IIT-R, WII to study hydel projects

The centre has roped in IIT-Roorkee and Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for cumulative impact assessment of all proposed hydel projects on the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda

rivers:

IIT-Roorkee and Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will do cumulative impact assessment of all proposed hydel projects on the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers in Uttarakhand. The move comes against the backdrop of agitations by activists against the projects planned on Bhagirathi on the grounds that they would harm the ecology including adversely impact the natural flow of the rivers in the region. The BJP government has plans to build 300 small, medium and large dams on the various tributaries of the Ganga to meet the increasing power needs in the state.

While the IIT has been asked to finalise its report within six months, the WII has been asked to do so within next two months on the broad impact on the ecology of the surrounding areas.

Stating that environmental impact assessments of individual projects on the rivers have been so far made on a stand-alone basis, the Environment Ministry has stressed on a comprehensive study of the series of proposed thermal power plants -- those planned, under implementation or operational. "It has been decided that a comprehensive study may be undertaken on the likely cumulative impact of the projects on the flow and character of the river. The study would inter alia, determine the requirement of minimum flow from the proposed and already commissioned hydro electric projects on these rivers in their entire stretch," a senior official of the ministry said.

This was decided at a meeting chaired by environment secretary Vijai Sharma recently after he noted that cumulative environmental impact of various projects on the riverine ecosystem in general and terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, in particular, should be taken into account.

He also felt that compliance of the stipulated conditions on which various projects have earlier been cleared needs to be assessed.

The IIT has been asked to assess cumulative impact of all hydroelectric projects proposed or established on river Alaknanda and Bhagirathi upto Devprayag. "Whether the acceptable limits of geomorphological stability or of environmental sustainability, particularly of environmental flows, are likely to exceed at any small or large hydropower project site(s). Whether there will be a depletion of irrigation potential or availability of drinking water in habitations as a result of any project and their impact on ground water and springs in the basin as well on places of cultural, religious or tourism importance will be the term of reference of the study" the official added.