GUWAHATI, March 17 — The first step towards setting up of the 2,000 MW Subansiri hydro-power project by the NHPC has been cleared with the State Government giving clearance for use of 856.3 hectares of reserve forest land for the project. Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, Minister of State for Forest Pradyut Bordoloi said that the State Government decided to give clearance for use of reserve forest land as Subansiri project would be the largest hydro-power project in the country. However, he asserted that the Government would never compromise on the interest of environment, forest and the State as a whole.
Bordoloi revealed that of the 856.3 hectares of reserve forest land required for the project, there was no problem in giving clearance for 571.3 hectares, but there was some controversy regarding the remaining portion of land as there were reports that the portion falls under the corridor used by herds of wild elephants to move from Dulung to Subansiri reserve forests. The forest department sent an expert committee to study the matter and the committee reported that “the area is not exactly in the elephant corridor.” Bordoloi, along with senior officers of the forest department visited the project site on March 14 and had detailed discussion with the executive director of the project and other senior officers of the NHPC, following which, the State Government decided to give clearance for use of required reserve forest land for setting up of the project. However, the NHPC has been given clearance for the use of forest land subject to certain conditions and one of the condition is that the environment and wild life cannot be disturbed while setting up the mega-power project. Now the State Government’s clearance will be sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest for its clearance.
The Forest Minister said that according to a conservative estimate, the State Government would receive royalty amounting to at least Rs 50 crore for the forest produce used in the project. He said that the NHPC, as per an order of the Supreme Court, would have to provide money to the aforestation compensatory fund according to the formula given by the Apex Court and that money would be used for an aforestation drive in the nearby areas.
Bordoloi said that during the discussion, the NHPC officials told him that the cost of the project would be Rs 6600 crore and the Public Investment Board of the Ministry of Finance has already given clearance for the same. Now the Ministry of Environment and Trust will have to give its nod, following which, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of the Central Government will have to give the final clearance to pave the way for setting up of the project. The NHPC officials told Sri Bordoloi that the project would be completed within seven years from receiving all the required clearance including the investment clearance. Bordoloi also revealed that no human habitation would be affected after setting up of the project.
Meanwhile, the Forest Minister said that the expert committee formed to offer suggestions to the Government to formulate to forest policy, would give a presentation on March 21 before submitting its report in April. After receiving the report, the Government will hold discussions with all concerned before finalising the forest policy for Assam. In the meantime, the State Government has approached the Supreme Court to allow those who settled in forest land before 1980 to stay there but at the same time, Bordoloi asserted that those who have settled in forest land after 1980 would be evicted and regular eviction drives are on in different parts of the State.
Bordoloi said that over the years, the forest department alone failed to protect the reserve forests of the State and large-scale degradation of the forest cover posed a serious threat to environment. The Government has now adopted a pragmatic policy of joint forest management involving the people living in the fringe areas of the reserve forests and following a decision by the State cabinet, forest development agencies are being formed all over the State.