IndiaCSR News Network
NEW DELHI: A slew of hydro electric projects planned in Arunachal Pradesh have been denied forest clearance by the Environment ministry after a recent meeting. It is learnt that the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) denied the green nod to six hydro electric projects in the state at its meeting held on April 30 , 2015.
The move comes even as the ministry is caught in a legal tangle over the green clearances to six dams in Uttarakhand. The six hydro power projects were all proposed in the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh and were expected to generate about 3,200 MW of power. The projects involved diversion of over 2,600 hectares of forest land.
All the hydro power projects from Arunachal Pradesh were not given forest clearance for a variety of reasons. While in some cases required environmental studies were not done, in others state government was asked to provide more details. In some other cases, it was felt that excessive forest land was being diverted and the project proponent was asked to come up with a better plan and mitigation measures” a member of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) told.
It is also learnt that the Union ministry of environment & forests has now decided to go extra cautious with hydro power projects proposed across the Himalayan range keeping in mind recent natural disasters in the area like the devastating flash floods in Uttarakhand and the earthquake in Nepal.
Six hydro power projects proposed in Uttarakhand already have the environment ministry in a legal bind with a four member committee having advised against clearing them. The environment ministry last week told the Supreme Court that it would conduct a comprehensive study on existing hydroelectric projects in the state and also reassess the committee report on the six dams through an expert body.
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