Hydropower projects built on forest land in Odisha!

Resentment is brewing over alleged encroachments made by private hydropower projects on protected forest lands in the picturesque Boipariguda block of Koraput district, sources said on Tuesday.

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Residents oppose 'environmental degradation'

Local communities voiced their distress, fearing environmental degradation and a threat to their livelihoods allegedly owing to the unauthorised projects by Meenakshi Hydro Power Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based firm.

It is alleged that Meenakshi Hydro Power initiated these projects under agreements made with the previous government in Odisha in the FY 2004-05 period and has been producing 25 megawatts of electricity since 2015.

Accusations have emerged stating the company is progressing with additional projects without securing the necessary forest and other clearances. The company purportedly misrepresented their agreement to only concern a singular project.

Protests from nearby residents point towards construction taking place in Dhandarakhol protected forests without conducting the necessary Gram Sabha or submitting appropriate environmental impact assessments. Nineteen villages in the vicinity have lodged official complaints highlighting these breaches.

The proposed third project, aiming to generate 12.5 megawatts, is particularly contentious. Concerns centre on bypassing ecological and community consultations, with deforestation and pollution as potential consequences. Villages such as Atalaguda and Malipadar might face submersion, posing risks to local ways of life.

Despite strong discontent, allegations suggest that construction proceeds largely unchecked by the district administration, prompting unease and anger among the affected communities.

Critics underscore violations of initial agreements, the felling of several valuable trees, and accusations of neglecting to employ local youth, further fuelling tensions.

Attempts to obtain comments from Meenakshi Hydro Power officials were unsuccessful, with representatives refusing to comment on the matter.

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Requests for statements from Malkangiri's Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and Mathili Forest Range Officer yielded no response.