SC orders infrastructure for Orissa-Andhra Inter-state Water disputes tribunal
26.11.2010 | 14:56
New Delhi
Upmanyu Trivedi
An unhappy Supreme Court today directed the Centre to provide all necessary infrastructure for a functional Inter-state Water Disputes tribunal which was set up to settle water dispute between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. The centre has been given three months time to make all arrangements.
Both states have for once joined hands to file a joint interim application before the apex court to operationalise the tribunal which was set up by a Supreme Court order dated 6.2.2009 to adjudicate dispute between the two states arising from construction of side channel and flood canal project at village Katragada on the river Vansadhara in Andhra Pradesh.
Supreme Court bench of Justice Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph passed the order today for providing suitable infrastructure and accommodation for all members of the Commission and judges of the tribunal.
The tribunal although was setup on February 24 this year could not start functioning for lack of infrastructure and accommodation for judges. The bench ordered "we direct union of India to provide suitable infrastructure and suitable accommodation for members within 3 months."
The bench also observed that it is unfortunate that even after one and a half years after Supreme Court order of constitution of the tribunal it is still not functional. The bench noted "we hope union of India takes immediate steps."
The state of Orissa had in February 2006 communicated to the Central Government for constitution of a tribunal to look into its grievances on construction of a flood flow canal at Katragada under section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956. The Supreme Court in a petition filed by state of Orissa had held on 6.2.2009 that, “It is now almost three years since the complaint was made by the state of Orissa but the central government has not taken any action in the matter. In this scenario, the prayer made by the state of Orissa does not appear to be unreasonable since the dispute between the two states does not confine itself to the construction of the side channel weir and the flood flow canal, but primarily involves the unilateral decision taken by the state of Andhra Pradesh to divert the river waters to the state of Andhra Pradesh, which could possibly disturb the agreement [between the two states] to share the waters of the river equally.”
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
JSPL Orissa facing allegations of environmental law breach
The Pioneer reported that after POSCO and Vedanta, it is now the turn of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd to face serious allegations in Odisha for violating the forest rights Act and environment clearance norms.
It has been alleged that in violation of the ministry of environment and Forests specific permission to draw water only from Brahmani River at Samal Barrage, JSPL has been illegally drawing groundwater. The lowering water table has severely affected the nearby elephant habitat, leading to an increase in the incidents of man animal conflict in nearby villages.
Mr Biswajit Mohanty environmentalist also the secretary of Wildlife Society of Orissa has written to environment minister Mr Jairam Ramesh and called for the withdrawal of environmental clearance for brazen flouting of the specific condition agreed upon with the MoEF. Alleging connivance of the State Government, he said officers who failed to inform the MoEF of the violations must be brought to book.
Mr Mohanty has told the minister that construction of such a huge steel plant involved use of large quantities of water required for casting and curing of concrete foundations for machinery, offices, residential quarters, boundary wall, compaction of roads, development of green belt plantation etc.
He also pointed to condition number of the environment clearance of MoEF granted to Jindal in 2007. Mr Mohanty said that “Total requirement of the water to be drawn from Brahmani river/Samal Barrage shall not exceed 14,700 cubic metre/hour. Permission has been accorded for the withdrawal of 7,000 m/hour water for Phase I by the Department of Water Resources, Govt of Orissa, vide letter dated December 11th 2006.”
As per the MoEF condition, the company has not yet completed its pipeline from the Brahmani/Samal Barrage to the plant site for sourcing the water. But it has been carrying on civil construction…site development by digging nearly 150-200 bore wells within the plant site, from where water is being pumped out. As a result, there has been a drastic reduction in the water level at nearby reservoirs, including the Derjang Medium Irrigation Project.
Besides creating irrigation problems in the nearby villages, the drastic reduction in water level has affected the wildlife. The letter states that the area adjacent to the plant site is an elephant habitat, which is used by pachyderms while migrating from Sarkosia Tiger Reserve to Chendipada and Pallahra forest, on their way to Keonjhar forest.
As a result of the water crisis, the jumbos are straying into local villages, leading to a raging man elephant conflict in the area for two years now.
The company is setting up an integrated steel plant at Badkerjang in Angul district with 6 million tonne per annum capacity and a 1,000 MW captive plant at an investment of INR 10,000 crore.
(Sourced from www.dailypioneer.com)
The Pioneer reported that after POSCO and Vedanta, it is now the turn of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd to face serious allegations in Odisha for violating the forest rights Act and environment clearance norms.
It has been alleged that in violation of the ministry of environment and Forests specific permission to draw water only from Brahmani River at Samal Barrage, JSPL has been illegally drawing groundwater. The lowering water table has severely affected the nearby elephant habitat, leading to an increase in the incidents of man animal conflict in nearby villages.
Mr Biswajit Mohanty environmentalist also the secretary of Wildlife Society of Orissa has written to environment minister Mr Jairam Ramesh and called for the withdrawal of environmental clearance for brazen flouting of the specific condition agreed upon with the MoEF. Alleging connivance of the State Government, he said officers who failed to inform the MoEF of the violations must be brought to book.
Mr Mohanty has told the minister that construction of such a huge steel plant involved use of large quantities of water required for casting and curing of concrete foundations for machinery, offices, residential quarters, boundary wall, compaction of roads, development of green belt plantation etc.
He also pointed to condition number of the environment clearance of MoEF granted to Jindal in 2007. Mr Mohanty said that “Total requirement of the water to be drawn from Brahmani river/Samal Barrage shall not exceed 14,700 cubic metre/hour. Permission has been accorded for the withdrawal of 7,000 m/hour water for Phase I by the Department of Water Resources, Govt of Orissa, vide letter dated December 11th 2006.”
As per the MoEF condition, the company has not yet completed its pipeline from the Brahmani/Samal Barrage to the plant site for sourcing the water. But it has been carrying on civil construction…site development by digging nearly 150-200 bore wells within the plant site, from where water is being pumped out. As a result, there has been a drastic reduction in the water level at nearby reservoirs, including the Derjang Medium Irrigation Project.
Besides creating irrigation problems in the nearby villages, the drastic reduction in water level has affected the wildlife. The letter states that the area adjacent to the plant site is an elephant habitat, which is used by pachyderms while migrating from Sarkosia Tiger Reserve to Chendipada and Pallahra forest, on their way to Keonjhar forest.
As a result of the water crisis, the jumbos are straying into local villages, leading to a raging man elephant conflict in the area for two years now.
The company is setting up an integrated steel plant at Badkerjang in Angul district with 6 million tonne per annum capacity and a 1,000 MW captive plant at an investment of INR 10,000 crore.
(Sourced from www.dailypioneer.com)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Polavaram Politics
SC grants "last opportunity" to Centre on Polavaram row
New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) The Supreme Court today granted "last opportunity" to the Centre to file within three weeks its response on Orissa''s plea for quashing clearance granted by Environment Ministry to the controversial Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, which it fears would inundate several parts of the state.
A bench of Justices Mukundakam Sharma and A R Dave while passing the order also posted after 8 weeks hearing of the main suit filed by Orissa in 2007 challenging the construction of the project also known as Indira Sagar, which the Centre has agreed to treat as a national project.
The apex court gave the "last opportunity" as it was irked by the Centre''s failure to file the response despite its earlier directive on October 4.
It also asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to file its response within three weeks and allowed Maharashtra to file its impleadment application on the issue as the project had a bearing on the State''s interest too.
According to Andhra Pradesh government, the project will provide drinking water to three million people, produce 960MW of power and give 23,500 million cubic feet of water to the industries.
In its application, Orissa has urged the apex court to quash the clearance on the ground that it would affect the lives of thousands of people in the state due to the massive embankment being constructed by Andhra Pradesh.
Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran questioned the Centre''s logic in granting clearance when the construction of the project was being examined by the apex court.
Orissa has already filed a suit before the apex court challenging the construction of the multi-crore Polavaram project.
The state has argued that the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) had granted clearance to the project despite the fact that Andhra Pradesh failed to conduct the mandatory public hearing before constructing the 45-feet high embankment spread over 35 kms.
It maintained that the clearance was granted despite the fact that the dispute over the construction of the project was pending adjudication in the apex court.
The UPA government had earlier assured Andhra Pradesh government that it would accord a national status to the project, which means that a bulk of the project cost would be borne by the Centre.
Inordinate delay in execution of Polavaram Project has led to steep escalation of project cost from about Rs. 12,000 crore to over Rs. 17,600 crore now.
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had during his last visit to Delhi urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to withdraw forest and environmental clearance to Polavaram project as it would submerge vast areas in Orissa''s Malkangiri district.
The Prime Minister, on his part, had assured him that the tribal villages would not be allowed to be submerged.
Initially planned by the British in 1941, the Polavaram project envisages construction of a dam on Godavari river and diversion of a large volume of water through a 174-km link canal to Krishna river.
Orissa government had first moved the Supreme Court after the MoEF had given its interim approval for the project in 2008.
New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) The Supreme Court today granted "last opportunity" to the Centre to file within three weeks its response on Orissa''s plea for quashing clearance granted by Environment Ministry to the controversial Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, which it fears would inundate several parts of the state.
A bench of Justices Mukundakam Sharma and A R Dave while passing the order also posted after 8 weeks hearing of the main suit filed by Orissa in 2007 challenging the construction of the project also known as Indira Sagar, which the Centre has agreed to treat as a national project.
The apex court gave the "last opportunity" as it was irked by the Centre''s failure to file the response despite its earlier directive on October 4.
It also asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to file its response within three weeks and allowed Maharashtra to file its impleadment application on the issue as the project had a bearing on the State''s interest too.
According to Andhra Pradesh government, the project will provide drinking water to three million people, produce 960MW of power and give 23,500 million cubic feet of water to the industries.
In its application, Orissa has urged the apex court to quash the clearance on the ground that it would affect the lives of thousands of people in the state due to the massive embankment being constructed by Andhra Pradesh.
Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran questioned the Centre''s logic in granting clearance when the construction of the project was being examined by the apex court.
Orissa has already filed a suit before the apex court challenging the construction of the multi-crore Polavaram project.
The state has argued that the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) had granted clearance to the project despite the fact that Andhra Pradesh failed to conduct the mandatory public hearing before constructing the 45-feet high embankment spread over 35 kms.
It maintained that the clearance was granted despite the fact that the dispute over the construction of the project was pending adjudication in the apex court.
The UPA government had earlier assured Andhra Pradesh government that it would accord a national status to the project, which means that a bulk of the project cost would be borne by the Centre.
Inordinate delay in execution of Polavaram Project has led to steep escalation of project cost from about Rs. 12,000 crore to over Rs. 17,600 crore now.
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had during his last visit to Delhi urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to withdraw forest and environmental clearance to Polavaram project as it would submerge vast areas in Orissa''s Malkangiri district.
The Prime Minister, on his part, had assured him that the tribal villages would not be allowed to be submerged.
Initially planned by the British in 1941, the Polavaram project envisages construction of a dam on Godavari river and diversion of a large volume of water through a 174-km link canal to Krishna river.
Orissa government had first moved the Supreme Court after the MoEF had given its interim approval for the project in 2008.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Polavaram Politics
Divide between Telangana and coast hits Polavaram
Ashok Das, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Hyderabad, November 18, 2010First Published: 00:08 IST(18/11/2010)
Last Updated: 00:10 IST(18/11/2010)
The Rs 16,010-crore Polavaram dam project on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh — already a source of anguish in Orissa and Chhattisgarh — has attracted opposition from the most unexpected quarters: leaders of the ruling Congress in Telangana. The project that may displace 1.8 lakh people in the
state, as a vast swath of land will be submerged in those states, has already been served a show-cause notice from the Union environment ministry as well.
The dam, being built for five years with more than Rs3,000 crore already expended, will submerge 276 villages in Andhra Pradesh alone. Of them, 205 villages are in Telangana.
Over 1.3 lakh people in the region, mostly the Koyas and the Konda Reddy tribesmen, will be uprooted by the project. What’s more, the project will help irrigate 7.2 lakh acres in coastal Andhra region, while Telangana will get water for only 1.33 lakh acres.
IT minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who is from the Telangana region, said, "The Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala dams were built displacing Telangana tribesmen. Now, the tribesmen are set to be displaced again due to the Polavaram project."
As the dam is expected to benefit the coastal region more than Telangana, it has added fuel to the traditional rivalry between the two regions and created a sharp divide even between the Congress leaders of the regions.
For the past 24 hours, Telangana is witnessing a wave of protests, demanding a review of the dam project. This time, however, the lead is not being by the Telangana Rastra Samiti.
The central government, in view of the protests in Telangana, may not take an early call on the project. And the environment ministry's show-cause notice has brought work on the project to a standstill.
Ashok Das, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Hyderabad, November 18, 2010First Published: 00:08 IST(18/11/2010)
Last Updated: 00:10 IST(18/11/2010)
The Rs 16,010-crore Polavaram dam project on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh — already a source of anguish in Orissa and Chhattisgarh — has attracted opposition from the most unexpected quarters: leaders of the ruling Congress in Telangana. The project that may displace 1.8 lakh people in the
state, as a vast swath of land will be submerged in those states, has already been served a show-cause notice from the Union environment ministry as well.
The dam, being built for five years with more than Rs3,000 crore already expended, will submerge 276 villages in Andhra Pradesh alone. Of them, 205 villages are in Telangana.
Over 1.3 lakh people in the region, mostly the Koyas and the Konda Reddy tribesmen, will be uprooted by the project. What’s more, the project will help irrigate 7.2 lakh acres in coastal Andhra region, while Telangana will get water for only 1.33 lakh acres.
IT minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who is from the Telangana region, said, "The Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala dams were built displacing Telangana tribesmen. Now, the tribesmen are set to be displaced again due to the Polavaram project."
As the dam is expected to benefit the coastal region more than Telangana, it has added fuel to the traditional rivalry between the two regions and created a sharp divide even between the Congress leaders of the regions.
For the past 24 hours, Telangana is witnessing a wave of protests, demanding a review of the dam project. This time, however, the lead is not being by the Telangana Rastra Samiti.
The central government, in view of the protests in Telangana, may not take an early call on the project. And the environment ministry's show-cause notice has brought work on the project to a standstill.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Polavaram Politics
SC hearing on Polavaram project on Thursday
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar November 17, 2010, 0:52 IST
The fate of the controversial Polavaram project is likely to be decided by the Supreme Court of India which would hear the case on Thursday.
"The Supreme Court will hear the case relating to the Polavaram project on Thursday”, Suresh Mohapatra, secretary (water resources), Orissa government told Business Standard
It may be noted that the Orissa government had approached the Supreme Court of India on September 4 this year, challenging the Centre's decision to give final environmental clearance for the project.
On October 4, the apex court had asked the Government of India to file its response within a month.
In its suit, Orissa had sought a declaration that Andhra Pradesh had no right or entitlement to undertake or proceed with the Polavaram project on the Godavari river. It has also stated that embankments were not permanent solutions to effectively contain submergence during floods.
