Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Depletion of Forest in the name of Eco-Tourism Projects

 Intent of Location of Eco-Tourism Projects in RF

 

The A P State Govt. designated, AP Forest Development Corporation Ltd (APFDC) as its nodal agency for implementation of Eco-Tourism projects, namely a)Botanical Gardens, b)Night Safari & Eco-Parks and c)Bird Park in Kothaguda Reserve Forest (RF) Area, under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The MOEF, GOI, vide Letter dated 23-03-2006, accorded approval for diversion of 110.87Ha of Forest Land, for development of Eco-Tourism projects in Kothaguda RF in RR District, in favour of APFDC, stipulating certain conditions.

 

The selection of Kothaguda RF Area for development of eco-tourism projects, amidst fast developing locality, adjoining High-Tech City, appears to be motivated by the real estate value of the land. The Eco-Tourism Management Plan, prepared by APFDC claims that the project is aimed to counter the shrinkage of natural vegetation, water bodies etc and the emerging concrete jungle in Mega City of Hyderabad. But judging by the happenings so far, the project may actually end up contributing to what are supposed to be countered.

 

Misuse of Forest Land for Real Estate/ Commercial Structures

 

 The main intention of the developers of the so called Eco-Tourism projects appears  to make use of the Forest Land, in prime area, strategically located amidst fast developing locality adjoining High-tech city, for non forestry activities and real-estate purposes in the years to come. As per the information available, the particulars of constructions likely to come up in Eco –Tourism projects are furnished below:

 

a)Botanical Gardens

 

 The Built up area of the following Buildings to come up in Botanical Garden is reported to be 1,59,063 Sq. Mtrs

 

i)             Hospitality Block consisting of 18 Cottages (Type 1,2 & 3)

Ii)       Convention Center with Hotel

iii)           Retail sector consisting of 2 Office Blocks

iv)            Merchandise and Multiplex Theaters consisting of 8 Screens.

v)            Nursery Super Market

vi)           Entrance Plaza and Commercial Block

 

The height of the Building for Hotel and Convention Center is 21.46 Mtrs with Basement-1+Stilt/Ground Floor + 1 Upper Floor The height of the Building for Retail and Multiplex Occupancy is 21.41 Mtrs with Basement-1+Stilt/Ground Floor + 1 Upper Floor

The area to be utilized for Visitors Amenities, excluding Roads, Pathways etc works out to be about 15% of the total area of 51.83 Ha

 

b) Night Safari & Eco- Parks

 

The original project cost is estimated to be Rs.3000.11 Lakhs (Rs 30 Crores) and an additional cost of Rs.4461.89 Lakhs ( Rs.44.62 Crores) is proposed to be invested in phases II & III as per the Commercial Needs and depending on the future demands. The Restaurant & Snack outlets in each of the proposed 5 Eco-Park sectors, five  Blocks of Cottages (each with 50 Room facility), along with 350 seat Theater for five shows, 3 D & 4 D Theaters & Entry Plaza with Shops and Restaurants are some of the construction activities proposed in Night Safari & Eco parks The area to be utilized for Visitors Amenities, excluding Green belts, works out to be about 15% of the total area of 45.61 Ha

 

c) Bird Park

 

The Built up area of Multiplex with 4 Screens and Hotel Block consisting of Basement-1+ Ground+ 1 Upper Floor with Mezzanine   to come up in Bird Park is reported to be 56,072 Sq. Mtrs. The area to be utilized for Visitors Amenities, excluding landscaping etc works out to be more than 25% of the total area of 12.43 Ha

 

Public Apprehensions about Eco Tourism Projects

 

 The so called Eco-Tourism projects, if allowed to be implemented in the present form, will result in creation of permanent structures in the form of Hotels, Convention Centers, Multiplexes, Shopping Malls, Commercial Complexes Restaurants, Parking Lots etc, in more than 15 % of the total area of the project,, leading to irreversible change of Land use, against the basic principle of Eco-Tourism for which the Forest Land of 110.87 Ha was diverted.

 

 The Kothaguda Forest Land, one of the very few large green belts in Hyderabad City, should not be diverted for the so called Eco-Tourism projects, with the hidden objective of using it for non forestry purposes namely Real Estate and Commercial Purposes with the sole object of benefiting the developers.

 

Going by the bitter experience of the so called Eco-Tourism projects around Hussein Sagar, resulting in heavy commercial activities, leading to shrinkage of Water body, Water Pollution due to commercial activities and Air pollution from heavy vehicular traffic in the area Eco -Tourism Projects, in Kothaguda RF Area will be no different.

