Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today sought to downplay the reported differences between his ministry and Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati over construction of hydel projects on Ganga, saying there are "no differences" between them.
"We (he and Uma Bharti) have direct and straight communication with her everyday. We talk to each other clearly. There is no issue of any difference between us," Javadekar told reporters here.
His comments come following reports that Environment Ministry has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court allowing construction of hydel units in the upper Ganga stretch despite objections raised by Bharati.
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"The interpretation is wrong. If one sees the affidavit through a legal mind, they will get the correct answer. Whatever we have given, the new policy which the government has come out with, it represents that.
"It is a public document. I would not do a running commentary on a matter which is sub judice. I can only say that the interpretation is wrong," Javadekar said when asked whether his ministry has given the green signal to six hydel projects in the affidavit.
According to reports, Bharati had said she was "unable" to understand how the policy decision of the government as stated in the draft affidavit was arrived at, because an inter-ministerial committee, under Secretary, Water Resources, was still to file its report.
Reports maintained that Bharati had listed four key areas of disagreement and requested Javadekar not to submit the aforesaid draft affidavit.
She had instead requested Javadekar to ask the apex court for extension of time so as to enable the inter-ministerial committee to give its report which can form the basis of the considered policy of the government.
According to reports, the affidavit had gone to clear three of the six projects - NTPC's 171-MW Lata Tapovan, Super Hydro's 4-MW Khironi Ganga and the 24-MW Bhyunder Ganga - for construction.
Reports said that it allowed two projects - NHPC's 195-MW Kotli Bhel IA and GMR's 300-MW Alaknanda - with certain design modifications while the sixth project, Tehri Hydro Power's 108-MW Jhelum Tamak - is yet to get environmental clearance.