Meanwhile, Orissa has gone soft on its demand for the conduct of public hearing for the controversial multipurpose Polavaram project. The state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has of late been unrelenting in his demand for holding public hearings for the project, announced that the state will wait till the apex court gives its verdict on the project.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister had categorically stated that there was no need for conducting public hearings in Orissa and Chhattisgarh, as adequate measures were taken to prevent submergence of villages in the two states.
Rosaiah's statement had sparked off a war of words between him and Patnaik.
Reacting to Rosaiah's comments, Patnaik had said, “Our concern is that the tribal people, particularly in Malkangiri district do not suffer because of the implementation of the Polavaram project. They (Andhra Pradesh government) may be taking measures to prevent submergence of villages but public hearings must be conducted.”
The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on November 2, had asked the Andhra Pradesh government to specify the reasons for not holding public hearings for the project in Orissa and Chattisgarh even after one and a half years of issue of the letter of the ministry dated March 9 last year.
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar November 17, 2010, 0:52 IST
The fate of the controversial Polavaram project is likely to be decided by the Supreme Court of India which would hear the case on Thursday.
"The Supreme Court will hear the case relating to the Polavaram project on Thursday”, Suresh Mohapatra, secretary (water resources), Orissa government told Business Standard
It may be noted that the Orissa government had approached the Supreme Court of India on September 4 this year, challenging the Centre's decision to give final environmental clearance for the project.
On October 4, the apex court had asked the Government of India to file its response within a month.
In its suit, Orissa had sought a declaration that Andhra Pradesh had no right or entitlement to undertake or proceed with the Polavaram project on the Godavari river. It has also stated that embankments were not permanent solutions to effectively contain submergence during floods.
Meanwhile, Orissa has gone soft on its demand for the conduct of public hearing for the controversial multipurpose Polavaram project. The state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has of late been unrelenting in his demand for holding public hearings for the project, announced that the state will wait till the apex court gives its verdict on the project.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister had categorically stated that there was no need for conducting public hearings in Orissa and Chhattisgarh, as adequate measures were taken to prevent submergence of villages in the two states.
Rosaiah's statement had sparked off a war of words between him and Patnaik.
Reacting to Rosaiah's comments, Patnaik had said, “Our concern is that the tribal people, particularly in Malkangiri district do not suffer because of the implementation of the Polavaram project. They (Andhra Pradesh government) may be taking measures to prevent submergence of villages but public hearings must be conducted.”
The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on November 2, had asked the Andhra Pradesh government to specify the reasons for not holding public hearings for the project in Orissa and Chattisgarh even after one and a half years of issue of the letter of the ministry dated March 9 last year.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Polavaram Politics
Orissa to wait for apex court verdict on Polavaram
2010-11-12 22:30:00
Bhubaneswar, Nov 12 (IANS) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday said his government will wait for the Supreme Court verdict on the controversial Polavaram dam project, to be built by Andhra Pradesh on river Godavari, to chalk out its future course of action.
'We will wait for the judgment of the Supreme Court. Then we will see what needs to be done,' Patnaik told reporters here.
The Rs.12,000 crore Polavaram multipurpose project has been planned on river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. If built, it will be south India's biggest dam, providing irrigation to 7.19 lakh acres in that state.
The Orissa government first moved the Supreme Court after the central environment and forests ministry granted interim approval to the project in 2008.
The state government knocked on the door of the apex court again in September this year after the union environment and forests ministry granted final approval for diversion of 3,731.07 hectares of forest land for the project.
Chhattisgarh and Orissa fear that after completion of the project, in case of floods, the back water of the Godavari on which the dam would be built will flow into its tributaries Saberi and Sileru in Orissa and Chhattisgarh and submerge dozens of villages.
Andhra Pradesh has said it will put embankments on the river but Orissa says it will not help.
The project ran into more trouble after the union environment and forests ministry earlier this month questioned Andhra Pradesh for beginning work on the project without holding public hearing in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Polavaram Politics
Polavaram project: AP flays neighbouring states
PTI
First Published : 12 Nov 2010 10:21:10 PM ISTLast Updated : 12 Nov 2010 11:40:56 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has accused Orissa and Chhattisgarh governments of not "cooperating" in conducting public hearings on the construction of the proposed Polavaram irrigation project.
The Union Environment Ministry had issued a show-cause notice to Andhra Pradesh government to explain why it had failed to conduct a public hearing on the construction of the dam as asked by it while giving clearance to the multi-purpose project in the state.
However, Rosaiah tried to put the ball in the courts of neighbouring Orissa and Chattisgarh which have been opposing the proposed dam fearing displacement of a large number tribals in their territories.
"You will appreciate that in our federal set-up specific functions such as holding of public hearings have to be performed by the respective states. Andhra Pradesh cannot hold public hearing either in Orissa or Chhattisgarh," Rosaiah said in a letter to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
He argued that instead of asking the neighbouring states to furnish reason for not holding public hearings, the Environment Minister had been directing questions at his government in the matter.
Questioning the need for issuing the show-cause notice, the chief minister also pointed out that his government had been from time to time informing the Environment Ministry about the steps taken by it in the matter as well "inaction and reluctance" of the relevant authorities of Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Taking a serious view of Andhra Pradesh government's inaction in conducting a public hearing on Polavaram project and obtaining a fresh green clearance, the Ministry had written a letter to the state seeking an explanation on the issue.
Rosaiah asked the Environment Ministry to accord its concurrence for construction of protective embankments along the rivers Sabari and Sileru without insisting on public hearing as there was no change in the scope of the project.
Besides, flood protective bunds did not require environmental clearance as per the provisions of EIA Notification, 2006, he added.
The project was granted forest clearance on July 28 by the Environment Ministry with a condition that no land will be submerged in Orissa and Chhattisgarh and public hearing will be conducted in the two states.
PTI
First Published : 12 Nov 2010 10:21:10 PM ISTLast Updated : 12 Nov 2010 11:40:56 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has accused Orissa and Chhattisgarh governments of not "cooperating" in conducting public hearings on the construction of the proposed Polavaram irrigation project.
The Union Environment Ministry had issued a show-cause notice to Andhra Pradesh government to explain why it had failed to conduct a public hearing on the construction of the dam as asked by it while giving clearance to the multi-purpose project in the state.
However, Rosaiah tried to put the ball in the courts of neighbouring Orissa and Chattisgarh which have been opposing the proposed dam fearing displacement of a large number tribals in their territories.
"You will appreciate that in our federal set-up specific functions such as holding of public hearings have to be performed by the respective states. Andhra Pradesh cannot hold public hearing either in Orissa or Chhattisgarh," Rosaiah said in a letter to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
He argued that instead of asking the neighbouring states to furnish reason for not holding public hearings, the Environment Minister had been directing questions at his government in the matter.
Questioning the need for issuing the show-cause notice, the chief minister also pointed out that his government had been from time to time informing the Environment Ministry about the steps taken by it in the matter as well "inaction and reluctance" of the relevant authorities of Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Taking a serious view of Andhra Pradesh government's inaction in conducting a public hearing on Polavaram project and obtaining a fresh green clearance, the Ministry had written a letter to the state seeking an explanation on the issue.
Rosaiah asked the Environment Ministry to accord its concurrence for construction of protective embankments along the rivers Sabari and Sileru without insisting on public hearing as there was no change in the scope of the project.
Besides, flood protective bunds did not require environmental clearance as per the provisions of EIA Notification, 2006, he added.
The project was granted forest clearance on July 28 by the Environment Ministry with a condition that no land will be submerged in Orissa and Chhattisgarh and public hearing will be conducted in the two states.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Orissa villagers protest Essar Steel dredging work
Hundreds of villagers under the banner of Gramya Suraksha Samiti and Paradip Krushak Mancha protested the dredging work of Essar Steel in Mahanadi River near Paradip. They were agitating over non fulfillment of their demands.