 

 Judging by the proposed massive investments by the developers and their intent, to make use of the Forest Land, in prime area, strategically located amidst fast developing locality adjoining High-tech city, for non forestry activities and real estate purposes, it is bound to be misused for their own benefit & not for improvement  of environment and Public good.,

 

 From the changes that had taken place to the original proposal during the last 7 years, and in the absence of effective and adequate monitoring and supervisory mechanism both at Central and State levels and , the utter  lack of accountability at various levels , the Public  is very apprehensive about the so called Eco-Tourism projects.

 

Conclusion

  

 As the so called Eco Tourism Projects in Kothaguda RF area, have the same potential of "ADARSH"' Land Scam in Mumbai, and "LAVASA" near Pune, immediate action needs to be initiated to stop and abandon the so called Eco-Tourism projects in Kothaguda Forest Block, strategically located providing the Lung-Space, in prime area amidst fast developing locality adjoining High-tech city of Hyderabad  

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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Nuclear Safety is not an Issue of MOEF?

A day after a protester was killed in police firing in Jaitapur- west coast of India, protesting against the proposed largest Nuclear Power Park in the world, Sri Jairam Ramesh, Hon'ble Minister for Environment & Forests, GOI  is reported to have said what happened in Jaitapur is "most depressing" and it caused him "great anguish."

.

The minister is also reported to have added that MOEF has "nothing to do with" land acquisition, compensation, economics of nuclear power and nuclear safety-- "Those were not issues that the MoEF is either competent to deal with or it is mandated to deal with. Looking into the environmental aspects of the Nuclear Power Project is the only mandate of his ministry. One should understand this fact,"


 Human Environment major Issue!

 

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the implementation of which is mandated with MOEF, has important constitutional implications with international background. The Act clearly drew its inspiration from the proclamation adopted by the United Nations Conference on the "Human Environment" in June 1972 and reaffirmed in June 1992.  

 

 "The protection and improvement of the Human Environment is a major issue, which affects the well being of people and economic development throughout the world; it is the urgent desire of the people of whole world and the duty of all governments".

                                         

The Environment (Protection) Act 1986

 

The Act is enacted to enable coordination of activities of the various regulatory agencies, creation of an authority or authorities with advocate powers for environmental protection, regulation of discharge of Environmental Pollutants, speedy response in the event of accidents threatening environment and deterrent punishment to those who endanger Human Environment,( water, air & land and the interrelationship, which exists among and between water, air, land and human beings, other living concerns ,plants, micro-organism and property),Safety and Health.

 

How can Environmental Aspects be dealt without Nuclear Safety?

How can MOEF, entrusted with the task of enforcing Environment (Protection) Act 1986, can say that nuclear safety Is not the issue that the MoEF is mandated to deal with? How can MOEF Look into the environmental aspects of the Nuclear Power Projects, without addressing Nuclear Safety? These are very serious issues to be left in ambiguity and must be sorted out without any delay

The AERB, in its present form, entrusted with the task of Nuclear Safety, should be scrapped and an independent, autonomous and technically competent body to monitor and regulate Nuclear Safety should be constituted as part of proposed NEAMA, independent of DAE which controls NPCIL.

Conclusion

The people of this country have the right to know about economics of nuclear power and nuclear safety (Articles 21, 39 and 48-A of The Constitution of India), irrespective of the mandate of MOEF.

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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Hyderabad City- Already Breathing Less-Going to be Much Less

                                                                 

 Hyderabad -<아>Pressure on Land 

 

The Hyderabad Master Plan-2020 makes provision for land-use requirement for an anticipated 2021 population of around 136 Lakhs for Hyderabad Metropolitan Area, against the population of about 70 Lakhs, as given below:

 

                                                                             Area in Sq. KMs in

                                                                           2001                     2021       

  Utilization                                                   Area       %           Area       %    

 

a) Residential                                              290     15.56        576      30.90

 

b) Commercial/

     Industrial/

     Institutional/

     Transportation                                       250    13.41         480      25.75

 

c) Water Bodies /

     Reserve Forests                                   203    10.89        203      10.89

 

d) Agriculture/

    Recreation/

    Hills/ Conservation                                 1121    60.14        605      32.46

 

                                     Total                      1864   100.00      1864    100.00 

    

Reduction of Lung Spaces

 

 The scrutiny of the above data shows tremendous pressure on Hyderabad urban land for Residential, Commercial etc uses, shooting up from 540 in 2001 to 1056 Sq.Kms in 2021 nearly doubled and as a result the Agriculture, Recreation, Conservation etc area shrinking from 1121 to 605 Sq.Kms by 2021, nearly by half. The organized recreational/open spaces occupy less than 1% land providing hardly per capita recreational area of 1.16 Sq.Mtrs, against minimum basic requirement of 3.00 Sq.Mtrs. But with further official reduction of the lung spaces, not to speak of illegal encroachments, will make the breathing of the City more difficult.

