:East Coast Energy Pvt. Ltd - Let Not Environmental Law become a Casuality before Political Power ?

 

 

 It is  reiterated that the EAC recommendation  to rescind  MOEF "Stop Work" Order dated 01-03-2011, be rejected outright and the Environmental .Clearance  granted to Bhavanapadu 2640 MW TPP of ECEPL at Kakarapalli on 9-4-2009 be cancelled by MOEF, for the following reasons:

 

a) To begin with, MOEF relied on incorrect reports for granting Environmental Clearance  (EC) dated 09-04-2009 to the project as
     pointed out    by NEAA

 

b) The ECEPL Project Site  is in ecologically sensitive and important Wetlands,  which is an excellent habitat for Migratory  Birds and
    is classified as IBAS, as pointed out by the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife.  This fact was suppressed in the EIA
   Report of the Project Proponent and  by Srikakulam District Collector and the State Revenue Department while  issuing G.O.Ms.No  
   No.1108 dated 05-09-2008, alienating  government wet  lands to an extent of Acs.3333.45 Cts. situated in Kakarapalli  and other   
   villages   for setting up ECEPL Power Project

 

'c) The detailed clarifications furnished  by the Department of Environment and Forests , Govt of AP, vide letter No. 5447/ CZMA /2007
     dated: 09.02.2009 , which were considered by EAC for recommending EC for the project,  failed  to point out the location of 
     the Project Site in ecologically sensitive Wetlands

 

d) MOEF Letter dated 01-03-2011 issuing directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 to ECEPL , also
      acknowledges the fact  that the project site is in Wetlands

 

e) The EAC recommendation in its 24 th Meeting held on 2-3 May 2011  that the Ministry may rescind "Stop Work" Order dated 

      01-03-2011, is based on the logic that "A zero base level assessment of the project is not a feasibility  at this stage"

   . This amounts  to authorizing the illegal activity to  continue by  the project proponent , who  managed to suppress the facts by using 
      the political clout,  . 

 

f) The MOEF land mark Order dated 14-01-2011 in the case of Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society directing that    
    "Unauthorized Structure built should be removed in its entirety and the  area restored to its original condition " should be the guiding
      factor  for any decision to be taken by  MOEF in the case of ECEPL Project and for upholding the "Rule of  Environmental Law" and
     Article 48-A of The Constitution of India

_______________________________________________________________