The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its Order dated 20.02.2009 directed that the re-constituted Forest Advisory Committee shall review its earlier decision on the proposals submitted by the Government of Uttarakhand for diversion of 258.737  ha  forest land for Kotlibhel hydro electric project (Stage -1A) and  496.793  ha forest land for Kotlibhel hydro electric project (Stage- 1B), in favour of the National Hydro Power Corporation, and take a fresh decision after considering recommendation of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

The recommendation of the CEC referred to  in the said Order of the  Hon’ble Supreme Court is as below:

“the CEC is of the view that it would be prudent that the reconstituted FAC reviews these projects after considering the findings of the studies regarding

(a)     cumulative environmental impact of various hydro electric projects particularly on the riverine eco system and land and aquatic biodiversity; and

(b)     effectiveness of the mitigative measures and compliance of the stipulated conditions on which various projects have earlier been cleared.”

The said recommendation of the CEC is one of the criteria, on whose basis the Forest Advisory Committee frames its recommendations on the fresh proposals seeking diversion of forest land for construction of hydro electric projects on river Ganga and its tributaries.

Details of the proposals seeking diversion of forest land, in accordance with Section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for construction of hydro electric projects on River Ganga and its tributaries, pending before the Central Government for approval under the said Act are annexed.

The Forest Advisory Committee in its Meeting convened in December 2009 recommended that the National Ganga River Basin Authority may be requested to study and fix the minimum ecological water flow. The terms of reference of such study may include issues like minimum ecological water flow in River Ganga vis-à-vis sustainable aquatic eco-system and bio-diversity there-in.

A study to assess cumulative impact of hydro power projects in Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Basins has been awarded to the Alternate Hydro Energy Centre (AHEC), IIT Roorkee. 

Similarly, a study on cumulative environmental impact of various hydro electric projects on the riverine eco system, in general, and terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, in particular, along with a review of the effectiveness of the mitigative measures and compliance of the stipulated conditions on which various projects have earlier been cleared, has been assigned to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

Report of the study assigned to the IIT Roorkee is likely to be received within a period of six months. Similarly, report on study assigned to Wildlife Institute of  India is likely to be received within a period of one year.

Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha