Centre allows Rajasthan to set up 200 MW solar plant at its captive farm

The centre has granted permission to the Rajasthan government to use a 400-hectare Central State Farm (CSF) in Jetsar, in Sri Ganganagar district of the state for installation of a solar power plant of 200 MW or more capacity.

The union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday granted approval for utilisation of 400 hectares of land presently in possession of National Seeds Corporation (NSC), a central public sector enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare.

The solar power plant will be set up by another central public sector enterprise and the selection of the promoter will be done through negotiations, a government release stated.

The 400 hectares NSC will provide is uncultivable land, out of the 5,394 hectares under its possession, the release added.

The selection of the CPSE will be through a tariff-based competitive bidding and the successful bidder will have to bear the costs relating to the installation of the solar power plant.

The successful bidder will be allowed to utilise the land for the installation of a solar power plant within a contract period of 25 years, which may be extended on mutually agreed terms and conditions, after which the entire plant will be surrendered to the NSC on as is where is basis.

The project, by utilising uncultivable land for a solar power project, will yield revenue for NSC and will also generate clean energy for the nation, the release added.