 

Forests & Water Bodies

 

Even though no change is projected in the area covered by Forests and Water bodies, the ground reality is that much of the area shown as Forest / Water body has been diverted / encroached for other purposes. The State Government has been liberally allotting large areas of land covered under Reserved Forests & Water Bodies to various individuals & organizations, granting  relaxations on selective basis, in the name of promoting Eco-Tourism projects with Public Private Partnership (PPP), by unilaterally modifying the land use, unmindful of  its long term adverse impacts

 

The diversion of 110.87Ha of Forest Land, in the name of development of Eco-Tourism projects- Botanical Gardens, Night Safari & Eco-Park and Bird Park- in Kothaguda RF, in the close vicinity of Madhapur High-tech City, is a classic example of depleting much needed urban Green Belts and Lung Spaces. The Citizens of Hyderabad are already experiencing the adverse impacts of so called  Eco-Tourism Projects –Necklace Road, IMAX Theater, Jala Vihar, Eat Street etc around Husain Sagar- by way of shrinkage of the Water Body &  its pollution and Traffic congestion, Air Pollution etc The location of Imliban Bus Station in Musi River is another example of reduction of water body.

 

 Urban  Land Has Become A Commodity

 

 .The Housing Boards, HUDA,  & other agencies are resorting to auction of lands to meet short-term requirements of funds Of course, HUDA itself had   become a Real Estate Developers and resorted to auctioning  large chunks of land in the conservation areas, of Jubilee Hills, Madhapur and other areas, with the sole object of mobilizing funds to cater for projects like Fly- Overs, Outer Ring Road, etc unmindful of the land requirements of the generations to come and their well being. Similarly APIIC had been allotting large chunks of lands to real estate developers and corporate bodies and granting various relaxations on selective basis, in the name of attracting investments and providing employment opportunities, unmindful of the land use and its long term adverse impacts.

 

 No Plan Is A Good Plan for A Violator

 

 A plan may be a good plan or a bad plan, but for someone who wants to break the law, no plan is a good plan. If the citizens are ready to buy apartments in buildings that visibly violate all health and safety norms, if they patronize shops / malls that have no parking space and also build houses in tank beds that will be flooded in the monsoon, no amount of policing can fully enforce any land use. It is worse if the State itself becomes the Violator or the Culprit. 

 

 The Comprehensive Land Use & Environmental Protection should be the integral part of the Master Plan. The Zoning Plans and Building Rules should be subordinate to Master Plan. The Protection & Preservation of natural resources and community's ecological infrastructure should be the major concern. These include- Water, Energy, Open Spaces, Water Bodies, Rivers, Forests etc. The Conservation and not mitigation of the damage being done, should be the focus of development, under universally accepted "Precautionary Principle"

 

 Mother of all Urban Land Auctions

 

 The  HUDA Auction of the prime piece of land of 5.8 acres (23,500 Sq.Mtrs) adjoining Check Post Junction of Jubilee Hills for a staggering Rs. 1.42 Lakhs per Sq.Mtr, earning whooping Rs. 333.70 Crores, is Mother of all Auctions of Urban Land in the State at that time.

     

 This transaction, which has the potential of converting Jubilee Hills Check Post Junction to another Punjagutta Junction, is in violation of Urban Land Ceiling of 1,000 Sq Mtrs, Building Rules for FSI of 1:1.5, Height Restriction etc, which are reported to have been relaxed on a selective basis, which is discriminatory and against the public interest and opinion.  This short sighted act of auctioning the invaluable piece of prime land adjoining KBR National Park, takes away the Buffer Zone and a strip of 5.5 km Walkway, permitting a massive commercial activity right on the fringe of the National Park.  

