An expert group of the Union's Ministry of Environment recommended giving the 'green light' to the Naying hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 1000 MW. This decision paves the way for obtaining other permits and commencing construction of this 'run-of-the-river' type project on the Siom river in the Siang and Shi-Yomi districts, near the border between India and China, in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Environmental Clearance (EC) for this project has been pending for a long time. Construction will be carried out by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation with an estimated cost of 11,835 crore rupees over an area of 470 hectares, which will significantly boost renewable energy production in the region.
The ministry's expert evaluation committee approved the EC at its 57th meeting, held on June 29-30, setting several mandatory conditions. Although 12 villages will be affected due to land acquisition for various parts of the project, the panel accepted the project initiator's detailed plan regarding assistance and rehabilitation for displaced families.
In its conditional approval, the panel stated that 'land acquired for the project must be properly compensated in accordance with the prevailing guidelines of the state government and the provisions of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.' The project initiator must now obtain forest use permission under the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1986, if applicable. However, the meeting minutes published on Monday stated that no component of the project is located in any declared protected area.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the country's first petroleum refining and petrochemical complex in Pachpadra, located in the Balotra district of Rajasthan, on Saturday. Additionally, he will hold an opening ceremony for the new Jodhpur Airport terminal and commence the second phase of the air transport program.
In addition to these two major projects, Modi will also participate via video conference in laying the foundation stone and opening several other initiatives, including the Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project, which costs over 13,000 crore rupees.
The refinery complex is considered historic for the industrial development of Rajasthan. Due to the intense heat and heatwaves, instead of a large public gathering, the event will be broadcast across the state for approximately 5.7 million people using screens and technical equipment.
The opening of this refinery was initially scheduled for April 21st but was postponed by one day due to a fire. The project's foundation was laid in 2013 by then Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The initial estimated cost was 39 thousand crore rupees, but it has now increased to approximately 79,459 crore rupees. This plant is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Government of Rajasthan.
This 9 MMTPA petroleum refining and petrochemical complex is equipped with a 2.4 MMTPA petrochemical capacity, allowing for the integration of refining and petrochemical production processes. After launch, it will enable the production of 135 different products. To stimulate industrial growth around Pachpadra, the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) is developing four new industrial zones.
During the construction of the refinery, approximately 35 thousand people were directly employed and nearly 100 thousand indirectly. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party assert that this project will play a key role in changing the appearance and destiny of Western Rajasthan. The project is also notable from an engineering and construction perspective: about one and a half billion cubic meters of earth were moved for its construction, which is estimated to be six times more than the earth moved during the construction of the Pyramids of Giza. About three hundred thousand metric tons of steel were used in the project, which is roughly 40 times more steel than used in the Eiffel Tower. Furthermore, the laid cable, measuring 28 thousand kilometers, is more than twice the diameter of the Earth. Pachpadra is being viewed as a major hub for new opportunities in investment, employment, and petrochemicals in Rajasthan.
