Congress, allies flag security concerns over project near Pakistan border

Members of Congress and some allies protested in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday over the central clearance for setting up a mega mixed renewable energy project in Khavda in Gujarat, very close to the border with Pakistan, raising national security concerns. They subsequently staged a walkout, claiming the reply of the minister concerned didn't address their specific questions on the national security protocol.

While Congress member Manish Tewari, who raised the issue didn't name any business group, the Congress leadership had recently raised questions about the Adani group getting clearance to a mega solar energy project close to the border. While some Congress allies such as DMK, NCP (SCP) and other Kerala and Tamil Nadu allies joined the walkout, some other Opposition members including from Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party stayed away.

Raising the matter during the zero hour, Tewari said "national security and energy security have to go hand in hand" and asked whether the mixed renewable energy project would come up within one kilometre of the international border. "As per the security protocol, any big infrastructure project should be at least 10 km away from the international border. I want to know whether the government has given this mixed renewable project at Khavda any concession under the national security protocols?"


In his reply, new and renewable energy minister Pralhad Joshi said, "The government is keen to produce renewable energy in the country. Whenever projects are permitted, they are done with clearances and permission from the Centre, state and related local authorities."

Members of the Congress and allies said the minister's reply didn't answer the particular question. They raised slogans against the government, entered the well of the House and later staged a walkout.