Green nod is holding up 30 hydel power projects

Owing to the fact that it takes up to 2,000 days or around six years to get environmental clearance for hydro- electric projects, construction of as many as 30 hydro- electric projects with a combined capacity of 23,500 mw is yet to take off.

Out of these 30 projects, 15 hydro- electric projects which are still awaiting construction due to delay in environmental and forest clearances are situated in the geographical and politically sensitive Arunachal Pradesh, due to its proximity with China.

Construction of these projects in Arunachal Pradesh is extremely important for India to counter the threat of floods, as China releases excess waters from the Tsangpo river ( as Brahmaputra river is known there) downstream.

Highly placed sources have said that apart from the considerable time being taken up in getting the all important environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the non- availability of land for compulsory afforestation in the areas where the hydro- electric projects are to be taken up, is also a major reason why 30 such projects are yet to reach the construction stage.

Normally it takes around two years to get environmental clearances for hydro projects, but sources point out that in actuality it takes around 2,000 days or up to six years to get these clearances. In addition to this, forest clearances in two stages also take up to two years, which considerably delays construction of such projects.

◗ Forest clearances in two stages take up to two years, which considerably delays construction. ◗ 15 hydro- electric projects are still awaiting construction.