New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) Located about 150 metres from the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve’s buffer zone, a pumped storage project (PSP) by Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) in Maharashtra’s Satara district has got a key approval from the environment ministry’s expert panel.
The proposed project, which will span more than 360 square kilometres, is located within the eco-sensitive area (ESA) of the Western Ghats, notified by the Centre through a draft notification of July, 2022.
On Monday, a new iteration of this notification was issued as its predecessor lapsed after 725 days.
According to a 2013 notification from the ministry, hydro-projects are permitted in the ESA of the ghats.
Known as the Nivakane (Integrated) Pumped Storage Project (2700 MW), the project was recommended for the grant of environment clearance (EC) by the ministry’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) during its meeting held on July 15.
PSPs involve the building and use of two reservoirs, one higher than the other. Water is pumped from the lower to the upper reservoir and released onto turbines to generate electricity.
The EAC recommendation was granted on the condition that the project proponent gets clearance from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife before the construction begins.
The project site hosts several Schedule-1 species, including 14 mammals such as Indian bison, barking deer and leopard, and two birds, white-eyed buzzard and Indian peafowl.
The environment impact assessment (EIA) report of the project, prepared in June this year, said, “Construction activities at the project site, including machinery operation, blasting and establishment of camps and workshops, may disturb local wildlife… Noise, vibration and increased human activity may cause temporary wildlife displacement.” It added that mitigation measures, including controlled blasting, had been proposed to minimise impacts on terrestrial and avifaunal (like birds) populations. PTI ALC ALC KSS KSS
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