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Wind Power News: India
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
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A week after nod, Neemuch wind power project withdrawn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Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor-in-council approved 15 MW wind power project in Neemuch, the proposal was withdrawn before being placed before the 85-member BMC council, here on Saturday.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 »
Installation of windmills: Protesting villagers ‘attack’ police, private firm staffer
A police team and an employee of a private wind energy firm were injured after they were allegedly attacked by residents of Limbala village in Wankaner taluka of Morbi district late on Monday. According to an FIR registered in Wankaner, inspector Batuksinh Sarvaiya, a few policemen and Imtyaz Vora, an employee of Kintech Synergy Private Ltd (KSPL), an Ahmedabad-based wind energy firm, were in the village in connection with the ongoing protests against the installation of windmills in Limbala when . . . Complete story »
Protest against Suzlon windmills in Kutch reignites
The residents of Sangnara, in Nakhatrana taluka of Kutch, Gujarat, have stepped up their protest against the proposed plan of Indian wind turbine manufacturing giant Suzlon Energy Limited’s to install windmills on the forest land near the village. The villagers have again assembled around Vadvalu Talav, located near their village, and blocked the road leading to the foundation laid by Suzlon. “The villagers of Sangnara, who have been blocking the road for the last several days, don’t let the company . . . Complete story »
Gale uproots windmill in Vallioor
Madurai: Vehicle users could not drive against the wind in parts of Vallioor and Kavalkinaru in Tirunelveli district. A wind turbine installation was knocked off by strong winds in a private windmill station at Ambalavanapuram village, Vallioor. In the impact the blades caught fire and was extinguished after an hour and half struggle. Several trees were uprooted and power poles were knocked down in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari. Farmers were worried about the loss to banana crop loss in . . . Complete story »
Protests in Gujarat against corporate projects that threaten people’s livelihoods and damage the environment
Major public protests in Gujarat in July and August have highlighted people’s growing discontent over the State’s prioritisation of industry over their rights. Four industry giants are in the line of fire from local people’s groups for mining, wind farms and hazardous chemical pollution. On July 5, there was a well-attended protest in south Gujarat’s tribal-dominated Tapi district against Hindustan Zinc’s proposed smelter plant. In accordance with the Centre’s environmental rules, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) organised a public . . . Complete story »
