Puttur, August 31: In the name of small hydel project, private companies are building lines of dams in the Western Ghat and they have not gained the forest licence. Hence, state energy department CREDIL must cancel the permission, urged Western Ghat leaders of environment organisation and scientists to the government.
The meet was held at Bangalore to oppose the dam construction in the name of power generation project, in association with Lakshvruksha campaign, save western ghat campaign, Kumaradhara environment protection committee, Bedthi Aghanashini Kola protection committee, Environment support group, law specialist stage to western ghat protection. On the occasion, as decided in the meet written request letter submitted to State forest department, energy department and CREDIL.
Western Ghat task force president Anantha Hegde Asheesara urged to stop the damaging of river valley in the name of mini hydel. Kukke Power Company lied with government that dam will be built in the forest less place and CREDIL has said that permission is not granted for Kukke project and forest department has not given the forest permission, but Kukke urumbi project is illegal, he said.
Environmentalist Leo Saldana said that the providing of environment permission is not suitable to mini hydel projects and it will harm to the environment. Himanshu Takkar has opined that chain of dams is cause for Uttara khanda tragedy and even the court also agreed to it, he said.
Indian Science Institution scientist Dr. T.V. Ramachandra, High Court justice Shankar Bhat and Raghavendra and others were present.
By: Sathish kapikad
