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Wind Power News: India
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Wind turbines in India’s Thar Desert stir controversy
In India’s Thar Desert, the wind turbines generating critical green energy for the country cast a shadow of discontent among local communities. Despite their role in India’s push to increase renewable energy and combat climate change, residents argue that these projects’ environmental and social costs are high. The Thar Desert, particularly in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, hosts one of India’s largest onshore wind farms. The region’s wind turbines contribute significantly to India’s renewable energy capacity, with Rajasthan alone capable of providing . . . Complete story »
Nod for wind turbines near homes, school to be probed
The Gujarat high court on Friday directed the chairman of the Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) to inquiry into the permission granted and installation of windmills within 500 metres of a primary school and dwelling units in a Bhavnagar village. A public interest litigation (PIL) has challenged the construction of wind turbines near a primary school and houses in a wind park developed by KP Energy Pvt Ltd in Sakhvadar, Khanderi, and Sartanpar villages of Talaja taluka in Bhavnagar. The . . . Complete story »
Man falls to death from wind mill structure in Theni
Saravanakumar, son of Marimuthu of VOC Street, Jayamangalam in Periyakulam in Theni district, died when he allegedly fell from a 15-feet high wind mill structure at a place in Kandamanur police station limits on Friday. Police said that he was working in the wind mill unit for the last year and had gone to carry out some repairs in one of the structures. When he reached the top along with some electrical materials and equipment, he suddenly slipped and fell . . . Complete story »
The dark side of wind energy along Gujarat’s coast
Manisha Patel still vividly remembers seeing students fall asleep in her classroom in 2011. When Patel woke them up, they would be irritable. A few were simply unable to focus on their studies. “Initially, I could not understand what was happening,” said Patel, a middle-aged, bespectacled woman who travels from a nearby village to teach science at a government primary girls school in Jangi, a windy village in Gujarat’s Kachchh district. Jangi is 10 km inland from the Gulf of . . . Complete story »
Central panel seeks report on violations by windmill firm in Karnataka’s Chitradurga
Over the last 5 years several studies have highlighted the threat posed by wind mills to bird population. Amid calls for better regulation of windmills, the Forest Advisory Committee of the Union environment ministry has asked the state government for details of violations in the operation of a windmill on 550 acres in Chitradurga district. The committee was looking into a proposal by the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) which sought to extend the diversion of 548 acres of . . . Complete story »
A week after nod, Neemuch wind power project withdrawn
A week after Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor-in-council approved 15 MW wind power project in Neemuch, the proposal was withdrawn before being placed before the 85-member BMC council, here on Saturday. Also located in Neemuch some 425 km from Bhopal, status of two BMC solar power projects with a capacity of 10 MW is also in limbo. During the third council meeting since election, Bhopal mayor Malti Rai did not place the proposal for approval of the council. Later BMC officials said . . . Complete story »
The wind farm paradox in southern Tamil Nadu
Driving southward from Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli city, one crosses many towns and villages with all the typical scenes one would expect – busy buses and trains, students in a rush, and construction labourers boarding lorries to head to the workstation of the day. There are hospitals, colleges and universities, shops, and a lot of temples. Crossing Valliyur town, the landscape begins to change. The lush green fields surrounded by mountains, grazing goats and sheep, active morning birds and pastoralists and . . . Complete story »
Expansion of windmills in Kachchh impact unique thorn forest and wildlife
Chana Rana Rabari picked up a wooden staff as he entered the forest. He would require it to balance while crossing the undulating terrain and thorny vegetation in the jungle. “This is khair (Capparis decidua). Its gum is eaten for strengthening bones. It sells for 400 rupees per kilogram,” he says, plucking a golden globule from the bark of a tree. He goes on to point Guggal (Commiphora wightii), Bor (Zizyphus mauritiana) and Khakra (Bombax Ceiba) trees, used as raisin, . . . Complete story »
Windmills a threat to birds, animals in Ch’durga, Gadag
Hubballi: A scientific report, published on www.nature.com on January 25, has revealed that the fatality rate of birds is increasing in Chitradurga and Gadag districts where a large number of windmills are installed. Wind turbines, an alternative and clean-energy source, have become a threat to birds as they collide with the turbine blades in some regions . Bird richness is found more in the control sites (CS) than in wind turbine sites (WS). The fatalities are due to the collision . . . Complete story »
Rare bird, forest protectors clash with India’s clean energy vision
A conservationist wants India’s government to bury renewable power lines to protect rare birds. Protesting villagers halt a wind energy project to save their local forest. And farmers stop a solar plant from eating up pastureland. As India forges ahead with ambitious plans to boost its clean energy supply here, the government is facing push-back that highlights the challenges of balancing the competing goals of going green with protecting wildlife and forests. While government authorities argue that shifting India away . . . Complete story »
