State Government secures final FCA clearance for Shongtong hydro electric project: CM

SHIMLA 31 July, 2024

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said here today that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted FCA Stage-II clearance for the use of approximately 85 bighas of land for the 450 MW Shontong Karchham Hydro Electric Project in Kinnaur district. The clearance, which had been pending since 2018, was essential for the construction of the project.
He said that “the persistent efforts of the state government have played a crucial in achieving this milestone. This land was needed for the construction of the barrage, essential for completing the project. The FCA clearance had been pending with the Union Ministry for a long time, but the state government diligently worked to secure the necessary approval from the Centre,” stated Sh. Sukhu.
The Chief Minister further said that the Stage-I clearance was initially granted by the Union Ministry on 19th March 2024. Following this, the state government submitted a compliance report addressing the conditions stipulated for the in-principle approval and subsequently requested the Centre for final approval.
He said that the construction work of 450 MW Shongtong Karchham Hydro Electric Project, which was awarded in 2012, is expected to be completed by November 2026. “In preparation for the commencement of power generation, a transmission line is also being laid. The tender process for this transmission line has been initiated to ensure its timely completion, to avoid financial losses to the state,” said the Chief Minister.
He said that it was importance to harness hydropower along with other renewable energy sources, as power sectors was the two key area to bolster the economy of the State and the Shontong Karchham Hydro Electric Project would significantly boost the state’s power generation capacity and contribute to its economic growth.
The Chief Minister said that apart from this the state government has also laid special focus on promoting green industry in Himachal Pradesh by initiating various initiatives, enabling it to contribute to the state’s economy.