HAULADEVI/ALMORA: The third and final public hearing for environmental clearance of ‘Pancheshwar Multi-Purpose Development project’ was held in Dholadevi Block of Almora district on Thursday. Some complained of not getting information and proper documents about the public hearing on time and others said that the language of the report was difficult to understand.
After all the three hearings, the court of Environment appraisal committee of Ministry of environment, forest and climate change will now decide the next course of action. In all the three hearings, people from the affected areas and environmental organization raised questions on the procedure of the public hearing.
Social worker and journalist Rajeev Lochan Sah spoke about the vices of the Pancheshwar dam following which a clash broke out. The administration then dragged Sah out of the auditorium.
“It is unconstitutional to not allow somebody to speak in a public hearing. The administration is following the Bharatiya Janata Party and is not allowing anyone to speak against the dam,” Sah said, adding, “We are concerned about our society and the environment and, hence, are opposing the dam.”
Shamsher Singh Bisht, president of Uttarakhand Lok Vahini said, “It is very disturbing that the people who are actually raising the concerns of the affected people are not being allowed to speak. This is not a public hearing at all.” Congress MLA Govind Kunjwal added that he also opposes the big dams but is yet not clear about his party’s stand. “I have asked the authorities to hear out the people and compensate them accordingly.”
P C Tiwari, leader of Uttarakhand Parivartan Party has also raised question on the procedure of the public hearing and asked why it is being conducted during the monsoon season.
However, BJP MLA Raghunath Pratap Chauhan said that the dam is a dream project for the country and suggested the authorities to properly rehabilitate the affected people.
TOI
After all the three hearings, the court of Environment appraisal committee of Ministry of environment, forest and climate change will now decide the next course of action. In all the three hearings, people from the affected areas and environmental organization raised questions on the procedure of the public hearing.
Social worker and journalist Rajeev Lochan Sah spoke about the vices of the Pancheshwar dam following which a clash broke out. The administration then dragged Sah out of the auditorium.
“It is unconstitutional to not allow somebody to speak in a public hearing. The administration is following the Bharatiya Janata Party and is not allowing anyone to speak against the dam,” Sah said, adding, “We are concerned about our society and the environment and, hence, are opposing the dam.”
Shamsher Singh Bisht, president of Uttarakhand Lok Vahini said, “It is very disturbing that the people who are actually raising the concerns of the affected people are not being allowed to speak. This is not a public hearing at all.” Congress MLA Govind Kunjwal added that he also opposes the big dams but is yet not clear about his party’s stand. “I have asked the authorities to hear out the people and compensate them accordingly.”
P C Tiwari, leader of Uttarakhand Parivartan Party has also raised question on the procedure of the public hearing and asked why it is being conducted during the monsoon season.
However, BJP MLA Raghunath Pratap Chauhan said that the dam is a dream project for the country and suggested the authorities to properly rehabilitate the affected people.
TOI
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