Latest news with #EAC
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Centre's expert panel recommends environmental nod for twin-tunnel road near Wayanad landslide site in Kerala
The Union Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on infrastructure projects has recommended environmental clearance for the 8.75-km-long twin tunnel road proposed between Kozhikode and Wayanad district in Kerala, close to areas affected by the disastrous 2019 and 2024 landslides. The four-lane tunnel road is proposed between Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi and will require blasting for construction in the fragile Western Ghats. In early April, the expert panel had deferred a decision on the proposal and had directed the Kerala Government to submit studies on the geology, landslides, and water drainage in the project area. During a meeting on May 14, the panel appraised these studies and recommended conditional clearance for the project. Key among the conditions was to follow the recommendations of the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) to mitigate the impacts of tunnelling and blasting. In its geological study, the institute had said that tunnelling activities during construction, including vibration from blasting, can lead to landslips if it is uncontrolled. 'To manage this, a vibration monitoring plan shall be implemented before tunnelling starts, including demarcating impact areas and regulating blasting charges,' the minutes of the EAC's May 14 meeting noted. One of the conditions laid down in the clearance recommendation stated that the Kerala government would have to implement all recommendations of CIMFR to mitigate blasting impacts, and a compliance report would have to be submitted. The EAC also directed the Kerala government to establish the Appankappu Elephant Corridor, to facilitate the movement of elephants from South Wayanad, Nilambur North Forest division towards the Silent Valley National Park. It was also directed to commission a monitoring study on the endemic and endangered Banasura Chilappan bird found above the proposed tunnel. Additionally, the EAC has asked the state government to construct elephant underpasses at two locations as well as animal passages, such as culverts, for smaller animals. Following the devastating July 2024 landslide in Chooralmala-Mundakkai areas in Wayanad that killed 298 people, local environmental groups such as the Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi have opposed the tunnel road, fearing ecological hazards. The EAC has itself noted that the tunnel alignment passes through highly vulnerable terrain, prone to landslides, including the 2019 Puthumala landslide area. Besides, the project area includes villages demarcated as ecologically sensitive areas by the Centre in its draft notification on the protection of Western Ghats. The proposed 8.75-km tunnel road was cleared in March by the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), as the project size mandates appraisal only at the state level. However, the central-level EAC was appraising the project as the tenure of the members of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, which grants final approvals on the SEAC's recommendation, had ended. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Inside new Kenya and Tanzania foreign policies
Kenya and Tanzania have, separately, launched foreign policies looking to cement trading and integration ties, suggesting that the recent public spats between their peoples has no impact on their plans. Last week, Tanzania launched its revised edition of the foreign policy amid push back against Kenyan and Ugandan activists bashing it over the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. The new edition of the Tanzanian foreign policy has labelled this strategy a 'dual-track' management of international relations. It places neighbours such as Kenya, Uganda and other partners in the East African Community (EAC), and Africa, on one side, and partners beyond the continent on the other. Tanzania, President Suluhu said, will enhance and reset trade ties, revitalise cross-border trade under the EAC harmonised regional business protocols, and attract multinational business companies to the region.'This is a journey of new thinking in building our diplomatic presence and positioning our country and government on the international stage,' the Tanzanian leader said on May 19. Kenya's foreign policyMeanwhile in Kenya, Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025, the parliamentary document that adopted the new foreign policy, states that the country will strengthen ties within the region while adjusting to a changing world order, adopting new measures and seeking new partners. According to an appended note from President William Ruto, Kenya has a 'steadfast trajectory towards prioritising regional integration, deepening of intra-African ties and elevating new pan-Africanism, even as we continue to strengthen and expand our country's global footprints'. Nairobi sees the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as crucial. Anthony Mwangi: How AfCFTA can insulate Africa against trade warsThe policy states that Kenya will also endeavour 'to maintain an independent and pragmatic foreign policy, which basically requires that the country elevates partnerships with traditional allies, while diversifying into building new relationships with the rising powers and formations like the Brics.'Kenya and Tanzania have prioritised tourism through shared cross-border resources, mostly the wildlife, geographic attractive areas, including mountains, lakes and the Indian Ocean beaches, cultural and historical heritages. Change of stanceBut they are also upending some of their traditions. For example, the Kenyan document suggests a case-by-case analysis of entities on self-determination. While Kenya recognises the One China policy