Syed Tanveeruddin, Member, Mysore Grahakara Parishat writes
The state government is giving opposite signals concerning Chamalapura thermal power plant. It states one day that it is not proceeding with the project and contradicts it the next day. Doubts have been expressed that the state government may be proceeding ahead covertly with the project.
To get a clear picture of the scenario, I applied under the Right to Information Act to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the latest status report on the project. I received a reply from MoEF on 20-9-08. This is what it says:
"From our records, it is informed that an environmental clearance was issued by MoEF in 1998, only in respect of a 500 MW (2*250 MW) Mysore thermal power project at Chamalapura by M/s Mysore Power Generation Pvt. Ltd. A photocopy of the environmental clearance issued vide letter no J-13011/9/97-IA.II(T) dated 27.08.1998 is enclosed free of cost. The file relating to the said project is not presently traceable. Efforts are on to locate the file.
"Further, Ministry of Environment and Forests has neither granted environmental clearance to any other coal based thermal power project at Chamalapura, Karnataka nor any such proposal is pending for environmental clearance. As and when any such proposal is received, it will be examined on its merits, based on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, as specified under the EIA Notification, 2006 in accordance with the procedure prescribed therein, inter-alia through a multi disciplinary Expert Appraisal Committee constituted for the purpose.
"Violation of the EIA Notification, 2006 would attract action under the relevant provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in accordance with the procedure prescribed thereunder."
It is clear from this answer of the Ministry that if Karnataka government wants to go ahead with the project, it has to start afresh and go through the time-consuming process of environmental clearance.
The state government is giving opposite signals concerning Chamalapura thermal power plant. It states one day that it is not proceeding with the project and contradicts it the next day. Doubts have been expressed that the state government may be proceeding ahead covertly with the project.
To get a clear picture of the scenario, I applied under the Right to Information Act to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the latest status report on the project. I received a reply from MoEF on 20-9-08. This is what it says:
"From our records, it is informed that an environmental clearance was issued by MoEF in 1998, only in respect of a 500 MW (2*250 MW) Mysore thermal power project at Chamalapura by M/s Mysore Power Generation Pvt. Ltd. A photocopy of the environmental clearance issued vide letter no J-13011/9/97-IA.II(T) dated 27.08.1998 is enclosed free of cost. The file relating to the said project is not presently traceable. Efforts are on to locate the file.
"Further, Ministry of Environment and Forests has neither granted environmental clearance to any other coal based thermal power project at Chamalapura, Karnataka nor any such proposal is pending for environmental clearance. As and when any such proposal is received, it will be examined on its merits, based on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, as specified under the EIA Notification, 2006 in accordance with the procedure prescribed therein, inter-alia through a multi disciplinary Expert Appraisal Committee constituted for the purpose.
"Violation of the EIA Notification, 2006 would attract action under the relevant provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in accordance with the procedure prescribed thereunder."
It is clear from this answer of the Ministry that if Karnataka government wants to go ahead with the project, it has to start afresh and go through the time-consuming process of environmental clearance.