Indian govt rejects GMR plea to extend ToR validity in Arunachal project.

PTI reported that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests has turned down a request by the GMR Group to extend the validity for preparing terms of reference for a hydel power project being set up in Arunachal Pradesh.

The EAC, while refusing to extend the validity of the terms of reference (ToR), also suggested the company to hold a public meeting before August 2014.

The EAC had said that 'The extension of the ToR validity is up to August 9, 2014, and there are no convincing reasons to consider the case for extension of the validity of ToR for the project at this stage.'

It said that 'There is sufficient time to hold public hearing by APSPCB (Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board) before August 2014. Therefore, the committee did not consider the case fit for extension of the validity of ToR at this juncture for Talong HEP (225 MW) in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.'

When contacted a senior official of GMR said that they are now gearing up to participate in the public hearing within the expiry of the validity of ToR.

The official said that the Arunachal Pradesh Government will have to fix the date for the public hearing and subsequently inform the public about the same.

The ToR for Talong project was accorded in 2010 with two years initial validity period that ended in 2012. The MoEF subsequently granted one year extension for ToR which again expired in August 2013.

Thereafter, the ministry granted further extension of one year to facilitate the submission of EIA/EMP reports, which ends by August 2014.


STEELGURU