Forces plan to optimise unused defence land for green energy, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Armed Forces plan to optimize approximately 46,000 acres of unused defence land for green energy projects over the next three to five years.
• Projects under consideration include solar plants, biogas plants, afforestation, and floriculture for carbon credits.
• NTPC Green and other PSUs may collaborate on these projects.
• A consultant has been engaged to assess feasible options, and a pilot solar plant project is being planned in collaboration with NTPC Green.

Detailed Insights:

• The initiative aims to utilize unutilized defence land for environmentally beneficial projects while ensuring its integrity and preventing encroachment.
• The Ministry of Defence approved a policy in 2020 allowing defence land to be used for public infrastructure if equal value infrastructure is provided in return.
• Revenue generated from these projects may be used to enhance infrastructure for the Defence Forces.
• The land will be made available to central and state governments and allied organizations after a feasibility study determines the specific project.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Afforestation: The process of planting trees in areas that have little or no forest cover.
• Carbon Credits: Permits that allow a company to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide and can be traded if the company emits less.
• PSU (Public Sector Undertaking): A company in which the majority of shares are owned by the government.