Urgent Fax/Email to MoEF on Athirapally hydro electric project

The Expert Committee for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects, slated to meet on the 21^st and 22^nd February 2007 has taken up the proposed Athirappilly HEP in Kerala on its agenda for ‘reconsideration’. As you are all aware, we have been consistently trying to convey to the MoEF and the River Valley Expert Committee that the project is technically and economically unviable and would create irreparable loss to an eco sensitive area in the Western Ghats. Two High Court Judgments and Two Public Hearings later, the public opposition to the project is still growing.

Meanwhile, the KSEB has managed to gain ‘Recommendation for Environmental Clearance’ for the project for a third time on the 15^th November 2006 RV Committee meeting. The recommendation has been given based on a flawed and manipulated EIA by WAPCOS and a tampered PH report. The Committee is just waiting for clarifications from the KSEB to give the final clearance.

Our humble request to you, who has been supporting this campaign and struggle for the last six years is to please send the following urgent emails and Fax messages to the following addresses,

FAX of MoEF: 011- 24362827 & 24360678

To,

Dr.P.G.Sastry

Chairman,

Expert Committee for River Valley and Hydro Electric Projects

Room No.403

Paryavaran Bhawan

CGO Complex

New Delhi-110003

pgsastry@yahoo.co.uk

To,

Dr.S.Bhowmik

Member Secretary

Expert Committee for River Valley and Hydro Electric Projects

Paryavaran Bhawan

Room.No.548

Lodhi Road

New Delhi-110003

bhowmik@menf.delhi.nic.in

Dear Sir,

Sub: Environmental Clearance to proposed Athirappilly HEP in Kerala reg.

We understand that the meeting of the expert committee on river valley projects scheduled on the 21^st and 22^nd of February 2007 will be considering the controversial Athirappilly HEP in Kerala for final Environmental Clearance. It is understood that the application for clearance has been made based on a flawed and manipulated EIA by WAPCOS and a tampered PH report. There is a longstanding struggle going on in Kerala against the proposed project. We also understand that the affected people have been requesting for a sitting with the committee for presenting their case.

At this critical juncture, we would humbly request you sir, to halt the Final Clearance to the project, given the just demand of the people in the Chalakudy river valley. We also request you to consider the following;

1. Heed to the genuine appeal of the affected people and make a site visit to the project area to assess the ground reality.
2. Allow the affected people to present their case before the River Valley Committee

Expecting a positive response in this regard,

Yours Sincerely

(Name)