 

Mr.Jagmohan, Former Minister for Urban Development, Govt. of India said that "Cities had been taken Over by the Land and Builders Mafia"  

                    

 Let Us NOT SELL and SAVE for Future Generations 

 

 The important aspect to remember is that Hyderabad Metropolitan Area (HMA) alone is not Andhra Pradesh and Madhavapur, Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills alone is not HMA. Hyderabad endowed with heritage and nature will have to be saved for the future by proper land use planning and management and not by treating it as a Commodity for meeting short term needs, which amounts to selling the future of HMA !

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Monday, March 28, 2011

Independent Panel mooted to check Radiation Levels Nuclear Power Plants

                        THE HINDU
                                          Online Edition of India's National News paper
 Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam Printer Friendly Page   Send this Article to a Friend
 
Thursday, June 10, 2010

Panel mooted to check radiation levels

Special Correspondent

The body should be independent of nuclear establishment, says environmentalist

The DAE put 18-month target in December 2009 for acquiring land

The site selection involves study of enormous amount of field data

VISAKHAPATNAM: An expert committee, completely independent of nuclear establishment, should be set up tasked with methodology in measuring radiation levels, calculating likely radiation doses to various population groups living around various nuclear facilities.

Making this demand, environmentalist Jalagam Rama Rao in a statement said that the expert committee must be constituted under the administrative and financial control of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Ministry of Science & Technology or proposed autonomous National Environmental Protection Authority (NEPA).

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) should be kept outside the administrative and financial purview of Atomic Energy Commission, to make it effective, he said.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India has clearance to create coast-based Nuclear Power Parks, each having six reactors of 1,000 or 1,650 MW totalling about 10,000 MW.

Likely Locations

Kovvada Matsyalesham in Srikakulam District is one of the likely locations in addition to Gujarat ( Chhayamithi Virdi), Maharashtra (Jaitapur), Tamil Nadu (Koodankulam) and West Bengal ( Haripur).

The DAE put 18-month target in December 2009 for acquiring land, pre-project activity and creating basic infrastructure at the site, with specific site clearance from the AERB, the active support from the State Governments for the land acquisition and the fast-track environmental clearance from the MOEF.

The site selection involves study of enormous amount of field data.

Land Acquisition

The land acquisition for Kovvada NPP, if already started, without the prior site clearance by AERB is irregular, he contended.

The creation of basic infrastructure without Environmental Clearance will be a violation of the provisions of Para 6 of EIA Notification of 2006.

Safe Disposal

A sustainable nuclear energy system would necessitate a closed loop of Tritium & Carbon 14, such that they never enter ecosphere. However, now their disposal was questionable, as they were being routinely discharged into sea, rivers or lakes, he said.

Government advocating nuclear power as energy security for sustainable development should come out with the facts about the risks that the people of Kovvada will face due to the nuclear reactor.

Otherwise their lives and that of those of the future generations would be at stake if the Nuclear Park is established, he concluded.

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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Farmers, Fishermen oppose Nuclear Power Plant at Kowada in AP

                          THE HINDU
                                        Online Edition of India's National News Paper
Andhra Pradesh

Friday, June 04, 2010

 Printer Friendly PageFarmers, fishermen oppose nuclear power plant plan

Ramesh Susarla

Environmentalists see threat to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram towns also



Burning issue: Environmentalist Jalagam Rama Rao eliciting views from a villager on nuclear power plant at Kovvada village in Srikakulam District.

KOVVADA (Srikakulam Dt.): The flourishing economy of this green wetland patch is in for a shock with the Centre proposing a nuclear power plant and land acquisition process set in motion.

Predominant fishing and farming community in three gram Panchayats of Ranasthalam mandal is determined to oppose the project tooth and nail. Environmentalists see threat to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram towns also, which are within the striking distance from the proposed site.

For 98-year-old Gorle Ramakrishna Naidu the news is a bolt from the blue, but he is determined to stop the project and has become the source of inspiration for more than 3,000 people on the verge of losing their livelihood for good.

Nonagenarian farmer Naidu, told a group of environmentalists led by Capt. (Retd.) Jalagam Rama Rao that the proposal had come first in 1992 "but they will build the plant only over our corpses." The environmentalist apprised the people of negative impacts of the nuclear plant for the region.

Land Acquisition

A large group of militant youth led by Mylapilli Polisu, told The Hindu that land acquisition proposals were at an advanced stage and notices could be issued to people in 2,100 acres anytime by District Collector. Detailing their efforts to save the five revenue villages around Kovvada, Mr. Polisu said they plan 'grama sabhas' in all villages to collect signatures of residents and submit a memorandum to District Collector with a copy to Nuclear Energy Regulatory Board.

