brainstorming session on “hydropower – greenpower

INDIA WATER WEEK 2013

BS 5- BRAINSTORMING SESSION ON “HYDROPOWER – GREENPOWER”

R.K.KhannaChief Engineer (Retd)

Environmental Management OrganisationCentral Water Commission

Government of India New Delhi

Energy ( Power ) is life

• Demand increasing- Rise in population- Change in lifestyles

HYDROPOWER – GREENPOWER ?

• For long, Hydro Power considered as a clean and green source of energy ; environmental friendly , pollution free i.e. no ash, smoke or flue gases.

• water resources for purposes like irrigation, flood moderation, navigation and drinking water supply etc.

• Of late, there has been increasing resistance from various quarters to the development of these projects

HYDROPOWER – NOT GREENPOWER ?

• Reasons ?• Envtal impacts- forests, flora & fauna, wild life• Social impacts – R & R• GHG emissions from reservoirs• Min flows – d/s impact on river flows both during normal

operation & dam break ; ecological, social, religious needs• Cumulative impacts of dams- MOEF CWC Basinwise

EIA study - Subansiri and Siang basins• SHIFT from “Dams are the temples of modern India” to

“Say NO to dams”

STEPS TAKEN TO MAKE IT GREEN POWER

• Do we take any steps ?• HOW ?

Env awareness in India

• People in ancient India – alive towards env issues

• Env & health concerns integrated into social, religious & cultural customs

• Festivals timed according to seasons• Five elements of nature treated as Gods• Rivers treated as mother• Cutting of trees – a major sin

Env awareness in water sector

• Env and social aspects- major concerns in river valley projects

-Proper rehabilitation of displaced people - Canal bank plantations

- Trees along reservoir periphery• Forest Conservation Act – 1980• Environmental (Protection) Act - 1986• National Water Policy, Govt of India - 1987

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

• INDIA-ONE OF FEW COUNTRIES WITH SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR ENV PROTECTION

• ARTICLE 47 - PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

• ARTICLE 48A - PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENT FOREST & WILD LIFE

• ARTICLE 51(A) - DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

• 42ND AMENDMENT (1972) PROVIDES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

617

INDIAENVIRONMENTAL (PROTECTION)

ACT, 1986• EMPOWERS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT

• CREATION OF AUTHORITY OR AUTHORITIES

• PENALTY - IMPRISONMENT FOR 5 YEARS OR FINE UPTO RS. 1 LAKH OR BOTH

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION, 1994

• Environmental clearance mandatory for all new projects, and expansion/ modernisation of existing projects covering 29 disciplines (costing > Rs 50 Crores- later revised to 100 Cr). These include hydro-power, major irrigation and flood control projects.

• If a project is of the following type, MOEF is to be consulted before even starting investigations:

a) Miningb) Pit-head thermal power stationc) Hydro-power, major irrigation and flood control projects.d) Ports and harbours (excluding minor ports)- Project report assessed by Impact Assessment Agency constituted

by MOEF having 12-15 experts- Clearance to be accorded within a period of 90 days- Comments of public solicited- Clearance valid upto 5 years

AMENDMENT TO EIA NOTIFICATION 1994(Issued in 1997)

• Authority seeking environmental clearance to submit necessary documents to State Pollution Control Board

• State PCB to issue notice for environmental public hearing, inviting suggestions/comments from public within 30 days

• Residents, environmental groups, other affected can participate in public hearing

• Public hearing panel to include:-a) Representative of State PCBb) District Collector/nomineec) Representatives of State Govt. dealing with the subject and the Department of Environmentd) Not more than three representatives of local bodiese) Not more than three senior citizens

• Concerned persons provided access to Executive Summary of Project

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION, 2006

• Requirements of prior Environmental Clearance (EC):• Certain projects or activities shall require prior

environmental clearance from concerned regulatory authority, referred to be as Central Government in MOEF for matters falling under Category ‘A’ and at State level State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for matters falling under Category ‘B’ before any construction work, or preparation of land by the project management except for securing the land, is started on the project or activity:

