Rajasthan, India
Witness the hitch in India's plan to build the world's largest solar power station on the edge of the countries largest lake saltwater, Sambhar Lake, located in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. The location was considered prime for its abundant sunlight and mostly unused shoreline, but the 4 Billion dollar project is being stalled by the newly elected local government on claims the area is utilized for salt production and is home to migratory birds.
The goal was to bring some relief to India's ever-expanding need for energy and lessen its dependence on imports of oil, gas, and coal. Currently, solar power provides about 1% of the countries energy needs. India could raise that up to 5% with this power plant producing the expected additional 4,000 Megawatts.
Sambhar Salt Lake, proposed site of world's largest solar plant
But the current attitude of the local administration feels that the carpets of photovoltaic cells would disrupt the migratory habits of the birds and spoil the ecology of the lake.
"We want to develop the site as a place of tourism as a lot of migratory birds come there," said Mahendra Bhardwaj, spokesman for Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. "Will the migratory birds still come to the lake if we install solar panels near the lake?"
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje
The consortium of six state-owned companies that wish to build this plant, disagree with the government on the impacts on the environment and await the federal government's decision.
A senior official with India's federal Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said the project may still go through, despite objections raised by the state government.
"The land issue is being sorted out. The state government has raised issues of land use," the official said, adding that the federal government was in favor of the project.
Hopefully a solution presents itself that can provide India with advancing solar opportunities while having minimal environmental impacts. As Solar power continues to develop, it is imperative its business model takes a lesson from energy production of the past, and avoids the callous and disrespectful attitude towards the environment that has seen so much damage already done to the earth and the creatures who habitate here.
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Credit: green-power-project.blogspot.com
