Centre to fast-track green nods for all Indus river basin projects

NEW DELHI: The Centre will fast-track environmental clearances of all pending and proposed projects in the Indus River Basin in J&K to utilise the maximum amount of water from the river system in the wake of govt keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam attack."The ministry will ensure that all the green clearances/regulatory approvals for these strategic projects are granted expeditiously, while ensuring appropriate scientific rigour in the appraisal process," Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav told TOI. Besides getting green clearance for the proposed hydro-power projects, the Centre will require a similar nod for creating irrigation infrastructure and water storage capacity in the region.The hydro-electric projects which await different clearances include Uri stage-II (240 MW), Kirthai-II (930 MW) and Sawalkot (1856 MW). In addition to clean electricity generation, these projects will also be important for building water storage capacity due to accompanying reservoirs.Though the ministry had taken multiple measures, including setting up a single-window portal, to speed up the processes of green clearances in the past few years, the minister's remarks show govt's intent of prioritising projects of strategic importance.