TCP okays solar panels (Herald)

TCP okays solar panels August 28, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: An in-principle policy decision, taken by the Town and Country Planning Department has set the ball rolling for what could eventually lead to setting up of solar panels in agricultural lands excluding agricultural wetlands as well as for other structures such as greenhouses. A policy decision taken at the TCP Board meeting held on Monday will now be fine tuned before it can be submitted to the government for approval and final notification. Speaking to Herald, Chief Town Planner S T Putturaju said that the practice has begun in other states as the push towards renewable energy grows. “There can be a day when villages become self sufficient with the help of these solar parks. We do not want a situation when the time comes for these to be set up, they realise there is no provision for it. We are just preparing the ground,” Putturaju said. The decision was taken after a sub-committee consisting of Director of Agriculture and GCCI President as members recommended that for the purposes of agriculture, animal husbandry temporary structures like greenhouses, solar panels, piggeries, mushroom production units, pump houses will be allowed. This sub-committee has now been asked to fine tune its proposal after taking into consideration the suggestions that came up at the board meeting. Putturaju, however, sought to allay fears that this provision will provide a loophole for other kinds of constructions to come up in agricultural lands. “The projects will be allowed only if there is a project report drawn up and approved by the agriculture department or the fisheries or animal husbandry departments whichever is the case,” he said. The agriculture department has already been actively promoting its precision farming techniques especially greenhouse farming for flowers and high value vegetables which has been shown to be successful in the state with already more than 15 projects in the pipeline in addition to the existing 10 active projects. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/TCP-okays-solar-panels/78739.html