A Rocky Path

Sordid Business

The only ones who monitor slp carefully are the new breed of contractors slp has spawned. They are young, influential and know they can make money only as long as the project continues.

Of 1983 vintage

The slp was actually conceived way back in 1983 when the Brahmaputra Board -- created in 1980 to oversee hydroelectric projects in the Brahmaputra and Barak basins -- prepared a detailed project report on it. Then the project went into a limbo: the Union government revived it only in 2000. In its "Agenda for the socio-economic development of the northeast", the Centre decided to boost hydroelectricity projects in the region, and so apportioned them to nhpc and the North-Eastern Electric Power C orporation.

The CAMPA process

The decision to create the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (campa) was actually taken up in 2002 as an application in the 'T N Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs Union Of India and Others' case -- under which India's apex court has clubbed all forest-related litigation and has an advisory Centrally Empowered Committee.

Jolted by the court

The Supreme Court order gave the go-ahead to the Lower Subansiri Project on following conditions • Legal status of the 42 hectare of the Tale valley wildlife sanctuary submerged by the dam to remain unchanged • Reserve forest area that forms the catchments of the Lower Subansiri Project be declared a sanctuary or a national park

China chooses environment over energy

In a commendable move, China has stopped construction work at 30 major projects, a majority of which are power plants, because they failed to follow environmental norms. This was done despite mounting energy crisis in the country. The decision was announced by the State Environmental Protection Administration (sepa) on January 18, 2005.

Tricky bargain

bangladesh has sought the use of Indian territory to import power from Nepal and Bhutan. The demand was tabled during the recent negotiations on India-Bangladesh-Myanmar gas pipeline, held at Yangoon, Myanmar. Bangladesh is likely to get transit fee worth millions of dollars as well as the gas from the pipeline.

Big is beautiful

What happens when being off-grid is a necessity and not an option? India has nearly 25,000 villages where extension of power from the main grid line is neither technologically feasible nor affordable. These villages are either located in remote areas or are inhabited by people whose capacity to pay for power is limited. Their need for power -- when they get it -- is primarily for electric lights to replace kerosene lamps and for water supply.

What's up?

confusing signals are emanating regarding the construction of a controversial power plant in Sri Lanka's central hills. The government recently said Japan had approved funding for the Upper Kotmale project. Japanese officials say the sanction is on hold. Meanwhile, environmental concerns linked to the project remain unresolved.

Deception, thy name is...

usa's George Bush-administration has once again proved that (its) appearances are deceptive. It recently claimed that combating air pollution will be its top priority and it will begin 2005 with "an aggressive push" in the us Congress to build support for its plan.