The agitation affected the sand filling work of the land acquired by the company for setting up of a six million tonne steel plant.
Villagers alleged that Essar Steel was trying to purchase private land for the project at lesser price using land mafias and ignoring the claims of the affected villagers for higher compensation. Besides they accused the company of violating costal regulation zone act, causing soil erosion, giving preference to outsiders in employment and harassing contract labour engaged in construction work.
Mr Bhagban Swain secretary of Paradip Krushak Mancha said that the company is dredging the shore line of the river in stead of its middle portion which has resulted in the river ingression into the agricultural land on the river bank.
He said that farmers are unable to cultivate paddy as the saline water has submerged their land. The company is yet to give compensation to the affected farmer. Hence, the villagers marched to the site where the company is conducting the dredging and stopped the work demanding payment of compensation.
Earlier, the villagers had protested the dredging work on three occasions following which the Essar Steel authority and district administration had given assurance to conduct survey about the soil erosion and damage suffered by the farmers by technical experts. But later nothing happened and ignoring the demands of the affected people, the company restarted the dredging work on Mahandai River. In protest, the irate villagers stopped the dredging work.
President of Gramya Suraksha Samiti, Tofan Swain said that the organization would hold an awareness meeting at Bhubaneswar on November 7 to highlight the plight of the villagers. On the other hand, Kujang tahsildar Basudev Pradhan said, the necessary permission for dredging has been given by the Cuttack division of Irrigation Department of the state government.
Hundreds of villagers under the banner of Gramya Suraksha Samiti and Paradip Krushak Mancha protested the dredging work of Essar Steel in Mahanadi River near Paradip. They were agitating over non fulfillment of their demands.
The agitation affected the sand filling work of the land acquired by the company for setting up of a six million tonne steel plant.
Villagers alleged that Essar Steel was trying to purchase private land for the project at lesser price using land mafias and ignoring the claims of the affected villagers for higher compensation. Besides they accused the company of violating costal regulation zone act, causing soil erosion, giving preference to outsiders in employment and harassing contract labour engaged in construction work.
Mr Bhagban Swain secretary of Paradip Krushak Mancha said that the company is dredging the shore line of the river in stead of its middle portion which has resulted in the river ingression into the agricultural land on the river bank.
He said that farmers are unable to cultivate paddy as the saline water has submerged their land. The company is yet to give compensation to the affected farmer. Hence, the villagers marched to the site where the company is conducting the dredging and stopped the work demanding payment of compensation.
Earlier, the villagers had protested the dredging work on three occasions following which the Essar Steel authority and district administration had given assurance to conduct survey about the soil erosion and damage suffered by the farmers by technical experts. But later nothing happened and ignoring the demands of the affected people, the company restarted the dredging work on Mahandai River. In protest, the irate villagers stopped the dredging work.
President of Gramya Suraksha Samiti, Tofan Swain said that the organization would hold an awareness meeting at Bhubaneswar on November 7 to highlight the plight of the villagers. On the other hand, Kujang tahsildar Basudev Pradhan said, the necessary permission for dredging has been given by the Cuttack division of Irrigation Department of the state government.
Friday, November 5, 2010
POSCO
Olive ridley sabotages Posco's port plan
5 Nov, 2010, 05.44AM IST, Urmi A Goswami,ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: The endangered olive ridley turtle could well upset South Korean steel maker Posco’s plans to construct a captive port at Jatadhar in Orissa.
The proposed port at the mouth of River Jatadhar of the Mahanadi delta would be located in close proximity to the congregation area of the olive ridley sea turtles. It would also be in close proximity to mass nesting beaches for turtles, including the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
The olive ridley turtle is listed as a protected species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. Given the importance of the area for the protection of turtles, the mouth of the Jatadhar river have been designated at protected waters under the Orissa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act.
There are concerns about the impact of increased illumination from the proposed port on the nesting sites for adult turtles, as well. The large number of ports, many of which are in proposal stage, has become a cause of concern for the impact it has on marine life. The area is also home to dolphins among other species.
“Orissa has the largest nesting population of olive ridleys outside Central America. Also, the olive ridley turtle population in the Orissa coast is unique. Genetic studies show that olive ridley populations in the Pacific and Atlantic originated from India's east coast. Therefore, from the conservation perspective, protecting the habitat along the Orissa coastline takes on greater importance,” said ecologist Kartik Shanker, faculty at the Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore.
Mr Shanker is part of a group of ecologists and biologists who have drawn attention to the impact of the increased port construction on the Orissa coast.
The group also includes Romulus Whitaker of the Madras Crocodile Bank , Sudarshan Rodriguez of TISS, Sejal Worah of WWF-India. The scientists will be conveying their concerns about the need to protect the ecosystem of the Orissa coast to the environment ministry shortly. Earlier, they had submitted their views to the ministry appointed Posco review panel as well.
“Over the years, the intensity of illumination from the Paradip port has intensified although located at a distance of approximately 50 km from the Gahirmatha nesting site. We are of the opinion that the illumination and glow of light from the Posco port area will inhibit nesting from taking place at the Devi river mouth,” the biologists said in their communication.
They have drawn attention to the fact that the environment impact assessment report for the port project prepared by M N Dastur and Company made no mention of the impact the port would have on the marine environment of the area.
“The report is not a suitable document for assessing impacts on the marine environment, particularly on the globally significant population of sea turtles,” the communication states. India is a signatory to the Indian Ocean memorandum of understanding for the conservation of sea turtles and a party to the Convention on Migratory Species.
5 Nov, 2010, 05.44AM IST, Urmi A Goswami,ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: The endangered olive ridley turtle could well upset South Korean steel maker Posco’s plans to construct a captive port at Jatadhar in Orissa.
The proposed port at the mouth of River Jatadhar of the Mahanadi delta would be located in close proximity to the congregation area of the olive ridley sea turtles. It would also be in close proximity to mass nesting beaches for turtles, including the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
The olive ridley turtle is listed as a protected species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. Given the importance of the area for the protection of turtles, the mouth of the Jatadhar river have been designated at protected waters under the Orissa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act.
There are concerns about the impact of increased illumination from the proposed port on the nesting sites for adult turtles, as well. The large number of ports, many of which are in proposal stage, has become a cause of concern for the impact it has on marine life. The area is also home to dolphins among other species.
“Orissa has the largest nesting population of olive ridleys outside Central America. Also, the olive ridley turtle population in the Orissa coast is unique. Genetic studies show that olive ridley populations in the Pacific and Atlantic originated from India's east coast. Therefore, from the conservation perspective, protecting the habitat along the Orissa coastline takes on greater importance,” said ecologist Kartik Shanker, faculty at the Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore.
Mr Shanker is part of a group of ecologists and biologists who have drawn attention to the impact of the increased port construction on the Orissa coast.
The group also includes Romulus Whitaker of the Madras Crocodile Bank , Sudarshan Rodriguez of TISS, Sejal Worah of WWF-India. The scientists will be conveying their concerns about the need to protect the ecosystem of the Orissa coast to the environment ministry shortly. Earlier, they had submitted their views to the ministry appointed Posco review panel as well.
“Over the years, the intensity of illumination from the Paradip port has intensified although located at a distance of approximately 50 km from the Gahirmatha nesting site. We are of the opinion that the illumination and glow of light from the Posco port area will inhibit nesting from taking place at the Devi river mouth,” the biologists said in their communication.
They have drawn attention to the fact that the environment impact assessment report for the port project prepared by M N Dastur and Company made no mention of the impact the port would have on the marine environment of the area.
