Deal #10322

Land area

Intended size

440 ha

Size under contract (leased or purchased area)

[2016] 101 ha
[2020, current] 202 ha

Size in operation (production)

[2017] 90 ha
[2021, current] 190 ha

Comment on land area

At the beginning of the project in 2015, a total of 200MW solar energy generation was planned on an area of 440ha in Kerala. Part of the solar panels should be placed near the village Ambalathara near Kasaragod where 202 ha should be made available for the solar park (Sudhakaran 2015). Initially 50MW were built on 90 ha in Ambalathara in 2016 and 2017 (KSEB 2021a and 2021b). However, due to resistance by local governance bodies the 200MW was reduced to 50MW (Poikayil 2017). Consequently, central assistance for the project was lost (Kuriakose 2017). Later the local government changed and the new government built another 50MW plant in 2021 on 101 ha in Paivalika (Land Conflict Watch 2023, RPCKL 2022:19, Government of India 2023:24). The remaining 10 ha should be used for another 5MW project (KSEB 2021a).

Intention of investment

[2021, current] Solar park (202 ha)

Comment on intention of investment

KSEB 2021a

Nature of the deal

Outright purchase

Comment on nature of the deal

Land was transferred upon decision by cabinet to Renewable Power Corporation of Kerala Ltd (Poikayil 2017, RPCKL 2022:19)

Negotiation status

[2017, current] Concluded (Oral Agreement)

Comment on negotiation status

Solar park is operational since 2017 but was expanded in 2021 (Land Conflict Watch 2023, RPCKL 2022:19, Government of India 2023:24, KSEB 2021a & 2021b).

Implementation status

[2017, current] In operation (production)

Comment on implementation status

Solar park is operational since 2017 but was expanded in 2021 (Land Conflict Watch 2023, RPCKL 2022:19, Government of India 2023:24, KSEB 2021a & 2021b).