Directing fresh appraisal of the Lakhwar Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed authorities to maintain status quo on the construction till the project is appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry.
A Bench headed by NGT judicial member Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore said, “After considering the pleadings and materials on record, we are of the considered opinion that the clarifications given by the project proponent, the report of the expert committee and finding of various studies need to be looked into and studied by the EAC and project needs to be reappraised in terms of the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) notification, 2006.”
The Bench further added, “We direct the EAC to appraise the project afresh in terms of EIA notification 2006 and impose additional general and specific conditions as may be considered necessary. EAC will be free to call for reports which it may consider necessary.”
The green panel has directed the EAC to complete the appraisal process by April 15.
“Till the project is reappraised, status quo shall be maintained,” the Bench said.
The directions came after environmentalist Manoj Mishra moved the NGT stating that the approval to the project was granted in 1987 and contended that “there has been many changes on the ground after 1992, including the disaster in 2013”.
The green panel also took note of a study undertaken by an expert body, following Supreme Court orders after the 2013 disaster.
“It was brought to the notice of the expert body that clearances to start work had been granted recently to the Lakhwar and Vyasi projects. This is in violation of the spirit of the SC’s August 2013 order. It is also noticed that these projects were approved more than 25 years ago. Consequently they do not have any EIA/EMP/DMP studies that are mandatory today,” the report which was submitted to the Centre in 2014, said.
Further the report added, “Without conducting cumulative impact assessments and disaster management studies of Yamuna and Kali basins, no such projects should be allowed at the risk of fragile ecology, biodiversity and lives of people living in and around project sites.”