“The report is not a suitable document for assessing impacts on the marine environment, particularly on the globally significant population of sea turtles,” the communication states. India is a signatory to the Indian Ocean memorandum of understanding for the conservation of sea turtles and a party to the Convention on Migratory Species.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Polavaram Politics
Orissa's objections on Polavaram project invalid: Rosaiah
2010-11-03 15:20:00
Last Updated: 2010-11-03 17:03:12
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Wednesday asserted that the objections raised by Orissa over the construction of multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project on river Godavari were "not valid."r
Replying to a question during a brief interaction with newsmen in the State Secretariat, the Chief Minister said there was no question of Andhra Pradesh conducting a public hearing on the Polavaram project in Orissa and Chattisgarh as directed by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
"How can we conduct a public hearing in those states? We have already taken adequate measures to prevent submergence of land in those states. The MoEF accorded environmental clearance for Polavaram only after that," Rosaiah pointed out.
The Chief Minister said the state government would "reply suitably" to the MoEF letter seeking an explanation on the construction of Polavaram.
"The Irrigation department will be replying to the MoEF letter. I have been trying to talk to Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh since yesterday but could not get across to him. I am writing a letter to Jairam today appraising the need for giving early clearance for Polavaram," Rosaiah added.
News and tweets from Hyderabad
The Chief Minister recalled that he had spoken "more than once" with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal requesting them to expedite the process of granting national status for Polavaram.
"Not only Polavaram, we are also requesting national status for Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation project but it is yet to get some clearances from the Centre," he pointed out.
2010-11-03 15:20:00
Last Updated: 2010-11-03 17:03:12
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Wednesday asserted that the objections raised by Orissa over the construction of multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project on river Godavari were "not valid."r
Replying to a question during a brief interaction with newsmen in the State Secretariat, the Chief Minister said there was no question of Andhra Pradesh conducting a public hearing on the Polavaram project in Orissa and Chattisgarh as directed by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
"How can we conduct a public hearing in those states? We have already taken adequate measures to prevent submergence of land in those states. The MoEF accorded environmental clearance for Polavaram only after that," Rosaiah pointed out.
The Chief Minister said the state government would "reply suitably" to the MoEF letter seeking an explanation on the construction of Polavaram.
"The Irrigation department will be replying to the MoEF letter. I have been trying to talk to Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh since yesterday but could not get across to him. I am writing a letter to Jairam today appraising the need for giving early clearance for Polavaram," Rosaiah added.
News and tweets from Hyderabad
The Chief Minister recalled that he had spoken "more than once" with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal requesting them to expedite the process of granting national status for Polavaram.
"Not only Polavaram, we are also requesting national status for Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation project but it is yet to get some clearances from the Centre," he pointed out.
Mahendra Tanaya_Vamshadhara
Mahendratanaya next bone of contention
BHUBANESWAR: At a time when Andhra Pradesh and Orissa governments are involved in a legal fight in the Supreme Court over the Polavaram project, another dam project on the river Mahendratanaya by AP is turning contentious because of increasing local opposition.
The 'Save Mahendratanaya' movement (Mahendratanaya Banchao Andolan) wanted the State Government to move the Supreme Court over the issue as the AP Government had allegedly violated the 1962 agreement between the two states regarding the project.
Criticising the inaction of the State Government, convenor of the movement Srikant Padhi alleged that no action has been taken on the issue though Andhra government is proceeding with the project without any concern for the local people on this side of the border.
The State Government had planned to construct two anicuts on the river Bansadhara Bansadhara integrated project to thwart the designs of the Andhra government. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation of the two anicuts at Dambapur village on the Mahendratanaya and at Champapur village on the river Jalanga, a tributary of Mahendratanaya on April 30, 2008.
Padhi alleged that though both the projects had received administrative approval, work has not progressed during the last two years. These projects will provide irrigation facilities to thousands of tribals in Gajapati and Rayagada districts and drinking water to Parlakhemundi town, he said.
The seven demands raised by the movement include finalising the tender process of the two projects and immediate start of work. He said construction work should be handed over to the military engineering service if contractors refuse to take up the project because of fear from the Naxals.
A division of the military engineering service should be set up at Parlakhemundi, he said and added that the vacant posts of assistant engineer at Parlakhemundi and junior engineer of the integrated Bansadhara project should be filled up.
After flowing 56 km in Orissa, Mahendratanaya merges in Bansadhara in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh government has started Mahendratanaya project at Meliaput.
BHUBANESWAR: At a time when Andhra Pradesh and Orissa governments are involved in a legal fight in the Supreme Court over the Polavaram project, another dam project on the river Mahendratanaya by AP is turning contentious because of increasing local opposition.
The 'Save Mahendratanaya' movement (Mahendratanaya Banchao Andolan) wanted the State Government to move the Supreme Court over the issue as the AP Government had allegedly violated the 1962 agreement between the two states regarding the project.
Criticising the inaction of the State Government, convenor of the movement Srikant Padhi alleged that no action has been taken on the issue though Andhra government is proceeding with the project without any concern for the local people on this side of the border.
The State Government had planned to construct two anicuts on the river Bansadhara Bansadhara integrated project to thwart the designs of the Andhra government. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation of the two anicuts at Dambapur village on the Mahendratanaya and at Champapur village on the river Jalanga, a tributary of Mahendratanaya on April 30, 2008.
Padhi alleged that though both the projects had received administrative approval, work has not progressed during the last two years. These projects will provide irrigation facilities to thousands of tribals in Gajapati and Rayagada districts and drinking water to Parlakhemundi town, he said.
The seven demands raised by the movement include finalising the tender process of the two projects and immediate start of work. He said construction work should be handed over to the military engineering service if contractors refuse to take up the project because of fear from the Naxals.
A division of the military engineering service should be set up at Parlakhemundi, he said and added that the vacant posts of assistant engineer at Parlakhemundi and junior engineer of the integrated Bansadhara project should be filled up.
After flowing 56 km in Orissa, Mahendratanaya merges in Bansadhara in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh government has started Mahendratanaya project at Meliaput.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Save Mahanadi
Save Mahanadi' activists target Tata project
Correspondent
CUTTACK: Now the Mahanadi Bachao (Save Mahanadi) Andolan activists have targeted the proposed 1000 MW thermal power project of Tata Company near Naraj and have threatened that not a single drop of river water would be allowed to be diverted to this project.
Joining in a massive rally on Sunday organised by the locals who have been opposing the project for several other reasons, the leaders of Save Mahanadi organisation threw their weight behind the local people.
Rally taken out
Hundreds of locals, accompanied by outfit activists took out a rally in the locality and organized a public meeting at a nearby school playground which was attended among others by the outfit leaders like former minister Bijay Mohapatra, Samir Dey and several other leaders.
Urging the local people to vehemently oppose the project, the speakers pointed out that valuable agricultural land in the locality would be damaged if the proposed thermal power plant comes up in the area.
They also threatened that the project if at all comes up in the locality; it would not be allowed to draw water from Mahanadi River.
The locals had been opposing the project ever since the state government issued notification about the project in November 2008.
They say the thermal power would severely disturb the local environment and the Millennium city would be the hottest place in the state thereby putting the eight lakh populace in misery.
Correspondent
CUTTACK: Now the Mahanadi Bachao (Save Mahanadi) Andolan activists have targeted the proposed 1000 MW thermal power project of Tata Company near Naraj and have threatened that not a single drop of river water would be allowed to be diverted to this project.
Joining in a massive rally on Sunday organised by the locals who have been opposing the project for several other reasons, the leaders of Save Mahanadi organisation threw their weight behind the local people.
