Ecology and Environment

Report questions ADB funded projects under the 'Himachal Clean Energy Development Programme'.

• ADB loans for four hydroprojects at eco-fragile zones
• Livelihood concerns and environmental issues un-addressed
• Section 17/4 – Urgency clause being used by HPPCL for forced acquisition of land
• Poor EIA reports and non compliance to environmental norms

Recently, a Public Hearing for the World Bank funded Luhri Hydro Electric had to be cancelled after public protests making it clear that the environmental and social impacts of Hydropower projects as well as the increasing gap between their promise and performance, especially in the Himalayan region have become issues of serious concern. And yet these projects continue to be promoted in the garb of renewable and clean energy. So much so that governments are borrowing millions of rupees from international banks and financial institutions to fund these so called 'green' projects.The four ADB financed hydro power projects being constructed by HPPCL include the 195 MW Integrated Kashang Stage I, II and III and the 402 MW Shongtong-Karccham in Kinnaur. The other two projects are the 111 MW Sawara-Kuddu hydropower projects in Shimla district and the 100 MW Sainj hydropower project in Kullu District.

Guest post by Priya Desai

Background

This was organised by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Held on May 26th 2011, we were joined by around 150 to 200 student volunteers from various higher educational institutions in Kerala, such as the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, St. Albert's College in Ernakulam, School of Applied Life Sciences in Chuttippara and the School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University.

Organizer: Filmbooth

Venue: Habitat World, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Description:

Filmbooth is organising a festival of short films and documentaries to celebrate World Environment Day at New Delhi. It includes short films and short documentaries juxtaposed with crisp 10-min talks by eminent personalities, all films & talks being related to various issues of environment, sustainability and awareness on climate change.

Organizers:

• Centre of Gandhian Studies, University of Kerala
• Kerala Biodiversity Board

Venue: University Senate Chamber, Thiruvanthapuram

Content courtesy: DevNetJobsIndia

Centre for Environment Education (CEE) India is an internationally acclaimed institution in the field of environmental education and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). CEE, a Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, works with stakeholder groups like children, youth, communities and in-service professionals in urban and rural areas.

The Pamba Pilot Project’s aim was to deliver “Policy Support to Integrated River Basin Management” and to contribute to the continuing EU-India policy dialogue in the water sector.

Organizer: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Venue: The Leela Palace, New Delhi

Topics:

• Mainstreaming the Economics of Nature– case studies from India and the world
• The Value and Sustainability of Forests Ecosystems: The role of forests in combating climate change , conserving biodiversity and catalysing transformation to Green Economy
• Climate Change Adaptation in High Mountain Areas

Winners hail from the University of Minnesota, TERI University (Delhi), Cornell, Duke, K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management (Mumbai) and India Institute of Technology Roorkee.

Minneapolis / St. Paul (May 19,2011) –  This is a competition sponsored by Institute on the Environment’s Acara program that invites international student teams to learn about and develop social businesses. The winners will receive $5,000 plus tuition to attend the Acara Summer Institute in Bangalore, India, this summer, where they will move their proposed businesses from plan to action.

Newsletter of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) for April - May 2011 (Volume 9 Issue 3-4), focuses on the following topics.

• Analysis of TAC guidelines and decisions in recent meetings
  The Advisory Committee in the Union Ministry of Water Resources for consideration of techno-economic viability of Irrigation, Flood Control and Multi Purpose Project Proposals (TAC in short) is supposed to discuss the techno-economic viability of the irrigation, flood control and multi-purpose project proposals as per the Resolution published in the Union of India Gazette Notification No. 12/5/86-P-II dated Nov 27, 1987.

Development Resource & Training Centre (DRTC), CYSD, Bhubaneswar:

A 2-days Workshop on “Water conflicts in Odisha: Issues and way forward” has been organized during 28th – 29th, March, 2011 at Bhubaneswar by ‘Odisha State Centre’ of the ‘Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India’. Environmental activists, thinkers, academicians, Government Officials, Farmer leader’s and Civil Society Organizations from different parts of the state participated in the workshop along with members of the National Steering Committee of Forum to discuss about the ongoing and emerging water conflicts in different geographies of the state.