JOIN USAddressing reporters on Saturday, Secretary of the Karnataka Chapter of the Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA), U B Reddy said that licenses had been issued for production of 8,000 MW of wind power, but clearances had not been given to most of the projects.
The ire of the Association is directed largely at the State nodal agency, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), who they say are delaying approvals for the projects and discouraging investors in the process.
“Despite the Energy Minister’s assurance, things are not moving forward. KREDL has become inactive and this is very disturbing,” Reddy said. He cited the example of British Petroleum which was interested in the setting up of a 100 MW wind energy project in the Chitradurga-Davanagere area. But after approvals got delayed by more than six months, the company pulled out of the project entirely.
Another Hong Kong-based company, China Light and Power Holdings which had invested in a 100 MW project in Saundatti in Belgaum district, is still waiting for forest land clearances, after depositing 35 of its turbines on the site. The company has now moved on to Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra and setting up power plants of 100 MW each.
Karnataka at present, is producing only 1,300 MW out of the sanctioned 8,000 MW of wind energy. IWPA hinted that officers at KREDL are blocking clearances, despite instructions from the Energy Minister to issue clearances and facilitate project transfers on a quicker basis.