Karnataka turns to lake beds for solar power amid environmental concerns

The Karnataka Energy Department is turning to lake beds for setting up solar panels as part of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-Kusum)-C scheme, following a shortage of available government or private land.

This initiative comes amid growing opposition from environmentalists and conservationists to the state government's proposal to reduce buffer zones around lakes and rajakaluves for development purposes.

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Bescom has identified 15 lake beds

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has identified 15 lake beds located on the outskirts of Bengaluru and other district headquarters for the installation of solar panels. Bescom Managing Director N Shivakumar reportedly confirmed that necessary permissions have been obtained from the Minor Irrigation, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) departments.

Work has already begun at Sulibele Lake, with plans to generate 5MW of solar power, and at Kundabana Lake, which will produce 6MW. The goal is to generate 60MW using these 15 lake beds. To set up a 1MW plant, approximately four acres of land is required. Deputy commissioners have been tasked with identifying suitable government land for further implementation.

Shivakumar clarified that no lakes from the Arkavathy, Vrushabhavathi, or KC Valley projects will be used for the scheme. The state's ambitious target under PM-Kusum is to generate 39,000MW, with tenders already invited for 24,000MW.