Telangana: Plan to set up solar plant gains momentum

Hyderabad: The Telangana government’s plan to set up solar power plants on endowment lands is taking shape and the officials concerned have been asked to complete the project within the next six months. In order to save huge tracts of temple lands, the state government has taken the initiative to set up solar power plants on these lands to generate green energy. Sources say the government has planned to set up solar power plants on 252.39 acres of temple lands across the state under the Mahila Shakti scheme. In the first phase, solar power plants will be set up on 231.05 acres in five districts – Medak, Bhongir, Siddipet, Nirmal and Hanamkonda. Sources say Chief Secretary A Shanthi Kumari has recently issued directions to expedite solar and other projects aimed at empowering women self-help groups (SHGs) across the state. She directed officials to ensure timely installation of solar power plants on 231 acres of leased endowment land in five districts as part of the first phase. Women from the self-help groups will be given the responsibility of implementing the project and maintaining it. The state government will also provide funds to the self-help groups to set up the solar plants. Officials said the initiative will help women from the self-help groups earn revenue through the maintenance of the solar plants. Officials claimed that installing solar plants on temple lands will not only reduce the electricity bills of temples but also help protect them from encroachment. They said the move will also help temples earn revenue by selling excess power to discoms through the power grid. The government has already taken steps to ensure that temple lands are not registered in the name of any individual. Geotagging exercises have also been initiated by the endowments department. So far, about 34,000 acres of temple land has been geotagged. District collectors have been directed to initiate measures to retrieve encroached and alienated endowment lands. There are 704 temples managed by the Endowments Department across the state, spread over a total area of ​​91,827 acres. What is worrying is that 25,000 acres of this land has already been encroached upon and an additional 6,000 acres is under the jurisdiction of neighbouring states.