Monday, December 17, 2012

Ramanathapuram to become hub for solar energy


The drought prone Ramanathapuram district would soon become a hub for solar energy generation as more and more private companies were evincing interest in setting up units in the 100 MW Solar energy park to be established in over 500 acres in Paramakudi Taluk, Minister for Handlooms and Textiles S. Sundararaj has said.

Talking to newspersons after distributing welfare assistances to the members of Pudhu Vazhvu societies and Self Help Groups here on Saturday, he said “applications from private companies are pouring in after Chief Minsiter J. Jayalalithaa had announced the establishment of the energy park at a cost of Rs. 920 crore.”

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Raasi Green Earth Energy in the presence of the Chief Minister, on Thursday for establishing the park, a first of its kind in the country.

Mr Sundararaj, who hails from Paramakudi, said the Park, part of a pilot project for harnessing solar energy, would come up at Pambur in Paramakudi Taluk.

He said the process for acquisition of 500 acres of land in the village has been completed and Labour Minister would soon lay the foundation stone for establishing the Park.

The park would be completed in a year and would be ready for private entrepreneurs to set up their units, Mr Sundararaj said adding more private companies were evincing interest in setting up units in the Park as the District was best suited for harnessing solar energy, he said.

TIDCO would create infrastructural facilities like drainage, water supply and roads at the site, he said.
The park, the first to be implemented under the Solar Energy Policy 2012, would provide direct employment to 1,000 people and indirect employment to an equal number

The Minister said the State Transport Corporations were also planning to set up solar power units to cater to their needs and sell the excess power to the Electricity Board.

Earlier, distributing financial assistance to the tune of Rs.1.33 crore towards first instalment to the members of Pudhu Vazhvu societies, established in 53 panchayats in Kadaladi block for women empowerment and poverty reduction, the Minister said women should make use of the government schemes, aimed at improving their standard of living and developing the villages.

He lamented that the Government had built public toilets, spending Rs.200 crore in various parts of the state for the benefit of women, but they remained locked in most of the places. If the toilets could not be used for want of water, the local women and those from Self Help Groups should take up the issue with the local Panchayat President and District Panchayat Chairman.

Similarly, public libraries remained locked for months and years together in many areas and people simply do not bother.
They should realize the toilets and libraries have been built for their benefits and with their tax money, he said. The Minister also distributed laptops at a cost of Rs 26.50 lakh and books for establishing learning centres.

1 comment:

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