Cancel permission to hydro power projects: Former Union secy to govt

Sarma said the government seems to have not taken nod from the National Commission for STs before taking the decision on the projects.

Published: 19th December 2022 11:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th December 2022 11:05 AM   |  A+A-

Ex-finance secretary EAS Sarma

Former Union energy secretary EAS Sarma. (File photo)

By Express News Service

VISAKHAPATNAM: Former Union Energy secretary EAS Sarma has said the consent given by the State Cabinet for hydro-pumped storage projects at Kurukutti and Karrivalasa in Parvathipuram Manyam and at Yerravaram in Alluri Sitarama Raju district is in ‘gross violation’ of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act and the Forest Rights Act.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday, Sarma who is also a former AP State tribal welfare commissioner, said the conduct of grama sabhas is mandatory to get permission from tribals for the projects as per the two Acts. He urged the Chief Minister to withdraw the consent given to the hydro projects honouring the rights of tribals and Acts enshrined in the Constitution for the protection of their interests.

“The State government has no powers to take unilateral decisions on such projects. The same was stated by the Supreme Court in a judgement in 2013. It ruled that bauxite mining permission given to Vedanta by the Odisha government in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts was unconstitutional. As per the apex court order, grama sabhas held in 11 villages rejected the mining proposal leading to its cancellation.

Similarly, in the Samata case judgment in 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that awarding of projects to private companies in scheduled areas and also giving land on the lease were against the Land Regulation Act. Hence, keeping in view the previous directions of the apex court, it was not legal to give a nod for hydropower projects, he noted.

Moreover, such projects should be discussed at the Tribal Advisory Council, which was formed under Schedule para 5 of the Constitution. “Any decision arrived at without taking the opinion of the TAC is against the constitution,” he said.

Sarma also said the government seems to have not taken a nod from the National Commission for STs before taking the decision on the projects. Besides, it was not proper to hand over the projects without going for competitive bidding as per the national hydroelectric policy. Sarma felt that the three projects will seriously impact the living conditions and culture of tribals as they will disrupt the natural resources. "Hence, the State government forthwith should cancel the permission given to the three pumped storage hydropower projects," he added.



Comments

Disclaimer : We respect your thoughts and views! But we need to be judicious while moderating your comments. All the comments will be moderated by the newindianexpress.com editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks. Try to avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines.

The views expressed in comments published on newindianexpress.com are those of the comment writers alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of newindianexpress.com or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of The New Indian Express Group, or any entity of, or affiliated with, The New Indian Express Group. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to take any or all comments down at any time.

flipboard facebook twitter whatsapp