Four hydro projs await environmental clearances

Four hydro power projects, having a total generation capacity of 1,472 MW, are awaiting environmental clearances, Parliament was informed today.

These projects are in Karnataka, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

"Four hydro electric projects, which have been accorded concurrence by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), are pending for clearance in the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) as on date," Minister of State for Power Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

They include 500 MW Hirong project in Arunachal Pradesh and 520 MW Teesta Stage IV plant in Sikkim.

According to the Minister, MoEF has given environment clearance to two hydro projects having a total capacity of 994 MW in the last six months.

In another written reply, Scindia said there is an overall shortage of power in the country.

"Most of the states including Madhya Pradesh have power shortage both in terms of energy and peaking power.

"The shortage varies from state to state on month to month, day to day and hour to hour basis depending upon the demand and supply of power," he added.

In 2012-13, energy shortage on national average basis was 8.7%.