Study first, nod next to Tawang projects: Panel
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25/09/2012
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Telegraph (North East)
Guwahati, Sept. 25: The forest advisory committee under the ministry of environment and forestry has refused to provide clearances to hydroelectric projects on the Tawang river basin, unless a comprehensive study is undertaken to address various issues. The issue of giving forest clearance for the two plants on the Tawang (600MW and 800MW), which are being constructed by NHPC, was discussed at a meeting of the committee in New Delhi on September 17.
Sources said NHPC had made a request to be granted stage one clearance with a condition that the study envisaged will be conducted before stage two clearances.
The committee on the other hand said a comprehensive study to assess the impact of not just the two projects but other projects planned in the basin is required before they are considered for clearance. Both the projects are coming up on the Tawang Chu river in Tawang district.
The committee said experts from hydrology, ecology, wildlife, sociology, hydro power design and disaster management should undertake the study.
The 600MW project requires diversion of 187.20 hectares of forestland while the 800MW project requires 116.62 hectares.
The committee said a study is required to assess the overall impact of the projects on hydrology, bio-diversity, ecology of the areas especially the aquatic bio-system of the river and vegetation in the adjoining land area. The environmental impact on an individual basis as well as cumulative basis needs to be studied, the panel said.
“As a large number of projects are planned on the river system, a serious thought needs to be given to disaster management and a proper plan keeping in view all the projects needs to be chalked out,” the committee said in its report.
On the other hand, the impact of the projects on livelihood including displacement of people and consequent pressures on the environment has to be adequately assessed and addressed.
On water flow, the committee said an assessment needs to be made of the minimum water flow at different places along the river and its tributaries which should be maintained and asked the government to come out with details of all projects planned in the river system to ensure correct assessment.
On the 700MW Tato-2 hydroelectric project on the Siyom river in West Siang district, the committee called for preparation of an appropriate disaster management plan.
A total of 313.88 hectares of forestland will be diverted for the project.
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki had said a separate study for the Siyom basin for the 700MW project is not required as it is part of the Siang basin.
The committee agreed to the views expressed by Tuki and said with many projects being constructed on the basin, it is recommended the scope of the study be enlarged to include an appropriate disaster management plan.
The Planning Commission constituted working group on power for the Twelfth Plan had suggested high capacity hydel and thermal power projects with transmission lines should be developed in the Northeast to meet energy demands of the region and thereafter for other parts of the country.
The working group said the ministry had suggested that importance should be given to environment and forests concerns while planning these projects, in view of the region’s fragile eco-systems.