India's Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced detailed guidelines for solar, wind, and hybrid renewable energy projects near its borders, designating a 1km'restricted area' and a 50km 'sensitive area' that necessitate stringent security clearances from the MHA and potentially the Ministry of Defence. These rules, aimed at enhancing national security, also impose restrictions on hiring foreign nationals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China, and more.

India's Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced detailed guidelines for solar, wind, and hybrid renewable energy projects near its borders, designating a 1km'restricted area' and a 50km 'sensitive area' that necessitate stringent security clearances from the MHA and potentially the Ministry of Defence. These rules, aimed at enhancing national security, also impose restrictions on hiring foreign nationals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China, and more.

India's Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced detailed guidelines for solar, wind, and hybrid renewable energy projects near its borders, designating a 1km'restricted area' and a 50km 'sensitive area' that necessitate stringent security clearances from the MHA and potentially the Ministry of Defence. These rules, aimed at enhancing national security, also impose restrictions on hiring foreign nationals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China, and more.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), through its Internal Security wing, recently notified detailed guidelines covering all solar, wind and hybrid renewable energy projects proposed near India's borders. Under these rules, a 1-kilometre stretch from the Line of Control, Line of Actual Control or International Border has been designated a "restricted area" where no project activity whatsoever will be permitted. 

A wider 50-kilometre band from these borders is classified as a "sensitive area," within which every renewable energy project will require security clearance from the MHA, while projects within 20 kilometres of the International Border will additionally need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence.

The guidelines trace back to an office memorandum the MHA issued on June 5, after the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) began receiving a growing number of applications for renewable projects in border areas that carried potential national security implications. 

The formal Standard Operating Procedure was subsequently circulated to the Ministry of Defence, MNRE, the Intelligence Bureau, the Border Security Force and the Gujarat government, among others.

Applicants must route every proposal solely through MNRE, which will forward it, along with the state government's in-principle land allotment and precise coordinates, to the MHA and Ministry of Defence for clearance. Developers cannot approach either ministry directly. 

The rules also bar hiring engineers, staff or labour from Pakistan, Bangladesh or China without central government permission, prohibit land transfers to any foreign company without prior security clearance, and require anti-drone systems operated by the CISF or state police, at the developer's cost.

Civil infrastructure height is capped on a sliding scale: up to 3 metres between 1 and 8 kilometres from the border, 5 metres between 8 and 20 kilometres, and 15 metres between 20 and 50 kilometres, though wind turbines themselves are exempt. 

Worker accommodation and hotels must sit at least 5 kilometres back from the border, with cafeterias confined within plant premises. 

The MHA has set a 60-day target for disposing of applications, and projects that already hold clearance or an NOC before these guidelines were issued will not need to reapply.

TAGS