No solar, wind, renewable energy project within 1 km of international border, says Home Ministry

The Home Ministry has imposed new national security guidelines restricting solar, wind, and hybrid renewable energy projects within 1 km of the international border, with a mandatory security clearance required for projects situated up to 50 km away. This ban, introduced amid a surge in such project applications, prohibits foreign engineers, staff, and labor from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China without prior Ministerial approval.

Projects in the 1 km radius are deemed a "restricted area," where no activity is permitted. Proposals between 1 km and 50 km will require Ministry of Defence (MoD) NOC, while those within the 50 km zone necessitate MHA security clearance. The process mandates developers to apply through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which forwards proposals to the MHA and MoD for clearance.

Developers must install anti-drone systems, monitored by CISF or State police, and ensure strict monitoring of employees and construction workers. Projects must avoid border parallel construction, and roads must facilitate access by armed forces or border security personnel during emergencies. Restrictions also apply to associated infrastructure like hotels and housing facilities, which must be situated at least five km from the border, with cafeterias confined within plant premises.

Structures between 1 km and 8 km from the border must not exceed 3 meters in height, while those between 8 km and 20 km are capped at 5 meters. Structures between 20 km and 50 km can reach up to 15 meters in height, excluding core project infrastructure. The MHA has clarified that projects with pre-existing security clearance or NOC from the Defence Ministry will not need to reapply.