Imphal, May 20: Acting on a complaint lodged by the Citizens Concern for Dams and Development, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has sought a detailed report from the State Government for breaching the environment norms while going ahead with the Capitol Project.

In a letter dated, April 19, 2005, Additional Director of the Environment Ministry Dr VP Upadhayay, asked the State Forest and Environment Secretary to submit a detailed report on the proposed project along with an explanation for the reported violations of the Environment Impact Assessment notification, 1994.A copy of the letter from the Centre was shown to the media during a press conference today by members of the CCDD.

The letter reminded the State Government that any project which plans to accommodate 1000 persons or below or sewage discharging 50,000 litres per day or below or any project taken up with an investment of not less than Rs 50 crores require prior environmental clearance from the Government of India.

This is spelt out in the Environment Impact Assessment.

"Thus this project shall attract the provisions of EIA notification, 1994 and also requires clearance under Environment (Protection) Act before initiation of any activity at the site," said the letter.

Interacting with the media, CCDD members said that the State Government has clearly violated nine points prescribed in the EIA notification and its subsequent amendments on implementing the proposed construction of the Capitol project.

Among others the State Government has not finalised the rehabilitation and resettlement plan of the persons to be displaced by the project, they said and added that the public hearing notification on the matter was not made at the appropriate time.

Though the EIA notification should be written in the local language to make the people understand the points, the Government violated this directive and issued the same in English.

On May 9, 2005 CCDD submitted yet another intimation to the Environment Ministry, they informed.

CCDD informed the Centre that there has been continued violations of the EIA notification and amendments of 1997 and 2004 while going ahead with the construction of the Capitol project.

The message also requested the Centre to take necessary action to make the State Government adhere to the EIA norms.

The Ministry was also informed of the decision taken by the State Government to construct the High Court, State Secretariat at Lei-Ingkhol to the north of Cheiraoching.

The decision of the Cabinet to construct the High Court and Secretariat at Lei-Ingkhol on April 20 came even as the environmental clearance was awaited from the Ministry.

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