Rally taken out
Hundreds of locals, accompanied by outfit activists took out a rally in the locality and organized a public meeting at a nearby school playground which was attended among others by the outfit leaders like former minister Bijay Mohapatra, Samir Dey and several other leaders.
Urging the local people to vehemently oppose the project, the speakers pointed out that valuable agricultural land in the locality would be damaged if the proposed thermal power plant comes up in the area.
They also threatened that the project if at all comes up in the locality; it would not be allowed to draw water from Mahanadi River.
The locals had been opposing the project ever since the state government issued notification about the project in November 2008.
They say the thermal power would severely disturb the local environment and the Millennium city would be the hottest place in the state thereby putting the eight lakh populace in misery.
India: Illegal sand dredging threatens wildlife
Posted on Nov 2nd
The nesting beaches of famous Olive Ridley sea turtles on the Orissa coast have eroded due to illegal sand dredging carried out by a major private steel company near the mouth of Mahanadi river.
Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO) Secretary Biswajit Mohanty alleged that the Essar Steel Orissa Ltd (ESOL), which is proposed to set up a six MTPA steel pellet factory at Paradip along with a 225MW captive power plant, has destroyed the nesting areas of the Olive Ridley, a schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, by its dredging activities.
Mr Mohanty said the state government has allowed the world’s largest sea turtle nesting site to be destroyed and demanded the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to immediately keep in abeyance the environmental clearance granted to the company in May 2008.
The WSO secretary said the company should be asked to stop work till the completion of the enquiry into violations of CRZ rules, Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972.
The company, he further said, should be ordered to refill the sand which had been illegally dredged from river Mahanadi so that the turtle nesting beaches of Gahirmatha could be restored.
The MoEF, Mr Mohanty said, should also prosecute the officers who have failed to enforce the CRZ regulations and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 provisions.
He said as per local reports, at least 12,00,000 c mt of sand has been dredged from the river. Two dredgers were engaged by the Company to excavate sand from Mahanadi to fill up the site.
As the ocean currents flow for eight months of year in a northward direction, such sediment load flushed out from the Mahanadi mouth is deposited on the shores of the marine sanctuary which lies to north of the river mouth.
These soft sediment beaches are prime turtle nesting areas.
However, for the last two years, there has been an unprecedented erosion of the coastline, north of river Mahanadi, Ekakula Pentha and Agarnasi areas all known sea turtle mass nesting sites.
Posted on Nov 2nd
The nesting beaches of famous Olive Ridley sea turtles on the Orissa coast have eroded due to illegal sand dredging carried out by a major private steel company near the mouth of Mahanadi river.
Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO) Secretary Biswajit Mohanty alleged that the Essar Steel Orissa Ltd (ESOL), which is proposed to set up a six MTPA steel pellet factory at Paradip along with a 225MW captive power plant, has destroyed the nesting areas of the Olive Ridley, a schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, by its dredging activities.
Mr Mohanty said the state government has allowed the world’s largest sea turtle nesting site to be destroyed and demanded the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to immediately keep in abeyance the environmental clearance granted to the company in May 2008.
The WSO secretary said the company should be asked to stop work till the completion of the enquiry into violations of CRZ rules, Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972.
The company, he further said, should be ordered to refill the sand which had been illegally dredged from river Mahanadi so that the turtle nesting beaches of Gahirmatha could be restored.
The MoEF, Mr Mohanty said, should also prosecute the officers who have failed to enforce the CRZ regulations and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 provisions.
He said as per local reports, at least 12,00,000 c mt of sand has been dredged from the river. Two dredgers were engaged by the Company to excavate sand from Mahanadi to fill up the site.
As the ocean currents flow for eight months of year in a northward direction, such sediment load flushed out from the Mahanadi mouth is deposited on the shores of the marine sanctuary which lies to north of the river mouth.
These soft sediment beaches are prime turtle nesting areas.
However, for the last two years, there has been an unprecedented erosion of the coastline, north of river Mahanadi, Ekakula Pentha and Agarnasi areas all known sea turtle mass nesting sites.
Vamshadhara_ Mahendra Tanaya Banchao Andolan
Orissa must act to counter Andhra Pradesh initiatives: Rashtriya Odia Yubak Pratisthana
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Report by Golakha Chandra Das; Bhubaneswar: It was 2 & ½ year back when Odisha Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaik laid foundation for Bansadhara integrated project on river Mahendratanayaa.
It was the project which can cater the needs of water for irrigation, drinking purpose & electricity production for tribal dominated Gajapati & Rayagada district. Even the plan to construct 2 anikatas is also approved by the state technical committee as well as it got administrative approval. But the Odisha government is doing nothing on this since then. Even if the water resource department is under direct control of Chief Minister, still the department only invited tenders for this project & then it halted.
Where as the Andhra Pradesh Government is constructing the dam on its side with full swing. Odisha Government is just sitting silently observing this. It will be harmful to the people of the above 2 districts.
So Rashtriya Odia Yubak Pratisthana on Sunday in a press meet organized at hotel Keshari, Bbsr criticized the state Government for its apathy towards the Mahendratanayaa project. It blamed that Odisha Govt. is neither doing anything to stop Andhra Govt. nor taking the case to court. The ROYP threatened to start a large scale agitation against such attitude of State Govt. if it will not do anything immediately.
Also it suggests 7point charter to state Govt. 1) to apply in Supreme Court against Andhra Govt. which violates 1962 agreement by constructing project at Meliaputa on its side 2) to invite tender for Jalanga Anikata project 3) to construct immediate 2 proposed Anikatas 4) Govt. take the task by own if no one agreed to build the project 5) the task may be handed over to Military Engineering Service 6) to open a division office at Paralakhemundi 7) to fulfill the vacant post at Paralakhemundi subdivision.
Mr. Srikanta Padhy, national chairman, ROYP & convener, Mahendratanayaa Banchao Andolan addresses the journalist friends on this occasion.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Report by Golakha Chandra Das; Bhubaneswar: It was 2 & ½ year back when Odisha Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaik laid foundation for Bansadhara integrated project on river Mahendratanayaa.
It was the project which can cater the needs of water for irrigation, drinking purpose & electricity production for tribal dominated Gajapati & Rayagada district. Even the plan to construct 2 anikatas is also approved by the state technical committee as well as it got administrative approval. But the Odisha government is doing nothing on this since then. Even if the water resource department is under direct control of Chief Minister, still the department only invited tenders for this project & then it halted.
Where as the Andhra Pradesh Government is constructing the dam on its side with full swing. Odisha Government is just sitting silently observing this. It will be harmful to the people of the above 2 districts.
So Rashtriya Odia Yubak Pratisthana on Sunday in a press meet organized at hotel Keshari, Bbsr criticized the state Government for its apathy towards the Mahendratanayaa project. It blamed that Odisha Govt. is neither doing anything to stop Andhra Govt. nor taking the case to court. The ROYP threatened to start a large scale agitation against such attitude of State Govt. if it will not do anything immediately.
Also it suggests 7point charter to state Govt. 1) to apply in Supreme Court against Andhra Govt. which violates 1962 agreement by constructing project at Meliaputa on its side 2) to invite tender for Jalanga Anikata project 3) to construct immediate 2 proposed Anikatas 4) Govt. take the task by own if no one agreed to build the project 5) the task may be handed over to Military Engineering Service 6) to open a division office at Paralakhemundi 7) to fulfill the vacant post at Paralakhemundi subdivision.
Mr. Srikanta Padhy, national chairman, ROYP & convener, Mahendratanayaa Banchao Andolan addresses the journalist friends on this occasion.
