Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh seeks early green nod for irrigation, power projects

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has requested the Centre to ensure immediate forest clearance to pending irrigation and power projects in the state to put them on fast-track.

In a meeting with S S Negi, Director General (Forests) and Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change yesterday at his official residence, Singh made a request in this regard, an official statement said here today.

The chief minister sought opening of a regional office of the Environment and Climate Change Department at Raipur which, he believes, will help in ensuring speedy approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act to the pending projects, it said.

During the discussion, Singh specifically stressed that the Sondhur Irrigation canal project is awaiting environment clearance for the past several years and needs early approval, the release said.

Assuring to set up a camp office of the department's Nagpur Regional Office at Raipur, Negi asked the chief minister to appoint a state government forest officer on deputation at the upcoming office.

Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand informed that several minor irrigation projects in Dantewada district in south Chhattisgarh are pending for want of forest clearance.

Similarly, electricity projects are hanging in Bijapur, Narayanpur and other districts because of the same reason, he said, seeking to settle the cases relating to forest clearance as early as possible.