with regard to Taiwan and the federal government in Mogadishu as the entity in charge of Somalia as a whole, it is changing its stance on supporting the secession of Western Sahara. The Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations recommended this change, citing 'the evolving nature of geopolitics.'Kenya, which had stayed out of the Brics+ race, now says it will consider joining the bloc in the future.'As it continues to monitor the strategic significance of this bloc, Kenya has meanwhile, signalled its intent to consider joining the Brics, which has emerged as a major economic and trading bloc, which by early 2024 represented 46 percent of the world's population, 35 percent of the world's GDP when measured at purchasing power parity, and 23.3 percent share of the global merchandise exports,' the policy says. Tanzania's foreign policyTanzania's ruling CCM party supported the political liberation of like-minded countries across the continent. For example, it backed the African National Congress in their fight against apartheid in South Africa and supported decolonisation in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Tanzania now seeks stronger economic ties with these partners, and is looking to forge new partnerships beyond the continent — a lesson learnt from the past.'The emergence of trade wars has led to monopolies and protectionism, eroding the principles of global commerce and shaking the foundations of our promised globalisation,' President Suluhu said. The new policy shows that Dodoma will strengthen its role in regional blocs, contrary to public perception of aloofness to regional integration. In fact, it says it will improve infrastructure connecting to all its neighbours to ease trade and raise cooperation on security and other common challenges. With a population of about 320 million people, the EAC creates a large, single market worth about $254 billion, making it a powerful regional bloc with greater influence to global economic platforms, the Tanzanian policy says. One project seen as crucial is $10 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) with Uganda, which Dodoma sees as a pillar to cement regional cooperation. Even in the face of mounting anti-crude oil campaigners, both countries have stuck to the project, seeing it as crucial to the export of the oil from Uganda's Albertine Basin. Kenya's Foreign and Diaspora Ministry said this week that Tanzania is still one of its most important regional trading a partners, with about 250,000 Kenyans living and doing business in Tanzania.'Tanzania ranks sixth among Kenya's export destinations, accounting for 23 percent of our exports to the East African Community market,' said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- New Indian Express
EAC clears CRRR stretch through Kapilash sanctuary, conservationists raise alarm
BHUBANESWAR: The expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved the proposed six-lane Capital Region Ring Road (CRRR)'s Gobindpur-Tangi stretch with at least 1 km passing through the core zone of Kapilash wildlife sanctuary, raising concern among conservationists. Kapilash is a major elephant habitat and at the same time, a flash-point for man-animal conflict. Sources said the EAC in its meeting held on May 14 and 15 recommended the grant of environmental clearance for 'construction of the Gobindpur-Tangi stretch' of the 111 km CRRR to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Bharatmala scheme. The project seeks to link Rameswar in Khurda to Tangi under Cuttack district. The stretch from Gobindpur village in Dhenkanal to Bandalo toll plaza near Tangi in Cuttack under CRRR will have a total length of about 40.33 km. However, at least 1 km of the alignment of the road project will pass through Kapilash wildlife sanctuary in Dhenkanal. The proposed alignment will also pass through 45 waterbodies including five canals, nine ponds and 31 nullahs. The Gobindpur-Tangi stretch of the road will require about 4,180 hectare area for implementation of which approximately 146.90 hectare will be forest area, while 97.95 hectares will be water body and 625.26 hectare have tree cover (all under tree). Diversion of around 39 hectare forest land will also be required. The EAC, sources said, has asked the NHAI to follow the recommendation of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), based on the study of the consultancy agency CEMC Bhubaneswar, that suggests construction of two elephant underpasses, one of about 1.65 km length and the other of 850 metre length with a minimum height of about 10 metre from the ground level, for easy movement of the jumbos. It has also proposed 56 culverts for movement of smaller animals in the project stretch which has remained one of the hotspots of human-wildlife conflict in the state.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Wayanad tunnel: Experts question green clearance, cite lack of proper studies
Kozhikode: The expert appraisal committee (EAC) decided to grant environmental clearance (EC) to the Rs 2,134-crore Wayanad tunnel road project by laying down 60 conditions—despite acknowledging a month ago that the tunnel would pass through vulnerable, landslide-prone terrain. