APP wants reconstitution of expert committee on hydro-power projects

The Association of Power Producers (APP), comprising leading power sector players, has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and direct the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to re-constitute the expert committee set up to study the level of impact contributed by the hydro power projects on the recent tragedy in the States. The Association has pleaded that it did not have appropriate domain experts.

In the letter, APP Director-General Ashok Khurana has said the members agreed that there was a need for a detailed study into the root cause of the Uttrakhand disaster. The committee constituted by the MoEF has mandate to study the level of impact contributed by the hydro power projects on the recent tragedy and also to examine the impact on biodiversity of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi by the 24 projects identified by Wildlife Institute of India. “The expert committee constituted by MoEF will need to conduct a proper assessment of social ecological and economical impact of the projects along with the benefits and then take a balanced view aimed at promoting sustainable growth in the region. For this it is important to ensure presence of appropriate domain knowledge experts in the committee which is felt lacking at present,” the letter states.

The letter further states that it is equally important to maintain objectivity in the findings of the committee which might prove to be difficult task if the committee consists of members with a very strong and stated position on the matter to be examined.