Chandigarh, December 16
Work on the Nathpa-Jhakri 1,500 MW hydroelectric project was reportedly stopped again from November 30 for “serious and continuous violations of both the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Act”.
The suspension of work even for a day means huge financial losses. Project officials, however, maintain that work in other areas which do not come within the purview of the Forests and Environment Department is progressing at a normal pace.
The work has reportedly been stopped as special permission to continue it was not renewed beyond November 30 by the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment.
The Ministry had earlier extended special permission for a second term of three months after Mr Dinesh Kumar Sharma, Chief Conservator (Central) of the Ministry, visited the project site and ordered the suspension of all work in April this year.
Officials maintain that the corporation does not have permission to continue work at the site. “The law has to take its own course and it has to be enforced,” they say, maintaining that the instructions of the apex court on the subject are clear.
Any violation of the directions of the Supreme Court, sources said, might lead to contempt proceedings. The sources revealed that the rehabilitation and catchment area treatment plans submitted by the Nathpa-Jhakri Power Corporation to the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment had not yet been approved.
The Ministry’s Chief Conservator (Central), had in his previous report held that the corporation had been repeatedly “overlooking our letters and instructions on important issues under both the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Act.”
Until April this year, the corporation had not sought any permission for depositing debris of the 27km-long tunnel along the bank of the Sutlej river which was being done at a steep angle.
Further, no permission was sought for quarrying and mining in the forest area which was in violation of the Supreme Court order in civil writ petition no 202. The corporation also had no permission to use 25 hectares of land — 19 hectares for the dumping of debris and six hectares for mining, quarrying and crushing of stone.
The Ministry took cognisance of these serious violations and ordered the suspension of work with immediate effect in April this year. Senior officials of the corporation then approached the Ministry for provisional
permission till the rehabilitation and catchment area treatment plans were formally approved pleading that any suspension of work would not only delay the commissioning of this major national project but also lead to serious financial losses.
Mr Yogendra Prasad, who had just taken over as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the corporation, admitted administrative failures and announced that the objections raised by the Union Ministry were valid and the necessary corrective measures would be taken immediately.
He also subsequently admitted that certain structural changes in the design were necessary to redress some of the objections raised not only by Environment and Forest officials but also by technocrats.
The project, which is scheduled for completion in March, 2003, may not be fully operational by June, 2003, as envisaged by the corporation. Corporation representatives held a meeting with the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, and senior officials on the subject and promised to take all steps to expedite permission but the issue could not be settled even after seven months.
Mr Prasad maintained that since it was an important issue concerning a major project involving both the Union Government and the Himachal Pradesh Government, he had discussed it with the Union Power Minister. The Union Government has 75 per cent stake in the project while Himachal has the remaining 25 per cent.
The Forests and Environment officials maintain that since the law is stringent, no relaxation is possible. As such, unless the mandatory requirements of both the Forests and Environment Acts are met, further work in violation of these Acts may not be permitted.
Corporation officials admit that the Forests and Environment Department has objected to the dumping of debris which was partially responsible for floods in the Rampur area this year . The other objection relates to quarrying, mining and stone crushing.
The Ministry had earlier sent a team of two Deputy Directors — Mr H.S. Sohal (Forests Conservation) and Dr Surinder Kumar (Environment) — to the site for a study of the problem.
Subsequently, another team including two Deputy Inspectors-General of Environment and the Director, Impact, was also sent to the site which reportedly submitted its report a few months ago.
Sources reveal that the file pertaining to the extension in permission to the corporation was with the Union Forests and Environment Minister awaiting approval.
