After NBA, Modi also opposes panel on Sardar Sarovar -Governance Now

After NBA, Modi also opposes panel on Sardar Sarovar

Demands that MoEF’s advisory committee to ascertain compliance with environmental standards be scrapped

GN Bureau | May 4, 2010

After Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) cried foul over ministry of environment and forests’ new advisory panel on Sardar Sarovar Project, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has also opposed the formation of the committee, albeit for different reasons.
In a letter handed over to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday, Modi demanded that the MoEF’s order for formation of the committee, which is tasked with examining the adequacy of the plans and schedule for implementation to ensure ‘pari-passu’ compliance with environmental safeguard measures, be revoked.

“Decision of the Ministry of Environment and Forest taken on 28th April 2010 is not at all in accordance with the present provisions of Narmada Yojana and with the order of the Supreme Court on 20th Oct 2000,” says the letter.
Modi insisted that forming such a high level committee would be contrary to the numerous decisions taken by other central bodies in the past, and the move would further perplex the situation and “pass the negative impacts”.

“Narmada Control Authority has a complete monitoring set-up and environmental sub-group is capable enough to take any step related to the project; there is no need of any other independent body to take decision in this issue,” the letter said.

Last week, NBA had objected to the new advisory committee, primarily on the grounds that it would bypass Devendra Pandey Committee's interim report that showed that Sardar Sarovar project did not have sufficient plans for compliance with environmental safeguards.
“The ministry has full powers…to straight away issue stop work notices. Instead, it is forming one committee after the other,” NBA leader Medha Patkar was quoted as saying in a news-report.

NBA also objected to the membership of the committee, which includes Yoginder K. Alagh, one of the planners of the project and a known supporter of the dam.
“He was a party to the same plans which are being analyzed. We cannot expect objective analysis from someone who has had an interest in the project from the beginning,” Patkar was quoted as saying.

Comments

Other News

Days of Reading: Upendra Baxi recalls works that shaped his youth

Of Law and Life Upendra Baxi in Conversation with Arvind Narrain, Lawrence Liang, Sitharamam Kakarala, and Sruti Chaganti Orient BlackSwan, Rs 2,310

Voting by tribal communities blossoms as ECI’s efforts bear fruit

The efforts made by the Election Commission of India (ECI), over last two years, for inclusion of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) communities and other tribal groups in the electoral process have borne fruit with scenes of tribal groups in various states/UTs participating enthusiastically in t

GST revenue for April 2024 at a new high

The gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections hit a record high in April 2024 at ₹2.10 lakh crore. This represents a significant 12.4% year-on-year growth, driven by a strong increase in domestic transactions (up 13.4%) and imports (up 8.3%). After accounting for refunds, the net GST

First Magahi novel presents a glimpse of Bihar bureaucracy a century ago

Fool Bahadur By Jayanath Pati (Translated by Abhay K.) Penguin Modern Classics, 112 pages, Rs 250 “Bab

Are EVs empowering India`s Green Transition?

Against the backdrop of the $3.5 billion Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme launched by the Government of India, sales of Electric Vehicles (EVs) are expected to grow at a CAGR of 35% by 2032. It is crucial to take into account the fact that 86% of EV sales in India were under the price bracket of $2