MHA Bars New Solar, Wind Projects Within 1 Km of India’s Borders
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced a uniform security framework for solar, wind and hybrid renewable-energy projects proposed along India’s sensitive border regions, prohibiting any new project activity within 1 km of the Line of Control (LoC), Line of Actual Control (LAC) or International Border.
The guidelines, issued by the MHA’s Internal Security wing, classify areas extending up to 50 km from these borders as sensitive zones. Projects proposed within this wider belt will require security scrutiny, while developments between 1 km and 20 km from the border will additionally require a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence. Security clearance from the MHA will be mandatory for renewable-energy projects proposed anywhere within the 50-km zone.
The new framework comes as the government receives an increasing number of applications for renewable-energy developments in border areas, where large solar and wind installations can have implications for surveillance, military movement and operational preparedness. The guidelines seek to establish a common approval mechanism while retaining the possibility of project development beyond the prohibited 1-km belt on a case-by-case basis.
Under the rules, proposals will be submitted through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which will forward them to the MHA for security clearance and to the Defence Ministry for the required NOC, along with details of the project’s proposed land allocation, including its latitude and longitude. MNRE will also ensure that land parcels are planned in a manner that prevents renewable-energy installations from extending continuously over long distances parallel to the international border.
The restrictions extend beyond the location of the generating assets. Project developers will be required to install comprehensive security arrangements, including anti-drone systems, with their operation assigned to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) or state police. The cost of such security infrastructure will have to be borne by the project developer. A dedicated police post will also be required at project sites to monitor construction activity, while personnel working on the projects will have to undergo prior verification and follow directions issued by local police and the Border Security Force (BSF).
The framework also places restrictions on the deployment of foreign personnel. Engineers, employees, workers and other staff from countries sharing a land border with India, particularly Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, cannot be engaged for project implementation without central government permission. Where foreign investment is involved, developers will also have to approach the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) separately in accordance with the country’s FDI policy. Land associated with such projects cannot be transferred to a foreign company without prior approval of the Central Government and security clearance from the MHA.
Infrastructure design will also have to accommodate security requirements. Roads serving the projects are to be sufficiently wide to permit their use by border-security or armed forces during emergencies. The guidelines prohibit accommodation, hotels and other facilities that could attract large concentrations of people close to the border; hotels and accommodation facilities must be located at least 5 km from the border. Civil infrastructure used for project operation and maintenance will also face height restrictions, capped at 3 metres between 1 and 8 km, 5 metres between 8 and 20 km, and 15 metres between 20 and 50 km from the border.
Importantly, the new provisions do not reopen approvals already granted. Projects that had obtained MHA security clearance before the guidelines were issued, or had already received an NOC from the Defence Ministry, will not be required to seek fresh approvals under the new framework.
The policy introduces a more structured balance between India’s renewable-energy expansion and border-security requirements. With several high-capacity solar and wind developments planned in resource-rich frontier regions, particularly in western and northern India, the new approval regime is likely to make security assessment an integral part of project planning, land allocation and infrastructure design in these locations.
