HYDERABAD: As the State Government and political parties hailed the "historic clearance" for the multipurpose Polavaram or Indira Sagar project, environmentalists are baffled by the way it was done with "rocket speed" around a site described as one of the most ecologically fragile zones encompassing a wildlife sanctuary.

Going by the chronological order of the entire Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, they have termed it "nothing but a sham" and against Article 48 of the Constitution. The EIA, the Environment Management Plan and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan were based mainly on secondary data and submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in September. "These reports are neither comprehensive nor authentic, put together in haste by Agricultural Finance Corporation Limited," said Capt. J. Rama Rao, environmentalist.

The "formality" of conducting Environmental Public Hearings was completed on October 10. In spite of the fact that the project was overwhelmingly opposed by people, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) sent the proceedings of the hearings and the No Objection Certificate to the Ministry on October 17 saying people favoured it. "It is nothing but distortion of facts and ground realities," he added.

Details sought

Within two days, the project was considered by the Expert Committee on River Valley Projects on October 19. On the same day it recommended environment clearance subject to submission of information on corrected list of flora and fauna, details of land use and land cover, soil data, rehabilitation and resettlement plan. In just about six days, the Government announced that it got the clearance on October 25.

Capt. Rao said the speed with which the environment assessment process was completed and clearance clearly indicated that the APPCB, State Government and Union MoEF have acted in utter disregard to the public opinion, the EIA notification and the Article 48-A of the Constitution. The Article stipulates that, "The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country."

No details on website

Interestingly, though the State Government had on Tuesday announced that it had obtained the environmental clearance, the same was not shown on MoEF website even at 6 p.m. on October 26. It was also not clear if the clearance included that of wildlife and forests.

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