KOCHI: Some of the major projects in the state, mainly power projects, which are entangled in environmental issues, will get the approval with the formation of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).
Except Athirappally hydroelectric project, five major power projects, including Perumthenaruvi Small HydroElectricity Project (SHEP6 MW), Thottiyar (40 MW), Anakkayam SHEP (7.5 MW), Upper Kallar SHEP (2 MW) and Peringalkuthu Stage1 SHEP (24 MW) may get the environmental clearance soon. These projects were denied environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEFF) citing various reasons.Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed told
Express that the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006 has recommended to form SEIAAs in the state for giving environmental clearance of projects, which are being taken up by the state government.
The authority will have the power to clear power projects up to 25 MW and they can even take a decision on extending production to 50 MW.The SEIAA will be constituted by the Central Government and it will have three members. The state government has already submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister urging revival of the hydroelectric projects which are being given red signal by the Environment Ministry.The electricity generated in Kerala is around 2,000 MW and there is scope to generate 6,000 MW more through various projects. But most of them are denied permission to start the work owing to certain clauses in the Forest Act.
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