Adani power project in MP may hit roadblock over green nod

In fresh trouble for MNC Adani power group, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh today indicated that his ministry would not approve the company's proposal for drawing water from Pench Tiger reserve for its project in Madhya Pradesh.

"Though the company (APL) is yet to approach us for environment clearance we are clear that we will not allow diversion of water from the protected areas to any commercial use," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said on the sidelines of a function.

He, however, said that the matter would be decided only when it comes for consideration at the meeting of National Board of Wildlife, a highest body under the environment ministry for giving green nod to the projects.

The project pertains to the 1320 Mw coal-based thermal power plant proposed by APL, belonging to $5 billion Adani group in close proximity of the Pench Tiger reserve in Chhindawara district in Madhya Pradesh.

Ramesh said that the ministry had last year rejected a similar case proposed by Ambuja Cement which had sought drawing water from Majthal Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh for the expansion of its plant.

Rejecting the proposal, the ministry had pointed that using water from Sanctuary for commercial purpose amounts to violation of Section 29 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

This is not the first time that an Adani project has hit a roadblock over green nod. A few months ago, the environment ministry had said no to the MNC's coal mining proposal in Tadoba region in Maharashtra citing threat to tigers in the adjacent Tadoba Andheri tiger reserve.