India Inc steps up security near border, coastal establishments after cross-border strikes

India has multiple solar power projects along the border with Pakistan

Major Indian corporates said that they are stepping up security at facilities situated near the border areas or along the western coast of India, as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after India's retaliatory strikes on terror-linked targets in Pakistan, and the latter attempted to attack multiple Indian cities using drones and missiles.

India has many renewable power projects along the country's border with Pakistan, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan. This includes the Khavda renewable energy park, located a short distance from the international border in Gujarat's Kutch region. Adani Group firm Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) is constructing a 30 GW (gigawatt) solar and wind farm in the area, spanning 538 square kilometres, with the project's outer limits being around 17 kilometres from the border area.

Sources from Delhi-based renewables firm ACME Group, which has ongoing projects in Rajasthan, including in the Jaisalmer district, said that while security has been increased, delays are emerging in some projects as a result of the ongoing developments.

"Security at our plants has been enhanced, and select employees—particularly those associated with projects yet to be commissioned—have been advised to work from home. As a result, there has been a delay in the commissioning of some projects," said the source from ACME Group.

Besides its Khavda project, AGEL is also developing the 1,500 MW (megawatt) Fatehgarh solar park in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, which borders Pakistan. Several other smaller renewable energy players have energy facilities of varying sizes along the border in Rajasthan. The location of these projects in that area is due to the barren nature of the land.

According to industry sources, AGEL has stepped up security at its Khavda facilities, which has a current operational capacity of 2.4 GW. However, it is not known whether Adani Green's airstrip at Khavda, which can only handle small aircraft and largely receives Adani Group flights, has been closed for flight operations.

The Adani Group's Mundra airport in Gujarat, which also largely serves corporate jets, has been shut for civilian flight operations, along with 23 other airports across India, till May 10. Operations at Adani Ports and SEZ's Mundra Port, among India's largest container ports, remains normal, according to industry sources.

Sources also added that operations at the JSW Group's ports along India's western coast, such as at Jaigarh, remains normal.

The Union government's Directorate General of Shipping has increased the level of security at Indian ports to MARSEC Level-2, from MARSEC Level-1, indicating a heightened risk of security incidents.

In an advisory dated May 8, shared by the All India Seafarers Union, the Directorate asked ports and terminals to conduct unannounced security drills and blackout tests, and also asked Indian-flagged vessels operating in and near the subcontinent to elevate their ship security plan to the heightened levels.

In the advisory, the government also asked chief information security officers of all ports and terminals to review the security of IT and communication systems, in order to prevent cyberattacks.

(with inputs from Aishwarya Nair)