Floating solar power project at Jayakwadi dam under NGT scrutiny

The bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Vijay Kulkarni has asked respondents to reply within four weeks, and the matter has been kept for hearing on September 9, to decide whether it should be admitted or not.

The petition has been filed by Kahar Samaj Panch Committee, seeking a direction for canceling the proposed floating solar power project at Jayakwadi Dam, which is a designated ‘bird sanctuary’ and eco-sensitive zone’.

Further, it is prayed that a direction be issued to the respondents to submit replies whether the project is feasible or not, considering the set environmental norms.

The respondent THDC India, owned by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), has issued a tender initiating the idea of setting up a floating solar project at Jayakwadi dam,which is an earthen dam, located on Godavari river in Jayakwadi village in Paithan Taluka of Sambhajinagar district.

“Such floating solar projects will be detrimental to aquatic life in the reservoir, which may cause permanent damage to the area’s biological diversity. It may also create multiple problems for the declared bird sanctuary. The reservoir supplies water for drinking and irrigation. Once covered with solar panels, the water will become contaminated,” said lawyer Asim Sarode representing the applicant.

He submitted that Nath Sagar Jalashay is the name of a reservoir formed by Jayakwadi Dam, which is fed by the Godavari and Pravara Rivers, which is about 55 km long, 27 km wide and spans over 350 sq km (140 sq mtrs).

The total area submerged by the reservoir is about 36,000 hectares (89,000 acres). He also said the submerged area of Jayakwadi dam has been declared as a wildlife sanctuary, hence the setting up of floating solar projects over the reservoir cannot be allowed considering environmental norms and the preservation of biodiversity.

Union environment and climate change ministry had issued a notification on July 12, 2017, stating the Jayakwadi or Nathsagar bird sanctuary area as eco-sensitive zone, he claimed, adding that attempts were being made to de-notify the area from being a bird sanctuary which is being considered as a hurdle in the setting up of the project which is aimed at minting money.

It further states that the project will pollute waters as once the water surface is covered, the aquatic life without oxygen will not grow. Birds and fishes will die as the chain of aquatic life will be disturbed.

Ecologists and conservationists are concerned about the long-term impacts of large scale floato voltaic (FPV) projects on freshwater ecosystems. They caution that in absence of any reported data or studies available, these projects could lead to an irreparable loss of biodiversity. It may trigger a chain of reactions in water bodies, causing harm to aquatic life and creating adverse shifts in the ecology of the place.