Shubhalakhshmi
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Mar 3: The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) was found felling trees in Bolakodi forest area in violation of the interim order of stay issued on February 13 by the principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, stated a media release by the Nandikur Janajagriti Samiti. 
 
On February 13, after hearing the appeal filed by Janajagrithi Samithi Nandikur before the Tribunal, the Bench of Justice A Suryanarayan Naidu, the acting chairperson of the Tribunal and Dr G K Pandey, the expert member of the Tribunal granted interim stay ordering the respondents i.e MoEF, Government of Karnataka and the KPTCL not to fell the trees standing on the land in question. The case was posted to be heard on February 29. On the 29th also the interim order continued to be in force and the case was heard on Friday March 2.

Even as the case was being heard at the Tribunal, the KPTCL contractors were found felling the trees at Bolakodi forest area in blantant violation of the terms of the order, it is alleged.
 
The release further stated that while on one hand the ministry of environment and forest has kept in abeyance the Sindudurg Project until a decision on the study report submitted by the Prof Madhav Gadgil chaired Western Ghat Ecological Expert Panel on the other there is an attempt to fell over 4 lacs trees for construction of these dedicated transmission lines. In order to project low impact only an account about 23,000 trees are shown which is extremely unfair on the part of the State constituted organization like KPTCL. The value of ecological impacts are not accounted for nor an Impact Assessment Study conducted. WGEEP report has said that the entire Western Ghats must be considered ecologically sensitive.
 
"These transmission lines are dedicated for evacuating the power generated in UPCL. 600 MV of power from unit-1 is already being evacuated to Kemmar at present. Thus the new transmission lines through the Western Whats would serve only to evacuate 600 MV of power from the second unit. As early as in 1996 it was found that unless there is at least about 2500 MV of power building transmission lines across the unique biodiverse is uneconomical and unworthy. The Energy department had written to Government of India accordingly and the Samiti has a copy. Moreover, there are several alternatives like the power could be evacuated through northern and/or southern routes and this is not explored. Most feasible way is to take the transmission lines underground for which the technology is available worldwide but is also not being explored," stated the release.  
 
"The Samiti has always argued that shifting of the project to the leeward side of the Western Ghats closer to load center Bangalore by using Chennai for coal handling and existing railways for transportation is far more feasible economically and environmentally even now than to operate the Power Plant in this ecologically fragile area," it stated.