J-12011/39/2010-IA-1
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Government of India
(IA Division)
Paryavaran Bhawan
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003
Dated 12, December, 2012
To,
The Director (Design & Engineering)
M/s Ratle Hydro Electric Project Pvt. Ltd.
GVK Technical & Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.,
2nd Floor, Tower-C Building No.10
DLF Cyber City, Phase-II,
Gurgaon- 122 002, Haryana.
Subject: Ratle HEP (850MW) Project in Kishtwal District of Jammu & Kashmir by M/s Ratle Hydro Electric Project Pvt. Ltd. - for Environmental Clearance Regarding.
Sir,
This has reference to your letter no. Nil Dt.17.5.2012 on the above mentioned subject.
2. It is noted that the proposed project is a run of the river scheme near village Drabshala in Kishtwar District of Jammu & Kashmir. The project envisages construction of a Concrete Gravity Dam of 133m high concrete gravity dam from the deepest foundation level across Chenab River near Drabshal Village to generate 850 MW of hydropower. The catchment area of the project is 14,209 Sq.km. Total land requirement is 567.21 ha. Out of which 373.29 ha State land, 55 ha is Private land and 138.93 ha is forest land. Total land coming under submergence is 203 ha. A total 240 families are likely to be affected due to this project. An underground powerhouse is proposed on the right bank of the river with 4 units of 205 MW each + one additional unit of 30 MW to ensure continuous ecological release at the downstream. No National Park/wildlife Sanctuary/Biosphere Reserve/Historical Monuments/Religious, places etc. exists within 10 km radius of the project. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.5353.82 Crores out of which 262.35 Crores will be for Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and will be constructed will be completed in 60 months.
3. The Project proposal was considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley & Hydroelectric Power Projects in its 59th meeting held on 20th -20st July 2012. Public Hearing for the project was conducted on 7.4.2012 at Drabshala in Kishtwar District of Jammu & Kashmir. Forest Clearance for diversion of 138.93 ha of forest land has been approved by Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir on 27.4.2012.
4. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), after due consideration of the relevant documents submitted by the project proponent and clarification furnished in response to its observation, have recommended for grant of Environmental Clearance for the project mentioned above. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment and Forest hereby accords necessary Environmental Clearance for the above project as per the provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and its subsequent amendment in 2009 subject to compliance of the following conditions:
Part A : Specific Conditions
(i) The Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan as proposed in the EIA/EMP Report shall be undertaken in consultation with the State Forest Department and major work shall be completed before impounding of reservoir.
|
Item |
I Year |
II Year |
III Year |
IV Year |
Total |
|
Biological Measures |
|||||
|
Afforestation (ha) |
2243 |
1747 |
923 |
- |
4913 |
|
Enrichment Plantation (ha) |
- |
112 |
79 |
- |
191 |
|
Pasture Development |
- |
376 |
195 |
- |
591 |
|
Nursery Development (Nos) |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
3 |
|
Watch & ward (Nos) |
240 |
240 |
240 |
240 |
960 |
|
Engineering Measures |
|||||
|
Contour Bunding (ha) |
434 |
409 |
324 |
171 |
1338 |
|
Check Dams (N0s) |
50 |
25 |
30 |
20 |
125 |
(ii) All the commitments made during the public hearing shall be fulfilled completely.
(iii) The details of land holding of project affected persons whose land is being acquired shall be submitted to this ministry. The R&R benefits for the land losing households will be as per the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 (NRRP,2007) or as per the State Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, whichever is higher. Adequate publicity of the compensation package shall be made in the affected villages.
(iv) A Monitoring Committee for R&R shall be constituted which must include representatives of project affected persons from SC/ST category and a women beneficiary.
