Chennai: Madras high court has ordered an interim stay on the communication from Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Ltd (TNGECL) to keep upcoming solar and wind projects in the state in abeyance citing irregularities in approvals and review of the accorded consent letters.As many as 226 solar projects with a total capacity of 736.5MW, and seven wind projects with a total capacity of 400MW have been kept under abeyance. Single judge G R Swaminathan allowed the writ petition filed by SunPro Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd on Friday against TNGECL’s decision, as the petitioner said it made investments and availed bank guarantees with due approvals from the power utility.Earlier, the no objection certificate, feasibility and registration, issued to solar and wind projects from March 1 to May 19, were put on hold after R Nirmalkumar was appointed as the state electricity minister. He said the department had detected irregularities in granting approvals to solar and wind projects. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board chief financial controller V Kasi and chief engineer for Non-Conventional Energy Sources P Chandrasekaranwere suspended, and departmental action initiated against retired director Mangalanathan.The petitioner informed the court that the impugned letter is arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional. In the petition, the firm said it started work on establishing a 230kV pooling substation to evacuate 150MW of solar power, for which it invested 675 crore on the land and equipment.“The delay in completing the project would lead to penalties and financial loss for the petitioner,” counsel said. Recording the submission, the judge ordered interim stay.
