According to the Press Trust of India, the world’s largest solar park has been launched in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district. Known as ‘Shakti Sthala’, the park spans 13,000 acres spread over five villages and provides major economic benefits to local farmers and communities.
The park was completed without land acquisition and in a record time of two years – farmers leased out their land and receive rental returns. The beneficiaries of this project were 2,300 Pavagada farmers.
The chief minister said Karnataka has emerged as the third largest producer of renewable energy in the nation and was taking “bold strides” towards emerging as an energy surplus state. Their goal is 20 per cent of power from renewables.
The park will create employment and act as an incentive for natives and farmers to explore new opportunities of socio-economic growth in the region.
Interesting to note – given the controversy in Australia about the Adani Group’s ambitious coal project – a 648-mw power project set up by the Adani Green Energy, part of the Adani Group, in Tamil Nadu in 2016 was billed as the world’s largest solar plant.
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