Latest news with #FAC
Agriland
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Healy-Rae asks forestry appeals body to prioritise windblown sites
Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Michael Healy-Rae has said he has asked the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to prioritise appeals concerning sites that include trees downed by storms. The minister was speaking after receiving the 2024 FAC report from the body's chairperson Seamus Neely. The FAC is an appeals body for anyone who wants to appeal a decision of the minister on whether to grant a licence for afforestation, felling, ariel fertilisation, or forestry road construction. Minister Healy-Rae said: 'The appeals mechanism is an essential element of the forestry decision-making process in Ireland. 'It is important that both appellants and licence holders see a transparent and comprehensive appeals process, and feel that due process is fully served, and I believe that this is the case. 'As part of the government's response to storms Darragh and Éowyn, I have asked both [the] department and the [appeals] committee to prioritise appeals on sites which have been identified as being affected by windblow,' he added. Minister Healy-Rae also said: 'I would like to acknowledge Seamus Neely's excellent work in chairing and overseeing an effective and responsive appeals process. 'I would also like to thank the deputy chairpersons, all the members of the committee and the staff of the Agriculture Appeals Office for their continued contribution in ensuring an effective and efficient appeals service for the forestry sector,' he added. According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the key findings in the FAC report for 2024 are: As of January 1, 2024, there were 53 open appeals against 41 licence decisions from 2023 that were yet to be resolved; An additional 146 appeals were received against 115 licence decisions over the course of 2024; The FAC closed 73 appeals against 58 licence decisions during 2024, including the carried over appeals from 2023; Over 2024, the average time taken to make a decision on an appeal from date of hearing was 55 days. Forestry appointments Separately, Minister Healy-Rae has also announced the appointment of two new non-executive directors to the board of Coillte. Commenting on the appointments of Michael Patten and Declan Meehan, Minister Healy-Rae said: 'They bring a wealth of experience and skills to the board. Their appointments bring the board membership back to full strength, consisting of four woman and five men. Both men have been appointed for a five-year period effective from June 6. Patten's appointment was made following a competitive process undertaken by the Public Appointments Service, while Meehan was nominated for the position of worker representative director on the Board of Coillte by SIPTU, and a recommendation for his appointment was made by the chairperson of the board of Coillte. Minister Healy-Rae said: 'As the state forestry company, Coillte is instrumental in the commercial production of Irish home-grown timber. 'Timber is a natural and renewable product and has a role in storing carbon and removing carbon from the atmosphere, thereby contributing directly to our ambitious climate action targets. 'In addition, our public forest estate provides natural habitats and offers opportunities for recreation. I wish the new appointees and the entire board well in its endeavours,' the minister added.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mega hydro projects cleared in Arunachal Pradesh biodiversity hotspot
New Delhi: The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has given its 'in-principle' approval to Etalin Hydropower Project (3097 MW) on Dri and Talo rivers in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley, a ' high conservation value area' , according to minutes of FAC's meetin on May 26. FAC is a statutory body under the Union environment ministry. High conservation value areas are natural habitats of significant importance due to their high biological, ecological, social or cultural worth. FAC has also approved, in principle, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd's plan to divert 313.88 ha. of unclassed forest for construction of Tato-II Hydro Electric Project (700 MW) on Siyom river and deferred a decision on the the diversion of 261.53 ha of unclassed forest for construction of Attunli Hydro Electric Project (680 MW) on Talo river in Anini to a next date. Unclassed or deemed forests enjoy protection under a Supreme Court ruling of 1996. Tato II is in Shi Yomi district, while Etalin and Attunli projects are in the Dibang Valley. FAC's decision on Etalin is a lifeline for a project that was scrapped in 2023 following widespread protests by local people and concerns raised by scientists about the loss of biodiversity. At the time, FAC asked Arunachal Pradesh to submit a revised proposal addressing these concerns. The state government submitted this and it was considered by FAC in its meeting on May 26. The Etalin hydroelectric project was proposed as a joint venture between Jindal Power and the Hydropower Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh but it is currently under Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd, a state-owned company. The minutes, reviewed by HT, show most concerns related to loss of subtropical evergreen and rain forests, wildlife, and biodiversity remain. For example, they state that the project will involve felling of 2.7 lakh trees and diversion of 1175.03 ha of unclassed forest land. And that the area harbours important wildlife including the Himalayan Serow, Asiatic Golden Cat, Leopard Cat, Indian Wild Dog, Assam Macaque, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Hoary Bellied Squirrel, Bengal Monitor Lizard, Burmese Python, and King Cobra. About six globally threatened mammal species are found in this region of which three are endangered and three are in the vulnerable category. And around 680 bird species have been recorded from this region which is about 56% of total bird species of India, the minutes state. Among them 19 are globally threatened and 10 near threatened. There are four critically endangered, two endangered and 13 vulnerable species. 