Panaji (GOA): The Supreme Court has directed the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to file a detail affidavit informing whether Karnataka government has applied for Forest and Environment Clearance for the Kalsa- Bhandura project in Kankumbi by August 17.
“The Court has also asked Karnataka to file an affidavit of a responsible officer stating whether an application has been made for forest and environment clearance and, if so, to whom and when and the status of the application,” she stated.
The Mhadei Bachaco Abhiyan approached SC in 2007 challenging Karnataka government project on the environmental ground and had pointed out that the project is been undertaken without obtaining Environmental Clearance (EC) from MoEF&CC.
Quoting the latest order of the Supreme Court, MBA president Nirmala Sawant said that Court in its order has stated that the application by Abhiyan is not at all concerned with the water dispute with regard to the Mhadei River which is pending before the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal.
“The application is concerned only with the forest clearance in relation to construction of the project in the western ghat. The allegation is that the project is continuing without any approval under the Forest Conservation Act 1980 and other related clearance from MOEF&CC,” she said reading out Court order.
The report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is to the affect that about 258 hectares of forest land is to be diverted for the project. Therefore, the matter requires some serious consideration both by the State of Karnataka and MoEF&CC,” the Court stated.
Team TNV