Centre's panel affirms Ratle hydel project green nod validity until Dec 20, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• The environmental clearance for the 850 MW Ratle hydroelectric project is extended until December 2030.
• The Union Environment Ministry's EAC approved the extension on January 9.
• Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (RHPCL) cited delays due to litigation and COVID-19 as reasons for the extension.
• The project has achieved 26.02% physical progress and is expected to be commissioned by November 2028.

Detailed Insights:

• The Ratle hydroelectric project is located on the Chenab River in the Indus basin.
• RHPCL is a joint venture between the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd.
• The EAC considered four years as a "zero period" due to delays, extending the initial clearance granted in 2012.
• Pakistan previously raised objections to the project's design, alleging violations of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.
• Following the treaty's suspension, projects like Ratle, Sawalkote, and Dulhasti stage-II have been expedited.
• The project faced earlier delays when the GVK Group withdrew in 2014, leading to litigation.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Environmental Clearance: Permission granted by a regulatory body to undertake a project, ensuring environmental safeguards.
• Indus Water Treaty: A water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, signed in 1960, regarding the use of the Indus River basin.
• Hydroelectric Project: A facility that generates electricity by harnessing the power of moving water.