Kerala - Kochi   

Biodiversity Board says ‘no’ to Athirappilly project

KOCHI: Even as Electricity Minister A.K. Balan reiterated the Left Democratic Front government’s intention to go ahead with the Athirappilly hydroelectric project, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board has recommended to the government to ‘reconsider’ the project in view of the threat to the rich biodiversity of the Athirappilly-Vazhachal area.

The board, which met on Wednesday solely to formulate its view on the controversial project — it has been cleared by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment subject to 19 conditions — indicated that the project is a no-no from the biodiversity angle.

The meeting, ‘considering the biodiversity values of the area,’ decided to recommend to the Government to ‘reconsider’ the hydroelectric project “in totality and without disturbing the eco-system and species.” The meeting, presided by board chairman V.S. Vijayan, was attended by six members.

The Biodiversity Board, a statutory body functioning under the Biological Diversity Act 2002, is mandated to advise the State government “on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of biodiversity resources.”

Since the board knows fully well that it is impossible to execute the project ‘without disturbing the eco-system and species’ its ‘advice’ to the government is crystal clear: it disapproves of the Athirappilly hydroelectric project. The project has been opposed by environmentalists, social activists and local residents right from the concept stage.

In its advice, the board highlights in detail the biodiversity values of the Athirappilly-Vazhachal area. It points out that the area is species-rich, and that it is a habitat of several newly discovered species. At the same time, the area has high endemism too. It is also an important internationally recognised bird habitat. In view of the area’s rich fish diversity, the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources had recommended it to be developed as a fish sanctuary.

The Puducherry-based French Institute, which is an authority on the flora of Western Ghats, had spotlighted the ‘high conservation value’ of the area. The board points out that Athirappilly-Vazhachal is the only ‘low-lying, riparian, evergreen eco-system’ in Kerala. The area’s eco-system service potential is enormous. Moreover, the board says, recognising the importance of variation in the (Chalakudy) river to maintain the eco-system efficiency’ the project needed a rethink.

The Electricity Minister had on Tuesday told a news conference that the government would implement the Athirappilly project ‘subject to the 19 conditions set by the Central government.’

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