Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment studies (CEIA) of Satluj Basin in Himachal Pradesh. Comments about suggestions, observations and recommendations of Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment studies ( CEIA) of Satluj Basin in Himachal Pradesh . The facts for consideration for CEIA studies by Department of Energy H P: 1. Bhakra dam was commissioned more than 50 years ago , known modern day Temple which brought prosperity to the region but the residents of Bilaspur are still crying for rehabilitation. What will be the fate of the population after commissioning various hydro electric projects, the doubts created about the very existence of the Valley after the last year’s Uttrakhand Tragedy? 2. Hydro Power Projects were considered a green source of energy but now , the hydro electric projects are being criticised from all quarters for being responsible for debate on climate change , especially melting of glaciers , change in rain and snow cycle , large scale landslides, flash floods etc Urni Dhank like situation has appeared in many parts of Kinnaur . 3. All environmentalists and their organisations at local level and other higher level have been voicing concern over the fallout of impounding of rivers, ruthless tunnelling of hills, haphazard muck dumping, erection of high tension towers with Web or mesh of large number of TRANSMISSION lines and crop loss or livelihood loss for quite some time. 4. However, now the government also seems to be veering to their view points. The then Union Minister for Environment and Forests drew attention to the issue during a conclave of the Himalayan Chief Ministers a years back . i. “It is high time we give a serious thought up to what altitude and fragile nature of ecology / ecosystems hydro electric projects be permitted more cautious in ecologically fragile high-altitude areas like Lahaul-Spiti & Kinnaur ..The glaciers are melting fast and construction of projects in high mountain ranges will only hasten the progress. Further, with a large number of projects coming up in each basin the impact on environment has to be assessed for the entire basin”. (Attempts made through Comprehensive Catchment Area Treatment Plan and Ccumulative Environment Impact Assessment Study in Satluj Basin but seems to be half hearted approach) the stakeholders in general feel that these are NOT MADE broad based and their findings are not implemented . ii. In Himachal if all planned projects on Satluj come up most of the 230 kms stretch from KHAB to KOLDAM, the river will virtually vanish as the water will be diverted through long tunnels for power generation. , While the 1500 –MW Nathpa Jhakri Project has a 27.4 kms long head race tunnel , a much longer 38 kms twun tunnels has been planned for the 710 MW Luhri Project (now 38 kms single 558 MW when people protested ) . Even World Bank / USAID dropped this Project from funding because these Hydel Projects are destroying livelihood of local communities .The shortest tunnel of 12 kms is for the 412 MW Rampur Project which is virtually the second stage of the Nathpa Jhakri Project . (The fate of river at Rampur will be same as seen at Mandi from Pandoh Dam where people are asking downstream ecology restoration Pandoh downward to Mandi town and down below) . iii. Similarly , all proposed projects will have 18 to 25 kms long tunnels , ensuring that 150 kms length of the river will disappear .The government has made release of 15% discharge mandatory but the discharge declining to 20% during the lean winter months 15% means a trickle . iv. “A careful look at power projects in Uttarakhand indicated that river flow was barely 10 per cent and sometimes even zero as projects had been set up along the entire river stretch,” Sunita Narain Director General Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) explained. Based on these observations , she was of the firm opinion that projects must maintain a minimum flow of 30 per cent during the six months of high discharge. During the lean period, it should be 50 per cent,. She recommended the re-engineering of some projects by adding more turbines to maximize energy and optimum use of excess water. “To meet the power demand during the lean season, a provision for having dual source, whether it is wind or solar power, will have to be developed,” she advised. She admitted that by restricting flow, the cost of power would go up, but only marginally. She said the government would have to be more cautious in ecologically fragile high-altitude areas like Lahaul-Spiti & Kinnaur. v. Worse, the 350 odd small projects are being executed in a totally unplanned manner. The cascade of small projects will spell doom for the people will lose the life sustaining water sources. For instance , if all proposed projects are allowed , the Nogli khad in Shimla will have eight projects and the Chanju Nallah in the ecologically fragile Chamba will have five projects. Tidong ecologically fragile is also planned for hydel projects destroying precious and rare CHILGOZA trees . vi. As per the policy of the Centre, the micro –hydel potential was to be exploited only for the benefit of local people and precisely for this reason, it came out with a scheme to provide subsidy on such projects. However, the Himachal government allowed these projects to independent Power producers (IPPs) as commercial ventures.Not only that, some IPPs were allowed to enhance the capacity of already allowed projects from 5MW or even less to 25 MWs without evaluating their financial or technical capabilities. A project of this size will cost over Rs 200 crores and require expertise in tunnelling. The impact of loss due to enhancement of capacity of Projects not taken into consideration as Karcham Wangtu HE Project was 900 MW but enhanced to 1200 MW now the dimensions