Green energy projects get more time to commission projects

The government has allowed extension of the date of commissioning of those renewable energy projects that had applied for overhead laying of power transmission lines but the approval was delayed because of pending judgement of the Supreme Court on Great Indian Bustard (GIB) areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The delay in approvals is “akin to force majeure” as it was beyond the reasonable control of the concerned renewable power developers, the ministry of new and renewable energy said in a notification on Monday.

The Supreme Court, on the issue of power transmission lines in GIB habitats, had in April 2021 constituted a three-member expert committee to examine requests for overhead power transmission lines in the concerned areas.


In March 2024, the apex court revisited the matter and dissolved the panel and set up a larger, broad-based expert committee to take a more comprehensive view of the issue.

While the new committee gave its views and the Supreme Court gave a final order in December, approvals under Section 68 of the Electricity Act, 2003, for overhead transmission lines remained pending.

Although some projects were later allowed, subject to compliance with safeguards laid down by the court, the delay stalled transmission-related clearances.

The ministry has asked all renewable energy implementing agencies - Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), NTPC, NHPC and SJVN are to treat delay in grant of approval for overhead laying of power transmission line because of pendency final judgement by the Supreme Court as ‘Force Majeure’ and based on evidences and documents produced by the developers give time-extension in commissioning date of the project or in scheduled start of supply date of power.