At 1200 meters above mean sea level, there are six wind turbines of RRB Energy Limited installed on a mountain ridge of Western ghats, Shaturanga Parai. The lure of Shaturanga Parai is irresistible. I have been visiting this place frequently for the construction of a wind farm project for M/s. Wizemann Financial Resources. During every visit I feel relaxed and recharged and I want to visit again!
A non-descript village in Theni hills, Shaturanga Parai is now easy to spot thanks to the wind turbines that dot the skyline. Visible miles away in the Theni plains as one drives towards the ghats in the west, these turbines appear as small dots. But when you reach the site it turns out to be an awesome spectacle – massive structures standing tall with their blades in motion, six of them in a row on a ridge. Each a power source, these machines produce green energy and empower the Tamil Nadu electricity grid.
Shaturanga Parai has a meaning and a story behind the name. ‘Shaturanga’ means chess and ‘Parai’ means rock. The locals have a story to tell. It is about the Pandavas staying at this place during their ‘Vanavas’ and enjoying a game of chess. The place is beautiful, a nature’s gift indeed. It attracts visitors who love nature, the panoramic view and wild life. The mild cold weather is pleasant but it can turn horrible due to heavy winds and unpredictable bursts of rain anytime.
Let me tell you more about the wind mills at Shaturanga Parai. At 1200 meters above mean sea level, this is the highest wind farm in Tamil Nadu and perhaps one of the highest in the Country. The wind speed goes above 30 meter per second quite often. At such speeds it is frightening to be at the site as one can be swept away. It was a logistics night-mare to get the turbines to the site. Massive cranes and trailors loaded with 23 meter blades could not negotiate the direct road from Theni to Shaturanga Parai. It involved several reconnaissance trips and detailed preparation and above all, skills of personnel and willingness to take risks that enabled the successful execution of the project. Hats off to the guys who achieved this amazing and spectacular feat!
A little more about my involvement in this Project. Way back in 2004, I had a chance meeting with a navy veteran, Commadore, Swaminathan at Theni International, a hotel at Theni. His passion for wind energy and invitation to visit a site near ‘Ramakkalmedu’, the area with highest wind power density recorded in the Country excited me. A two hour back breaking jeep ride with the Commadore was an unforgettable experience. He took me to Shaturanga Parai and waxed eloquent about a wind farm project, on a mountain ridge. I was impressed by his idea and the preliminary work done by him in getting various approvals from Government. But I could not recommend to our management the proposal to build a wind farm in view of the challenges in infrastructure development and logistics. I remember how the Commadore wanted to move the turbine by helicopter to the site as an under slung load!
Well, we did not take up this project in 2004 but it remained on the back burner to come alive five years later. In the meantime,M/s. Wizemann Financial Resources became the owner of the property, and RRB Energy Limited agreed upon doing the project in 2009. It took us almost one year to commission this project. Our project managers and engineers braved the hostile climate, danger posed by the environment including wild animals and innumerable logistics night mares to execute this project. The project incharge, Sundaresan and Supervisors Bhagawathi Perumal and Rajkumar deserve special mention for their commendable efforts.
Parai Project is a great achievement not only for RRB Energy Limited, the turbine manufacturer and project developer and M/s. Wizemann Financial Resources, the wind farm owner but other stake holders as well. For Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board, it is another feather in the cap to have a green power source at 1200 meters feeding their grid. The project received a lot of media and government attention in Kerala too, due to its proximity to the border.
The people of the area, a mixed population of Tamils and Malayalees have welcomed the project.
With this project, RRB Energy Limited once again demonstrated its pioneering zeal and spirit of adventure. It is a land mark achievement, which make all of us feel proud.
*The Author was Head Projects, RRB Energy Limited
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