CCI approves 13 power projects worth Rs 33,000 cr

The government today approved 13 power projects, entailing investments worth Rs 33,000 crore, which were pending approvals due to various reasons.
Of the 20 projects reviewed by the newly appointed Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI), 13 projects involving investment of about Rs 33,000 crore have been cleared, an official statement said.
"These 13 projects include 10 transmission, one hydro and two thermal projects," the statement said.
CCI reviewed the status of 20 projects, each with investment of Rs 1,000 crore or more, which were pending for different types of approvals and clearances with a view to expediting decisions on approvals and clearances, it added.

"One has already been recommended by the Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) of Ministry of Environment and Forests for clearance," the statement said.
"For the other two projects Ministry of Power has decided not to move the proposal to CCI and is following up with the Ministry of Coal. For remaining four projects, the matter is being followed up with state governments and other ministries for clearances," it added.
The projects were identified in transmission, hydro and thermal sector where various clearances are pending mostly with Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF).
There were 10 projects from transmission sector awaiting clearances for Stage-I and Stage-II forest clearance from MoEF, three projects from hydro sector and seven projects from thermal sector awaiting clearances from other Ministries.