The Human Rights Forum (HRF) welcomes the judgement of the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) cancelling the environmental clearance granted by the MOEF to the Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC).
The NEAA’s judgement vindicates our position since the very beginning that the handing over of land in Sompeta mandal by the State government to the NCC was illegal and riddled with gross irregularities. The very idea of constructing a thermal plant in a precious wetland was deeply flawed since it would have destroyed rich biodiversity and subverted livelihood of farmers, fisherfolk and members of the occupational classes.
The HRF demands that the State and Central government also initiate steps to see that the ongoing construction by Ms East Coast Energy of a 2,640 mw thermal plant at the Naupada swamps, another vast wetland and marshy swamp in Santhabommali mandal of Srikakulam district, be immediately halted. A thorough probe must be launched into the handing over of both these valuable wetlands for thermal plants and action taken against those who have compromised various regulations and as well as violated the Environment (Protection) Act. We want criminal prosecution proceedings to be immediately initiated against the Collector and SP of Srikakulam district.
As for the proposed plant at Sompeta, the government must initiate steps immediately to see that the NCC does not make any further attempts to begin construction of any kind. The government must take steps, in conjunction with the AP State Biodiversity Board, to get the Sompeta ‘beela’ area declared as a Heritage Site. All steps must be taken to protect this valuable wetland.
VS Krishna
(State general secretary, HRF)
15.07.2010
Visakhapatnam