7.5 MW electricity will be generated for the Barwala-Raipur Rani area in a year's time; proposal awaits final nod from the Haryana govt If everything goes as planned by the Panchkula district administration, 7.5 megawatts of electricity will be generated through poultry droppings to light up the power-starved Barwala-Raipur Rani area in a year's time. Touted as the second such unit in India after Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, where 4 MW power is being generated thus at present, the project is proposed to be executed with private participation in one of the largest poultry belts of the country. It will meet the twin objectives of curbing environmental degradation and meeting the power shortage in the area. The proposal has been sent to the Department of Renewable Energy and the Panchkula district administration is awaiting the final nod from the Haryana government to initiate the process of calling expressions of interest for setting up the project. The Barwala-Raipur Rani area that has a cluster of over 35 villages is known for its poultry industry. It hosts more than 135 poultry farms with 90 lakh birds which generate 250 tonnes of droppings a day. Poultry litter and use of poisonous chemicals to kill the flies bred on the waste have become a health hazard in the area. It was adversely affecting the fertility of the livestock of the area, according to a survey conducted by the district administration recently. Flies were leading to an increasing number of food poisoning cases and also affecting the eggs produced at the poultry farms. Alarmed at the situation, Praveen Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, started working on finding a solution to the problem. He consulted several experts of leading institutes in the last one year for the purpose. During such a meeting, experts of the Central Renewable Energy Department suggested to utilise the poultry litter to generate electricity. Kumar explored the idea, took poultry owners in confidence and started working on the ambitious project that is likely to cost around Rs 40 to 42 crore, according to initial estimates. Suresh Kumar Yadav, Assistant Director, Renewable Energy, said the proposal has been discussed even at the Central level and details will be chalked out soon and a location selected for the proposed plant. According to sources, at least eight to ten acres of land will be required for the project while generating 1 MW power will cost around Rs 5 to 7 crore. The poultry litter will be mixed with agricultural residue to generate power. "The project will require high class expertise to materialise. We will seek expressions of interest for setting up the project with the help of non-conventional energy experts,' said Kumar.