Inquiry nails Tidong power project

The villagers had alleged that the project gave a wrong estimate of the trees to be affected. While the original DPR of the project had estimated nearly 13,916 trees to be damaged,the company took sanction for only 1,261 trees to be affected.

In his report dated December 9,ADM Hriday Ram Chauhan pointed out many violations and said,“Unscientific blasting and construction of roads in the fragile hill area is damaging the environment and this will certainly cause loss to local residents.”

After the residents of local panchayats including Thangi,Rispa,Moorang,Kunoh,Charang,Ribba and Rorang got access to the report they staged a protest at the project site today. Narinder Kumar Negi,Pradhan of Rispa Panchayat said,“Even the government report has vindicated our stand that the hydropower project is not in the interest of villagers and should be scrapped.”

The ADM quoted the approval letter from the Conservator of Forest of Government of India dated June 16: “Not more than 1,261 trees could be removed,but in addition to the allowed number of tress many trees have been damaged as a result of unscientific construction of road of the hydropower project in Rispa and Thangi panchayat. In village Lanbar,the loss is of such magnitude that it is difficult to count the number of trees removed/damaged due to falling of boulders. Besides,many plants of medicinal value have also been destroyed.”

The report also highlights the wrong method of rolling the debris down the hill damaging the village ecology.

The Indian Express had reported on December 7 that the construction of project and the approach road were in violation of the norms,even as the company has not yet received the land officially. The debris has damaged the rare Chilgoza (Neoza) species.