the biggest solar energy park at the town of Pavagada. The park costs around Rs 20,000 crore and will be shouldered half and half by the state and the Centre. This is in response to criticism about poor management of the state’s power sector.

Energy minister D.K. Shivakumar met with farmers in Pavagada to say that the park be built in 12,000 acres of farm land. The farmers will enter into a 30-year lease agreement with the government which will pay them Rs 21,000 per acre annually. The lease would increase by 5% every two years.

Farmers were asked to submit their land records to the Tumakuru DC by October 30. Once the documents are submitted to the DC, processing of the project would begin in three months.