Central panel defers MP dam project in reserved forest
Seeks justification from state govt over existing dam in proximity to proposed site
The Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry has deferred Madhya Pradesh Government’s proposal to seek the diversion of 128 acres of reserved forest to construct a dam.
The committee asked the state government to justify the project as another dam is close to the proposed project’s proximity. The construction of the new dam would also impact 23 families.
“Another dam is located at a distance of 882.28 meters from the proposed dam. The state government has stated that the existing dam is currently used for irrigation in Vasliapani village. A detailed and substantive justification for the establishment of the new dam shall be submitted by the state government, taking into account the impact of the existing dam and the benefits it has provided to the local community,” the committee said, as per minutes of the meeting.
Moreover, the Environment Ministry’s regional office in Bhopal recommended that the canal needed for the project can be shifted entirely on to the non-forest land to minimise both the requirement of forest land and the environmental impact of the project.
“The state government shall take necessary action in this regard and submit a revised proposal accordingly. The regional office has suggested various measures for the compensatory afforestation area, including a suitable irrigation facility with a borewell and solar pump to be suitably incorporated in the CA scheme. The state shall accordingly submit the Compensatory Afforestation scheme as per the recommendations of the regional office,” the committee directed the MP Government.
Moreover, the committee observed that the state government had not submitted the recommendation of State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) and approval of National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) for the instant proposal.
In its proposal, the Madhya Pradesh Government submitted that the catchment treatment plan (CAT) plan in the instant proposal is not required as the proposal is minor irrigation project.
However, as per Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, a proposal for diversion of forest land for Irrigation/Hydro-electric projects shall invariably be accompanied by detailed CAT plan except in respect of small hydel projects (maximum up to 10 MW capacity), which are either canal head or run-of the river projects and do not involve impounding of water/submergence of forest land, the committee argued.