(v) Consolidation and compilation of muck shall be carried- out only in the designated muck dumping sites as submitted in the EIA/EMP report. As per the proposed muck disposal plan, out of 24.4 lakh m3 of muck to be generated due to excavation, about 50% (i.e.12.2 lakh m3) will be utilized for construction purpose and the remaining 12.2 lak m3 will be dumped at the 3 designated areas in an allocated area of 30.59 ha. The identified muck dumping sites shall be at-least 30m horizontally away from the edge of the river corresponding to high flood level (HFL).
(vi) Muck dumping sites should be handed over to Forest Department only after restoration including plantations etc.
(vii) A provision of an additional unit of 30 MW has been made in the project, which will be running for 24 hours continuously to maintain a minimum discharge of 33.43, cumecs/sec, during the lean season from November-February (About 27% of lean season) at the downstream, shall be strictly adhered-to. Monsoon flow shall be at least 30% of the Monsoon discharge.
(viii) An Auto mechanism/by pass arrangement in dam design shall be made to ensure release of environmental flow water in event of the 30 MW turbine or when it is put under maintenance.
(ix) Continuous Monitoring system for environmental flow measurement shall be installed and data shall be displayed at appropriate site for information of civil society, stake holders and regulators. Six monthly results shall be submitted to the regional Office of the Ministry and SPCB.
(x) Real time telemetry and data acquisition system including all weather hydro metrological stations shall be installed for in-flow monitoring and advance flood warning. Advance flood warning and advance communication systems shall be installed in consultation with the downstream District Authorities.
(xi) As proposed in the EMP, the compensatory Afforestation Programme on 277.84 ha of land with 13 plant species shall be undertaken in consultation with the State Forest Department. Native species should be preferred in plantation. The allocated grant of Rs.1467.59 lakhs for this purpose shall be fully utilized and not to be diverted for any other purpose.
(xii) Greenbelt development along the approach roads, residential areas, office complex, dam site and other working areas shall be undertaken. The allocated budget of Rs.73 lakhs for this purpose shall be fully utilized and not to be diverted to any other purpose.
(xiii) As proposed in the EMP, the Biodiversity Conservation and Wildlife Management Plans shall be taken up and implementation shall be included in the sixth monthly compliance report to be submitted to the Ministry, including its Regional Office.
(xiv) Indigenous plant species should be used for implementation of Biodiversity Management Plan and for Compensatory Afforestation. Expertise from R&D centers may be used for propagation techniques. Provision should also be made to include researchers to implement these plans and carrying out plantation.
(xv) Equipment likely to generate high noise levels shall meet the ambient noise standards as notified under the noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000, as amended in 2010 under Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986. For this, necessary insulation arrangement etc. to be ensured.
(xvi) A provision of Rs. 30 Crores earmarked towards the Local Area Development Activities (LADA) shall be fully utilized and not to be diverted for any other purpose. The implementation of activities as submitted to the Ministry shall be taken up as soon possible. In addition, a grant of Rs. 30 Crores earmarked for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Rs.30 Crores for skill development purpose shall also be duly utilized and not to be diverted for any other purpose.
(xvii) LADA activities may be undertaken by M/s Ratle Hydro Electric Project Pvt. Ltd to enhance delivery mechanism for operational point of view.
(xviii) Tie-ups shall be made with existing city hospitals for disposal of Bio-medical waste in case district hospital at Kishtwar does not have the facility for handling biomedical waste as proposed in the report.
(xix) Any other clearance from other organization/department, if required, shall be obtained before commencement of the project.
Part-B General Conditions
(i) Adequate arrangement for providing free fuel like kerosene/wood/LPG shall be made at project cost for the labour engaged in the construction work so that indiscriminate felling of trees is prevented.
(ii) Medical facilities as well as recreational facilities shall also be provided to labourers.
(iii) All the labourers to be engaged for construction works shall be thoroughly examined by health personal and adequately treated before issuing them work permit.
(iv) No fugitive dust emissions should be observed at the construction sites. Water sprinkling arrangements should be made to suppress the fugitive emissions.
