Solar power plants to come up at coal-based project sites
With some of the state power generation utility’s proposed coal-based projects not likely to be logistically viable, the Maharashtra government is planning to use the land meant for these projects to generate solar energy. The state is also planning a 4,000 MW pithead-based power plant near a coal mine allocated to it at Chhattisgarh to meet the state’s future energy needs.
“The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco) had planned a few projects at sites like Dondaicha, Bhusaswal and Nashik. However, despite this, there are no proper coal linkages for these power plants. Land acquisition has been completed but the high transport cost for coal to be supplied to these projects is a problem,” state power minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule told dna.