Parliament panel suggests strict timelines for solar park developments

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has recommended that the renewable energy ministry take more concrete steps with strict timelines to address the ongoing delays and challenges in solar park development. The Committee on Estimates of the Lok Sabha has highlighted the delays in finalizing power purchase agreements (PPAs) between solar power parks developers and states and distribution companies.

The committee, in its latest report submitted to the lower house, reiterated its earlier recommendation to establish a single window system and develop standardized PPA templates to set definite timelines for the approval process at each level within the ministry.

It attributed the delays in signing PPAs to factors such as lack of clear directions, prolonged internal

approval process, involvement of multiple ministries after finalization of tenders.

To address this, it had recommended to establish a single window system to minimize the complexities of internal approval process reducing the involvement of multiple ministries.

Further, the committee had also suggested the Ministry to collaborate with agencies to develop
standardized model formats for PPAs and fix definite time period for various levels of approval.

It urged the Ministry to make all out efforts to address the systemic challenges and ensuring that the mechanism in place have a direct and measurable impact on the solar park development
project.

Regarding the issue of Great Indian Bustard area where projects have been delayed because of wildlife concerns, the committee said it feels that the ministry should not just await the implementation of the expert Committee report on the subject but also actively explore and implement interim mitigation measures, such as installation of bird diverters on existing power lines, to minimize risks to the Great Indian Bustard population.