Land lease may be cancelled for AEDB

Karachi: Land measuring 33,976 acres, granted on lease in Gharo and Jhampir to the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) for installation of windmills, may be cancelled due to non-utilisation within the stipulated period.

According to details available, of the 21 companies which were allotted this land, so far only Zorlu Emerji, of Turkey, has utilised its allotted land by installing a windmill.

Following a directive received from the President of Pakistan to know the exact status of the land leased out to AEDB, the Additional Chief Secretary had convened a meeting here on December 15 to review progress on the installation of windmills in Thatta by AEDB, for power generation. The issue was discussed threadbare in the light of a presentation made by ADEB, highlighting progress/impediments in the implementation of the project.

Sindh Land Utilisation Department Secretary had, in February 2008 informed the Executive District Officer (Revenue), Thatta, about the grant of lease for 30 years of an area of 33,976 acres, consisting of 19,807 acres in Gharo and 14169 acres in Jhampir. The rate for lease money was fixed as follows: from one year to 10 years @ Rs 500 per acre per year; from 11 to 20 years @ Rs 1000 per acre per year; and from 21 to 30 years @ Rs 2000 per acre per year. The lease money for the first 10 years, viz Rs 16,98,80,000 had also been deposited in lump sum in the treasury.

The first condition of lease was that the project should be initiated within a period of six months. In case of non-completion of the project, land would be forfeited to the government, without any notice and without payment of any compensation for any structure raised. In justifiable circumstances, however, the government, only on payment of non-utilisation fee of 10 percent of the price (occupancy value) may extend the completion period of the project.

It was agreed that the land should be solely used for installation windmills to generate electricity, and would not be used for any other purpose, unless the lessee obtained prior permission from the lessor, and the lessee fulfil the conditions on which permission is granted.

Pakistan has a considerable potential of wind energy in the coastal belt of Sindh, Balochistan and in the desert areas of both Punjab and Sindh. This renewable source of energy has, however, not so far been utilised significantly.

The wind data of all Pakistan was collected from Pakistan Meteorological Department and analysed by the AEDB. As per the collected data, the coastal belt of Pakistan is blessed with a God gifted wind corridor that is 60 km wide (Gharo-Kati Bandar) and 180 km long (up to Hyderabad).

This corridor has the exploitable potential of 50,000 mw electricity generation through wind energy. Most of the remote villages in the south can be electrified through micro wind turbines. It is estimated that more than 5000 villages can be electrified through wind energy in Sindh, Balochistan and northern areas.