Itanagar: Union Minister of State for Environment & Forests (Independent Charge) Prakash Javadekar has assured the Arunachal Pradesh government that he will expedite forest clearance for the 3000 MW Dibang Hydropower Project in the state.
Javadekar’s assurance came when Chief Minister Nabam Tuki called on him at New Delhi yesterday, a communiqué from the CMO said here on Tuesday.
The minister during the meeting had said that his ministry was in the process of overhauling the entire forest and environment clearance mechanism so as to speed up the implementation of hydropower projects in the state.
He had further said that a decision to extend the norms of no-green clearance for road projects within 100 kms of the international border and other infrastructure development projects were under active consideration of his ministry. T
he ministry recently had taken an important decision that the Defence Ministry would not have to come to the Centre to get green clearances for constructing border roads and strategically important projects coming within 100 kms of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
A decision on environmental and forest clearances on building defence infrastructure in areas in the 100 km-range from the LAC could be taken by the state governments concerned, Javadekar had said.
While appreciating the pro-active initiative of the chief minister, he assured him that Arunachal Pradesh along with the other North Eastern states was in priority list and his ministry was also formulating a new policy mechanism for proper disbursal of CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funds.
Expressing gratefulness on behalf of the people of the state, Tuki had said that Arunachal Pradesh was particularly going to benefit from this new norm in view of its long international border (1680 kms).
In a detailed representation submitted to Javadekar, the Chief Minister highlighted the policy interventions required with reference to environmental issue, frequent over-riding of Terms of References (ToRs), necessary revision of existing DPRs, land disbursal issues among others, the communiqué said.
The Chief Minister reiterated the broader objective of harnessing the hydropower sector in the state for the benefit of the entire country and called for easing of existing norms and procedures of the ministry.
“The state intends to increase the forest cover to 90 per cent by stepping up afforestation and reforestation programmes under ‘Green India Mission’ as mitigative measures against climate change. Benefits of these measures shall accrue to the country and humanity as a whole,” Tuki had said.
As Javedekar also holds the portfolio of Information & Broadcasting, Tuki requested proper institutional infrastructure in the state under the ministry for the welfare of local journalists.
Javedekar assured that his ministry was working towards that end and would soon make an announcement for the media of Arunachal Pradesh, the communiqué said. (PTI)
