Question : SCRAPPING OF HYDRO POWER PROJECTS

(a) whether the Government has received any proposal from Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel for scrapping hydro-power projects situated in the States of Karnataka and Kerala;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has any proposal to establish a statutory body for Western Ghats;

(d) if so, whether the Government has any proposal to give powers to High Level Monitoring Committee appointed by the Government in the ecologically sensitive area; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) & (b) No specific proposal has been received from the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel. However, the report submitted by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel to the Ministry contains recommendations, inter alia, on siting of large scale storage dams in Western Ghats region including the states of Karnataka and Kerala.

(c) No, Sir.

(d) & (e) Do not arise.