<p>The High Court has directed the petitioners to file a report regarding the impact on wildlife, if one of the mini-hydel power projects is allowed to continue at Kenchankumari and Yedakkumari reserve forests of the Western Ghats.<br /><br />Hearing a petition by Prashanth Yavagal and Western Ghats Environmental Forum, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna continued the status quo order in connection with establishing the plant by the respondent power company - Maruthi Powergen Private Limited - and directed the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF) and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited to jointly conduct a spot inspection of the alleged deviation found by the MoEF authorities recently. <br /><br />The Bench has also directed the power firm to furnish the clearance obtained by the company from the Railways in connection with the construction of the tunnel which passes under a railway line.<br /><br />During the hearing, the petitioners submitted that the company was setting up two power plants of 48 megawatts with a single permission and that any project exceeding 25 megawatt requires a clearence from MoEF. The petitioners listed several violations by the company. <br /><br />When the company stated that there is no wildlife in the forest, the petitioners said the report is by an individual - a forest officer. The petitioners submitted that the State Wildlife Board had found several rare endangered and endemic flora and fauna. </p>.<p>The Chief Justice questioned the government counsel about the number of conservators in the department and whether they are transferable. Counsel R G Kolle promised to communicate the matter to the State government.</p>
<p>The High Court has directed the petitioners to file a report regarding the impact on wildlife, if one of the mini-hydel power projects is allowed to continue at Kenchankumari and Yedakkumari reserve forests of the Western Ghats.<br /><br />Hearing a petition by Prashanth Yavagal and Western Ghats Environmental Forum, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna continued the status quo order in connection with establishing the plant by the respondent power company - Maruthi Powergen Private Limited - and directed the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF) and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited to jointly conduct a spot inspection of the alleged deviation found by the MoEF authorities recently. <br /><br />The Bench has also directed the power firm to furnish the clearance obtained by the company from the Railways in connection with the construction of the tunnel which passes under a railway line.<br /><br />During the hearing, the petitioners submitted that the company was setting up two power plants of 48 megawatts with a single permission and that any project exceeding 25 megawatt requires a clearence from MoEF. The petitioners listed several violations by the company. <br /><br />When the company stated that there is no wildlife in the forest, the petitioners said the report is by an individual - a forest officer. The petitioners submitted that the State Wildlife Board had found several rare endangered and endemic flora and fauna. </p>.<p>The Chief Justice questioned the government counsel about the number of conservators in the department and whether they are transferable. Counsel R G Kolle promised to communicate the matter to the State government.</p>
