Bengal IT firms take lead role in Nehru solar mission

“We have to do the selection based on three criteria — the interested company should be able to spend Rs 4 crore per mw of energy produced,it should have the required amount of land or roof-top space and its board should take a resolution to that effect,” said Gon Choudhury. “For every unit,the government will give the company a Rs12 incentive and the company will sell each unit for Rs 5.50 to CESC,WBSEDCL and DPL,” he added.

Of the 55 companies which had applied with WBGEDC,33 have been selected,including Wipro,Webel,Concast Cement,Shyam Steel,Stone India and DPSC. The list has been sent to the Union ministry and the Union government will publish a final list of the companies by August 16.

Work will start from September and the companies finally selected are expected to produce 20 mw by March 2011. In accordance with the Central rules,an unique pre-registration number has also been given to each of the companies. “It is going to be a great thing… 20 mw power will considerably decrease Kolkata’s power shortage.,” said Gon Choudhury.

The companies are required to invest the money and land in the project but do not need any technical expertise to be part of the project. They will hand over the work to Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors,who will set up and maintain the plants.

In a separate WBGEDC project,solar energy generation units have been installed at Gurrudas College for the past three months. In a unique bid to lower their sky-rocketing electricity bills as well to spread awareness on environment-friendly power generation,several colleges like Bethune College,Gurudas College and Krishnanagar Government College have sent proposals to the organisation for the installation of solar energy generation units.