PM may lay foundation stone for energy park.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the state on November 30, which is celebrated as ‘Dev Diwali’. Modi was in Gujarat for two days last month to launch various public works at the Statue of Unity (SOU) site at Kevadiya and to inaugurate the seaplane service between Ahmedabad and Kevadiya.

According to key sources in the government, a request has been sent to the PM, inviting him to visit the state on November 30 and lay the stone for the 40,000MW renewable energy park at a site in Kutch.

“The state government has also requested the PM to inaugurate the new seawater desalination plant at Mandvi in Kutch on the same day,” a source said. “The state government has requested time on November 30 or any suitable time in December. The PM’s office was briefed about the project preparation. The Government of India’s agencies are also involved in the project.”

In September this year, the Gujarat cabinet cleared the long-pending proposal for the biggest, 41,500MW, renewable energy (solar & wind) park at Kutch spread across 60,000 hectares. With other formalities having been completed, agencies can start ground-level work after the stone-laying by the Prime Minister.

The hybrid renewable energy park is expected to attract about Rs. 1.35 lakh crore investment in the coming two years. The PMO has given the deadline of 2022 for the completion of the project.

The cabinet has allocated land to SECI, NTPC, GIPCL, GSEC, Adani Power and Suzlon. These companies are expected to set up 23,000MW, 5,000MW, 2,500MW, 3,500MW, 3,500MW and 4,000MW solar and wind power generation projects respectively.

ET