NGT directs State to halt Thoubal project
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 13 2013:
The Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal has directed the State Govt to halt construction work of Thoubal Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project till Nov 20 .
A Principal Bench of the NGT comprising Judicial members Justice Dr P Jyothimani, Justice MS Nambiar, Expert Members Dr GK Pandey, Prof AR Yousuf and Ranjan Chaterjee has in its order issued on Nov 12 directed the State to put a stop to construction work of the project.
Any permission granted to the State Govt to proceed with the project will amount to violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, the Principal Bench of NGT said.
In its order, the NGT stated that as far as the second stage of the project is concern, the State Govt has not obtained any approval from the MoEF so far regarding forest clearance.
It is also evident that the application for such approval has been made only this year after the application was filed with the NGT.
The order comes as a result of a complain filed by Themrei Tuithung on behalf of the affected villagers.
Speaking to reporters, Adviser of Mapithel Dam Affected Villages' Organisation, Thanmi Kashung said that the Govt has ignored Forest (Conservation) Act and other Green Acts since the beginning of the Thoubal Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project.
Following approval of the project by the Planning Commission in 1980, the project was started in 1990 .
However, the forest clearance was sought by the State Govt only recently, he said.
A total of 1215 hectares of land have been submerged in water.
Mandatory forest clearance under Forest (Conservation) Act has not been received by the Govt even after completing 80 percent of the project, he said.
Earth filled Mapithel (Maphou) Dam is part of the Thoubal Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project.