Entire land identified for acquisition is fertile producing groundnut, coconuts, bananas, in addition to farmers raising teak and cashew nut plantations. Groundwater is so abundant that chillies are grown throughout year as cash crop and half of the population depends on fishing at sea, which is 500 metres from the village centre.

Angry Villagers

Emotions run high amongst the villagers whenever a team either from the Nuclear Energy plant construction wing or Revenue Department visits them to promise them 'heaven on earth' in return for surrendering their land.

At an interactive session with villagers, Capt.(Retd.) Rama Rao said that claims of all Government officials that nuclear power projects were safe was myth as their own manual prescribes no human entry within 1.5 k.m. of the reactor.

Beyond 1.5 k.m. and up to 5 k.m. it was no development zone with no compensation paid to the people, he told the gathering. But the worst scenario could be effects of radiation if any on bulk drug factories at Pydibhimavaram that was only 15 k.m. from the proposed site and within controlled development zone.

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Nuclear Power Policy of GOI - What the Hell is Going On?

                Contents of letter sent by E mail  on 24 th March to Dr.Manmohan Singh, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India

 

 

The Hon'ble  Prime Minister may recall,  that the Bench of the Supreme Court  is reported to have snubbed the Government of India (GOI) "What the Hell is going on?", when it asked about  tracking Black Money, in which Politicians, Bureaucrats, Corporates , Criminals etc are suspected to be involved.

 

Similarly, the People of India, who's "Right to Life", is guaranteed by The Constitution, and whose Fundamental Duty is to protect and improve  the Natural Environment, would like to know What the Hell is Going On regarding Nuclear  Power  Policy of Govt. of India?

 

Politics of Nuclear Power (NP) in India ?

 

The decision to import Nuclear Reactors itself is questionable, when India has already built about 18 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors ( PHWR) on its own for the last 4 decades & has perfected its design  over the years of their operation.

 

 Going by the alleged bribes during the 2008 Trust Vote (Cash for Votes Scam) and the sustained USA pressure on the Indian Government to accelerate the 1-2-3 Agreement, the Indian NP Policy appears to have been influenced to serve the interests of USA and designed to benefit foreign MNCs – General Electric, Westinghouse and AREVA- for an estimated 40 Billion dolor business.

 

 It seems that the USA has found an unwitting client for its Nuclear Power Plants, which did not find market in their own country, since the 3 Mile Island Incident in 1979 . Are we putting Indian lives at risk for the sake of American jobs (which is what President Obama claimed to create during his visit to India)? Are Indian lives so cheap and you have no regard for your own countrymen?

 

The MNCs who provide Reactor Designs, with No or very limited liability for Nuclear Accidents like Fukushima Nuclear Meltdowns are profited at our expense. Are we a testing ground for unproven foreign technologies?

                                                        

 All Nuclear Power Plants with foreign technology seem to offer lucrative prospects by way of Commission for Indian Politicians, Intellectuals and Scientists. The  investment in 9900 MW Jaitapur NPP is estimated to be Rupees One Lakh Crores ( only ) (RS 10,00,00,00,00,00,000 ) . 

 

 Nuclear Power: Only Problems – No Solutions

 

 Sometimes it is important to restate the obvious ones again and again. Smoking is bad because it causes cancer and it is not good to drive drunk, because it can lead to serious accidents. Similarly, we should not opt for Nuclear Power, because it is a very Expensive, Sophisticated & Dangerous Way to Boil Water and not helpful.

 

Although for decades the arguments against Nuclear Power (NP) have been -and still are- strong and valid, there is an increasing group of Nuclear Companies supported by Scientists and Politicians, who say we need Nuclear Power to fight Climate Change and for Energy Security. They also claim that all the problems associated with Nuclear Power are almost solved or solved. Why do they say this, in spite of the recent Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown? Because for them, Nuclear Power means Profits, Power and Politics.

 

Nuclear Power (NP) is not sustainable, because it's fissile fuel materials are as limited as fossil fuels and the vast infrastructure necessary to create Nuclear Fuel-Cycle is a prodigious user of fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is not only a high-risk technology in terms of safety, but also with respect to financial investment, because without State subsidies, it does not stand a chance in the market- economy.

