The controversial Enron power project inMaharashtra's katnagiri district has been referredback to the ministry of environment and forests(MFF) for clearance. The decision was taken onSeptember 27 by a division bench of the BombayHigh Court, following a writ petition filed in Augustby the Bombay Environmental Action Group.
The Rs 9,000 crore gas-based project had. earlierbeen exempted from a January 1994 MEF notificationthat sought environmental impact studies of powerprojects along with suggestions andobjections from the public. The ministrycontended that the exemption was granted as the Dabhol Power Company's (DPC)application for environmental clearancewas submitted before January.
The judges, however, disagreed. Theyspecified, a j-point action plan that entails the submission of all documents relating to the project'senvironment impact by the ivc to the MEF; theexamination of these documents by an expert committee comprising representatives from the ministry's thermal power and ports committees; makingthe committee's recommendations available toBombay's environment groups for scrutiny within 2days; an MEF hearing of the suggestions and objections; and, finally, the verdict.