Crucial CRZ clearance may hinge on experts panel report
B Krishna Prasad,TNN,Mar 5, 2011, 11.54pm IST

HYDERABAD: The observation of the expert committee appointed by the Union environment and forests ministry that the East Coast Private Energy Ltd project site is part of a wetland and its preservation is important for the overall wetland eco-system of the Naupada swamps in Srikakulam district may play a key role in whether the ministry accords the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance for the project.

The project officials are scheduled to meet with the Expert Appraisal Committee (Thermal) of the Environment and Forests Ministry in New Delhi on Monday to explain to them about the various clearances secured by the promoters in the coming up of the 2640-MW super critical coal-fired power project in Bhavanapadu of Srikakulam district. The ministry had imposed a freeze on all activity at the power plant following the violent protests by local people last week in which two persons were killed in police firing.

So far, the East Coast project has secured all the clearances from the respective agencies except the crucial CRZ approval from the Union ministry. The project has secured the environmental clearance (MoEF), Consent for Establishment (AP Pollution Control Board), No Objection Certificate for construction of chimney ( Airports Authority of India), Sea Water Drawl (Govt of AP), Defence Clearance ( Ministry of Defence), Forest Department NOC (Govt of AP), Fuel Linkage for coal (Mahanadi Coal Field), Mega Power Status (Ministry of Power), Diversion Drain (irrigation dept, govt of AP), rail transport clearance (East Coast Railways), panchayat approval (Kakarapalli panchayat), town and country planning (govt of AP) and director of factories (govt of AP). The only clearance it is awaiting is the CRZ approval.

The experts committee comprising chief conservator of forests K S Reddy, deputy chief conservator of forests N S Murali, and scientist C Kaliyaperumal, all from the southern zone Bangalore office of the ministry of environment and forests, visited the project area in June-July 2010 and submitted the Site Inspection Report in August of that year.

Link - Crucial CRZ clearance may hinge on experts panel report - Times Of India