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dam-l LS: Protest re. Parbati Valley HP in Himachal Pradesh
>Fwd: Re: Parbati Valley HP in Himachal Pradesh
> > Friends,
> >
> > The Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee is going to lay the foundation stone of
> > the Parbati Hydel Project in Himachal Pradesh on 12 December. We have sent
> > him an urgent letter of protest, pointing out that this act of his is
> > illegal, in violation of the Environment Protection Act and the Forest
> > Conservation Act, since the Project has not received environmental and
> > forest clearance as yet. You may also recall that we had protested when the
> > H.P. government denotified a part of the Great Himalayan National Park,
> > earlier this year, ostensibly in the name of two local villages, but
> > actually to make way for this project to be built inside the area.
> >
> > We would appreciate that this issue be given coverage in the media.
> > Ashish
> > Kalpavriksh
> > Apartment 5, Shree Dutta Krupa
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411 004, India
> >
> > Ph. and fax: ++91-20-565 4239
> > Email: ashish@nda.vsnl.net.in
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee,
> > Prime Minister of India,
> > 7, Race Course Road
> > New Delhi – 110001
>December 8, 1999
> >
> > Dear Shri Vajpayee,
> >
> > Sub: Parbati River Valley Project in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh
> >
> > We understand from recent reports that you are scheduled to lay the
> > foundation stone of the Parbati River Valley Project in the Kullu district
> > of HP around the 12th of December. It was also reported that you are being
> > accompanied by some senior members of your cabinet including the Finance
> > Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha for this programme.
> >
> > We would like to bring to your notice that the mandatory Environment Impact
> > Assessment (EIA) for the project has yet to be completed. The EIA has just
> > been initiated and it will need about two years to be completed. The
> > project has not yet obtained environmental or forest clearance under the
> > Environment Protection Act and the Forest Conservation Act and hence it
> > would be illegal for you to lay the foundation stone. It would also be a
> > waste of tax payer's money and of your own time, should the project not
> > receive clearance.
> >
> > Indeed prima facie evidence suggests that the project is likely to be
> > ecologically very destructive and thus a good candidate for rejection by
> > the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Already there has been
> > considerable public controversy over the move of the Himachal Pradesh
> > government to denotify over 1000 hectares of the Great Himalayan National
> > Park to accommodate part of the Parbati project. If you proceed to lay the
> > foundation stone of this project you will also be ignoring your own role as
> > Chairperson of the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL).
> >
> > You will recall that letters had been addressed to you in this matter
> > earlier in May 1999 as well, but these opinions and suggestions have been
> > ignored.
> >
> > We request you to decide against the laying of the foundation stone.
> > Additionally we request that you give an assurance to the public that any
> > further activity related to the project will be undertaken only once the
> > EIA is completed.
> >
> > It is hoped that the points that we have raised are given due importance
> > this time and corrective action is taken.
> >
> > Thanking you
> > Sincerely
> >
> > Pankaj Sekhsaria / Ashish Kothari
> >
> > Cc: Shri TR Baalu, Minister for Environment and Forests
> > Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh
> >
> > Kalpavriksh
> > Apartment 5, Shree Dutta Krupa
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411 004, India
> >
> > Ph. and fax: ++91-20-565 4239
> Email: ashish@nda.vsnl.net.in
>