Karnataka - Bangalore

Project promoters’ claim ‘misleading’

BANGALORE: Conservationists in the Western Ghats have filed objections to the Comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment (CEIA) report prepared by promoters of the Gundia Hydro-electric project, proposed in the catchment zone of the Netravati.

The objections have been filed by the Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation to the Deputy Commissioner, Hassan, and a copy of it has been marked to the Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada.

Speaking to The Hindu, coordinator of the foundation Niren Jain said that the report submitted by project promoters was “erroneous and misleading.”

“We have studied the report and identified factual errors. We have prepared a para-wise objection to the report and it has since been submitted to the deputy commissioners of Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts.”

Mr. Jain said the CEIA report was prepared by the Institute for Catchment Studies and Environmental Management (ICSEM), Bangalore. The report states that the project area is at a distance of 30 km from the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, while it is only within 9.5 km of the sanctuary and falls within the ecologically sensitive zone as per the Environment (Protection) Act.

Execution of this mega project would be in violation of the order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, restricting any such big activities within the ecologically sensitive zone.

The project area is home to several endangered animals and birds. Mr. Jain said the project proposed to produce 100 MW of power and this called for an ‘A’ grade environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

The report submitted by the project promoters did not have any terms of reference by the expert appraisal committee for which lapse the CEIA qualifies for outright rejection by the deputy commissioners. He said the report had wrongly projected several parameters, including the advantage of the water table going up in surrounding areas.

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