Environment Ministry refuses Karna power plant proposal

[Mrudul Godbole]

A positive news update about Karna Power plant.

Environment Ministry refuses Karna power plant proposal
New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI):

The Environment Ministry has rejected clearance given to a 450 MW power plant proposed in Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka for giving 'misleading information' about its distance from the Cotigao wildlife sanctuary.

The rejection came following a report submitted by a team of the expert appraisal committee (EAC) members which during an inspection found that project proponent Ind-Bharath Ltd had obtained environment nod by "concealing" factual information in respect of various issues including the sanctuary location, ministry officials said.
The proposed project in Hankon in Karwar taluk had received environmental clearance subject to certain conditions in June last year.

However, locals, including members of the Hankon fishing community, had raised fears of loss of livelihood due to environmental problems likely to be caused by its operation. They claimed the plant was barely 3.5 km from Goa's southernmost wildlife sanctuary.
In fact, the residents there too filed two separate appeals before National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) against the project forcing the Environment Ministry to send a team to verify the allegations.

The team said the project proponent has given "false information" about the location of the wildlife sanctuary and there was a contradiction between data furnished by the firm and the actual position of various aspects.

The team found that the firm has concealed details on "the location of discharge of cooling water, impact of intake and outfall on the fisheries, presence of patches of dense forest in and around the project site, including mangroves."

Taking serious note of the matter, the ministry not only cancelled environment clearance but also the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) nod sanctioned to the company.

Link - http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...rna-power.html

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Welcome move by the Environment ministry. However, there should be strict penal actions against the company for providing misleading information. There should be huge financial penalties slapped and the directors of the company should be prosecuted. Only then companies will desist from providing false information for getting clearances.