Govt halts Adani project in Western Ghats
Following a landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad, the Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has denied clearance to Adani Green Energy Limited’s proposed 1,500 MW pumped storage project in Maharashtra’s fragile Western Ghats. The committee raised concerns over the drastic increase in forest land required for the project, from 24.50 hectares to 88.98 hectares, more than three times the original estimate.
The committee has instructed Adani to reapply with a proposal that minimises the environmental impact, noting that the current configuration of the Warasgaon Warangi pumped storage project would pose a threat to the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region. Initially, the project received preliminary approval in February 2023, but the company sought to expand its capacity from 1,200 MW to 1,500 MW.
In addition to rejecting the clearance, the panel said, “No final approvals for pumped hydropower projects in the Western Ghats would be granted without comprehensive site visits to assess environmental impacts.” Although preliminary clearances have been issued for 15 such projects in the region, final clearance hinges on thorough environmental impact assessments and site inspections.
The committee’s decision reflects the need to safeguard the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots.
Minimises environmental impact
- The committee has instructed Adani to reapply with a proposal that minimises the environmental impact, noting that the current configuration of the Warasgaon Warangi pumped storage project would pose a threat to the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region
- Initially, the project received preliminary approval in February 2023, but the company sought to expand its capacity from 1,200 MW to 1,500 MW
- Although preliminary clearances have been issued for 15 such projects in the region, final clearance hinges on thorough environmental impact assessments and site inspections
- The committee’s decision reflects the need to safeguard the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots
