People Again Unite to Reject the Athirappilly Hydro Electric Project
On May 7th at Chalakudy, Kerala, India
The 163 MW Athirappilly Hydro Electric Project proposed on the Chalakudy
River, Thrissur, has again raised its ugly head with fresh environmental
clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. As you are aware,
the controversial project was once categorically rejected by the river
dependent community and people who love the River from all walks of life at a
Public Hearing held on 6th February 2002 at Thrissur. The Hon. High Court
of Kerala had thoroughly criticized the slipshod Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) conducted by Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute
(TBGRI), Thiruvanathapuram, without even a Public Hearing on the basis of
which sanction had been accorded to the project 7 years back. The
tremendous response of the people against the project at the Public Hearing held
later on Court Orders on 6th Feb 2002 was proof enough that people had
absolutely no need of the Project. The Public Hearing Panel communicated the
strong dissent of the people to the MoEF.
Athirappilly HEP was as good as shelved.
After a long period of silence (and subversive operations) from the part
of the Kerala State Electricity Board, February 18th 2005 brought the news
that Athirappilly HEP has obtained fresh clearance from the Ministry of
Environment and Forests on the basis of a " brand new" EIA conducted by a
Delhi based agency- WAPCOS- again without a Public Hearing!!
Not only that but the EIA report of WAPCOS contains outrageous factual
errors and fallacies regarding the agricultural area of the affected
Panchayaths, the tribal settlements to be displaced by the project, electricity
generation details etc. At many a place the WAPCOS study is a blind replica
of the TBGRI study!
To protest against this gross violation of the self-governing rights of
the people of the affected panchayaths and the total disregard for the rules
and regulations for the conduct of a proper comprehensive EIA, we are
organizing a People's Public Hearing at Chalakudy on the 7th of May 2005.
Please be a part of the meeting and express solidarity with the people and the
River!
For further details do mail back to us.
Latha/Unnikrishnan/Ravi/Madhusoodhanan/Amitabachan/Sreeja/
Indu/Murari/Vanchi
Contact numbers: 0487-5524110
0487-2353021
09447527345
Chalakudy Puzha Samrakshana Samithi
Karthika, Manalattil
Ollur.P.O
Thrissur 680306
Kerala,
India
Ph: +91-487-2353021
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
