Sindh govt to allot 26,000 acres for windmills

KARACHI - Sindh government has decided to allot 26,000 acres among 12 investors which include four local investors and eight foreign investors who are bound to generate 3,000MW power within 18 months.

This was decided in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah regarding grant of state land for producing Alternate Energy through construction of Wind Mills held at the Chief Minister House on Monday.

It was informed that there is precious corridor of wind in Jhimpir and with energy generation, employment opportunities will be generated. It was decided that new investments in windmills will be finalised after talks with federal government while the previous allotments will be continued in consultation and cooperation of the allotees.

The meeting was attended among others by Chairman Sindh Board of Investment Zubair Motiwala, Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Malik Israr, Senior Member Board of Revenue Sindh Shahzor Shamoon, Secretary Finance Sindh Naveed Kamran Baloch, Secretary Land Utilization, Secretary Sindh Board of Investment Naheed Shah, Deputy Commissioners of Thatta and Jamshoro and Coordinator (BOR) Nazar Muhammad Leghari.

The meeting discussed in details the old and new policy for grant of Land specifically for Wind Power Project. Earlier, Secretary BOI Naheed Shah Durrani in her view point and Secretary Land Utilization (BOR) Sindh Ghulam Mustafa Phul in his briefing pointed out statement of conditions for allotment of Land for Wind Power Project in Thatta and Jamshoro districts. In easement policy, he said that land was being allotted in blocks for 30 years lease at the rent of Rs500 per acre per annum for first ten years. He further informed that only area under direct impact will be leased which include turbine, switch room, service road, electrical cables and service facility.

He further informed that minimum rent of Rs50 per square yard per annum will be charged.

The chief minister stressed that efforts be made for power generation from coal together with the alternate energy to be obtained through construction of windmills.