The Living Earth Foundation (LEAF) alleges that the Jog Falls development project is split into smaller components to reflect the minimum impact to achieve the mandatory clearance.
The Living Earth Foundation (LEAF) alleges that the Jog Falls development project is split into smaller components to reflect the minimum impact to achieve the mandatory clearance.
Karnataka’s forest department, which has been supporting Jog development projects and recommended ‘major clearance’ for environment clearance for five-star hotels, has been hit by the Center on whether any environmental impact studies have been done. .
Karnataka had submitted a proposal seeking diversion of 0.8536 hectares of forest land in Nadavada Talakale village of Sagar taluk for a five-star hotel in lieu of the existing PWD guest house. The hotel was in addition to the development of other facilities in the Jog Falls area.
But the Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has not only sought additional clarifications and details of the project, but also pointed out that the proposed development is amidst the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats . , In a letter dated April 22, 2022, it sought to know whether any environmental studies have been conducted regarding the impact, and whether any precautionary measures have been included in the proposed activities.
MoEF&CC also mentioned a set of objections filed by Bengaluru-based environmental research and advocacy organisation, Living Earth Foundation (LEAF) and sought comments on its representation.
The Karnataka government had demanded the demolition of the existing PWD guest house to make way for a five-star hotel. MoEF&CC has sought to know whether any approval was taken under the Forest Conservation Act 1980 for the construction of the existing structure on the forest land.
other projects
LEAF had written to REC that forest clearance was sought for a 5-star hotel, but the project was not merely a standalone hotel. This includes developing Jog Falls as a tourist destination by building a retail outlet, view deck, central island and landscape work, ropeways, a grand entrance and a dedicated transit hub.
LEAF said that each component of the project is dependent on the other to fulfill the larger objective of making Jog Falls an all-weather destination. However, for the purpose of obtaining forest and environment clearances, the project plan has been divided into several components, and statutory clearances have been sought in a piecemeal manner in a deliberate attempt to depict the minimum impact by each component of the project plan.
All the components of the project include construction of a significant amount of forest land within the eco-sensitive zone of the newly expanded Sharavati Valley Lion Tailed Macaque Sanctuary.
LEAF also expressed concern that the Jog development project Prima facie The project appears to be an area and township development, and the individual components of the project are being pursued as standalone works with the aim of securing statutory clearances under said law.
stress on environment
LEAF also stated that the increase in footfall in the area gives rise to additional challenges such as increased water consumption, increased wet and dry waste, additional vehicular traffic and emissions, lighting in the forest area due to vehicles, and no impact on their study was not done. on wildlife.