Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan inspecting the Integrated Renewable Energy Project at Pinnapuram after conducting an aerial survey of the project, in Kurnool district on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: U. SUBRAMANYAM
Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan said that the land disputes concerning the Integrated Renewable Energy Project (IREP) at Pinnapuram in Kurnool district will be sorted out soon.
The Deputy CM, who holds the Forest and Environment portfolio, conducted an aerial survey of the project and later held a review with the officials of Nandyal and Kurnool districts, and also representatives of the Greenko Energy which is executing the project.
Mr. Pawan Kalyan said that Greenko is known for its renewable energy projects for the past 15 years and it has invested more than 1.50 lakh crore so far in the country. Greenko already invested ₹30,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh, and in the Pinnapuram project alone it had invested ₹10,000 crore. The project at Pinnapuram started in 2021.
Mr. Pawan Kalyan said that after the NDA government came to power in the State, it found a violation with regard to some area of land and they are now trying to sort it. He said the project is coming up in 2,800 acres in Nandyal and Kurnool districts and Greenko had already acquired 1,700 acres, of which 1,453 acres belong to the Revenue Department.
“The firm has also purchased 365 hectares of forest land after getting permission from the Central government. It has also provided 365 hectares for compensatory forest development and also given ₹36 crore for afforestation,’’ he said.
However, there is 45 hectares of land which is in dispute as both the Revenue and Forest departments are claiming that it belongs to them. “The dispute has been there since 1962 and successive governments have even given pattas to 10-12 acres of the disputed land. We have asked the Centre to sort out the issue,” he said.
Mr. Pawan Kalyan said that he came for a ground visit of the project and found out that the project can be a good sightseeing spot as well as one for educational tours. The power generated from the project can provide 200 units per month to 43 lakh houses in the State, he added.
He said that large extent of forest lands have been encroached in Kadapa, Kurnool and Chittoor districts. “We will launch a special drive to identify the encroached lands and the extent of lands that are under encroachment. We will review and take corrective action,’’ Mr. Pawan Kalyan said.
Published – January 11, 2025 07:58 pm IST