India slow on clearing Bhutan hydropower projects

Only one of India's seven Bhutan-based hydro electric projects has been cleared.

This pertains to the Detailed Project Report of the Kholongchhu hydropower project.

India's Central Electricity Authority has been taking far too long to accord DPR concurrence and has even crossed the revised timeline of November 2012, as decided by the Empowered Joint Group, for clearance to all hydel projects.

Another Indian central authority, the Ministry of External Affairs, has fallen short ofmeeting the timelines.

Having funded the project, the MEA is required to transfer the Indian portion of the 132 kV Deothang-Rangia transmission line to Powergrid since the Royal Government of Bhutan does not have any ownership over that area.