KOCHI: Athirappilly is another Silent Valley rich in biodiversity that needs to be protected, said Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Environment.
Talking to mediapersons here on Monday, Mr. Ramesh said the State should look for alternative proposals for power generation, thereby indicating that clearance would not be issued for hydel projects. Incidentally, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had proposed to set up a power project at the Athirappilly waterfalls and the move drew protests from environmentalists. Similarly, the Board’s proposal to set up a power project in the Silent Valley 25 years ago had to be shelved following stiff resistance from nature lovers and environmentalists.
Mr. Ramesh said the permission issued earlier for the Athirapally project was withdrawn after he assumed the office of the Union Minister for Environment. The State government had also been told to stop all work related to the project till an expert committee for approval looked into the issue, he said. “I was flooded with representations from various sections of society, including environmentalists, against the project. I had also been to the area earlier,” Mr. Ramesh said. The representations filed against the project and the stand of the Board favouring it has been forwarded to the committee, he said. The Ministry had earlier received a reply from the Board on the showcause issued to it asking why the permission issued for the project should not be revoked. All these matters have been referred to the committee. However, the final decision will be taken by the Minister, Mr. Ramesh said.
The revoking of the permission for the project was resented by the State authorities, including Power Minister A.K. Balan who had come out in the open against the Union Minister’s stand.
Encroachments
The Environment Minister said his Ministry would interfere in the Munnar issue if there were any instances of encroachment of forest land. If any forest land is used for non-forest purposes, there will be action. The Forest Protection Act is a Central legislation applicable to the whole of country, he said. “It is my responsibility as the Minister of Forest and Environment to protect the environment and the Forest Protection Act is my Bible,” Mr. Ramesh said.
Source: The Hindu, Dated: 9.02.2010
Talking to mediapersons here on Monday, Mr. Ramesh said the State should look for alternative proposals for power generation, thereby indicating that clearance would not be issued for hydel projects. Incidentally, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had proposed to set up a power project at the Athirappilly waterfalls and the move drew protests from environmentalists. Similarly, the Board’s proposal to set up a power project in the Silent Valley 25 years ago had to be shelved following stiff resistance from nature lovers and environmentalists.
Mr. Ramesh said the permission issued earlier for the Athirapally project was withdrawn after he assumed the office of the Union Minister for Environment. The State government had also been told to stop all work related to the project till an expert committee for approval looked into the issue, he said. “I was flooded with representations from various sections of society, including environmentalists, against the project. I had also been to the area earlier,” Mr. Ramesh said. The representations filed against the project and the stand of the Board favouring it has been forwarded to the committee, he said. The Ministry had earlier received a reply from the Board on the showcause issued to it asking why the permission issued for the project should not be revoked. All these matters have been referred to the committee. However, the final decision will be taken by the Minister, Mr. Ramesh said.
The revoking of the permission for the project was resented by the State authorities, including Power Minister A.K. Balan who had come out in the open against the Union Minister’s stand.
Encroachments
The Environment Minister said his Ministry would interfere in the Munnar issue if there were any instances of encroachment of forest land. If any forest land is used for non-forest purposes, there will be action. The Forest Protection Act is a Central legislation applicable to the whole of country, he said. “It is my responsibility as the Minister of Forest and Environment to protect the environment and the Forest Protection Act is my Bible,” Mr. Ramesh said.
Source: The Hindu, Dated: 9.02.2010
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