The State government has favoured setting up the controversial Hongadahalli mini-hydel project by a private company despite objections raised by senior officials of the Forest Department.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Forest Minister B. Ramanath Rai are stated to be in favour of the project, which, according to the Forest Department, will affect rare flora and fauna in the reserve forests of Kaginahare and Kenchanakumari in Sakleshpur taluk.
The State government sent a proposal to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in February 2014 recommending change in land use for 10.6897 hectares.
A team of officers of MoEF recently inspected the site of the project, which will generate 18.9 MW power, in Sakleshpur taluk.
Sources said the Chief Minister gave instructions to the Forest Department regarding the proposal a few days after he assumed office. As per the letter received by the Forest Department on June 5, 2013 from the Energy Department, the Chief Minister instructed the officers to reconsider the proposal, which was earlier rejected by the department.
The private company, in March 2009, had obtained clearance from the MoEF for change in land use for two projects in the forest areas. The change in land use was cancelled by the State government in April 2013 and a petition was also filed in the High Court of Karnataka seeking cancellation of change in land use.
The court, in its final order on February 27, 2013, said the “violations committed by the project proponent will have to be taken to logical conclusion in accordance with law”.
Meanwhile, the private company submitted a revised proposal for one project, instead of two, on the same site seeking change in land use for 10.689 ha.
R. Lakshman, Deputy Conservator of Forests, recommended rejection of the proposal citing the project would harm the ecology and pose a threat to rare species of flora and fauna. He had also said that because the Karnataka State Wildlife Board had recommended inclusion of the area in the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, the project should not be approved. B.K. Singh, the PCCF, in his report dated March 3, 2013, echoed this opinion.
Despite the officers’ report, the government is apparently keen on clearing the project as the Forest Minister has favoured it.
Dipak Sarmah, PCCF, in his report dated December 31, 2013, recommended rejection of the proposal, while L. Sharada, undersecretary in the department of Forest and Environment, has sent the proposal to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for consideration and approval.
