EAC clears Balimela, Assam PSP-01 and Rajupalem pumped storage projects

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) held the 46th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects on January 9, 2026. Conducted virtually, the meeting reviewed multiple pumped storage and hydroelectric proposals across India. Several projects received approvals or amendments, while others were deferred or returned for revision.

Pumped storage projects approved or amended

The EAC recommended the grant of Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Balimela Pumped Storage Project (500 MW) in Malkangiri district, Odisha. Proposed by Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Limited, the open-loop project will use the existing Upper Balimela Reservoir on the Sileru River as the upper pond and a newly constructed lower reservoir on the Kharika Jhorra stream. The project requires 248.03 hectares of land, including 122.28 hectares of forest land, and is planned for daily cycling with an annual generation of 1,171 GWh. The approval is subject to clearance from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, as the Upper Balimela Reservoir is governed by an interstate agreement. The EAC also directed the inclusion of specific studies in the Environmental Impact Assessment, covering blasting impacts, tribal development, muck management, and environmental flow for the Kharika Jhorra stream.

For the Assam/PSP-01 Off-Stream Closed Loop Pumped Storage Project (900 MW) in West Karbi Anglong district, Assam, the EAC approved amendments to the previously granted ToR. The project is proposed by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL). The original ToR were issued to Greenko Energies Pvt. Ltd. and later transferred to APDCL. Following additional site studies, the project layout was revised. The total land requirement increased from 251.94 hectares to 308.79 hectares, while the forest land requirement reduced from 134.24 hectares to 79.37 hectares. The design now includes Roller Compacted Concrete dams and higher initial water filling requirements. The EAC allowed the project to proceed with an updated Environmental Impact Assessment based on the revised layout, while retaining all other original ToR conditions.

The committee also recommended specific ToR for the Rajupalem Closed Loop Pumped Storage Project (800 MW). The project is proposed by APGENCO NHPC Green Energy Limited (ANGEL) in Y.S.R. and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh. It requires 334.80 hectares of land, including 73.30 hectares of forest land, and is designed as a daily cycling system with an annual generation of 2,546 million units. Water will be drawn from the Telugu Ganga Project canal system. The EAC directed the proponent to apply for forest clearance without delay and added conditions to the ToR, including drone surveys, detailed muck management planning, interstate water drawal approvals, and a large-scale plantation programme using native species.

Environmental clearance validity and extensions

The EAC reviewed a request related to the Ratle Hydroelectric Project (850 MW) on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. The project is being implemented by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited, a joint venture of NHPC and JKSPDCL. The proponent sought an extension of the Environmental Clearance validity. The committee noted delays caused by litigation and ownership changes between 2014 and 2021, as well as disruptions during the COVID-19 period. It recommended that the clearance, originally valid until December 11, 2022, be treated as valid until December 11, 2030, with a possible further extension of two years. This recommendation follows MoEFCC provisions that treat litigation and pandemic periods as zero periods for validity calculations.

Demwe Lower project returned for revision

Greenko Demwe Power Limited has sought an extension of the Environmental Clearance for the Demwe Lower Hydroelectric Project (1,750 MW) in Anjaw and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The project is proposed on the Lohit River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, and involves a 474.35 metre concrete gravity dam over 1,589.97 hectares, including 1,415.92 hectares of forest land. The estimated project cost is Rs. 8,347.89 crore, with a construction period of 60 months.

The original Environmental Clearance was granted on 12 February 2010, valid until February 2020, and extended by three years in July 2020. The clearance was transferred from Athena Demwe Power Limited to Greenko Demwe Power Limited on 19 November 2025. The EAC noted that project implementation was delayed due to a stay on tree felling ordered by the National Green Tribunal from April 2014 to October 2017, followed by insolvency proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal from September 2017 to March 2025. In total, about 10 years, 11 months, and 14 days were lost due to court stays and insolvency proceedings.

Based on recent ministry notifications allowing such periods to be treated as zero periods, the EAC observed that the Environmental Clearance could remain valid until 25 January 2037. However, the proposal was returned in its current form, with directions to submit a revised application in line with applicable guidelines before the expiry of the existing clearance. Several statutory approvals are under revalidation, including Central Electricity Authority concurrence, forest clearance, wildlife clearance transfer, and pollution control consent. The forest clearance is expected to be revived after a geospatial impact study by the Wildlife Institute of India.

Projects deferred 

The EAC deferred the proposal for grant of ToR to the Assam/PSP-02 Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Project (1,000 MW) proposed by APDCL in West Karbi Anglong district, Assam. The project requires 259.60 hectares of land, including 144.20 hectares of forest land, and involves two reservoirs across non-perennial streams. The committee noted that the site lies within the transitional zone of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, with dense forests that act as wildlife corridors. Although no protected areas are located within a 10 km radius, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is around 29.5 km away, and the Meghalaya state boundary is about 0.1 km from the site. Citing concerns over cumulative impacts and habitat fragmentation, the EAC directed a site visit by a sub-group before reconsidering the proposal.

The Veeraballi Off-stream Closed Loop Pumped Storage Project (1,800 MW) in Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, proposed by Annamayya Pumped Storage Project Private Limited, was also deferred at the request of the proponent. The project was listed for fresh Environmental Clearance. As the proponent did not attend the meeting, the EAC deferred the item without undertaking a technical or environmental appraisal.  

The featured photograph is for representation only.