FROM RAVINDER SOOD TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT PALAMPUR HP PHOT GRAPHS ALSO SENT PELASE ATTACH PALAMPUR, May 22-

Resentment prevails among the residents of Palampur over the reckless and indiscriminate cutting of green hills by a private company executing 15 MW power project here. Villagers from three panchyats of Bundla and Kandi areas adjoining Palampur town had lodged a strong protest against the reckless cutting of green hills and demanded immediate suspension of construction of power project as it had completely disturbed the ecology of the region and badly damaged one dozen irrigation channels and drinking water supply schemes feeding two lakh populations in lower areas of Palampur. A Tribune team visited the project site this afternoon and found that heavy JCB machines were engaged in the reckless and unscientific cutting of hills. They were throwing debris, soil and clay into river Neugal in gross violation of the directions of Apex Court and H.P. High Court. Besides, hundreds of trees had also been axed by the company. An official of the company on the project site told media persons that they had been granted permission by the state government for cutting of trees and hill rocks to make a road to the Dam site. Mr. A Reddy, Divisional Forest Officer, Palampur when contacted by The Tribune told that company had deposited 10.29 lakh as cost of trees with the government so far and the sanction was given for the felling of seven hundred and twenty four trees. Besides the company was also allowed to utilize thirty hectares of forest land for the execution of 15 MW power house. Company had also deposited additional amount of rupees 49 lakh under catchments area treatment plan. Two installment of rupees 35 lakh were due in June and July 2007, he added. Mr. Reddy admitted that company was also conducting heavy blasting for the cutting of hill rocks but its permission was granted by the Deputy Commissioner Kangra and forest department had no authority to stop them. However, contrary to the claim of DFO, at project site Tribune team found that over two hundred hectares of forest land had been affected by cutting of hills whereas the company was allowed only to restrict its activities in thirty hectares of forest lands. It was most surprising that how it had affected over two hundreds hectares of forest land. As regards felling of green trees the company had deposited rupees 10,29 lakh as cost of seven hundred twenty four trees but at project site more than one thousand green trees had been either affected or felled by the company because of reckless cutting.

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-2Mr. Naresh Sharma, Executive Engineer IPH department while talking to The Tribune admitted that existence of various water supply schemes and irrigation channels was under threat because of reckless cutting of hills and dumping of debris in river Neugal near Bundla village. Mr. Sharma said he was well aware of the problem and he had already served a notice on the management of the Company a month back to stop the construction but they were not responding and continued the illegal cutting of hills and dumping of the debris into river Neugal. Mr. Sharma said that company had destroyed property of IPH department worth rupees twenty lakh so far. . He said he had directed the company to pay the damages but till date company had deposited only rupees eighty thousand in his office and balance amount was yet o be recovered He said so far half dozen irrigation channels drinking water supply schemes had been damaged by the dumping of debris in the river Neugal which was major sources of water supply schemes for lower areas of Palampur. Meanwhile Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum in a press note issued here today expressed grave concern over the reckless cutting of green hills by the company near Palampur. Mr. R. Sood and U.C Verma President and Secretary respectively of the forum sought the intervention of Chief Minister and urged him to save the environmental de gradation of hills near Palampur. They said if early action was not taken it would cause flash floods in coming raining season affecting the lives of people leaving in lower areas of Palampur.