The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has invited bids for 106 MW of solar plants under the PM KUSUM scheme. The scheme originally centred on solar pumps but was later extended to include solar plants. The bids are invited to create plants of capacity ranging from 1.5 MW to 1 MW to 2 MW on various lands -- barren or agriculture land, pasturelands and marshlands within a radius of 5 km from selected 33/11 KV substations. The bidders are expected to participate in the Request for Selection (RfS) for the establishment of grid-connected solar photovoltaic power projects on a Build-Own-Operate (B-O-O) basis. The scheme prohibits any bidder to bid over 2 MW on any of the 24 substations and their neighbouring areas that participate in the tax-based bidding process. Bidders can submit their bids on or before June 15, with an earnest money deposit requirement of Rs 5,900 per MW. Since discoms are not taking any obligations in arranging land or implementing such agreements, the land lease agreement made with a group of farmers/farmer bodies is compulsory. The launch date of the project had been confirmed to be set 12 months before the date of issue of letter of allotment to a successful bidder. With the state still trying to revive from the unexpected impacts of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the clarity of deadlines of UPNEDA could be tentative and bidding could limit to smaller firms. On the other hand, the scheme can be considered as an opportunity to prove the efficiency of the state by dodging the fact that they are slow in their processes. Image Source Also read: PM KUSUM: Odisha floats tender for 500 MW solar projects Also read: Vikram Solar commissions 85 MW solar plant in Uttar Pradesh