Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Landowners offer 4580 acres of land in just 10 days
* Landowners to get Rs. 35 to 50 thousand lease rate per acre per annum with 5 percent annual increase
Chandigarh, May 27: The Punjab government has received a enthusiastic response for its recently launched unique scheme seeking applications from land owners to lease out their land for setting up of solar power plants built, operate and own (BOO) basis and minimum lease rate will be from Rs. 35,000/- per acre to Rs. 50,000/- depending on the condition and location of the land.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, New & Renewable Energy Minister said that within just 10 days of launching of this scheme large number of landowners have already offered 4580 acres of their land for making their contribution in generation of clean and green energy and another interesting feature of it was that applicants were from every nook and corner of state. Describing it a win-win situation for land owners especially who give their lands on lease in the state, Mr. Majithia said that the minimum requirement for this scheme at a particular place was 25 acres and any landowner having less than twenty five can also join hands with his neighbor for this purpose but the condition was that they have joint boundaries. “The landowners will have assured increase in their lease amount by 5 percent per annum basis”, he added. He said that this process will be totally clean and transparent as all payments including lease and enhanced lease rates will be paid through cheques.
He said that the applications were being sought for a lease period of 30 years and it would start from the month of October when the land owners would have their lands free after harvest of Kharif season. The Minister pointed out that Mr. Majithia said that this scheme was highly suitable NRIs and absentee land owners as it would rule out any unauthorized entry in revenue records thereby serving the dual purpose of promoting clean energy on one hand and safeguarding the interest of such owners. He said that Punjab Energy Development Agency will tie up with Revenue department to check any tampering of revenue record for land on lease. Describing Leasing out land for solar power projects a great value addition as renowned companies are first time taking agricultural land on lease, Mr. Majithia said that landowners have another advantage as for three decades there would be no agricultural activity on the land resultantly increasing nutrients in land and landowner will get back better land after completion of lease period. He said that it was also decided to constitute district wise committees under the chairmanship of concerned Deputy Commissioner to fix the lease rates after thoroughly examining the prevailing rates and possibility of hike in coming years.
He said that the purpose of bringing this scheme was to attract as well as facilitate the investors in the emerging sector of renewable energy besides offering a golden opportunity to land owners in the form of steady income and ruling out the possibility of any illegal possession.
He expressed confidence that by the end of ongoing scheme on June 15, the State would successfully create a considerable land bank for setting up of solar projects thereby giving a big momentum to boost its solar energy initiatives.
