SOLARISATION OF KONARK HITS ROADBLOCK
An ambitious project of solarisation of the Sun temple in Konark and the adjoining areas has hit the roadblock. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi is interested in the solarisation of Konark, bureaucratic wrangling is delaying the project.
Prime Minister Modi advised the authorities to go for solarisation of two Sun Temples at Konark in Odisha and Modhera in Gujarat. The Sun Temple in Konark is devoted to Sun God and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in eastern India and also is a World Heritage Site.
Accordingly, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) asked the State Government to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in this regard. MNRE, under the High Visibility Solar Applications Scheme and the Off Grid Solar Power Scheme was to fund the entire project.
Accordingly, the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) prepared a DPR with a project cost of Rs 62.20 crore. OREDA was to implement the project as it is the designated organisation to develop solar energy sector in Odisha.
A programme was chalked out for installation of a 10 mega watt (MW) grid connected solar power project to meet the power requirement of Konark town on net metering basis.
Two solar gateways were to be erected at the entry points of Konark town with 25 kilo watt (KW) solar power plants each in off grid mode to provide uninterrupted power supply to 100 LED street lights at each and every point.
Installation of 30 solar powered drinking water kiosks in the town was planned as the Sun Temple attracts the largest number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting the State.
Illumination of Konark Beach was planned as clean sands, turquoise waters, sun and cool breeze makes it as one of the finest beaches in the world. This famous beach draws lots of tourists every year not only from the country but also from all over the world.
Illumination of the Konark Temple was to be taken up by setting up a 50 KW solar plant in off grid mode. After the DPR was submitted to MNRE, Science and Technology Department Secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal also discussed the proposal with the Solar Additional Secretary Praveen Kumar in this regard
and requested him to sanction the proposal at the earliest; however response from MNRE is still awaited, informed official sources.
Source: dailypioneer
