But the project could prove to be the latestflashpoint between Union Ministers Jairam Ramesh and Kamal Nath in whose constituency the project is coming up. The proposed 1320 MW thermal power plant is to be set up by the Adani group. But the project may hit a roadblock with the Environment ministry as it aims to extract water from the Pench river which is the only source of water for the 40 odd tigers in the reserve, along with other wildlife like sambhar, cheetal and bisons.
"This is a MoU that has been signed. But our policies are very clear. One cannot claim water from a protected area. The fact of the matter is that the Wildlife Protection Act, through an amendment in 2003, prohibits commercial use of a water source in a protected area," says Jairam Ramesh. This is not the first time the two ministers are in conflict. Jairam Ramesh had recently put a spoke in Kamal Nath's plans to expand a highway that will cut through the Pench tiger reserve. An angry Kamal Nath says: "It affects my constituency. I want to know how he can stop it." Now that the letter of intent from the Adanis makes it clear that water will be extracted from the Pench river, another flashpoint between the two ministers is in the offing.
Watch the video interview here.