'This makes this area a very important place in terms of conservation of globally threatened bird species. It also has 3 very rare restricted range endemic bird species,' the minutes add. A wildlife and biodiversity management/ conservation plan prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India has been approved for an amount of ₹29.50 Crores. 'The area falls into the high conservation value zone. Out of total forest area proposed for diversion, 212 ha of land is classified as very dense forest, 310 ha as moderately dense forest, 506 ha as open forest, 84 ha as water and 60 ha as without forest cover,' the minutes state. The proposal was earlier submitted by the state government in 2014 which was considered by the Advisory Committee in various meetings in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 (two meetings), and 2022. The minutes of the 2022 meeting said that 'AAfter going through the facts of the proposal and submissions made by the Nodal Officer, and in view of the various issues viz. wildlife, observations made in the reports of the SubCommittee, concerns raised by the locals, the committee opined that the instant proposal cannot be considered in the present form and the revised proposal may be submitted for further consideration by the state government.' But after the new plan was submitted, on May 26, FAC said it has ' recommended the proposal for grant of in-principle approval subject to fulfilment of general, standard and following specific conditions.' The conditions include handing over 424.83 ha of forest land proposed to be used to construct temporary structures, back to the forest department; and implementation of the mitigation and wildlife management plan developed by WII. FAC has also said that a high-level empowered committee, constituted by the state government under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley shall address the concerns raised in the various representations received on the proposal and take appropriate steps to resolve and settle issues in accordance with the relevant statutes and norms. HT reported on April 25, 2020 that several scientists have written to the six-member FAC after they came to know that the panel is considering granting forest clearance. These included scientists from Indian Institute of Science, Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), and National Institute of Advanced Studies and they cited a number of peer-reviewed studies that highlighted the ecological and biodiversity richness of the Dibang Valley. The scientists sought a cumulative impact assessment of all the hydropower projects in the region, including the 3,097 MW Etalin and 2,880 MW Dibang multipurpose projects --- two of the country's biggest hydel ventures in the same region. 'We respectfully submit that the impacts of multiple projects placed in close proximity on the same river limb must be assessed together because these impacts will be cumulative and not independent,' they wrote. The Attunli Hydro Electric Project will involve felling of around 47000 trees and Tato-II HEP will involve felling of 1.5 lakh trees. Elsewhere in Arunachal Pradesh, Siang Valley has made headlines in recent months for the opposition of local, tribal communities to the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). On Monday, a collective of scientists, researchers, and practitioners issued a statement of solidarity with the Indigenous Adi communities of Beging and the wider Siang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. A total of 114 signatories have endorsed the statement, which is rooted in a deep and nuanced understanding of the ecological, cultural, and social implications of the project. The statement underscores that the proposed dam is situated in one of the most biologically and culturally rich regions of the Eastern Himalayas and calls for a serious re-evaluation of how such infrastructure projects are planned and executed in sensitive areas. The Siang River—revered as Ane Siang or 'Mother Siang' by the Adi people—is central to their identity, livelihoods, and cultural practices. The proposed SUMP project would submerge terraced rice fields, interrupt gravity-fed irrigation systems, and dismantle complex agroecological practices rooted in generations of traditional ecological knowledge, the statement said.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Overlooking own concerns in past, forest committee clears Arunachal hydel project
