GUWAHATI, Oct 29 � Voluntary organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) has demanded fresh environmental clearance to the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP) and suspension of its construction activities till the project is cleared afresh from environment point of view.
The voluntary organisation has made this plea in a letter to the chairman of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects today. The EAC is discussing the LSHEP in its meeting scheduled for November 12 and 13 next.
It has argued that the project was granted environmental clearance on the grounds that in case there occured a change in its scope, it would require a fresh appraisal.
There have been major changes in the scope and design of the project since it was granted environmental clearance and this fact was brought to light during the public consultation held by the Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on September 10 in Guwahati, said the voluntary organization.
The changes in design and scope of the project after it was granted environmental clearance include reduction in the depth of the dam�s foundation from 17 metres to 9 metres. The NHPC in its reply to the Expert Committee report has clearly stated that the height of the dam has been changed from 133 metres from the deepest foundation (116 metres above the river bed) to 125 metres (116 metres above the river bed). This clearly indicates that the foundation has been reduced from 17 metres to 9 metres. This is a major change in design and amounts to a change in the scope of the project.
Again, the power house of the project has been changed from a underground to a surface one, despite the fact that the project was granted environmental clearance based on a design of an underground powerhouse. That the power house has been changed into a surface one has been admitted by the power company in its own website.
