24 Aug 2012
Hindustan Times (Kolkata)
Snigdhendu Bhattacharya Snigdhendu.Bhattacharya@hindustantimes.com

Green blow to Nayachar project

ENVIRONMENT R8,600 crore thermal power plant shelved over concerns of its impact on the fragile island ecology

KOLKATA: An expert panel of the Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) posed a threat to the proposed thermal power station at Nayachar, Hooghly, by raising a number of concerns over the project’s possible impact on the environment of the island.

The unique and fragile ecology of the island may be impacted by the proposed power plant. In a development that appears to be linked, a fishery development project has been started by the state, on the island. The department stopped all activity in Nayachar ever since 2007.
Sources say that at a meeting during March 5-6 the expert appraisal committee on the environmental impact assessment of thermal power and coalmine projects noted that mangrove forests were in close vicinity of the project site, which had a unique and fragile ecology.
The minutes of the meeting reveals that, “The committee observed that the site does not appear to be suitable for setting up a thermal power plant in the ecologically fragile area, and decided a site visit needed to be undertaken to assess the environmental sensitivity vis-à-vis setting up a thermal power plant on the island.”
Clearance for the project was then deferred for reconsideration at a later date. A fourmember expert team visited the spot in May and submitted their report with the ministry in June.
“We have submitted our report with the ministry, and a copy of it has also been given to the project proponent to respond to the issue we raised. It is up to the proponent to satisfy the committee and get clearance,” said eminent environmentalist CR Babu, who headed the sub-committee on Nayachar.

“The MoEF has raised certain queries on the development of the proposed power plant and industries on the Nayachar Island. We are replying to these based on various studies that have already been carried by various experts, institutes and world-renowned consultants,” said Yatharth Goel, spokesperson of Universal Crescent Power Pvt Ltd (UCPPL).
NRI businessman Prasoon Mukherjee’s UCPPL proposed setting up a 2x660MW Sagar supercritical imported coal based thermal power plant at Nayachar, for which 700 acres of land were required. The coal needed would have been imported from Indonesia and Australia, while the ash produced was to be transported to Bangladesh. The estimated cost of the project was R8,600 crore.
“The committee observed that there were mangroves in the vicinity in the area, but information of the same was not available with the proponent,” read the minutes of the March meeting.
“The island where the power project is being proposed appears to have a unique and fragile ecology with no habitation and [the committee] felt that these important issues were inadvertently missed out while prescribing the terms of reference,” the committee wrote.
While state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee could not be contacted, fisheries minister Subrata Saha said that the state government was working on a comprehensive fisheries development project at Nayachar.
“The project will include production, preservation and marketing, though it is yet to take a final shape,” Saha said.

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"We're not like the Americans" --- An interview with Shashi Tharoor

HARD TALK: Shashi Tharoor wears many hats. This time he speaks about his new book, and more

A 29-year-long career in the United nations; a brief spell as minister of state for external affairs before quitting following a controversy; writer of a slew of award-winning books; Shashitharoor has seen a lot, including wars and peacemaking. following the launch of‘ pax indica’ in kolkata, Tharoor speaks to snigdhendu Bhattacharya about “delicate diplomatic dancing”.

SHUBHANKAR CHAKRABORTYDinesh Trivedi, Shashi Tharoor and governor MK Narayanan at the book launch.

You said that many in the Pakistan army are into business and India should introduce trade ties with them!

Trade helps people develop a stake. If Pakistan were trading with us, the people who were in the trade would ensure there are no incidents that can result in a fall in trade. It’s also a way to push peace.

In the context of India’s initiatives in establishing relations with the military junta government in Myanmar, after the discovery of natural gas resources there, you wrote “the price of pursuing a moral foreign policy was becoming too high.” But is there any room for morality in any foreign policy?

Well, it’s a very good point but we are not really like the Americans who overtly stake a claim on others’ foreign policies. We have been little more realistic. Having said that, some of the values of our civilisation are compromised in foreign dealings. Myanmar, for instance. Initially, our approach was entirely based on moral values and we supported the democratic struggle. It changed after we realised that others were gaining from their resources.

Internal needs of a country determine its foreign policy. From that perspective, how strongly would you oppose the view that our pro-US policy would make India bear all the brunt and bloodshed while the US implements its own policies in South Asia?

We are not seen by anyone, including the US, as some sort of a permanent ally. We are in a partnership with the US but we’ve historically been very independent. We have a good security relationship with Israel but we have been actually quite critical of them for occupying territories like Gaza. We are always seen as having an independent foreign policy. If asked whether you are with us or against us, our answer is: “both”. We are with you when we agree, we are not when we disagree.

Is it not America’s internal crisis that is pulling them towards the Indian market?

No. Americans have a number of motives for looking to India. Market is just one. The second is some people in Washington want to see India as an answer to Chinese hegemony. The third is the increasing importance of American citizens with Indian backgrounds, who have become disproportionately influential in fundraising and political affairs. The American political class is becoming more and more sensitive to Indian issues because of the Indian voters there.

How would India tackle with China with regard to Tibet?

It needs some delicate diplomatic dancing! There is no dispute over China’s sovereignty over Tibet and India agrees to it. Nonetheless, we have given asylum to Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama. We need to ensure we are aware of our values and principles in preserving the rights of the Tibetan refugees in our country. At the same time, we need to make sure that we don’t unnecessarily antagonise the Chinese by showing sympathy towards anti-China movements. We need to strike this balance very, very carefully.

You have seen the problem of displacement very closely while working with the UN. Now there is a fresh spectre of displacement of tribals in India, essentially due to development projects. There has also been bloodshed. What’s your take on this?

Bloodshed, obviously, has to be tackled through effective law and order measures. Our problem is that we have to accommodate a very diverse group of people and at the same time we need development. Our traditional way of life is being affected by these development projects. We have to ensure that these people have jobs, education, healthcare and opportunities for the future. Without development, there can’t be any real solution. But as long as there is violence, investors won’t come.

You said you almost had to work under threat from your wife, Sunanda Pushkar, for finishing Pax Indica?

Oh yes! She said she wanted the book done by her birthday! So I had to rush. I would start at night and write till 3 in the morning and sometimes wake up early in the morning to write again. That drive and discipline were necessary to finish such a book.

snigdhendu_bhattacharya

Thursday, August 23, 2012