New Delhi:
Faced with criticism of blocking developmental and infrastructure projects, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said he is not a "minister for stoppages".
"I cannot become a minister for stoppages," he said in the Rajya Sabha, adding he cannot put on hold projects where half the work is completed.
Giving clarifications on a Calling Attention Motion on environmental impact of big dams in the North-Eastern states, Ramesh said, projects in which 50 per cent work was completed cannot be stopped but mitigation measures can be taken up.
"When a project is underway, all I can do is to insist on mitigation measures, minimising the impact on environment," he said.
The Environment Ministry has recently run into conflict with different ministries relating to development projects including roads and airports over the issue of environmental clearance.
Referring to the ongoing hydel projects in the border state of Arunachal Pradesh, Ramesh said, "from energy and strategic points of view we need to develop hydel projects there."
Around a dozen hydro power projects are in different stages of progress in Arunachal Pradesh, on which China lays its claim.
Ramesh said building these projects would also be important for India's strategic negotiating power with China.
Referring to the Siang river project, he said, "If we do not develop hydel power on Siang river, our negotiating capacity with China will be affected."
On members' concerns over the impact of hydel projects in Bhutan, he said they also "fulfill our strategic necessity."
Referring to the demand for scrapping the Lower Subansiri project located near North Lakhimpur on the Assam-Arunachal border, he said, "I cannot give a clear and categorical assurance that the project will be stopped but I can give an assurance that all recommendations of the expert group on how to minimise its environmental impact will be implemented."
Ramesh would be going to Guwahati on September 10 to meet the members of the expert group which had suggested not to go for the Subansiri project. He would also have consultations with the NHPC implementing the project to find an acceptable solution.
For all future projects in Arunachal and Assam, Ramesh said comprehensive scientific studies on environmental impact would be carried out and their recommendations accepted.
To a question, he said the government was not adequately sensitive to environmental concerns and biodiversity.
"I cannot become a minister for stoppages," he said in the Rajya Sabha, adding he cannot put on hold projects where half the work is completed.
Giving clarifications on a Calling Attention Motion on environmental impact of big dams in the North-Eastern states, Ramesh said, projects in which 50 per cent work was completed cannot be stopped but mitigation measures can be taken up.
"When a project is underway, all I can do is to insist on mitigation measures, minimising the impact on environment," he said.
The Environment Ministry has recently run into conflict with different ministries relating to development projects including roads and airports over the issue of environmental clearance.
Referring to the ongoing hydel projects in the border state of Arunachal Pradesh, Ramesh said, "from energy and strategic points of view we need to develop hydel projects there."
Around a dozen hydro power projects are in different stages of progress in Arunachal Pradesh, on which China lays its claim.
Ramesh said building these projects would also be important for India's strategic negotiating power with China.
Referring to the Siang river project, he said, "If we do not develop hydel power on Siang river, our negotiating capacity with China will be affected."
On members' concerns over the impact of hydel projects in Bhutan, he said they also "fulfill our strategic necessity."
Referring to the demand for scrapping the Lower Subansiri project located near North Lakhimpur on the Assam-Arunachal border, he said, "I cannot give a clear and categorical assurance that the project will be stopped but I can give an assurance that all recommendations of the expert group on how to minimise its environmental impact will be implemented."
Ramesh would be going to Guwahati on September 10 to meet the members of the expert group which had suggested not to go for the Subansiri project. He would also have consultations with the NHPC implementing the project to find an acceptable solution.
For all future projects in Arunachal and Assam, Ramesh said comprehensive scientific studies on environmental impact would be carried out and their recommendations accepted.
To a question, he said the government was not adequately sensitive to environmental concerns and biodiversity.
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