Govt did not permit any new hydel project in Upper Ganges region in last 6 years

The government has not given permission to any new hydroelectric project in the Upper Ganges region in the last six years, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Replying to supplementary queries during the Question Hour, he said the ministries of Environment, Jal Shakti and Energy have decided not to grant fresh permission to any hydel project in the region, but asserted that hydel projects are required in other parts of the country as it is clean energy.

“In the last six years no fresh permission has been granted to any such projects,” he told the House.

“A total of 19 projects are already operational and seven are under construction, of which two are less than 25 MW and six are run-of-the-river projects,” he also said.