Power Minister AT Mondal on Thursday said that the much-anticipated Leshka II Hydro Project with a capacity of 210 MW is on the verge of securing final clearance from the Government of India.
“We are yet to clear one window and hopefully by this year we will be clearing one window and this is the very tough and tricky window, so hopefully by this year we will clear Leshka II project of 210 MW,” Mondal stated.
Explaining the approval process, he elaborated, “Window means in the sense chapter, there are 12 chapters to clear like environment, forest—all those things are to be cleared from Government of India, the CEA—all are involved. So 11 chapter has been cleared, one chapter is left.”
Once environmental and related clearances are in place, the run-of-the-river (ROR) project will move into execution.
Mondal said the cost of the project will depend on the commencement date but estimated it to be “around Rs 2,100 plus crores.” He affirmed, “Yes, it is the biggest power project so far.”
He also assured that the earlier acidic water condition has improved, indicating better prospects for the project’s environmental compatibility.
