KP cabinet approves SOP changes to allow transmission lines for clean energy projects

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved amendments to its standard operating procedures (SOPs) to include regulated provisions for transmission lines and related infrastructure for clean energy projects, subject to environmental safeguards, Business Recorder reported. 

The decision was taken in the context of the federal government’s 765kV Dasu–Mansehra–Islamabad Transmission Line Project, being executed by the National Grid Company, for which a no objection certificate (NOC) has been sought to proceed with construction.

Officials informed the cabinet that the proposed route, including access roads, passes through forest areas in Upper and Lower Kohistan, Hazara Tribal, Siran, Agror Tanawal, Gallies, Haripur and Alpuri divisions, along with some private land. Authorities said alternate routes were not technically viable due to terrain constraints.

The government stated that compensation for land and trees in private areas would be processed through relevant deputy commissioners.

Under existing laws, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Ordinance, 2002, activities such as tree removal and road construction are permitted under specific conditions. However, current SOPs did not explicitly cover high-voltage transmission infrastructure, prompting the need for amendments.

The cabinet noted that earlier decisions in 2022 had already recognised the need to facilitate nationally important clean energy projects with environmental safeguards, and approved the inclusion of transmission lines within the SOP framework.

As part of the revised framework, the provincial government will communicate conditions to the federal authorities before final clearance, including optimisation of corridor width to limit tree cutting, reduction of tower base dimensions, and joint surveys to reassess alignment and tree impact.

Authorities will also require submission of final tree counts, valuation, and compensation plans, along with measures for environmental mitigation, afforestation and carbon offset.