of all items also increase like tunnelling , muck etc the effect we are observing at URNI DHANK . vii. The Environmental organisations are opposing cascading of small projects but also opposes storage dam projects which , not only destroy the environment downstream but also raises ambient temperatures and produces huge quantities of methane , We observe this at Wangtoo Dam of NJPC to indicate that the big reservoirs absorb heat and as a result the temperature is raised up to 3 degrees Celsius ; hence changed the precipitation cycle of Kinnaur thus threat to survival of CHILGOZA PINE, Repeated cloud bursts in Bhaba valley adjoining to the reservoir . viii. Further the impounded water traps methane, which contributes to global warming .Why studies not in Govindsagar and its catchment not done, BBMB is milking a secret cow without bothering for its feed? Bhakhra power house upgraded Tribune News Service Nangal, July 23 The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) upgraded the first unit of Bhakra Left Bank Power House (BLBPH) by 20 per cent from 108 MW power generation to 126 MW in the second phase of renovation. In phase I, each of the five units was upgraded from 90 MW to 108 MW. After this addition of 18 MW, BBM B’s share has gone up to 62 per cent in the Hydro Power Generation of India. The remaining four units of the power house will also be upgraded within the next two years. ix. The melting of glaciers , erratic and inadequate rain and snow and the ever –declining discharge in major rivers and their tributaries have put a big question mark over the future of hydroelectric projects.The state government had already awarded most of the projects and only few, cancelled for one reason or the other , are in the process of allotment . It will be interesting to see what steps it takes to combat climate change in the hydropower sector. x. Consequent upon the devastation caused last year in Utrkhand , Himachal Pradesh government was not aware of the enormous devastation could be there , Damage caused in Kinnaur still awaiting restoration ? Millions of tons of muck stacked haphazardly along the river banks from Spiti to Bilaspur may bring devastating flood which will be supplemented by construction of building and road in abundance along river banks and in their catchment in the state . xi. In 2009, acting on a PIL (CWP no.24/09 ) the HP High Court had appointed Mr Shukla that time the Additional Chief Secretary [Forests]) as a one man Commission to study and report on the environmental impact and compliance of major hydel projects in the state of Himachal , he visited all major projects in the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi river basins and submitted his report to the court in June 2010.His recommendations not accepted by the Government but now such decisions are pouring for each Project. The constraints of topography, design and finance will always cause environmental damage of varying degrees, no matter what conditions are imposed to minimise it. Therefore it becomes incumbent upon every government of states such as Himachal to assess when the damage to the ecology by such projects exceeds their benefits, and put a halt to more projects. No such assessment has ever been done in Himachal though the tipping point was reached long ago. xii. The amount of Net Present Value (NPV),CAT PLANS , land lease amount and value of trees etc are mandatory to be deposited by the project authorities but the same is awaited from many Project Authorities even when they have started generation . More over the amount so collected not is not being utilized in the Areas for which it is deposited e.g. NPV amount of Kinnaur is in many crores but this amount not spent in Kinnaur but elsewhere. xiii. Himachal Forest Department spent Rs 1.80 Cr for the preparation of Comprehensive CATPlan of Satluj Basin through Naik Environment Research Institute . NERIL has conducted field survey in all the MWs and Sub-Catchments for primary data collection. Each and every landslip/ landslide in all the MWs and Sub-Catchments has been visited and details like dimensions, soil type, degree of slope, damage done, reason for occurrence, suggested measures,GPS location, photograph etc. are recorded. Inaddition to it all the major landslides were further visited by experts and civil engineers for verification. The treatment measures include bioengineering and civil engineering for mitigation. Since bio-engineering treats only surface erosion therefore civil engineering structures have been suggested to retain that surface. In the last few years engineering technologies have evolved to provide solutions for debris flow, landslides, land slips and so on. xiv. Panel of Environment & Social Experts for CEIA study of Satluj Basin in Himachal Pradesh Meeting was held on 28/05/ 2014 in the Conference Hall of Directorate of Energy Shimla . ForHindi version of the executive summary and recommendations, It was decided that this will be made in people friendly language so that they could understand it . A copy of the report including Hindi & English Version of executive summary and recommendations shall be send to every development block & to Every SDM & DC office in the Satluj Basin . The Hindi version of executive summary and recommendations was not available in the office of BDO Rampur as on 26-08-2014 where many project affected people have visited , English version with bulky Draft Report was available but they could not understand that It was decided that this will be made in people friendly language so that they could understand it . Last date of receipt of suggestions from all stakeholders is 31-08-2014 but without understanding how people can suggest.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 01:53:29 +0000
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