UP’s Bakhira Bird Sanctuary Could Soon Welcome 50 MW Solar Plant

UP's Bakhira Bird Sanctuary Could Soon Welcome 50 MW Solar Plant

Bakhira Bird Sanctuary, a Ramsar site which is India’s largest natural floodplain wetland in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, could soon welcome a 50 MW solar plant under the solar policy of the state.

Anupam Shukla, Director, Uttar Pradesh New & Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) informed that a tender may soon be released for developers who would like to bid for the project for the Bakhira Bird Sanctuary. The solar plant could be ground-mounted or even floating- a decision that will be arrived after a feasibility report is drawn.

The Lucknow Solar Power Development Corporation Ltd (LSPDCL) has been told by UPNEDA to undertake a feasibility study in order to check the viability of setting up a solar plant in the Bakhira region. The study will also recommend whether floating or a ground mounted would be a better fit basis the geographical topography.

The LSPDCL is a joint venture of the UPNEDA and SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India).

The 50 MW solar project will be also used for lighting and other purposes in the sanctuary. As of now, Uttar Pradesh boasts only one floating solar power plant in the state for a capacity of 20 MW. It has been established in Auraya by NTPC.

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This isn’t the first time that a tender will be released for the employment of renewable energy in a wildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. As far back as 2019, SECI had issued a tender for installing solar street lights and fox lights in Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary located in the state.

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In 2016, the Forest Department in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) had installed solar panels for lighting systems and solar powered pumps in check-posts located in remote areas to provide basic amenities to forest guards.