Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group

NAGPUR: The state government on Friday finally gave a green signal to divert 141.99 hectares forest land near Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) for country’s third largest power plant Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML) in Tiroda in Gondia district .

The said land in Kachewani and Mendipur villages is equivalent to roughly 103 football fields and is barely 8-9km from Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR). Of the 141.99 hectares, 24.06 hectares is protected forest (PF) and 117.93 hectares is zudpi jungle.

Though this forest is adjoining the existing 3300MW power plant, it acts as cushion for wild animals dispersing from Nagzira and its buffer zone. The forest survey report too mentions presence of animals like hyena, deer, chitals and wild boars in the diverted area. Over 1,500 trees will have to be felled, it is estimated.

According to official letter issued by the state forest ministry, the land has been diverted under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, for ash utilization, promotion and research park of the power major.

Environmentalist Pushp Jain says developing an ash park is a non-site specific activity. “There is a thumb rule that forest land should not be diverted for any non-site specific activity,” he said.

The original proposal was submitted to state’s APPCF & nodal officer on October 6, 2016. Within two years, APML managed to get the forest land from all agencies. This is the second biggest forest land diversion proposal in favour of APML.

In 2014, 164 hectares prime forest land in Garada was diverted for expansion of power plant. Out of this 164 hectare, in an exceptional case, 15 hectares was allotted for railway siding. The remaining 149 hectares land meant for expansion was given in 2016 even though expansion was already completed in 2015. However, instead of using the 164 hectares land for expansion, hi-tech ash dyke has been built on forest land for dumping ash without mandatory environmental clearance.

A spokesperson for Adani plant said the 149 hectare forest land was diverted long back and ash pond was one of the proposed use. “APML has been making best efforts to fully utilize ash. The 142 hectares forest land recently diverted is against the specific proposal of ash utilization promotion and research park. It has gone through due process and scrutiny,” the spokesperson said.

A senior ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) official said, “If the forest land is not being used for the requisite purpose, it implies criminal breach of trust and violation of FCA. In such case, the project proponent has to again approach the MoEFCC to seek change of purpose for land.”

Nodal officer G Saiprakash said, “To verify whether the land is used for specific purpose or not is the job of chief conservator (CCF) and deputy conservator through the regional MoEFCC office at Nagpur. The violations also need to be checked by the MPCB.”

On fresh 141.99 hectares forest land diversion, Gondia deputy conservator (DyCF) S Yuvraj said, “I had received the proposal about APML setting up a utilization project and research with Tropical Forest Research Institute (TFRI), Jabalpur, as a partner.”

On the misuse of earlier allotted 164 hectares, Yuvraj said, “After TOI report in February, I visited Adani plant but I could not check violations properly. Now I will visit again to find out.”

MPCB regional officer Rahul Wankhede said, “Yes, there are violation of norms by building ash bunds on forest land. We have issued notices to APML and wrote to the top bosses to seize its bank guarantee.”

Conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar said, “Fresh forest land diversion will reduce space for wildlife and cause huge pollution making life miserable for villagers.”

