KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has issued a notice to the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) on a petition against the proposal to set up a solar plant on the ground adjacent to the runway, which is a clearance space at the airport.
The court issued the notice on the petition filed by Kochi Development Society president Sunil Kumar M, seeking a directive to implement the project only after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The solar photo voltaic (SPV) power plants, proposed to be installed at the airport, will be the largest such project in India, with a capacity of 12 mwts. Nearly 50-60 acres of land has been set apart for erecting solar panels. According to the petitioner, glare from the solar modules would cause serious safety issues to aircraft. The petitioner has also sought a directive to the Central Government to obtain a report from the CIAL on the safety aspects of the project.