Tamil Nadu CM asks center to come out with viable policy on offshore wind energy

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged the Central government to come out with a viable policy on harnessing offshore wind energy.

Speaking at the Southern Zonal Council meeting held in Tirupathi on Sunday, Stalin said the state has huge potential to harness offshore wind energy.

“However, we are yet to get a green signal from the Central government to go ahead with our projects. Many international organisations are keen to establish partnerships with our government,” he added.

“Therefore, we request the Union government to come out with a viable policy in this regard at its earliest,” the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said.

According to him, Tamil Nadu has been a pioneer in promoting renewable energy sources which are eco-friendly and non-exhaustive.

The state is blessed with hot weather, vast coastline and strong wind potential that are yet to be fully exploited to meet its energy requirement.

Tamil Nadu has signed several agreements to use this potential and maximise the returns.

With regard to the transfer of railway land for the metro rail project, Stalin said it should be done on a permanent basis.

“The transfer must be with full surface rights without any restriction when 99 per cent of the market value is charged, as is being done by other Central government departments or agencies for underground tunneling work below their land,” the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister added.

“If the full surface rights are not given, then only nominal or token value should be charged for restricted rights. In underground tunneling, even for depth less than 15 metres, only the nominal fee as track rent should be charged. When the surface is not affected and no surface rights are given, it is totally unreasonable to charge any such amount,” he said.

According to Stalin, instructions have been given to sensitise and create awareness among the fishermen to carry documents, identity cards and QR-based Aadhaar cards.

The field officers are randomly checking the presence of biometric cards or Aadhaar cards, boat registration certificates while venturing into the sea.

During the patrolling, the Indian Coast Guards, Marine Enforcement wing or Coastal Security officials are also verifying the presence of QR-based Aadhaar cards of the fishermen at sea, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister added.