NEW DELHI, Aug 1 � Reacting to reports the Ministry of Environment and Forest while denying that delay in sanctioning of environment clearance has led to stalling of power projects, said violent opposition by local people against two hydro-power projects in Arunachal Pradesh has led to delays.
In the wake of the nationwide power outages over the last two days, a section of the media has reported that one of the main reasons for the failure of the power grids has been power projects, which are said to have been �stalled� due to want of Environmental Clearance (EC). This is factually incorrect, the Ministry has officially clarified.
Referring to Dibang Valley Project in Arunachal Pradesh, the MoEF has said that the NHPC-executed project has been violently opposed by the local people and public hearing has been postponed five times due to public unrest, although initial Terms of Reference (TORs) were issued on August 17, 2009.
Further, Dibang Valley project involves diversion of 5056 hectares of forest land, a massive extent of land, which has to be carefully studied.
About NHPC Middle Subansiri project, even the application for Enviroment Clearance (EC) is yet to be received; Jaypee Lower Siang was granted TORs in January 1, 2007. But public unrest has not enabled the State Government to conduct public hearing to proceed further, the Ministry clarified.
