The Departmental Oversight Committee on Power and Transport has given necessary instructions to expedite the construction of the delayed Siambalanduwa 100 MW Solar Park.
This instruction was given when the Departmental Oversight Committee on Power and Transport met recently (09) under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Nalaka Bandara Kottekoda to resolve the land issues faced by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority regarding sustainable energy projects.
Officials from the Sustainable Energy Authority indicated that the Simbalanduwa solar project would cost US$120 million. Even so, they said that due to the delay in the construction of this power station, there is a loss of 19 million rupees per day.
Officials of the Authority mentioned that the construction work is delayed due to the problems encountered in progressing the works of the solar park, the access road to the solar park. Officials said that the case related to this access road is pending in the court and the court has given permission to use the said road until the case is concluded. However, officials pointed out that the Vatican has been cut off to make heavy vehicles impassable despite a court order to use the road.
Therefore, the chairman of the committee instructed the authorities to repair the Vatican and to make the road suitable for vehicles with the cooperation of the police. Also, instructions were given to declare this road as a public road in the gazette subject to the court order and carry out the necessary works for its acquisition as soon as possible. The chairman of the committee pointed out the importance of the successful completion of the Simbalanduwa solar power project, which is being implemented by the government for the first time in the country, and noted that it requires the support of all parties concerned.
Meanwhile, the committee also discussed about getting the land proposed to be acquired for the Mannar and Poonagri wind power projects to the Permanent Power Authority through special permits.
Accordingly, the Committee advised the District Secretary and Divisional Secretary to take necessary steps to end the land acquisition issues at the earliest. The committee also directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to speed up the land surveying work.
Members of Parliament Kumarasiri Ratnayake and Honorable Yadamini Gunawardena participated in the committee meeting.
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