Speaking at the first stakeholders workshop of the Maharashtra state biodiversity board held at Bharati Vidyapeeth Insititute of Environment Education and Research, on Saturday, principal secretary (forest) Pravinsinh Pardeshi said, "We have objected to the recommendations made in Gadgil's report that windmills projects should undergo a comprehensive cumulative impact assessment before clearance. It is also recommended that a moratorium be placed on all wind energy farm proposals until comprehensive environmental impact assessment studies are conducted. It recommended that no windmills be allowed in ecologically sensitive zone 1 (regions of high sensitivity).''
Pardeshi pointed out that in the report 83 talukas have been assigned to ecologically sensitive zone 1, which includes 32 talukas in Maharashtra alone. "Thus, the highest number of ecologically sensitive zones are demarcated in Maharashtra where maximum windmills are located," said Pardeshi. He refused to reveal other objections raised by the state government.
The report is now in public domain along with a disclaimer and the ministry has invited stakeholders to give their comments or views. The ministry of environment and forest has stated that the report has not been formally accepted by the ministry and it is still being analyzed and considered. Read the full report here.
Source: Times News Network, Pune.
