NGT wants impact study

Aruchal dams

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 11: The tiol Green Tribul (NGT) has directed setting up a proposal to scientifically and comprehensively study the cumulative environmental impact due to construction of dams in Aruchal Pradesh.

Admitting a petition by Pradip Kumar Bhuyan and Joydeep Bhuyan, the NGT also issued notices to the Union Power ministry, Union Environment ministry, Assam government, Aruchal government and the Brahmaputra

Board, seeking their affidavits within six weeks.

The NGT has also sought details of the dams approved in Aruchal Pradesh and their status.

The respondents were also directed “to set up proposal for scientific study of comprehensive cumulative environmental impact study with reference to the construction of so many hydro-electric projects in the State of Aruchal in terms of their effect on downstream area on water source, biodiversity and social-ecology of the people.”

In their application, the petitioners contended that the execution of the dams will “devastate the valleys of Aruchal, Brahmaputra as also Majuli and Kaziranga.”

Praying for a cumulative impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment for all the valleys of Aruchal, the petitioners advocated for run-of-the-river sustaible dams.

The petitioner prayed that free flowing sustaible dams in the valleys of Aruchal is the key for balance of ture and development in Aruchal Pradesh and Assam.

Citing the Uttarakhand disaster of 2013, the petitioners suggested that it was an opportune time to examine the issues in details and not wait for another Himalayan disaster to occur.