The meeting that was earlier scheduled on October 30, was postponed because of the Ayodhya judgement that was delivered on the same day. The inter-ministerial meeting is likely to be attended by representatives of Ministries of Power, Water Resources, Environment and Forest among others, official sources confirmed.
The proposed meeting has evoked much interest because of a letter purportedly written by Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh to the Prime Minister, virtually endorsing the stand taken by those agitating against the ‘mega dam’ in Arunachal Pradesh.
A national newspaper on Friday reported the contents of the letter, which questions the manner in which some of the hydel projects in the neighbouring State were cleared, besides raising alarm over the hydropower projects in Bhutan. Jairam Ramesh has called for a “moratorium on any further clearances for hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh” since “these are bound to be the subject of agitation” in Assam, besides review of all sanctioned projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
The letter was part of the follow-up action taken by Jairam Ramesh after his much-publicised tour of the State of September 16, when he had met members of the NGOs, civil society, experts and representatives of the public sector undertakings.
The “feeling in vocal sections of Assam’s society particularly appears to be that ‘mainland India’ is exploiting the North-east hydel resources for its benefits”, he reported to the Prime Minister.
He further linked up the issue with the ensuing Assembly election in Assam. “Even leaving aside elections, these issues are important in themselves and merit our serious consideration. Personally, I believe that some of the concerns that were expressed cannot be dismissed lightly,” he wrote.
“What I could assure the audience, of course, is that for projects not yet started, we will carry out cumulative environmental impact assessment studies as well as comprehensive biodiversity studies,” the letter reportedly said.
There should be a “moratorium on any further clearances for hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh” until downstream impact assessment studies, cumulative environment impact assessment studies and biodiversity impact studies are completed, he suggested.
The 135 dams of different capacities being planned in Arunachal Pradesh “are being given green signal” without carrying out these studies, he apprised the Prime Minister.
These MoUs signed with the knowledge of the Central Government have not taken on board the concerns of the people of Assam. “The Government of Assam should be a party to these MoUs, especially where downstream impacts are significant”.
Award of projects in Arunachal Pradesh to different companies in the same river basin is making the “task of environment impact assessment very difficult”, the Minister claimed.
The 1750 MW Lower Demwe hydel project on the Lohit river “should not be given forest clearance, although environmental clearance has already been given for the project” because of the downstream impact of this project on Assam, Ramesh said.
The entire approach to dams in the North-east “needs to be looked afresh” and factors such as “high seismicity and rich biodiversity have not been adequately considered by Government of India” before granting clearances, he opined.
The Environment and Forest Minister expressed concern over mega projects in Bhutan like the Kurichhu dam and Mangdechhu hydel project. Environmental impact of hydel projects in Bhutan need to be “studied better”.
Ramesh’s letter is similar to the assurance he had given in the Parliament on August 9, when he said his Ministry would not allow any project, which would have an adverse ecological impact.
“Under no circumstances, we will allow any project which will have an adverse ecological impact. That much I want to assure,” he had stated.
Ramesh had though indicated that all projects may not be scrapped, though efforts will be made to minimise the downstream impact citing the case of Subansiri downstream hydroelectric project.
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