Dondaicha solar park row: Mahagenco identifies sites to match

State-run power generation firm Mahagenco has identified locations in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions to set up 250 mw of solar projects, after its 500-mw Dondaicha solar park project faced resistance from locals in surrendering their lands, a top official said.

"We have not been able to acquire the land required and so we are not going ahead with the project for the time being. But we are in talks with the locals. In the meantime, we are exploring opportunities in other locations where Mahagenco owns certain land parcels to match capacity," a Mahagenco official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

He said the company has land parcels in Latur (Marathwada), Washim and Yavatmal (Vidarbha) where nearly 250 mw of solar capacity is likely to be installed.

In June last year, Mahagenco had invited bids for the first 500 mw solar park in Maharashtra.

However, the project got embroiled in a controversy after a 84-year old Dhule farmer Dharma Patil, who had come to Mantralay to meet ministers concerned over inadequate compensation offered to them after their land was acquired for the project, committed suicide in January this year.

"In the next one to two months, we may issue tenders (for 250 mw). This project will also be undertaken in association with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), as we have done it for the solar park project," the official added.

He further said Mahagenco has managed to acquire more that 50 per cent of the land required for the Dondaicha project and is in talks with the locals for acquiring rest.

Recently, the SECI had come up with a notification regarding postponing the tender process of inviting the request for selection (RfS) for development of the first phase of Dondaicha solar park, which will be of 250 mw (50 mw x 5).

Under the Maharashtra government's solar policy, Mahagenco has been mandated to set up 2,500 mw of capacity, on the public private partnership mode.