Rupsiabagar-Khasiyabara Hydro-electric Project in district of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand will not get approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The project requires diversion of 217.522 ha of forest land for 30 years for construction of 261 MW. A release of the ministry states that under Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act 1980, it has denied approval yesterday.  

            The Government of Uttrakhand had submitted this proposal on 21.12.2009. It was

considered by the Forest Advisory Committee(FAC) in its meeting on 25.05.2010. The

FAC in its recommendation suggested rejection of the proposal since it is to be set up in a

highly ecologically sensitive wildlife habitat. The committee gave the following reasons for its conclusion –

1. The project area is highly sensitive to erosion and construction of roads for the

     project will escalate this problem.

2. The wildlife management plan under the project was not adequate to ensure proper

     safety of major endangered species in the area.

3. The impact of the project on endangered species needs an in depth analysis.

4. The project is located in the mid stretch of the river.

5. It is one of the seven projects located along the river.

             The FAC on request of the User Agency (NTPC Ltd.) reexamined the proposal

Last month and  reiterated its earlier recommendation to reject the proposal as no new facts related to the proposal had been put forward. Based on the FAC recommendations this proposal has been declined approval by the Ministry.

KP