Windmills cannot be displaced as they are important for power generation, observed the Bombay high court while hearing a public interest litigation challenging installation of windmills in and around Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.
A division bench of justices Ranjana Desai and RJ Ketkar was hearing a PIL filed in September 2011 by Satara activist Nana Khamkar seeking preservation of the sanctuary, which is also a tiger reserve. Khamkar argued that there are three layers — core, buffer and corridor areas. “Pending demarcation of the forest reserve, new windmills are being installed in the buffer and corridor areas,” he said, adding that windmills are to be placed at a distance of 1km from protected areas.
The judges observed that windmills are necessary for employment generation in remote places where there are no chances for locals to get jobs. “Ultimately the corridor is to be free of encroachments. At the same time we do not want to displace windmills as they are important for power generation,” said
Justice Desai. “We have to strike a balance between environmental concerns and the right of the people to earn their livelihood,” he remarked.
Additional government pleader Rajesh Behre submitted a report of state chief secretary.
The state government also supported the installation of windmills in the area for promoting power and employment generation adding that windmills contribute about 140 million units of power to the state grid.
Energy generated by windmills is one of the cleanest energies and the land occupied for these windmills is not very large states the report. It also points out financial relief has been provided by windmills to the people/ villages who had to forgo lands for setting them up.
Drawing the court’s attention to a newspaper advertisement of housing projects in the New Mahabaleshwar area which is part of the sanctuary, Khamkar said this is being done despite being a reserved forest area.
The judges directed the state to submit a report on the exact status of the New Mahabaleshwar project and adjourned the matter to April 27.
