(a) whether public hearing is required to be held for entire catchments area under the notification for any dam project;
(b) if so, whether public hearing has been held for some villages in Bastav region under Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Project in Andhra Pradesh;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) if not, the reasons for giving environmental and forest clearance despite this violation of law; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) As per the prescribed procedure under the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, public hearing is required to be conducted for all irrigation projects and hydropower projects of > 25 megawatt capacity. The public hearing should be undertaken at the site of the project or in its close proximity and in all the Districts, if the project is located in more than one District.
(b)&(c) The public hearing for Indira Sagar Polavaram Project was held in five Districts of Andhra Pradesh namely West Godavari, East Godavari, Khammam, Krishna and Visakhapatnam
(d) The Environmental Clearance to the Polavaram Multipurpose Project in Andra Pradesh was granted on 25.10.2005 after following due procedure as per the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 1994. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has thereafter proposed construction of embankments on river Sileru and Sabari in Chattisgarh and Odisha to avoid submergence in these States which were not considered during grant of environmental clearance in 2005. This issue was considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee in its meeting held in February, 2009. While the Expert Appraisal Committee noted the technical feasibility in respect of construction of bunds/ embankments on Sileru and Sabari rivers, requirement of public hearing as per the provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 in Odisha and Chattisgarh States was recommended. This is yet to be complied by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
(e) A letter was issued on 1.11.2010 by the Ministry of Environment & Forests to the Government of Andhra Pradesh asking for reasons for not complying with the additional conditions of the environmental clearance. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has responded to this requesting the Ministry to review the change in the scope of the project. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has been directed on 8.2.2011 not to start construction work on ground till the matter is decided.