Question : GEO THERMAL POWER PLANTS

(a) whether a request has been made by the member to the department to remove the `geothermal power plant` which is in depilating conditions at Manikaran in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh and hand over the site to the village Panchayat;

(b) whether a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Director (Technology Division) to handover the site to the Manikaran village panchayat;

(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of officers attended the meeting and the expenditure incurred on payment of TA/DA in organizing the meetings; and

(d) the time by which the said site is likely to be handed over to the village panchayat?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE), (SHRI M. KANNAPPAN)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b) & (c): No separate meeting was held by the Ministry to handover the project site to Manikaran village panchayat. However, a meeting was held in the Ministry to discuss various issues regarding the status, possibility of reviving the project and transferring the same to some research institutes for further research or alternatively to close down the project and hand over the land to its original owner. The meeting was attended by five officers from different organizations. An amount of Rs. 4,675/- was spent on TA/DA in organizing this meeting. As decided in this meeting, a team of experts visited the site and recommended the closure of the project and handing over the land to its original owner.

(d): The case of closing down the project and handing over the land to its original owner is under consideration of the Ministry; and the decision in this regard will be conveyed to the State Government.