IMPHAL, Sep 20: As the State Forest Department has been overlooked on the issue of bio-diversity in the report prepared by a consultant hired by NEEPCO in to seek environmental clearance of the proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Project, the bio- diversity report of the project is likely to be reviewed.
Apart from not mentioning anything on the prospect of submerging 3 sq kilometres of Zailad Wild Life Sanctuary in the report, P Abraham, former Union Power Secretary and Chairman of the Expert Appraisal Committee which was set up by the Centre in connection with the Tipaimukh project has noted that the project would be more helpful in controlling flood in Lower Assam.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, an official source informed that environmental clearance to begin construction work on the project has been stalled after it came to light that NEEPCO had overlooked the State Forest Department in preparing the report during the meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee held at New Delhi on September 18.
During the meeting, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest S Singsit reacted strongly to the report prepared by the Agriculture Finance Corporation, which NEEPCO hired as consultant, stating that the State Forest Department had not been consulted on the issue of bio-diversity inspite of the compulsion of the involvement of the Dept in the process of preparing the report.
The officer also pointed out that implementation of the project would submerged 21,952.64 hectares of land including 219 sq kilometres of the forest area and as per the norm Department should have been entrusted to conduct an official survey in this regard. Following strong objection from the side of the Forest Department, the part of the project related to bio-diversity is likely to be reviewed, the source said, adding that during the meeting, the Chairman of the Appraisal Committee noted that the project would be more helpful in controlling the flood in Lower Assam. Chief Engineer (Power), Member Secretary of Manipur Pollution Control Board and DCs of Churachandpur and Tameng-long districts attended in the meeting. It is said that the report of the Appraisal Committee would be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forest on September 22.
Meanwhile, in response to the inquiry of the Ministry of Forest and Environment to the State Forest Department on the protected forest area that would be affected in taking up the project, the State Government has submitted a report stating that 3 sq kilometre of Zailad Lake Wild Life Sanctuary would be submerged in water by the project.
It may be noted that NEEPCO had collected necessary datas for construction of the project along with deployment of State forces and security required for taking up the project had already been assessed.
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