Polavaram Politics
Orissa to watch AP govt’s action on Polavaram
PTI , The Hindu
Bhubaneswar, November 2, 2010
The Orissa government today said it will maintain a “wait and watch” policy on the controversial Polavaram project following the Centre seeking an explanation from Andhra Pradesh for undertaking work without holding public hearing in areas to be affected in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Orissa government, opposing the multi-purpose project since its conception, had earlier refused to hold a discussion with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K S Rosaiah.
“A senior Andhra Pradesh official called me yesterday and proposed to hold a discussion on Polavaram issue,” Orissa’s Water Resources Development Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra told reporters adding that the State government is yet to take a decision on the fresh proposal.
As the State government had already moved the Supreme Court opposing the Polavaram project, there was no point in holding talks with Andhra Pradesh, another official said adding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in-charge of water resources development department, will decide on Andhra’s request.
Since the matter is sub-judice, the State government should wait for the Apex Court’s judgement, he said.
When the ruling BJD has launched a State-wide stir against Polavaram project, the State government demanded that law of the land be followed in case of Polavaram.
Orissa government is mainly opposed to design of the proposed dam and alleged violation of forest right act (FRA).
Under the present design, about 50 lakh cusec water would flow through the barrage over river Godavari, submerging a large tract of land in Orissa’s Malkangiri district, Mr. Mohapatra said.
To a query on Andhra government’s proposal of building a 30-km-long embankment along rivers Saberi and Saleru in Malkangiri, Mr. Mohapatra said, “Creation of embankment was not in the original plan. These embankments within Orissa territory could affect discharge of water to River Godavari. As a result, a large area could be inundated.”
It was not in accordance with the law to undertake construction work without making an environment assessment impact of the project, he said, adding there were clear guidelines to hold public hearing in affected areas but Andhra Pradesh government had not done so in Malkangiri district.
As the matter was too complicated, Orissa would like to maintain a wait and watch policy before reacting to the MoEF’s letter to Andhra Pradesh government, he said.
In its letter, the ministry has asked Andhra Pradesh government to give details of the construction status of the dam and also explain why a formal show-cause should not be issued (for not following norms).
PTI , The Hindu
Bhubaneswar, November 2, 2010
The Orissa government today said it will maintain a “wait and watch” policy on the controversial Polavaram project following the Centre seeking an explanation from Andhra Pradesh for undertaking work without holding public hearing in areas to be affected in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Orissa government, opposing the multi-purpose project since its conception, had earlier refused to hold a discussion with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K S Rosaiah.
“A senior Andhra Pradesh official called me yesterday and proposed to hold a discussion on Polavaram issue,” Orissa’s Water Resources Development Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra told reporters adding that the State government is yet to take a decision on the fresh proposal.
As the State government had already moved the Supreme Court opposing the Polavaram project, there was no point in holding talks with Andhra Pradesh, another official said adding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in-charge of water resources development department, will decide on Andhra’s request.
Since the matter is sub-judice, the State government should wait for the Apex Court’s judgement, he said.
When the ruling BJD has launched a State-wide stir against Polavaram project, the State government demanded that law of the land be followed in case of Polavaram.
Orissa government is mainly opposed to design of the proposed dam and alleged violation of forest right act (FRA).
Under the present design, about 50 lakh cusec water would flow through the barrage over river Godavari, submerging a large tract of land in Orissa’s Malkangiri district, Mr. Mohapatra said.
To a query on Andhra government’s proposal of building a 30-km-long embankment along rivers Saberi and Saleru in Malkangiri, Mr. Mohapatra said, “Creation of embankment was not in the original plan. These embankments within Orissa territory could affect discharge of water to River Godavari. As a result, a large area could be inundated.”
It was not in accordance with the law to undertake construction work without making an environment assessment impact of the project, he said, adding there were clear guidelines to hold public hearing in affected areas but Andhra Pradesh government had not done so in Malkangiri district.
As the matter was too complicated, Orissa would like to maintain a wait and watch policy before reacting to the MoEF’s letter to Andhra Pradesh government, he said.
In its letter, the ministry has asked Andhra Pradesh government to give details of the construction status of the dam and also explain why a formal show-cause should not be issued (for not following norms).
Polavaram Politics
Holes in Polavaram’s great wall
Samar Halarnkar, Hindustan Times
Email Author
November 02, 2010
A 30-km-long, 45-foot-high embankment to stop a river that generates one of the world’s fiercest floods from inundating parts of Orissa and Chhattisgarh is being belatedly questioned by the Centre as it puts on notice one of India’s largest dam projects. The wall escaped attention on Monday when India’s environment boss Jairam Ramesh — smarting from accusations of political bias for cancelling infrastructure in non-Congress states — issued notice to the Polavaram Indira Sagar project in Andhra Pradesh, a state ruled by Ramesh’s own party, the Congress.
The wall, technically an embankment, was one of the ambitious promises made in 2006 by an anxious Andhra Pradesh (AP) government after the Orissa High Court cleared the project on the condition that no people or villages would be displaced in Orissa by the Polavaram dam’s reservoir on the Godavari river and twotributaries.
The project received its final clearance — from the forests division — in September this year.
That clearance is becoming increasingly hard to justify because no studies were done, as environmental laws require, on the land, people and forests the giant embankment would displace. No plans were made for drains and pumps in a cyclone-prone land.
In India there is no reservoir that is restrained by embankments.
In referring to the wall, Monday’s bland notice asked the AP government "why a show-cause notice should not be issued … as work is continuing without getting the environmental clearance amended for additional components like construction of embankments, drainage sluices and pumping arrangements".
"How can anyone now accuse me of bias?" Ramesh, a Congress Member of Parliament from AP, said on Tuesday.
The notice was the first evidence of impartiality from India’s ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Polavaram’s irregular clearances led both Orissa and Chhattisgrah to request Supreme Court intervention in 2007.
Yet, both states say they are not impressed with Ramesh’s recent actions.
"At last the ministry has issued a notice, but it is an eyewash," said Surya Narayan Patro, Orissa revenue minister. "The AP government did all kinds of illegal things to push the project but got clearance after clearance."
"We are not opposed to anyone getting water, but what was the hurry in clearing it (Polavaram) and then issuing notices?" N Baijendra Kumar, principal secretary to the Chhattisgarh chief minister, told Hindustan Times. "We share the concerns of the Orissa government."
Allegations of bias from Orissa and Chhattisgarh — both states that could have objected at least 12 times during the Polavaram clearance but soft-pedalled instead — grew after Ramesh’s environment ministry questioned or cancelled clearances this year to high-profile projects as prestigious to them as Polavaram is to Andhra Pradesh.
First proposed in the 1940s, the 150-foot-high Polavaram dam will submerge a greater area than any other in India today. It is vital, observers say, that Ramesh’s ministry now follows its own laws and rescinds clearances that violated its own procedures.
Here are only some examples relating to Polavaram’s great wall:
When the application to clear Polavaram went to the environment ministry on October 19, 2005, there had been no public hearings as required. The first and only public hearings in four districts of AP were held on October 28, three days after the clearance was given.
The minutes of the Environmental Impact Assessment, a requirement, did not even mention that areas in Orissa and Chhattisgarh would be swamped by the tail end of the reservoir, 150 km from the main dam. Only when the two states protested did AP hastily propose a wall, or embankment, in 2006.
In April 2007, the Central Water Commission (CWC) said it was possible to avoid submergence in Orissa and Chhattisgarh by building embankments. Neither the CWC nor any other agency ever explained how, as required.
In February 2009, the ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) first cleared the embankments and then called for an impact assessment and public hearings in Orissa and Chhattisgarh. None of this was done.
