Forest Department freezes Thoubal Multipurpose Project
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 23 2013: Forest Department has put a stop on any further work on the multi crore Thoubal Multipurpose Project for not obtaining the mandatory forest clearance and environmental clearance before executing the project.

Following a complaint filed by the National Green Tribunal constituted at the behest of the Supreme Court that no forest clearance or environmental clearance was obtained for Thoubal Multipurpose Project since the days of its inception, the State Forest Department banned the project under a directive of the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Notably, the project was approved by the Planning Commission in 1980 .

A well placed source informed that one T Tuithung and his party filed a petition at the National Green Tribunal complaining that the project was being executed without mandatory approvals of the authorities concerned.

After a case was registered at the tribunal, MoEF's Shillong regional office Additional Principal Chief Conservator Dr Anil Kumar sent written intimations on the matter to the State's Chief Secretary and the PCCF.

File pic of the Thoubal Multi-Purpose Project

According to the environment impact assessment report compiled in 2006, the project would submerge 1215 hectares of land out of which 595 hectares are forest lands.

The project not only side-lined the Forest Conservation Act 1980, according to which due approval should be sought but also defied the Supreme Court directive.

Highlighting all these points, Dr Anil Kumar's intimation categorically stated that the Thoubal Multipurpose Project deserves to be kept in a dormant state.

Construction work of the project was suspended for a long time before it was resumed in 2006 .

As directed by MoEF, the State PCCF instructed the Divisional Forest Officer, Eastern Forest Division to enquire into the matter.

Based on the enquiry report, Forest Department asked Irrigation and Flood Control Department to stop all construction activities of the project.

Earlier in 2006, MoEF questioned the then Chief Secretary as to why the project authority did not apply for forest clearance and environmental clearance, disclosed the source.

Moreover, MoEF's Shillong office asked the State Government to stop the project in 2006.In 2007, Forest Department wrote an official letter seeking a halt to the construction activity of the project.

During the past six years, the State Government did not do anything to obtain the mandatory clearances.

In the meantime, construction work of the project is now complete by 80 per cent.

One major component of the project is a 65 metres high and 1120 metres long dam.

The project was conceived with the multiple objectives of generating 7.5 MW electricity, supplying 10 MGD (million gallons per day) of potable water and irrigation of surrounding paddy fields.

However, IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip maintained that construction work of the project has been going on as usual.

Forest clearance for the project has been received and the department is awaiting 'final approval', Ngamthang Haokip added.