Centre's Panel Affirms Ratle Hydroelectric Project Green Nod Validity Till December 2030
An expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry has upheld the extension of the environmental clearance for the 850 MW Ratle hydroelectric project, setting its validity until December 2030. This decision comes after the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (RHPCL) submitted requests for an extension, citing significant delays due to litigation and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background and Panel Decision
The Union Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on river valley and hydroelectric projects reviewed RHPCL's proposal during its January 9 meeting. Based on the minutes, the committee accepted the company's submissions, which included necessary documentary evidence showing that the project was halted for four years between July 2014 and July 2021. The EAC opined that this period should be considered as a zero period in calculating the validity of the environmental clearance.
Accordingly, the clearance granted to the Ratle hydroelectric project on December 12, 2012, is now valid until December 11, 2030, with a provision for further extension up to a maximum of two years. As of now, the project has achieved 26.02 per cent physical progress and is slated for commissioning by November 2028, subject to potential delays.
RHPCL's Submissions and Justifications
In its submissions prior to the January 9 meeting, RHPCL invoked past notifications and office memorandums issued by the Union Environment Ministry to seek an extension of the clearance validity. The company argued that although the project received initial clearance in 2012, valid for 10 years, much of the time until 2021 was lost in litigation.
The ministry typically grants relaxations to hydroelectric projects due to their high-gestation periods. With this, the clearance was initially valid until December 11, 2025, with a permissible further extension of up to two years. Citing an October 2025 office memorandum, which allows project developers to rationalise time lost due to court proceedings and stay orders, RHPCL claimed that the four-year litigation period should be considered as a zero period. Additionally, the company sought relaxation for the COVID-19 period, referencing another ministry notification.
Historical Context and Challenges
The Ratle project has faced numerous hurdles over the years. Initially awarded to the GVK Group, the company withdrew from the project in 2014, leading to litigation between GVK and the Jammu and Kashmir government. This delayed construction work and the implementation of the clearance. In 2017, the contract termination by the J-K government was upheld, and RHPCL was formed as a joint venture between the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd in 2019.
The joint venture awarded the construction work to Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd in January 2022. However, the project has been embroiled in controversies, including allegations of interference by BJP legislator Shagun Parihar in the recruitment process and reports by the J-K Police alleging that 29 people with suspected militant links were engaged in the project's work.
Furthermore, the project is subject to litigation in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), where residents of Thathri village filed a plea alleging muck dumping by Megha Engineering in the Chenab River during project work. The NGT has reserved judgment in this matter.
Broader Implications and Indus Water Treaty
In the years before India put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, Pakistan had challenged the project's technical design features, alleging violations of the 1960 treaty. Following the treaty's suspension, ministries such as Power, Home Affairs, and Jal Shakti, along with affiliated agencies, have expedited projects on the Indus River, including Ratle, Sawalkote, and Dulhasti Stage–II.
This extension of the environmental clearance underscores the government's commitment to advancing hydroelectric projects despite legal and logistical challenges, aiming to boost India's renewable energy capacity and infrastructure development in the region.
