Shimla: With the 1000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo ready for commissioning, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal let the Vidhan Sabha know that it was not possible to change the proposed transmission line at this late stage.
Responding to a question by GS Bali during question hour, the chief minister said that 9,621 trees, which include 1260 deodar trees, face being axed for laying of power lines by Jaypee Powergrid Ltd (JPL) to evacuate power from the private hydropower project in Kinnaur district.
While showing concern for the number of trees proposed to be felled, he added that earlier 22,650 trees had been enumerated for laying of the proposed transmission line. Disputing the governments figures, he said, “as per my information, around 19,600 trees would be axed and these included thousands of fully grown deodars.â€
Dissatisfied with the chief minister’s reply, Bali said it was a serious environment issue and the government needed to have an alternate route surveyed for saving the number of trees requiring felling.
“It will not be possible at this point of time,†said Dhumal. The chief minister said the proposal of diversion of 322 hectares of forest land to JPL for laying the transmission lines had also been approved by the central government July 21, 2009. The chief minister said Rs 26,72,71,714 and Rs 6,62,22,117 had been realized as net present value and compensatory afforestation for laying of the transmission line.
The state government has allowed JPL, a joint venture of the Jaiprakash Hydro-Power Ltd and the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, to lay the power transmission corridor from Wangtoo to Adbullapur. The 230-km long corridor would cost around Rs.932 crore. However, a section of forest department officials hold that there was a lapse on the part of the department to allow the JPL to lay the transmission lines through thickly wooded areas.
One official on conditions of anonymity said JPL has opted for laying the transmission on the left bank of Satluj River as construction costs were much higher on the right bank. “As the right bank was not connected by road, development of a road with bridges would escalate the cost of laying the lines by at least Rs 100 crore, so JPL has opted for the left bank,†he said.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
This is Big damage to the environment.
Government should explore best possible method and search all the over the world for better answer.
Development at this cost is not Good enough.
This is all in the name of green development Mr. Dhumal. A sure way to bring prosperity to the state. So what if the cost is too much to bear by the environment. Trees have no voice.
how can one take such decision just to meet the growing demand of growing population.rather one should take the steps to put a fullstop on population explosion. why do this nature always suffer which cant speak in there favour
on can take the example of JAPAN, that what nature can do in seconds
it takes years to make agood world to leave in, but it takes few seconds to destory it!!
This is serious concern in relation to environment. Degradation of forest land and increase in global warmign has shown its effects last summer when there were Cloudbursts in many parts of HP. Our Ministers should understand that Development at cost of cutting trees will only lead to suffering for people and will lead to ecological imbalance . Its easy to Cut trees but it will take years for One tree to grow.