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This has raised serious concerns, including questions about the reliability of the studies used to justify EC and the inadequacy of proposed mitigation measures. At its first meeting on April 4, EAC deferred clearance citing several issues. It raised concerns that blasting vibrations could affect surrounding areas and nearby structures and said a detailed study was needed to assess if the project could worsen landslide risks. EAC specifically asked for an evaluation based on recent landslide events in the region including their causes and impacts. However, the final clearance report does not mention any new study that carried out a detailed evaluation as suggested. The only new study in the final report, titled Geological and Geomorphological Features of Proposed Anakkampoyil-Meppadi Tunnel Alignment and Impact Area, was done by K Soman, a retired scientist from Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. The other two studies mentioned in the clearance report—a geotechnical investigation and a water drainage study—were done earlier during preparation of the detailed project report. The final EC agenda report only said that state expert appraisal committee, while recommending environmental clearance in March, advised micro-scale mapping of landslide-prone zones to enable regular monitoring and prevent activities that could further destabilise the land. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The report also said that Konkan Railway, on behalf of the project proponent, passed on these requirements to Geological Survey of India and approached it to carry out necessary investigations. Environmental scientist and former water resources department director V Subhash Chandra Bose said this could be the first time EC was granted to a project with so many conditions. "That alone shows the risks involved in the project. What they have overlooked is that the project area falls in a region the state govt classified as high-risk for landslides and the project goes against the principle that activities causing disturbances should not happen in such areas," he added. Bose questioned the reliability of doing studies after deciding to go ahead with a project, saying such studies only aim to clear the way for it. Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti president N Badusha said the state got clearance for the project from MOEF using false information. He added that EAC used a similar approach to approve the project without proper multidisciplinary studies to assess landslide risks in the mountainous area, especially after recent cloudburst events. "Some recent ECs given by MOEF bodies, including the one for Great Nicobar Island Development Project, sand sea mining and mega tourism in Lakshadweep islands, show how the process is weakened and staged. EC for the Wayanad tunnel is the latest example," he said. Samiti plans to approach HC or other bodies within 10 days to challenge MOEF's clearance for the project. Badusha added that most conditions set by EAC are vague, unclear and impractical. "For example, EAC recommended monitoring the endangered Banasura Chilappan bird. But monitoring does not help when tunnelling destroys its mountain habitat. Will they stop the project if monitoring shows the bird has been displaced? Many other recommendations also just call for more monitoring without real action," he added.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Zandile Gumede case: State witness confirms former City Manager's role in waste tender decisions
Former eThekwini City Manager Sipho Nzuza. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers A State witness has told the Durban High Court that the former City Manager of eThekwini Municipality was well within his rights to sign letters of award for the waste collection tenders in 2017. The R320 million Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender fraud trial involves former Mayor Zandile Gumede and 21 other accused who facenumerous charges including money laundering, racketeering, fraud, corruption, and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act and the Municipal Systems Act. In 2017 the Solid Waste Unit had to urgently appoint service providers to collect waste in the City as the contracts of existing service providers were due to expire on December 31, 2017. Moreover, the State witness who in December 2017 worked at the tenders and contracts unit has admitted under cross examination that Sipho Nzuza, the former City Manager was within his rights to require or ask the former deputy head of Supply Chain Management, Sandile Ngcobo about the letters of awards on December 28 2017. Ngcobo is also an accused in this matter. This is as the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) chaired by Ngcobo approved the Solid Waste unit to approach experienced service providers to collect waste in eThekwini. The BAC gave it approval on December 19,2017 for the Solid Waste Unit to get new service providers to collect waste. It also approved their quotations. This witness told the court that she did not take the BAC decision to the Executive Acquisitions Committee (EAC). The EAC was an advisory committee established by Nzuza to assist him to make decisions. In giving various reasons for this, the witness on Thursday told the court that these decisions did not go to the EAC because she was on leave and the agenda was prepared days before the EAC. She had also told the court that she was responsible for drafting the agenda for all the committees and decision circulars. Despite the urgency of the matter, the witness said the BAC decisions about the solid waste tender reached the EAC on January 29, 2018. Nzuza's counsel, Advocate Credo Mlaba put it to the witness that Nzuza was faced with a situation where the waste was not going to be collected in the City and on December 28, 2017 he approached Ngcobo for an update on the waste collection and asked him to attend to the letters of award, as this was an emergency. 'Nzuza said it would have been impossible for him to wait for January 29, 2018 as the BAC decisions did not make it to the EAC meeting on December 21, 2017. Would you like to comment on that?' The witness said it was understood this was Nzuza's role and the witness also agreed with advocate Jay Naidoo SC, counsel for Gumede that the SCM policy and regulations authorised Nzuza to sign the letters of awards based on decisions taken by the BAC. However, she said if he solely signed without consulting EAC, he would be disregarding his own internal policy.
