Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said in a text message that all clearances have been accorded to the 444 megawatt (MW) Vishnugad-Pipalkoti project in Chamoli district, which will be developed by state-owned THDC India Ltd.
“The project will be put to the World Bank board for approval on the 30th (of June)," said Michael Haney, senior energy specialist, World Bank. The board only considers projects with environmental clearances for funding.
The project, earlier scheduled for commissioning by 2013, is located on the Alaknanda, a Ganga tributary, and is expected to have four units of 111MW each involving a total investment of Rs.3,100 crore.
Funding was held up in the absence of a forest clearance and concerns about its environmental clearance, Mint had reported on 16 July. These issues, along with fears about the overall impact of hydropower projects on river basins of the region, had prompted the environment ministry to order a review. Read the full report here.
Source: Live Mint.com.
