The Etalin dam in Dibang Valley is just one of more than 30 proposals that have been cleared or discussed over virtual meetings during the lockdown by India’s highest advisory bodies on wildlife — the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and FAC. The proposals affect 15 tiger reserves, sanctuaries, eco-sensitive zones, wildlife corridors, and other forest areas. The projects include a coal mining proposal in Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve in Assam, a highway through Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa, a limestone mine in the eco-sensitive zone of Gir National Park, and a geotechnical investigation in the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary in Karnataka.
On May 12, a week after the minutes of the Dibang meeting were released, a group of 291 scientists and allied conservation professionals wrote to the Environment Minister, Prakash Javadekar, about the manner in which forest and environment clearances were being granted across India during the lockdown, and requested the Ministry to carry out its intended mandate, “which is the protection of India’s forests, wildlife and natural heritage and not fast-track clearance of projects.”
During lockdown, public hearings are also difficult to organise and communities that are likely to be affected by the projects may not be able to give their consent officially “or take legal recourse as is their right”. The signatories requested that “the implementation of decisions taken by the NBWL via video conferencing be held in abeyance until pandemic-related travel restrictions are lifted to allow in-person meetings and travel to project sites for fresh appraisals following due process.”
Voices are being heard! But the battle is NOT over yet!
Here is what we need to do:
Tweet to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) their twitter handle is @moefcc and to the Minister @PrakashJavdekar we can share our petition, news articles and use the hashtag #DibangValleyBachaoAndolan
Tweet to the Ministry of Power @MinOfPower and the minister @RajKSinghIndia. Use the hashtag#DibangValleyBachaoAndolan
Similarly, Tweet to the CM of Arunachal Pradesh @PemaKhanduBJP. Use the hashtag#DibangValleyBachaoAndolan
Write emails to the FAC and voice your concern. You could simply copy-paste the petition. Their email ID s: dgfindia@nic.in , adgfc-mef@nic.in , director@bnhs.org , vc@fort.mu.ac.in , Kaushalrajesh1@rediffmail.com, igfc-mef@nic.in
Join the Environment Activist Network, India on Facebook.
Write emails to Jinal Power at info@jindalpower.com in the subject add #DibangValleyBachaoAndolan. You could copy-paste this article or write your own letter voicing concerns. Say that it is a LOSS to the country, Hydro-Power is not an effective power source
.
IMPORTANT - Take a picture of you with a sheet of paper with #DibangValleyBachaoAndolan written on it. Upload on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag. The Facebook algorithm is designed in such a way mobile photography has more reach than articles and links
The project is on hold, but not cancelled.
A strong opinion of the public will go along way! This is the time to go all out.
Will be updating you soon!
If you can offer assistance, guidance or share insights please feel free to write to me at theroshniali@gmail.com