 "Rawat vouches for hydropower projects, slams Centre's stand")
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has slammed the Centre for its stand that the hydroelectric power projects (HEPs) had caused the 2013 calamitous floods in the hill state, saying his government would move the Supreme Court shortly in support of the HEPs.
"The central government's stand on hydel projects is unacceptable to us. The U-turn taken by the Centre on the issue has dealt a body blow to the interests of Uttarakhand. The hydropower is the key growth-driver of our state," said Rawat.
"By taking a stand that hydropower projects were causing floods, the Centre has put all the big projects, such as Bhakra Nangal and Tehri, in one bracket. This is unacceptable to us," he said. Rawat said his government would shortly move the Supreme Court over the issue in the support of hydropower projects. Rawat's comments came after the Centre's stand had put the future of 24 hydel projects, with a capacity of 2,900 Megawatt (Mw), in jeopardy.
The Centre expressed reservation in allowing the projects, despite getting forest and environment clearance, which was given before the disaster hit the state last year, saying their designs were not acceptable.
The apex court refused to take on record affidavit filed by the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF), saying the report is "neither this way nor that way".
The apex court had last month granted four more weeks to the Centre for filing "comprehensive" environment and ecological impact report of 24 hydroelectric power projects, including six which was earlier cleared by the government, to be established on Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins in Uttarakhand.
Earlier, the court had ticked off MoEF for sleeping like "Kumbhakarna" and had made it clear it was not going to lift the stay on setting up of hydroelectric power projects in the state unless the ministry comes out with a detailed report on the impact of 24 ventures on ecology and environment.
The apex court in its August 13, 2013 verdict had expressed concern over the climate tragedy in Uttarakhand and prohibited setting up of any new hydroelectric power project in the state till further orders.
"The central government's stand on hydel projects is unacceptable to us. The U-turn taken by the Centre on the issue has dealt a body blow to the interests of Uttarakhand. The hydropower is the key growth-driver of our state," said Rawat.
"By taking a stand that hydropower projects were causing floods, the Centre has put all the big projects, such as Bhakra Nangal and Tehri, in one bracket. This is unacceptable to us," he said. Rawat said his government would shortly move the Supreme Court over the issue in the support of hydropower projects. Rawat's comments came after the Centre's stand had put the future of 24 hydel projects, with a capacity of 2,900 Megawatt (Mw), in jeopardy.
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Rapping the Centre for not moving forward on hydropower projects in Uttarakhand for 18 months, the Supreme Court had asked it to find an "acceptable solution" to the problem and not to come out with a "knee-jerk" reaction.
The Centre expressed reservation in allowing the projects, despite getting forest and environment clearance, which was given before the disaster hit the state last year, saying their designs were not acceptable.
The apex court refused to take on record affidavit filed by the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF), saying the report is "neither this way nor that way".
The apex court had last month granted four more weeks to the Centre for filing "comprehensive" environment and ecological impact report of 24 hydroelectric power projects, including six which was earlier cleared by the government, to be established on Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins in Uttarakhand.
Earlier, the court had ticked off MoEF for sleeping like "Kumbhakarna" and had made it clear it was not going to lift the stay on setting up of hydroelectric power projects in the state unless the ministry comes out with a detailed report on the impact of 24 ventures on ecology and environment.
The apex court in its August 13, 2013 verdict had expressed concern over the climate tragedy in Uttarakhand and prohibited setting up of any new hydroelectric power project in the state till further orders.