[Reader-list] Srinagar Hydro-Electric Project-The Cat is out of Bag

[Jeebesh]

 From Matu People's Organisatioon
matuporg at gmail.com

Project Name:  Srinagar Hydro Electric Project 330 MW (but cleared by  
MoEF for 200 MW)
River: Bhilangana (Tehri & Pouri Distt.) Uttarakhand
Envionment Clearance: 3-5-1985
Agency: GVK Group of Andhra Pradesh

   Srinagar Hydro-Electric Project-The Cat is out of Bag

The Srinagar Hydro Electric Project of 330 MW on the Alaknanda River  
in Uttarakhand is a dam that stands on fraud papers, measurements and  
accounts. Furthermore, the project is going on paying no heed to  
necessary the environmental and legal standards. As a result of this,  
the Coffer dam collapsed. The state level and the central level  
monitoring is equal to zero and that is the reason why no action is  
being taken. It is the phenomenon that has been going on since the  
last decade.

On 3rd May 1985, citing the reason of great shortage of electricity in  
the region the Centre Govt. gave the Environment Clearance for 200 MW  
with some very general conditions. The plan to start the work for the  
main dam was in 1987-88 but due to some reasons it did not started.  
Till now many project proponent including big names like Tata had  
taken the work but left it.  At last in 2005 the project is given in  
the hands of GVK Group of Andhra Pradesh.

In reffrence to the above, Matu Peoples’ Organisation has written to  
various governmental and authorities  related to the issue demanding  
immediate closure of the construction work so that the environment the  
region can be saved. But neither had it got any response nor any  
action taken.

The environment clearance for this project was of 200 MW but without  
any study or survey it was increased to 330 MW.  On the proposal of  
Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board for the environment clearance on  
12-3-85, the proposed height of the dam was of 73meters and it was a  
run of the river project.  In the proposal the authority claimed that  
it will not pose negative impact on the environment but it is truly  
baseless claims because----

The houses of the affected area have got cracked due to explosive used  
for the dam construction.
The muke and other disposles of the dam construction is being thrown  
in banks of Alaknanda without making any retaining wall and it is  
going in to the river. As a result of it the river changed its way  
creating havoc for the colonies of Srinagar town.
Because of the dust due to construction the crops, fodder and  
medicinal plants of the region have been harmed.
In the people of the affected area  especially in children some  
diseases mainly Asthma, Allergy of skin and eyes have increased.

On these very serious issues neither the State Pollution control Board  
is paying any heed to it nor is the central agency taking any action  
on it.

The conditions those were mentioned in the Environmental Clearance of  
29-03-1985 were also not fulfilled.

One of the condition of the Environmental Clearance was that there  
should be geo-morphological  studies to be undertaken in the catchment  
to formulate plans for the stability of the slopes and reservoir  
periphery through engineering and biological measures. But in the  
Monitoring report of 26-6-06 of the Environment Ministry mentioned  
that thus didn’t take place.

If the project authority fulfills the condition of making a 50meter  
green belt above the reservoir,they have to acquire any land.for this  
purpose. But without the approval of the people, making  green belt is  
not possible and if the land aqusition is done now then displacement  
will be seen as huge. But after the completion of the project the land  
can be taken for the purpose by   pressurising the people in the name  
of security of the dam.

The Central Environment Appraisal Committee has given the clearance  
for the 200 MW project on the basis that 300 hectors of land in which   
175 hectors of forest land will be submerged. On 12-04-1985 UP Sate  
Electricity Board sent a notice to the environment Ministry. Here the  
Board had mentioned about the effects of the dam on the environment in  
detail, but it was also meant for 200 MW only.

On the basis of that only the Environment Appraisal Committee has  
recommended  for the environment clearance to the MOEF and the  
ministry had given the clearance on 23-3-1985 for 200 MW. The  
conditions of the clearance letter were in accordance with the 200 MW  
plan.

In September 1986, the Irrigation department of UP decided to increase  
the production capacity of Srinagar Power Project from 200 MW to 320.7  
MW and sent the proposal to Central  Electricity Authority (CEA).

The MOEF and Forest Department of UP had given clearance on the basis  
of 338 hector land. On 23-3-90 the Special secretary of UP had written  
with detailed conditions to the Forest Dept. of UP to transfer 328.86  
hector forest land to the Irrigation Department. The basis of this  
letter is also the environmental clearance for 200 MW.

The CEA on 14th June 2000  gave the project re-approval. On 6th of  
November 1982 CEA gave financial and technical clearance  to the  
Srinagar Project as a Run of the River project where as the Ministry  
Of Environment and Forest (MOEF) gave approval to it as Run of the  
River project with poundage.

According to the rules of 1985, the Environment Clearance from MOEF is  
valid for 5 years. But after 14 years in 1999 without any enquiry the  
old clearance was extended. The same extension happened after 6 years  
again which means that the project is running on the basis of the  
clearance of 1985.

In 1985 the proposed height was of 63meters but now it has been  
increased to 93 meters. It shows that drastic changes have been made  
in the project but on the basis of an age-old environment clearance.

The environment clearance of the dam’s reservoir is of 604 meters but  
near Dhari Devi Temple (at the end of the reservior) it touched the  
611 meters mark. But the forest clearance was for 605.5 meter reservoir.

The Economic and Technical clearance from CEA was given on 14-06-2000  
but the main work of the project is yet to start. The clearance that  
was for 3 years got expired on 14-06-2003 but still the work is on?

The CEA in its clearance has clearly mentioned that the cost of the  
project is of 1299 crore plus 95 million US dollar. In 2006 MOEF  
monitoring committee mentioned cost as 1978 crore. It seems that there  
is a big corruption going as the increase of cost of production  
effects the cost of power.

In the Onsite Monitoring Report of 26th of August 2008 submitted by  
the State Level Committee mentioned that there is no proper hygienic  
facility for defection and because of open defection Alaknanda River  
and the affected area are getting polluted. To keep the River clean  
and from the aspect of environment this is very objectionable and  
should be stop immediately. Moreover the details and number of trees  
chopped down in the name of dam construction is not available.

In the same report it was ordered to the Pouri office of forest  
department to dispose the waste of the project according to a proper  
plan from a reputed institute and to do video-graphy of this. But the  
Pouri office of the Forest department said that neither their was any  
plan  nor any video-graphy took place. It was found that no condition  
was fulfilled at any stage. It is obvious that the government  
departments are not paying any attention to it.

It was planned that in the Srinagar HEP the water will be stored in  
the day time and electricity will be produce in the evening at peak  
hours. But it will stop the flow of the river. Besides it will  
adversely affect the hydro-electric projects at the down of the river  
for which the craze is same.

With all these faults and under the table friendship of the government  
institutions with the project authorities which is adversely impacting  
not only on the Alaknanda River  but also on the health and hygiene  
of  the people of Srinagar and affectd villages. It is also an attack  
on the financial and environmental condition of a state and of the  
country as a whole. Should these projects still continue even after  
that?  Only to produce electricity, should we scarifie all the rules,  
regulations, environment, our human and natural rights and our moral  
values.

Our demand is

Ø      The Government should stop this project immediately and release  
a white paper.
Ø      Proper remuneration and settlement for the displaced.
Ø      Find alternatives of Dam work done till now and made arrangment  
for the local people so that they can get employment

Vimal bhai
Convenor
Matu Peoples' Organisation
matujan.blogspot.com
Delhi Contact:- D-334/ 10, Ganesh Nagar, Pandav Nagar Complex,  
Delhi-110092
91-11-22485545