 

 Nuclear Power doesn't add up economically, environmentally or socially. and is neither the answer to modern energy problems nor a panacea for climate change challenges, Electricity is but the fleeting byproduct from Nuclear Power and the  actual product is forever deadly radioactive waste, which needs to be isolated from the biosphere for thousands of years that defy human imagination. Even 21 st century Science has no answer for safe disposal of Nuclear Waste.

 

Do We Need 8, 00,000 MW Capacity by 2031-32?

 

 Based on an unrealistic/unscientific assumption that economic vitality requires steadily increasing energy consumption, the total capacity of

8,00,000 MW is projected by 2031-32, which is about 5 times the present capacity.  The main focus of the power policy seems to be the use/consumption of energy with "Supply Syndrome", which is a wasteful exercise, rather than the thrust on efficient energy use & associated environmental concerns.  

 

The breeding ground for Nuclear Power is the inflated power demand projections and its wasteful use. As a result, total Nuclear Power capacity projected is 60,000 MW by 2031-32, which works out to be hardly 10 % of the total projected capacity.

                                                           

Can we do away with 60,000 MW Nuclear Power!

 

Before undertaking massive increase of installed capacities at huge financial costs and enormous adverse environmental and social impacts, it is worth considering for adequate investments in Supply Side Management (SSM) and Demand Side Management (DSM) measures as "Energy Conservation" is the fastest and the cheapest way of making available Clean Energy.

 

As the energy conservation potential, in our high energy intensive economy, is estimated to be more than 25%, we can easily do away with the need for the projected 60,000 MW (10%) Nuclear Power. But will the powerful MNCs in Nuclear Power sector and their nexus, permit the energy conservation measures and Green Power from renewable sources to materialize?

 

Thrust on National Action Plan on Climate Change Required  

 

The Hon'ble Prime Minister launched National Action Plan on Climate Change in 2008. If only adequate priority is given  for speedy and effective implementation of National Solar Mission, National Mission for  Enhanced Energy Efficiency , National Mission on Water and National Mission on Sustainable Habitat , there will be considerable scope for energy conservation and use of green power avoiding the need for massive increase in installed capacities and doing away with Nuclear Power Plants. We need to have Energy Conservation, Solar and Wind Energy Scientists instead of the Nuclear Scientists only, as at present

 

Evil vs Devil   Nuclear power is not just the Evil and it is the Devil. The Evil of our own making can be overcome. The Devil cannot be overcome, not even if we ourselves conjure him into being. This is why; staking our future on Nuclear Power is a Pact with the Devil, impacting the generations far into the future.

 

Conclusion: Hope the Hon'ble Prime Minister has the Time, Will and Freedom to ponder over the above and to promote Energy Efficiency and Green Power on a War Footing, which make Economic, Environmental and Social sense and to put the proposed Nuclear Power Plants on hold.

 

 Let there be participative democracy and enlightened participation in the Policy making process on a vital issue of Nuclear Power and let it not be confined to only Politicians, Scientists and Bureaucrats.!

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

Bhavanapadu TPP-What the Hell is going on?

The Bench of Hon'ble Supreme Court is reported to have snubbed the Government of India "What the Hell is going on?", when it asked about tracking Black Money.

Hasan Ali Tax Default


After a search, on the premises of stud-farm owner Hasan Ali, who is alleged to have billions of dollars deposit in Swiss Bank, in 2007, based on the documents in their possession, tax demand of Rs 71,846 Crore was reported to have been raised by I-T Department in December 2008. But, the endless investigations and reviews seem to be still going on, without any action to recover the tax arrears or punish the guilty!


Bhavanapadu TPP of East Coast Energy Pvt. Ltd

In spite of a number of representations made by various organizations & concerned individuals, expressing objections and apprehensions about Bhavanapadu TPP, before EC was granted and there after to MOEF GOI and AP Govt since 2008, unfortunately, MOEF, GOI has not acted till the unprovoked and uncalled for police firing took place, while the State Govt continues to remain unconcerned and unresponsive. This gives room, to doubt about another Hasan Ali behind Bhavanapadu TPP !

Swift and Decisive Action required for canceling EC and Not reviewing by EAC!

The E.C granted to Bhavanapadu TPP at the present location, based on incorrect reports/misleading data as observed by NEAA, be cancelled by MOEF and the G.O allotting Govt Wetlands to the project be cancelled by the Govt of AP, instead of going through the wasteful process of reviewing the compliance of EC conditions by EAC, which is irrelevant

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