Five power transmission projects worth Rs 7,000 cr facing delays

The projects are stuck due to delay in wild life clearances

Five power transmission projects involving investment of about Rs 7,000 crore are stuck due to delay in wild life clearances, sources said.

Normally, it takes about 36-50 months for companies to execute transmission projects of which 24 months are consumed in receiving wild life clearance, sources said.

Among the five projects, the proposed transmission line from Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) to Jaipur (Rajasthan), which involves a wild life sanctuary, is awaiting approvals.

Another line from Gwalior to Jaipur is also awaiting wildlife clearance which subsequently requires Supreme Court approval for taking up forest clearance.

Punatsangchu (Bhutan) - Alipurduar (West Bengal) and Punatsangchu-I - Alipurduar projects involve wild life areas and the case will be put up for consideration of state wild life board.

Rajgarh-Karamsad transmission line passing through Kharmor Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh is also awaiting clearance.

According to sources, the central government is likely to request the court that power transmission lines should not be treated at par with other infrastructure projects as they have a much smaller footprint and do not involve large-scale deforestation by cutting trees.

It believes that power transmission projects are linear and largely aerial in nature and do not require environment Impact Assessment study.

Transmission towers by design allow free movement of wild life and hence have least impact on well being of the wild life.