Bhopal, Sept. 18 -- The Madhya Pradesh state wildlife board has granted wildlife and forest clearance for a 6,000 MW green grid to enable transfer of renewable energy from Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh by Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) ; the grid will pass through National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, a critical habitat for gharials. According to an official familiar with the decision, the state forest department and state wildlife board cleared the project in last week of August; it will now be sent to the Union environment ministry for final wildlife and forest approvals. Once that happens, the work for the transmission line between Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh will start, the official said. While most of the transmission line will pass through so-called revenue land, in Madhya Pradesh it would cut through Chambal Sanctuary, hosting a population of critically endangered gharials, fish-eating crocodiles, and dolphins. "MP forest department and wildlife board has approved it. Now, the central government will decide the guidelines after assessing the impact on wildlife. The decision for steps for tree felling and acquisition of revenue land will be taken after receiving a nod from the Union government," said Subhranjan Sen, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF), MP forest department. An AESL officer who asked not to be named explained that the project involves construction of a 800 kV HVDC Line (Hexa Lapwing) capacity power evacuation scheme designed to transfer bulk electricity from renewable energy zones in western India to load centres in the northern region. "This line will connect the Bhadla (HVDC) terminal station in Rajasthan to the Fatehpur (HVDC) terminal station in Uttar Pradesh using advanced HVDC technology and high-performance conductors. The proposed line spans about 890 km across three states including Rajasthan (about 550 km), Madhya Pradesh (about 176 km), and Uttar Pradesh (about 163 km)," he said. In a written response AESL added that the Union government has set a target of 500 Giga Watts (GW) installed renewable capacity by 2030. "The project has strategic importance for the development of renewable projects of solar energy in Rajasthan. The proposed transmission line will have a positive impact on the socioeconomic conditions of the people by providing direct and indirect employment during construction and operation phases," the company added. A forest official in Madhya Pradesh's Chambal, said, "The proposed transmission line of about 176 km will traverse through Morena, Bhind, and Datia districts. We have informed the senior forest officials that approximately 80 hectares of forest land, specifically within the National Chambal Sanctuary, will be affected."...