In a move that aligns with the Centre's push to fast-track hydropower projects in the North-East, the Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has granted in-principle forest clearance to the 3,097-MW Etalin hydel project, which involves diversion of 1,175 hectares of forest land and felling of around 2.78 lakh trees in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley and has long been at the centre of protests. The Etalin project is among the largest proposed hydropower projects in India in terms of generation capacity. The approval comes despite the same FAC raising biodiversity and wildlife concerns in 2022, when it had rejected the proposal and directed the state to conduct fresh biodiversity and cumulative impact assessments for the Dibang river basin. This time, however, the FAC granted approval based on existing studies, overlooking its own recommendations made in December 2022. The project will be a run-of-the-river one, which does not involve storage, and is proposed to be constructed on Dri river and Talo river, the local name for Dibang, in the state's biodiverse Dibang valley. The appraisal of the project has been underway since 2014 and the FAC had discussed it six times between 2015 and 2022. The FAC noted the past deliberations held with the state government, regional office of the Environment Ministry and said it had examined ecological, social and economic aspects and issues related to wildlife as well as the project's cumulative impact. It said that the submissions made by the state forest department on these concerns were found satisfactory and hence, it recommended grant of in-principle approval, subject to general, standard and specific conditions. The forest area of over 1,000 hectares required for the project is mostly community forest, and it has faced continued resistance from the Idu Mishmi community. The area is home to tigers, leopards, snow leopards, black bears, alpine musk deer, Mishmi takin, and about 680 bird species. The FAC had rejected the project in December 2022 primarily on two grounds. One, the project was originally submitted in 2014 and FAC said it was imperative to review the facts and figures presented, especially regarding tree felling. Secondly, owing to the biodiversity and wildlife protection concerns raised, a sub-committee of the FAC had recommended further assessments and safeguards. This included a multi-seasonal replicate biodiversity study, as was already directed by FAC in 2017, and a cumulative impact assessment, since multiple hydroelectric projects are planned in Dibang valley. A wildlife conservation plan, instead of a multi-season biodiversity study, was carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India and submitted in 2019. However, since it was carried out over just four months, the FAC sub-committee had insisted on the multiple-season study again in December 2022. The WII study was also heavily panned by 29 independent Indian conservationists in a peer-reviewed paper for inaccurate wildlife documentation, scientific deficiencies among other things. Specifically, the WII study had reported a species of African bat and long-tailed house bat, not found in India. Minutes of the FAC's May 26 meeting as well as documents submitted to the Centre show that the FAC relied on the existing WII study, as well as the existing cumulative impact assessment. Senior officials of the Environment Ministry, who are part of the FAC, did not respond to queries regarding the rationale behind recommending forest approval, in the absence of fresh studies. 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
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: Government must wake up to state watchdog's spending warning
These are the words of American economic historian Thomas Sowell. It might seem as if our Government has gone to some lengths to prove him right on both counts in the eyes of the Fiscal Advisory Council (FAC). The state watchdog is concerned that spending is up almost 6pc already this year. 'At the current pace of growth, overruns of €2bn are likely,' the Fiscal Assessment Report says. The extravagance can once again be traced back to bumper corporation tax receipts. As we know, the incoming billions are the envy of many European leaders; and a source of considerable indignation to Donald Trump. The US president has made it plain that though he 'likes' us, we are causing him a world of pain when he sees what he regards as 'US tax dollars' flowing out of American coffers and into those of the Emerald Isle. He has warned he is 'coming for them' and we have no reason to doubt him. The FAC has been warning for the past few years that over-reliance on such golden windfalls could leave the State dangerously exposed when they come to an end, as they inevitably will. Today's warning is even more shrill. It notes that while phenomenal levels of excess corporation tax are keeping Ireland in surplus, 'without these revenues, there would be a substantial deficit, despite a strong economy'. The report acknowledges that while the tide of good fortune could persist for a while yet, it will turn, so depending on it is 'high risk'. It also notes how just three companies account for most of the excess corporation tax. A particular worry of the council is that the over-runs are not being acknowledged in new forecasts. Every blessing ignored becomes a curse Its chairperson, Seamus Coffey, even raised a concern about the 'plausibility' of the numbers being presented. He said it's hard to know precisely how overstretched government departments are, because monthly figures are not supplied. The projected figures for 2025 expenditure remain unchanged, even though it is likely to rise by €3.7bn. This, the report states, is 'simply not credible'. ADVERTISEMENT Philosopher Paulo Coelho said: 'Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.' Taking a rosy financial future for granted, which is written on such shifting sands, could come at extreme cost. Spending what we can afford really ought not be such a radical concept. There is a sword of Damocles over the world's economy thanks to Trump's tariffs. The potential for wider wars in the Middle East or Ukraine could also wreak global trade havoc. Relying on the comfort of things we have taken for granted tends to come with a rude awakening. How long can we continue to get away with pressing the snooze button on the FAC's alarm calls?
