The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : It's contrary to truth: Baalu

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Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

It's contrary to truth: Baalu

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MARCH 31. T.R. Baalu, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, yesterday said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's claim that the Union Environment Ministry did not give consent for laying a transmission line for the Pykara Power Project when he was Minister for Environment was contrary to truth.

Referring to her statement in the Assembly, he said the project involved felling of thousands of forest trees. As the Supreme Court had on December 12, 1998 issued an order, preventing felling of forest trees, it was suggested that another transmission line, which would not harm the environment, be chosen and that fewer trees be felled.

`No explanation given'

"The Union Ministry wrote to the State Government on October 3, 2003, seeking an explanation on this issue. However, without giving an explanation, the State Government approached the Supreme Court on the issue and wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, stating that she had replied to the query by the Environment Ministry," Mr. Baalu said. How could sanction for the project be given before the Government replied to the query and the Supreme Court issue guidelines?

The Union Ministry gave consent for the Rs. 110-crore Kollimalai power project in November that year, Mr. Baalu pointed out.

In a statement, he also recalled that the Department of Environment gave consent for issuing environmental clearance for 142 industrial projects and Forest Department clearance for 60 projects costing Rs. 26,210 crores.

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