Floating solar plant at Bhakra suffers damage
Nangal, April 27
The largest floating solar plant of North India being installed at Bhakra Nangal in Himachal Pradesh area has been damaged leading to a huge loss to the construction company. The foundation stone of the plant valued at Rs 90 crore was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually on March 4.
The state-owned SJVN in agreement with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) had started setting up country’s first downstream solar installation on the Bhakra-Nangal reservoir. It will save close to 6,57,795 tonnes of CO2 emissions and produce over 33 million units of power output per year. A Mohali-based private company has been awarded the work of installing the plant.
The officials concerned said nearly 7 per cent of the work of installing the plant had already been completed and it was to be commissioned in August this year. Yesterday around 7.30 pm, they came to know that a large number of solar panels installed on the reservoir were washed away.
SJVN deputy general manager Pushkar Verma said they were busy in recovering the washed away solar panels and could comment only after ascertaining the reasons behind it and the quantum of loss.
