Guwahati: The development of green power projects in the state received permission from the Assam Cabinet on Thursday.
A number of significant decisions, including those pertaining to the solar project, air connection, college recruitment, compensation for land purchase, and employment of safai karmacharis, were taken during a weekly meeting held at Janata Bhawan in Dispur.
The cabinet gave the go-ahead for the joint venture between OIL and Assam Power Generation Corporation (APGCL) to build green power projects with a combined capacity of 620 MW.
At least seven green power projects will be implemented in the following district:
- 70-MW Sonbeel Floating Solar Power Project
- 100-MW Tezpur Agrivoltaic Project
- 40-MW Golaghat Floating Solar Power Project
- 200-MW Margherita Solar Power Project
- 50 MW Lower Kopili Agrivoltaic Project
- 60-MW Chandrapur PSP with Solar Power Project
- 100-MW Batadrava Agrivoltaic Project
The debt-to-asset ratio for the aforementioned projects will be 80:20, with no obligation to the state government.
According to the cabinet, the projects will benefit 1,250 farmers and their families as well as up to 125 small producer organisations.
Meanwhile, the projected initiatives in Assam’s Sonitpur, Nagaon and Dima Hasao districts will promote sustainable economic growth.
The following are additional key decisions taken in the cabinet meeting:
New 70 MW Solar Project
- Approval to set up a 70 MW Solar Power Plant at Khudigaon Part-II under Bilasipara Revenue Circle in Dhubri district for sale of power to APDCL
- The proposed Solar Power Plant will be developed on Build-Own-Operate mode by Solar Power Generator.
Improving Air Connectivity
- Low-cost air services to be operated between non-UDAN routes
- ATDC will execute an MoU with FlyBig Airline
- In the first phase, such flights will operate on Dibrugarh-Guwahati and Guwahati-Silchar routes on pilot basis for 3 months and gradually the same services will connect other important routes too
- Airlines will sell tickets at market price, and prices cannot exceed Rs. 4,500 even during peak demand
- State Govt will provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) through ATDC for operating of such air services
Streamlining Recruitment in Colleges
- Assam College Services Recruitment Board to be constituted for selection of Principals and Assistant Professors of colleges
Fair Compensation for Land Acquisition
- Assam Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2015 to be amended for rationalisation of Multiplication Factors and review of the definition of ‘urban area’
Streamlining Employment of Safai Karmacharis
- Assam State Commission for Safar Karmacharis to be constituted to monitor implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.