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION, 2006(cont)

• LIST OF PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES REQUIRING PRIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE

• River Valley projects• Category A (i) 50 MW hydroelectric power

generation;(ii) 10,000 ha. of culturable command area

• Category B (i) < 50 MW 25 MW hydroelectric power generation;(ii) < 10,000 ha. of culturable command area

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS/CONDITIONS STIPULATED FOR WRD PROJECTS

Drawing up a master plan for rehabilitation of the oustees; Compensatory afforestation; Restoration of construction areas; Necessary arrangements for supply of fuelwood by the project

authorities to the labour force during the construction period; To identify the critically eroded areas in the catchment for soil

conservation work; Mechanism for the movement of fish upstream and downstream of

the structure across the river; Setting up of monitoring units for implementing the suggested

safeguards; Alternatives in case of adverse effect on flora and fauna, wildlife

etc.; Command Area Development (including drainage and anti-

waterlogging measures).

POST CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Half Yearly Compliance Report• In case of Non compliance: SPCB tables action

under Pollution Control Acts, even clearance can be withdrawn

POST-CLEARANCE MONITORING

Six Regional Offices of the MOEF located atLucknow, Chandigarh, Bhopal,Bhuvaneshwar, Shillong and Banglore

National Level Environmental MonitoringCommittee headed by the Member (WaterPlanning & Projects ), CWC and is assistedby State Level Environmental MonitoringCommittees and Project Level EnvironmentalManagement Commitees.

Process of Public Hearing

• Project proponent submits Exec Summary to SPCB• SPCB issues notice for PH; also invites written

comments• Written and oral comments discussed during PH;

clarifications given by project proponents and Consultants

• Public perceptions for & against project heard & discussed.

• Report on PH submitted to State Govt.; forms part of EIA/EMP

WATER RESOURCES PROJECTSENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

CONSTRUCTION PHASE OPERATIONAL PHASE

BENEFICIALIMPACTS

ADVERSEIMPACTS

BENEFICIALIMPACTS

ADVERSEIMPACTS

CONSTRUCTION PHASE BENEFICIAL IMPACTS

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BIOTIC

EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATORY

AFFORESTATION

BETTER HOUSING/LAND IMPROVEMENT OF DEGRADED

FOREST

INFRASTRUCTURE

DEVELOPMENT

GREEN BELT ON PERIPHERY OF

RESERVOIR

COMMUNICATION

IMPROVEMENT

CONSTRUCTION PHASE ADVERSE IMPACTS


DISPLACEMENT OF

PEOPLE

SUBMERGENCE OF FOREST LAND

LOSS OF MONUMENT, IF

ANY

EFFECTS ON FLORA & FAUNA

OPERATION PHASEBENEFICIAL IMPACTS


INCREASED/IMPROVED CROPPRODUCTION

INCREASED AQUATIC LIFE

POWER GENERATION AFFORESTATION

WATER SUPPLY MIGRATORY BIRDS

GROUND WATER RECHARGE

FLOOD MODERATION

AGRO INDUSTRY

TOURISM

OPERATION PHASE ADVERSE IMPACTS

PHYSICAL BIOTIC

WATER LOGGING & SALINITY INCREASED AQUATIC

WEEDS

CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY AND

SEDIMENT LOAD D/S

SPREAD OF WATER

BORNE DISEASES

DETERIORATION OF

WATER QUALITY

Management of major env impacts (EIA/EMP)

• Resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R)- R&R a sensitive issue, a human problem-various R&R measures taken even in earlier river valley projects-National Policy for RR formulated (2007)-objective of R&R - oustees should enjoy a better quality of life at place of resettlement-Oustees, NGOs associated wirh R&R

Management of major env impacts(cont)

