For perhaps the first time, the Central Information Commission has told the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Defence Research and Development Organisation that they cannot withhold information in the guise of national security.
The decision, delivered on October 23, comes nearly a year after activists sought to ascertain the compliance of a August 2014 National Green Tribunal (NGT) verdict on the allotment of nearly 10,000 acres of grasslands for military, power generation and research purposes at Challakere in Central Karnataka.
Even information regarding whether environment clearances, or plans to build pathways for villagers and to protect water bodies had been denied by DRDO and BARC.
Apart from fining the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) Rs. 10,000 for “unduly delay,” Information Commissioner M. Sridhar Acharyulu, termed ‘ridiculous’ the Ministry action in allowing BARC and DRDO to cite national security to withhold information.
“It is surprising that well-educated CPIOs (Central Public Information Officers), who are senior scientists in environmental sciences, have taken this stand without applying their minds to the rights of the people and environment degradation. The Commission records its displeasure,” states the order.
The CIC’s order have raised hope of residents and environment activists to stall military, defence and research institutes from coming up on the land.
“We did not even know what was happening to our grazing lands until the institutes started building walls. Now, they will have to provide information. And if they have applied for environment clearances, then they need to conduct gram sabha meetings and prepare an Environment Impact Assessment report. We will make sure the local gram panchayats resolve to stop the projects,” Doddaullarthi Karianna from the Amruth Mahal Kaval Horata Samithi.
Leo Saldanha from ESG called the CIC order “unprecedented” as it “tamed” organisations that were hiding behind the guise of ‘national security.’
“The NGT order places numerous restrictions, including revisiting environmental clearance given to a solar thermal power plant, and launching the Great Indian Bustard conservation project...with this order, we will know the violations of the NGT order and can initiate further legal action,” he said.
