CIC pulls up Environment Ministry over clearance given to Karnataka solar park

NEW DELHI: The Central Information Commission has directed the Environment Ministry to explain whether it is revisiting environmental clearance given to a solar park in the habitat of Indian Bustard in Karnataka as per directions of National Green Tribunal.

The Commission has directed the Ministry "to publish the policy along with reasons in permitting Solar Thermal projects, including that M/s Sagitaur Ventures India Pvt. limited as mentioned in this application, without Environmental Clearance, in spite of stand taken by the Ministry that it was a breach of Environment Protection Act."

Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu directed the Ministry, "to explain reasons for this non-publication of policy-related information about Solar Thermal projects as mandated by Section 4(1) of RTI Act."

"...to inform whether the public authority has taken any action regarding Sagitaur Venture's project or any other solar thermal project," he said.

"It is the statutory duty of respondent Ministry of Environment to explain why the order of the NGT was not implemented, what is their policy on this issue, what is their administrative decision as to revisiting the blanket exemption given under an Office Memorandum which was agreed by the Ministry of Environment through an affidavit before NGT as a breach of Environment Protection Act, as directed by NGT?," the Commissioner said on the plea of Davis George Thomas.

Thomas sought the information action taken on the direction of NGT to revisit the exemption given to Solar Power projects for Environmental clearance.

Sagitaur Ventures India Pvt Ltd was allotted 1250 acres of land in the Amrit Mahal Kavals of Challakere Taluk, Chitradurga District, Karnataka state to set up a 200 mw capacity Solar Power Generation project, Acharyulu noted.

"Citing recent research showing environmental hazards that solar project could cause, the NGT directed the Ministry to revisit the exemption order with regard to Environmental Clearance given to Sagitaur Ventures India Pvt Ltd and pass suitable orders, in the light of research reports," he said.