"That decision of the EAC was flawed," said Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, an advocacy group. "How can Ramesh claim (as he did in a letter to Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik in August this year) that not a hectare of forest land will be submerged, when he does not even know how much forest and non-forest land will be required (for the embankment)?"
Monday’s notice reminds AP that despite a reminder, there have been no public hearings in neighbouring states and that construction is continuing (the main dam hasn’t started yet but canal-building is in full swing).
Thakkar argues, as do Orissa and Chhattisgarh, that the condition of "no submergence", as outlined in the September 2010 forest clearance and Ramesh’s assurance, is "impossible to adhere to", that these are grounds enough for cancelling forest clearances.
"The conditions under which Polavaram was cleared were absurb," said Harish Behara, the engineer-in-chief of Orissa’s water resources department, arguing that the great Polavaram embankment could be built on the plains, not on hilly land, as AP now proposes.
With so much wrong, who then cleared Polavaram? It was Ramesh’s cabinet colleague, telecom minister A. Raja, whose methods of issuing telecom licences are, similarly, under the Supreme Court’s scrutiny.
(With Priya Ranjan Sahu in Bhubaneswar)
Samar Halarnkar, Hindustan Times
Email Author
November 02, 2010
A 30-km-long, 45-foot-high embankment to stop a river that generates one of the world’s fiercest floods from inundating parts of Orissa and Chhattisgarh is being belatedly questioned by the Centre as it puts on notice one of India’s largest dam projects. The wall escaped attention on Monday when India’s environment boss Jairam Ramesh — smarting from accusations of political bias for cancelling infrastructure in non-Congress states — issued notice to the Polavaram Indira Sagar project in Andhra Pradesh, a state ruled by Ramesh’s own party, the Congress.
The wall, technically an embankment, was one of the ambitious promises made in 2006 by an anxious Andhra Pradesh (AP) government after the Orissa High Court cleared the project on the condition that no people or villages would be displaced in Orissa by the Polavaram dam’s reservoir on the Godavari river and twotributaries.
The project received its final clearance — from the forests division — in September this year.
That clearance is becoming increasingly hard to justify because no studies were done, as environmental laws require, on the land, people and forests the giant embankment would displace. No plans were made for drains and pumps in a cyclone-prone land.
In India there is no reservoir that is restrained by embankments.
In referring to the wall, Monday’s bland notice asked the AP government "why a show-cause notice should not be issued … as work is continuing without getting the environmental clearance amended for additional components like construction of embankments, drainage sluices and pumping arrangements".
"How can anyone now accuse me of bias?" Ramesh, a Congress Member of Parliament from AP, said on Tuesday.
The notice was the first evidence of impartiality from India’s ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Polavaram’s irregular clearances led both Orissa and Chhattisgrah to request Supreme Court intervention in 2007.
Yet, both states say they are not impressed with Ramesh’s recent actions.
"At last the ministry has issued a notice, but it is an eyewash," said Surya Narayan Patro, Orissa revenue minister. "The AP government did all kinds of illegal things to push the project but got clearance after clearance."
"We are not opposed to anyone getting water, but what was the hurry in clearing it (Polavaram) and then issuing notices?" N Baijendra Kumar, principal secretary to the Chhattisgarh chief minister, told Hindustan Times. "We share the concerns of the Orissa government."
Allegations of bias from Orissa and Chhattisgarh — both states that could have objected at least 12 times during the Polavaram clearance but soft-pedalled instead — grew after Ramesh’s environment ministry questioned or cancelled clearances this year to high-profile projects as prestigious to them as Polavaram is to Andhra Pradesh.
First proposed in the 1940s, the 150-foot-high Polavaram dam will submerge a greater area than any other in India today. It is vital, observers say, that Ramesh’s ministry now follows its own laws and rescinds clearances that violated its own procedures.
Here are only some examples relating to Polavaram’s great wall:
When the application to clear Polavaram went to the environment ministry on October 19, 2005, there had been no public hearings as required. The first and only public hearings in four districts of AP were held on October 28, three days after the clearance was given.
The minutes of the Environmental Impact Assessment, a requirement, did not even mention that areas in Orissa and Chhattisgarh would be swamped by the tail end of the reservoir, 150 km from the main dam. Only when the two states protested did AP hastily propose a wall, or embankment, in 2006.
In April 2007, the Central Water Commission (CWC) said it was possible to avoid submergence in Orissa and Chhattisgarh by building embankments. Neither the CWC nor any other agency ever explained how, as required.
In February 2009, the ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) first cleared the embankments and then called for an impact assessment and public hearings in Orissa and Chhattisgarh. None of this was done.
"That decision of the EAC was flawed," said Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, an advocacy group. "How can Ramesh claim (as he did in a letter to Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik in August this year) that not a hectare of forest land will be submerged, when he does not even know how much forest and non-forest land will be required (for the embankment)?"
Monday’s notice reminds AP that despite a reminder, there have been no public hearings in neighbouring states and that construction is continuing (the main dam hasn’t started yet but canal-building is in full swing).
Thakkar argues, as do Orissa and Chhattisgarh, that the condition of "no submergence", as outlined in the September 2010 forest clearance and Ramesh’s assurance, is "impossible to adhere to", that these are grounds enough for cancelling forest clearances.
"The conditions under which Polavaram was cleared were absurb," said Harish Behara, the engineer-in-chief of Orissa’s water resources department, arguing that the great Polavaram embankment could be built on the plains, not on hilly land, as AP now proposes.
With so much wrong, who then cleared Polavaram? It was Ramesh’s cabinet colleague, telecom minister A. Raja, whose methods of issuing telecom licences are, similarly, under the Supreme Court’s scrutiny.
(With Priya Ranjan Sahu in Bhubaneswar)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Inter-state Water Dispute
Respond on Orissa dam, Yerran to CM
November 1st, 2010
DC Correspondent
Srikakulam, Oct. 31: Observing that state government headed by the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, must respond to the Bahudi river water dispute, Mr K. Yerrannaidu observed here on Sunday that steps being taken up by the Orissa government to extend the dam would have disastrous results in adjoining Srikakulam.
Addressing members of the media, he said, “On the one hand, the Orissa government and agencies in Orissa have no qualms to objecting to the Polavaram project, However, on the other, they have the guts to construct a 107 foot dam on the river without considering its impact on people of Andhra, and those in Srikakulam in particular.”
He said that this was being done with the perverse intention of denying Andhra farmers their right to the share of water from the river. Mr Naidu said that this would create a crisis in the mandals of Itchapuram, Kaviti and Kanchili.
He said that it was time for state government to respond and urged Mr Rosaiah as well as the minister for major irrigation, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, to respond.
He also urged ministers from the district to pay special attention to this problem and play a role in taking it to the Centre.
November 1st, 2010
DC Correspondent
Srikakulam, Oct. 31: Observing that state government headed by the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, must respond to the Bahudi river water dispute, Mr K. Yerrannaidu observed here on Sunday that steps being taken up by the Orissa government to extend the dam would have disastrous results in adjoining Srikakulam.
Addressing members of the media, he said, “On the one hand, the Orissa government and agencies in Orissa have no qualms to objecting to the Polavaram project, However, on the other, they have the guts to construct a 107 foot dam on the river without considering its impact on people of Andhra, and those in Srikakulam in particular.”
He said that this was being done with the perverse intention of denying Andhra farmers their right to the share of water from the river. Mr Naidu said that this would create a crisis in the mandals of Itchapuram, Kaviti and Kanchili.
He said that it was time for state government to respond and urged Mr Rosaiah as well as the minister for major irrigation, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, to respond.
He also urged ministers from the district to pay special attention to this problem and play a role in taking it to the Centre.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)