(v) Potable drinking water and proper sanitary facilities shall be provided for the labour force and the local area people.
(vi) Restoration of construction area including dumping site of excavated materials shall be ensured by leveling, filling up of burrow pits, landscaping etc. The area should be properly treated with suitable plantation.
(vii) Environmental parameters shall be monitored regularly and six monthly reports shall be submitted to the regional Office of the Ministry and State Pollution Control Board for review.
(viii) The project proponent shall also submit six monthly compliance reports of the stipulated EC conditions (both hard copies as well as by e-mail) to the respective Regional Office of MoEF and state Pollution Control Board. Monitoring report and compliance report shall be up-loaded on the web-site of project proponent.
5. The Project Proponent shall provide full cooperation and all required documents, data and access to the Officials of Regional Office of MoEF who would be monitoring the implementation of environmental safeguards.
6. Besides the above stated conditions, M/s Ratle hydro Electric Project Pvt. Ltd and Government of Jammu & Kashmir shall also implement all other environmental safeguards, as proposed in the EIA/EMP report and other reports from time to time. The J & K Government may also like to monitor implementation of EMP at regular interval.
7. Any change in the scope of the project shall be intimated to the Ministry and fresh approval, if required, shall be taken from the Ministry.
8. The Ministry reserve the right to add additional safeguard measures subsequently, if found necessary and to take action including revoking of the clearance under the provisions of the Environment ( Protection) Act, 1986 to ensure effective implementation of the suggested safeguards measure in a time-bound and satisfactory manner.
9. This clearance letter is valid for a period of 10 years from the date of issue of this letter for commencement of construction work.
10. A Multi-disciplinary committee for monitoring the implementation of environmental safe guards during construction shall be constituted by the Project Proponent in consultation with the Ministry as early as possible. The Proponent shall suggest the members and their profile for approval of the Ministry. Proponent shall organize six monthly meetings of the committee and submit the monitoring report to the Ministry.
11. A copy of the clearance letter shall be sent by the Proponent to local Panchayat, Zila parishad/Municipal Corporation, Urban local body and local NGO, if any, from whom suggestations/representations were received while processing the proposal. The clearance letter shall also be put on its web-sites by the project proponent.
12. The proponent should advertise at least in two local newspapers widely circulated in the region around the project, one of which shall be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned informing that the project has been accorded environmental clearance and copies of clearance letter are available with the State Pollution Control Board/committee and may also be seen at Website of the Ministry of Environment and Forests at http;//www.envfor.nic.in.
13. After 5 years of the commissioning of the Project, a study shall be undertaken regarding impact of the project on the environment and downstream ecology. The study shall be undertaken by an independent agency, to be decided in consultation with the Ministry.
14. The project proponent shall also submit six monthly reports on the status of compliance of the stipulated EC conditions including results of monitored data (both in hard copies as well as by e-mail) including the respective Regional office of MoEF and Zonal Office of CPCB and SPCB.
15. Any appeal against this environmental clearance shall lie with the National Green Tribunal, if preferred, within a period of 30 days from the date of issue, as prescribed under Section 10 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
Yours faithfully,
(B.B. Barman)
Director
Copy to:
1. The Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shram Shakit Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-1
2. The Advisor (Power), Planning Commission, Yozna Bhawan,
New Delhi-110 001
3. Special Secretary, Power Development Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, Civil, Secretariat Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir.
4. Secretary, Department of Environment & Forests, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu.
5. The Chief Engineer, Project Appraisal Directorate, Central Electricity Authority, Sewa Bhawan, R.K.Puram, New Delhi- 110 066
6. The Regional Office, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Chandigarh.
7. Member Secretary J&K State Pollution Control Board, Super Bazar Building, III Floor, Jammu.
8. EI- Division, Minstry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi- 110 003
9. PS to JS (AT)/ Dir (BB)/ P.V. S. Rao (Scientist ‘B’)
10. Guard File
(B.B.Barman)
Director