Kilinochchi – Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and the Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Authority Ranjith Sebala visited the area where the wind power project is to be set up on the south coast of Poonakary Kautharimunai yesterday (15) evening.
On this occasion, the Chairman of the Authority clarified the project to the Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda.
Minister Douglas Devananda said the project would help improve the living standards of the people.
Ranjit Sebala said 240 MW of electricity would be generated by the project.
He said 600 hectares of land has been set aside for the project and the remaining land will be released for people’s agricultural activities after the power plant is set up.
Gaudarimunai is an area of central importance in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat Division.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka has requested the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat to set aside land for the construction of a wind power project on the south coast of Gaudarimunai.
The Gazette was also issued on 17th April 2014 for the acquisition of land in the area.
On November 10, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority sent a letter to the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat requesting permission from two Indian nationals to conduct a field study on the renewable energy project.
Renewable Energy Authority officials went there last December to visit the site allotted for the wind power project at Poonakary Gowdarimunai.
During this time, the officers traveled by boat from Mannithalai landing area and visited Kanna Island and Mandivu areas.
The General Manager of Webcos, which is under the Ministry of Water Power, Government of India, visited the Gautarim area last month and met the people.
It is also reported that Webcos, a subsidiary of the Indian Ministry of Hydropower, and the CEA of Sri Lanka are in the process of preparing a community environmental report for the Poonakary Wind Power Station.
To this end, it is noteworthy that they have been visiting the houses in the Gaudarimunai area in connection with the project.