Environmental Clearance to Chamalapura Plant – Some Questions

Syed Tanveeruddin , Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Sir,

The proposed 1320 MW coal-based thermal power plant at Chamalapura near Mysore has attracted widespread public opposition.

Karnataka State Electricity Commission is now deliberating on MGP’s petition asking KERC to advise the Government of Karnataka against establishment of coal based power generating stations in the state because of various economic, social and environmental questionmarks on such projects.

But not many people know that this is the second time a thermal power plant is being proposed for Chamalapura.

I found this out when I wrote to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, about Chamalapura in February, 2008 and apparently misunderstanding my e-mail, MOEF sent me a copy of the licence it issued in 1998 to a thermal power station in Chamalapura.

This licence was issued to Mysore Power Generation Private Limited for a 2×250 MW power plant.

It is not known why the plant was not constructed.

The licence was valid only for 5 years and so has expired now, but the issue of this licence raises some critical questions.

The licence says that it was issued under, among others, the Environment Impact Assessment Notification issued by the central government in January, 1994.

According to this notification, the application for the licence must have been accompanied by a project report including an Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Environment Management Plan and details of public hearing on the project.

The licence issued by the Ministry does not mention any of these documents.

We do not recall any public hearing being conducted on this matter.

Without these prerequisites, how was the licence given?