[ParamountGroup] National Green tribunal stops Himachal hydropower project

 

Green tribunal stops Himachal hydro power project

The 40MW Renuka hydel project in Sirmaur district was being executed by the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation violating environmental norms

Submitted on 07/29/2011 - 09:10:12 AM Shimla: In a major setback to the construction of a hydroelectric project in Himachal Pradesh that will provide drinking water to Delhi, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), stayed construction and land acquisition for the multimillion hydropower project.
A bench headed by Justice CV Ramalu, in its interim order, directed the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation (HPPCL), a public sector undertaking executing the project, to stop the 40MW Renuka hydel project in Sirmaur district dam construction completely.
Ritwick Dutta, counsel for a petitioner, said that the tribunal also directed the project authorities to stop awarding land compensation to the affected villagers, reports IANS.
Petitioner Durga Ram challenged the environmental clearances awarded to the project by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in October 2009.
He argued that the environment impact assessment (EIA) report for the project was inadequate and there were several discrepancies in the figures of the total area to be acquired for the project and the total number of families to be affected.
"The environment clearance was granted for acquiring 1,477 hectares but the HPPCL now claims that 2,239 hectares will be acquired for the project. Similarly, the EIA states that only 308 families will be directly affected. But the HPPCL says more than 1000 families will be affected. How can the project be accorded any clearances when the baseline data is not accurate?" the petitioner argued.
The Rs 2,700 crore Renuka dam, mainly funded by the central government, is to be built on a tributary of the Yamuna river.
The Delhi government has already given Rs 300 crore to the HPPCL to start the dam construction work.
As per an agreement between Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, the hill state will bear the cost of installing the electrical and mechanical equipment, including turbine generators.
The tribunal, which is dealing with environmental cases, is an independent unit that was launched on July 4 with an initial support of the Environment Ministry.


WE CAN ALSO STOP DG!!!
PLEASE CIRCULATE TO ALL WHO ARE LEFT.

Thanks & Regards,
 
 
Abhay

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