Karnataka has chosen Bidar and Hospet for the development of solar cities, as per the recent announcement made by the Centre in Rajya Sabha.
Minister R K Singh, responsible for New and Renewable Energy, disclosed that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had urged all states to designate a minimum of one city each for solar city development. To facilitate this, a comprehensive concept note outlining the solar city development process was circulated to the states, along with a request to promptly finalize an action plan for the identified cities. The objective is to ensure the time-bound implementation of these plans, as emphasized by the Minister.
The Minister clarified that there is no distinct initiative exclusively dedicated to the development of solar cities. Instead, states have been encouraged to utilize existing government schemes like Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II to foster the progress of solar cities. In response, 27 States/Union Territories have already identified solar cities within their regions, as disclosed by the Minister in a written statement.
In response to a query by BJP Rajya Sabha member Narayana K (BJP), the minister revealed that a 500 MW Solar Park was sanctioned in Kalaburgi, Karnataka, on April 26, 2021, as per the State Government’s request. The Solar Power Park Developer for this project is Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited. However, the State Government has recently requested a change in the park’s location to Bidar, citing evacuation constraints, as stated by the Minister.
