SC seeks report on six power projects in Uttarakhand

New Delhi, November 24

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to apprise it of the findings of an inter-ministerial committee, which was set up to look into an expert panel’s report giving clearance to six hydropower projects to be built on the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi river basins in Uttarakhand.

A Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit asked the Centre to submit the report of the committee comprising the Ministries of Environment and Forest, Power and Water Resources by January 5.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) PS Narsimha, appearing for the Centre, said the inter-ministerial panel was set up on November 23 to look into the report of an 11-member expert panel on the pending hydropower projects in the hill state.

The experts panel had prepared the environment and ecological impact report of these projects.

“In view of the aforesaid statement made by the ASG, we list the matter for January 20 for further hearing. The Centre shall apprise the court about the final decision,” the Bench said.

Earlier, the court had granted time to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for filing “comprehensive” environment and ecological impact report of 18, out of the total 24 hydropower projects to be set up in Uttarakhand.

The MoEF, in its one of the reports, had said six out of the 24 power projects, have substantially complied with legal requirements.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the parties, opposed the government’s recent decision.

The Bench, during the hearing, asked Bhushan and advocates Sanjay Parekh and Colin Gonsalves to file “objections to the final report” within two weeks.

The MoEF has formed the 11-member committee to assess the cumulative impact of hydropower projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga, which had come under scrutiny after the June 2013 floods. —PTI