Govt threatens to hold clearnance to Gujarat Power Project
The Environment ministry threatened to keep the clearance given to a power project in Gujarat for alleged suppression of information at the time of project appraisal.
The Environment ministry threatened to keep the clearance given to a power project in Gujarat for alleged suppression of information at the time of project appraisal.
This comes after the company, OPG Power Gujarat Private Limited, informed the National Green Tribunal that it will require diversion of 3.68 hectares of forestland for laying the proposed sea water pipeline required to cool the 300 MW thermal power plant.
"The disclosure of information after appraisal of the project amounts to suppression of information by the project proponent before the ministry at the time of appraisal," said the show cause notice issued on February 6. The ministry informed the tribunal about the notice on Wednesday.
The ministry has asked why the clearance issued under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification on September 2011 should be kept in abeyance.
As per environment norms, the environment or coastal clearance is not effective till the project proponent gets clearance for diversion of forestland. The company had applied for forest clearance, but the information was not submitted while seeking coastal clearance.
The project is coming up in ecologically sensitive Bhadreshwar coast in Kutch district of Gujarat and had faced resistance from a group of locals. They have filed a petition in the tribunal seeking quashing of the coastal clearance given to the project saying it will destroy the local ecology.
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