The five-year validity period of the EC, issued in 2007, expired this year. The High Court of Kerala, in a recent order, had also pointed out that the EC had expired, she said.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Power Project had stated that it had withdrawn a show-cause notice issued to the EC of the project. In such a case, the expired EC issued in 2007 would come into play, which is illegal. Now, it is to be seen whether the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change would permit a project to be taken up further on the basis of the EC which has expired, says Ms. Latha, one of the key campaigners against the project.