Review of green zone extension likely

The move came after Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna met Union Environment and Forests Minister Veerappa Moily

The move came after Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna met Environment and Forests Minister Veerappa Moily and opposed the 4,179.59-sqkm and 100-km eco-sensitive zone, the final notification for which was issued in December 2012. “We were not heard when the final notification on the eco-sensitive zone was issued,” Bahuguna told Moily.

The area was increased from 40 sq km to 4,179.59 sq km without the consent of the state, Bahuguna noted.

An official statement said: “On this, Moily took a positive view and agreed to hear the objections of the state government on the issue.”

A government official said: “Yes, it also means that the Centre will review the eco-sensitive zone if our objections are found legitimate.”

Bahuguna, along with a delegation of the party’s MPs from the state, had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue last year also.

The eco-zone in the Bhagirathi valley had affected scores of projects, including tourism and hydel.  The first draft of the notification on the eco-sensitive zone had stopped the construction of hydel projects with capacity of more than 25 Mw. The final notification banned all such projects.

Hydel projects in the stretch between Gomukh and Uttarkashi have been hit (capacity of 1,743 Mw) after the Centre restricted any major construction.

A senior government official said the eco-sensitive zone would also adversely affect the construction of roads along the India-Tibet border and certain defence projects.

The move has also put the chief minister in a bind as he was trying hard to revive three major hydel projects scrapped on environmental and religious grounds. These projects are 600-Mw Loharinag Pala, 480-Mw Pala Maneri and 380-Mw Bhaironghati. Besides, a series of other projects, including 150-Mw Karmoli and 50-Mw Jadganga of THDC India Ltd have also been scrapped due to the decision. An estimate suggests that the projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore have been affected due to the declaration of eco sensitive zone, experts said.

After facing attack from the opposition on the issue, the state Cabinet decided to oppose the Centre's recent notification on the eco-sensitive zone, saying it would adversely affect development in the area.

Bahuguna said several infrastructure development projects were in the pipeline and the Centre's move would tantamount to stalling nearly all of them, including construction of bridges, Border Roads Organisation's realignment work and flood-control measures.