In yet another step to ease out clearance norms, the Environment Ministry is planning to approach the Supreme Court for permission to waive forest clearance norm to expedite building of new power transmission lines. As per the existing norms, linear projects like roads, oil and gas pipelines as well as power transmission lines that pass through wildlife sanctuaries require the nod of apex court.
According to sources in MoEF, the Government is taking legal opinion on the fact that the apex court could be asked to consider exempting power transmission lines from the stringent norms governing forest clearance and passage through wildlife sanctuaries.
The Centre is then likely to request the court to treat power transmission lines differently as they have a much smaller footprint and don’t involve large-scale deforestation by cutting trees, said the sources
If this segment of linear projects is able to get a waiver and the court gives nod, it could particularly fast track all power transmission line projects. This would specially come to the rescue of the new 1,000 MW power line, being built by Sterlite Technologies under Vedanta. This crucial project is to connect power-starved Kashmir with energy surplus Punjab.
The line would pass through difficult snowy terrains and densely forested landscape of Rajouri, Shopiyan which is close to the line of Control.
The sources explained that parts of the new line will be built at 10,000 feet above sea-level and through dense forest, including a wildlife sanctuary. It is only possible to work four-five months in a year in the region given the difficult conditions. Hence it would then take years to complete under the usual norms and circumstances. Such projects thus have to be expedited as they are of strategic national importance, the sources pointed out.
They added that the power lines being aerial do not interfere much with wildlife and also affect little vegetation or tree cover, as compared to say a highway. Hence, it is the need of the hour to seek an exemption from the Supreme Court and propose an alternate mechanism to scrutinise the mechanism of transmission line construction.