New Delhi: A key advisor to Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) is now a member of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), which advises the government on environmental clearance of development projects.

On September 27, Janardan Choudhary was named as one of the seven non-institutional members of the reconstituted EAC by the Union environment ministry, the Indian Express reported. The EAC examined proposals related to hydroelectricity and river valley projects.

There are at least 10 such EACs that decide environmental clearances on different sectors.

AGEL's hydro project proposals also came up for clearance at the EAC, which raises potential conflict of interest issues, the newspaper reported.

The first meeting of the reconstituted EAC (hydel) was held on October 17-18, it said.

The daily cited records to say that Choudhary attended the meeting on October 17. At the meeting, AGEL’s 1500 megawatt Tarali Pumping Storage Project in Maharashtra’s Satara came up for consideration.

AGEL sought an amendment in the project’s Terms of Reference (ToR) for a revision of the project layout after it realised that the proposed water conductor system passed “just below an existing wind farm” and that construction underground or below the wind turbines foundations would be difficult, it added.

"After detailed deliberation, the EAC recommended in favour of AGEL," it said.

However, Choudhury said that he did not take part in the discussion when the EAC considered the AEGL project. “I abstained when the matter came up,” he told IE.

When told that the minutes do not reflect this, he said, “We will amend the minutes.”

Yogendra Pal Singh, scientist (E) with the ministry and the member secretary of the EAC concerned, told IE that Choudhary did not join the discussion on the AEGL project.

However, a senior official told the daily that "mere non-participation in the discussion by a member while his or her employer’s projects are considered is not sufficient."

"What about the projects of his or her employer’s competitors? Or the scope for quid pro quo when such members return one another the favour even while abstaining from directly linked projects? More than establishing bias, the possibility of such bias is what matters,” he said.

“Our appointment conditions say that those who have provided consultancy services for a project proponent will recuse themselves from the process of appraisal of any project proposed by such proponents. We go by our rules,” G.H. Chakrapani, a professor at IIT-Roorkee and chairperson of the EAC concerned, told the newspaper.

But Choudhary defended his position saying that the ministry is aware that he is an advisor with a private company. "But I am nobody’s employee and I can advise others as well. My EAC appointment is on the basis that as a member I will give my opinion in the interest of the EAC," he said.

According to LinkedIn, Choudhary worked as director (technical) at NHPC until March 2020. He has been an advisor (pumped storage plants and hydro) of Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) since April 2022.

The daily reported that there are at least six AGEL projects before the EAC, which include the 850 MW Raiwada project; 1800 MW Pedakota (both Andhra Pradesh); 2100 MW Patgaon, 2,450 MW Koyna-Nivakane, 1500 MW Malshej Ghat Bhorande and 1500 MW Tarali (all Maharashtra).

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