SC asks Centre to apprise it on six hydro-power projects

The Supreme Court today asked the government to apprise it of the findings of an inter- ministerial committee, which was set up to look into an expert panel's report giving clearance to six hydro-power projects to be built on Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins in Uttarakhand.
A bench, comprising justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit, asked the government to submit the report of the committee comprising Ministries of Environment and Forest, Power and Water Resources by January five.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Narsimha, appearing for the Centre, said the inter-ministerial panel was set up on November 23 to look into the report of an 11-member experts panel on the pending hydro-power projects in the hill state.

The experts panel had prepared the environment and ecological impact report of these projects.
"In view of the aforesaid statement made by the ASG, we list the matter for January 20 for further hearing. Union of India shall apprise the court about the final decision," the bench said.
Earlier, the court had granted time to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for filing "comprehensive" environment and ecological impact report of 18, out of total 24 hydroelectric power projects, to be set up in Uttarakhand.

The MoEF, in its one of the reports, had said that six, out of 24 power projects, have substantially complied with legal requirements.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the parties, opposed the government's recent decision.
The bench, during the hearing, asked Bhushan and advocates Sanjay Parekh and Colin Gonsalves to file "objections to the final report" within two weeks.
MoEF has tasked the committee to assess the cumulative
impact assessment of hydro power projects and carry out a carrying capacity study of upper reaches of river Ganga.
It was also asked to focus on likely impacts caused by HEP structures in the region.
The apex court by its August 13, 2013 verdict had expressed concern over the climate tragedy in Uttarakhand that year and prohibited setting up of any new hydroelectric power project in the state till further orders.

After June 2013 Uttarakhand floods, SC had taken suo motu cognizance of the issue and ordered formation of a committee which in its April 2014 report recommended dropping of at least 23 hydro-power to save the ecologically fragile region.
The Environment Ministry in December 2014 had admitted before SC that hydro-power projects in Uttarakhand had aggravated the impact of the 2013 floods.
It had also admitted that irreversible damage was caused to environment by the hydro power projects.