Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 13: In a major development, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment and Forests Ministry for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects has given environmental clearance to the construction of Baglihar Stage-II at Chanderkote in Ramban district by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd. The project, which will of immense importance for the State, will be ready to generate 450 Mega Watts (MWs) electricity by March 2015.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Expert Appraisal Committee has given environment clearance to the Stage-II of the first-ever Mega State owned power project with the conditions that fish diversity of the river must be documented following scientific methodology. “The environmental flow should be assessed based on the hydrological, hydraulics and ecological indices”, the Committee said in its order, adding the regular monitoring of water quality of the river both upstream and downstream should also be carried out.
In its observations made after detailed presentation by the project proponent, the EAC has mentioned that the project is only an extension of Baglihar Stage-I, which has already been commissioned, adding that no additional land is required for the project, no Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) issues are involved and no national park/ sanctuary exists within 15 kilometer radius of the project site.
The grants have already been deposited with the district administration for disbursement of project affected people in Stage-I and compensation in respect of land, houses and other structures submerged due to construction of reservoir of Stage-I has been paid amounting to Rs 30.74 crore, the EAC said, adding the access to about 4000 population has been provided by constructing bridge and approach road and the water supply facility to about 5000 population in Chanderkote has been augmented.
“The catchment area treatment works spread over 5 sub-watersheds and 99 micro watersheds encompassing an area of 92,696 hectares were taken up by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. Very severe and severe land erosion areas were taken up under Phase-I whereas the works are continuing to treat the remaining area as per targets”, the EAC said, adding “a total amount of Rs 5966 lakh has been allocated for Environmental Management Plan which include a grant of Rs 2113 lakh earmarked for CSR activities in the project”.
About the muck disposal, the EAC said that the evacuation of underground component of Stage-II project likely to generate 8.66 lakh metric tonnes of muck out of which 4.43 lakh metric tonnes will be utilized as construction material and the remaining will be dumped in three designated dumping areas having a capacity of 9.6 lakh metric tonnes with an allocated area of 6.91 hectares.
The EAC has mentioned that during winter the generation of minimum 100 MW should be maintained round the clock in order to have continuous flow at the downstream of the project. “It has been clarified by the JKSPDC that minimum environmental flow of 13.6 cumecs water will be released at the downstream during the lean season and no substantial negative impact due to water withdrawal and regime will be maintained from plunge pool up to TRT outfall with additional discharge being supplemented through Nachhari, Peerah and Gajpat nullahs”, the Committee further mentioned.
When contacted, Managing Director, J&K State Power Development Corporation, Basharat Ahmad said, “now, no more clearances are required for the Stage-II. The work for construction of underground powerhouse is going on at a required pace and we will complete project by March 2015”, adding “there was no major hurdle in obtaining environmental clearance for Stage-II as neither any diversion of river is required nor any pondage. The issues related to the public had already been resolved by convening public hearing on May 14, 2012 as per the directions of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Environment and Forest Ministry”.
With the completion of Stage-II, entire Baglihar Hydroelectric Project will generate 900 Mega Watts of electricity. At present, Stage-I is generating 450 Mega Watts of electricity.
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