The world’s largest solar park set up at an investment of Rs 16,500 crore at Pavagada in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district was launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on 1st March 2018. The 2,000 MW park, named as ‘Shakti Sthala’, spans across 13,000 acres spread over five villages and is a benchmark in the unique people’s participation in power model put on ground, according to officials. The park’s development is anchored by the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corp. Ltd (KSPDCL), an entity formed in March 2015 as a joint venture between Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) and Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI). The project has been executed within a record time of two years, with zero land acquisition. Moreover, the farmers who have leased out their land are reaping greater benefits with Rs 21,000 per acre being offered as rental, an amount which has the scope to grow by five per cent every two years.