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC nixes retrospective green nods, but loophole still open
The Supreme Court on May 16, in the Vanashakti Vs Union of India case, struck down two of the Union government's office memoranda (OMs) and a notification that allowed retrospective environmental clearances to projects that began construction without prior approval -- but experts point out that retrospective forest clearances (which are very common) do almost the same damage. For example, the minutes of the latest Forest Advisory Committee meeting, held on April 15, available on Parivesh website, has several cases of ex post facto forest clearances considered by the Committee. These include: ex post facto clearance for regularisation of diversion of 11.562 ha of forest land for establishment of Integrated Steel Plant in Odisha; a similar clearance for diversion of 0.8935 ha reserved forest land for construction of a substation and electrification of 33 KV transmission line through Melghat Tiger Reserve; and approval for diversion of forest land for setting up of mobile towers in parts of Kashmir. FAC has provisions to penalise the violators who seek ex post facto clearance. For example, in the case of the steel plant in Odisha in which construction on the embankment and construction of a boundary wall had already taken place, FAC imposed a penalty for violation which is equal to net present value (NPV) of forest land per hectare for each year of violation from the date of actual diversion as reported by the inspecting officer with maximum up to five (5) times the NPV plus 12% simple interest from the date of raising of such demand till the deposit is made. NPV is the valuation or cost of forests diverted determined based on ecological role and value of forests which is graded based on quality and type of forests. The project proponent shall maintain/develop the green belts within the project area(wherever feasible) in consultation with the state forest department, the minutes dated April 16 added. HT reported on January 6 that FAC has granted post-facto approval for a Commando Battalion Camp in Assam's protected forest area, while simultaneously levying a penalty for violations of forest conservation laws. The approval pertained to the diversion of 26.1 hectares within the Geleky Reserved Forest, along the volatile Assam-Nagaland border in Sivasagar forest division and diversion of 11.5 ha of forest land in favour of Assam Police Housing Corporation for establishment of a second Commando Battalion Camp at Damchera. The case has a controversial history. Hindustan Times first reported on April 25 that MK Yadava, then Assam's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (now special secretary, forests, Assam) approved these two major forest diversions for police installations without prior forest clearance. 'Such regularisations stem from a 2018 guideline issued to states and UTs on activities which constitute violations of provisions of Forest Conservation Act 1980 and rules made thereof regarding common guideline to be followed by FAC/regional committees while considering such violations. The 2018 guideline laid down a graded approach depending on the violations. But the question is whether penalties prescribed or directed by Centre are a deterrent or not. Considering the number of such instances, it does not seem so,' said a legal expert who did not wish to be named. The Handbook on Consolidated Guidelines and Clarifications issued under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980 also has details of how ex post facto forest clearances should be dealt with. 'Proposals seeking ex-post-facto approval of the Central Government under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 are normally not to be entertained. The Central Government will not accord approval under the Act unless under exceptional circumstances that may justify the case,' it states. In case of public utility projects of the government, the penalty s is 20 % of the general NPV penalty. State government will initiate disciplinary action against the official concerned for not being able to prevent use of forest land for non-forestry purpose without prior approval of Centre etc, the 2018 guidelines state. 'But it is important to remember that the Forest Conservation Act 1980 only allows prior forest clearance. There is no provision for ex post facto clearances. Only the guidelines make way for it. But, once a forest area is cleared and a project has started construction, the damage is already done,' he added. On May 21, Debadityo Sinha, Managing Trustee, Vindhyan Ecology & Natural History Foundation, also a legal researcher sent a representation to union environment ministry about an Office Memorandum dated March 29, 2022 (not covered by Vanashakti judgement) which allows for fencing of the project site by boundary wall using civil construction, barbed wire or precast/ prefabricated components ; construction of temporary sheds using pre-fabricated / modular structure, for site office/guards and storing material and machinery ; and provision of temporary electricity and water supply for site office/guards only. Sinha has said the 2022 OM is inconsistent with the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Notification, 2006 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the Vanashakti Vs Union of India case dated May 16. 'It is important to note that permitting these construction activities—whether permanent or temporary—without an environmental clearance (EC) leads to a change in land use and alters the physical and ecological conditions of the site, before any EIA studies have been conducted,' Sinha wrote to MoEFCC. Provisions of ex post facto clearances are however extremely important to the industry. Office bearers of Federation of Indian Mineral Industries expect the government to seek a review of the Supreme Court's judgement. 'We feel the government should file a review petition on the judgement. This is because the judgement will impact small mines and livelihoods of people in tribal areas,' said BK Bhatia, director general, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI). The Union environment ministry did not respond to a query on the court's judgment and whether there will be curbs on retrospective forest clearances. But, on May 26, the government issued an office memorandum stating, 'The Hon'ble Supreme Court, vide its judgment dated 16.05.2025, in W.P. 1394/2023 titled Vanashakti vs. Union of India and connected struck down the above mentioned Notification S.O. 804(E) dated 14/03/2017 and SoP dated 07/07/2021. The copy of the order which is self-explanatory is enclosed herewith for compliance.'