• Submergence of forests-Water resources Projects create biomass several times over the forest lost-compensatory forestry(as per Forest Conservation Act 1980) a part of all water resources projects -In several large projects like Narmada Sagar and Sardar Sarovar, alternative lands allocated for compensatory afforestation


• Water-logging-generally projected as a major negative environmental impact of water resources projects -W/L may be due to canal irr & other natural causes-Management measures like drainage improvement adopted


• Sedimentation• - a natural process, water resources projects

do not contribute to increase in sediment inflow in rivers

• - Provision is kept in all reservoirs in form of dead storage for sediments

• - remedial steps to reduce sediment flow in rivers such as soil conservation and watershed treatment taken up


• Flora and fauna - measures taken for rehabilitation of unique or endangered species of flora and fauna - submergence of wildlife taken care of by relocating sanctuaries at suitable places - Dudhganga (Maharashtra). - positive aspect of water resources development -assured water supply for wild life in all seasons


• Mineral Deposits, Historical Monuments - mineral wealth and monuments protected by constructing ring bunds or by exploiting resources before inundation. -historical monuments were to come under submergence in Nagarjuna Sagar dam ;excavated before impoundment and shifted to a museum on top of a nearby hill


• Fish/Aquatic Life -provision of fish ladders to facilitate migration of fish- reduction in river fisheries compensated by rearing fish in reservoirs-Many new species reared in newly created environment.


• Health Aspects -Water related disease, such as Malaria, Typhoid, Diarrhea and Filariasis can spread through stagnant or slow moving water- Vectoral risks can be substantially reduced by removing sources of stagnant water - a general decline in incidence of diseases in these areas(improvement in w/s, sanitaion and economic status)- health mgmt plans – health centres at project cost


• Tourism and Sports - Development of gardens and recreation areas taken place around many reservoirs - Brindavan Gardens (Krishnarajsagar), Sant Dyaneswar Udyan (Jayakwadi) and Kalindi Kunj ( Delhi)- forests around reservoir created by Periyar dam developed as a wildlife sanctuary wildlife - tourism dev should be eco-friendly


• Minimum Flows - Dams result in reduction of flows downstream affecting ecology, pisciculture and human habitations - Release of minimum flows necessary- low level outlets provided to ensure minimum flows - guideline under preparation by CWC/WQAA

Large Vs Small Dams• Unsubstantiated argument submergence due to

a single large reservoir more than that from a number of small reservoirs for same storage.

• Study of Jonk sub-basin of Mahanadi two alternatives considered; first, Girina dam, with storage 603 m.m3 - second, to reduce storage at Girina to 185 m.m3 with eight other small dams to store balance 418 m.m3.

• Second alternative 150% costlier than first, and also involved 60% more submergence.

Large Vs Small Dams(contd.)• Large volumes of water lost by evaporation in small

reservoirs due to shallow depths compared to large reservoirs with significant depths

• Large dams have carry over capacities; serve as insurance in cases of droughts.

• Benefits like pollution free hydropower and mitigation against floods added attractions favoring big dams.

• At certain places, site conditions not favorable for constructing large dams.

• Discrete combination of large and small dams needed

IMP FUTURE ISSUES

• R & R - no of PAPs - For greater common good(Arundhati Roy)- 40 m

• GHG emissions from dams- 19% of India’s global warming emissions from large dams- Brazilian study

• Min flows

Focus of Brain Storming Session

• Environmental Impacts of Hydro Projects – positive and negative. Whether HP should be called environmentally unfriendly even after taking mitigation measures & implementation of EMP.

• Environmental impacts of hydro projects in comparison to that of thermal & nuclear projects wherein problems of emissions, depletion of natural resources, threat of radioactive radiations etc.

• Whether numbers of small projects in comparison to one big project really have lesser environmental impacts?

• Environmental friendly Hydro projects – An effective EMP?

brainstorming session on “hydropower – greenpower

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