May 2024: Chanju III HEP in Chamba-HP: Rockfall Incident Kills 1; Injures 2

(Feature Image: Screenshot of First Verdict video report on rockfall incident at Chanju III HEP in Chamba)

A rockfall incident at weir site of Chanju III Hydro Electric Project (HEP) site in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh has left one worker dead and two injured [i]. The incident occurred in afternoon on May 3, 2024 when several workers were working on the weir site of the project.

Suddenly rock pieces started falling on them from uphill portion creating panic among the workers. They had to run for the shelter to save their lives. However, one worker was severely hit by the stones and two others got injured while looking for safety cover.

The deceased worker is identified as Shiv Kumar son of Bihari Lal a resident of Saluni tehsil. The names of the injured workers are Ravi Kumar son of Lamba resident Banjodi village, Saluni tehsil and Pawan Kumar son of Bhikham Ram resident of Jatroli village in Dehra panchayat. Work on the weir site was stopped after the incident and the remaining workers were sent home including one of the injured workers.

The deceased was only son and lone bread earner [ii] for the family. His old parents were preparing to get him married soon. The local administration and the company are learnt to have provided immediate financial compensation of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 75,000 respectively to the family of the deceased.

As per the reports, the location of weir site of the project is prone to rockfall and landslide threats. However, the construction company Bhumi construction ignored the risks [iii] and applied no safety measure at the site resulting in the avoidable death and injuries.

Chanju III HEP

The Chanju III HEP is being developed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL [iv]) a state government company on Chanju river near village Dantoi in Tissa sub-division under Churah tehsil of Chamba district. The 48 Mw (16X3) run of the river (RoR) project proposes diversion Chanju river and Mahed nullah a tributary of Chanju, waters by building 30 meter and 15 meter long drop type trench weirs.

The project involves construction of 5 km long head race tunnel (HRT), 6 adits, 2 feeder tunnels and 1 connecting tunnel apart from 2 desilting tanks, underground forebay, penstock and power house.

The Rs 418.57 Cr project would divert 28.50 ha forest land. The per Mw installed capacity cost of the project is likely to be much higher than Rs. 8.72 crore that this cost indicates.

*Chanju III HEP layout map from EIA report.*

Though the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the project mentions 45 months as construction period, the work had started [v] on March 31, 2019 and is estimated to be completed by July 31, 2027. Interestingly, the foundation stone [vi] of the project along with 30 Mw Deothal Chanju HEP was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13, 2022. The EIA report [vii] of the project is prepared by WAPCOS in July 2016.

Other HEPs on Chanju river

Chanju is perennial river originating from Kundi Mural Lake. It is a left bank tributary of Baira river which in turn feeds Siul River a key tributary of River Ravi. In upper stretch Chanju river is known as Deothal khad (nullah).

Presently there are 4 HEPs [viii] on the Chanju river including 36 Mw (12X3) Chanju I [ix] (I.A. Energy) commissioned in July 2017; 19.8 Mw (6.6 X 3) Chanju II commissioned in 2021, 48 Mw Chanju III HEP under construction and 30 Mw (10X3) Deothal Chanju (IV) HEP in clearance stage. The cost of Deothal Chanju HEP is Rs. 273.91 crore and cost of per Mw installed capacity would be Rs. 9.13 crore. The project is proposed to be completed in 45 months.

*Google Earth map showing approximate locations of HEPs on Chanju river in Chaurah valley of Chamba.*

All these HEPs are located along 20 km stretch of Chanju river. There is also NHPC’s 180 Mw Baira-Siul HEP built at confluence of Baira and Siul rivers. The project is about 5km upstream from the merging point of Chanju into Siul rivers.

Past Incidents and Protests

The built and under construction HEPs in Chanju river have been facing landslide and flash flood disasters. Villagers in the area have also protested against the HEPs for causing damage to their homes, forest, water sources and not employing local people in project work. Brief information about some of the known incidents is given below.

December 2013: The blasting work of Chanju I HEP tunnel caused cracks [x] in several homes belonging to Scheduled Caste people of Dhalanjan, Kuha and Makalawani villages. This SANDRP photo blog by Sumit Mahar of Himdhara documents [xi] the extent of damages to homes due to the project’s tunnel work.

*Lilo Devi’s house was located just above the HRT of the Chanju project. 12 houses were completely damaged by the tunnel construction in this village in December 2013*. Image from Photo Essay on the impacts of blasting and tunneling for hydropower projects in Chamba by Sumit Mahar, Himdhara.

February 2018: The local people stopped the Chanju II HEP work [xii] accusing company for not providing jobs to local people despite several assurance in the past. The project company lodged police cases against local people for stalling the project work. The demands of locals were fulfilled [xiii] only after the matter reached to Vice Chairman of State Assembly in July 2018.

2019: As per FLOVEL company which was awarded Chanju II HEP contract by Cosmos Hydro Power Private Limited, the site for the power house of the project was changed from surface type to underground cavern due to geological surprise [xiv] at project site.

February 2020: The detailed video report [xv] by Himachal News states that the violation of environmental norms in construction of Chanju II HEP has turned the lives of local villagers miserable. As per the report, blasting for the project tunnel has caused damage to large number of trees, cracks in homes of Lunekh village making the area vulnerable to landslides.

The locals blamed the Cosmos company for working in ad hoc manner impacting their farmlands, greenery, water sources and crematorium. The developer was fined Rs. 26 lakh penalty for illegal cutting and damage to forest land by Forest Department in 2017. However, the fine was not paid by the company for three years. The stone crusher of the company was also sealed by the administration for violating norms.

*Screenshot of Himachal News Feb. 2020 report showing local people raising concern over environmental impact of Chanju II HEP tunneling work*.

February 2022: The tin shed roofs of Chanju I HEP worker colony and some project machinery were damaged [xvi] due to a landslide. About 25 workers had to leave the area for safer places. The I.A. company reportedly suffered losses of Rs. 10 lakh. A slight change in landslide dimension could have resulted in big disaster for the people and project at that time.

July 2022: A ‘cloudburst’[xvii] near Lunekh village resulted in flashflood in Chanju river. The Chanju II HEP dam gates were opened to avoid the damages.

April 2023: A rockslide incident [xviii] along Chanju river completely blocked the Chamba-Tissa road for 4 hours creating long traffic jams on either side of the road.

May 2023: HPPCL was found disposing off Chanju III HEP power house road debris illegally in forest land [xix] instead of dumping at the designated dumping zone. Taking notice of the issue, the Forest Department prepared a report on damage caused to forest land to figure out financial penalty to be imposed on the company. The Forest Department also warned the developer that the project work would be stopped if the violation is repeated.

Dec 2023: Chanju III HEP work was stopped [xx] for about a month by local people demanding employment in lieu of damages being done to their private land and water mills by the project.

February 2024: The workers protested [xxi] against the Chanju III HEP and stopped the construction work alleging the company forcing them to work under sub-contractors in place of permanent work from the HPPCL. The villagers have reportedly filed legal case in SDM court against the company for not providing employment to local people.

EIA Reports Underplaying Geological Risks, Climatic Threats

The available information of geological and climatic incidents at the project sites underlines the geological fragility of the Chaurah valley terrain in Chamba. Despite this, the government has built 2 HEPs and constructing 2 more HEPs along Chanju river in the region. All of these HEPs have long tunnels which are built and being built using explosives increasing the landslide vulnerability of the area.

Interestingly, the EIA reports for Chanju III HEP and Deothal Chanju HEP both prepared by the WAPCOS have underplayed the evident geological risks and climatic threats looming over these and downstream projects.

In Chapter 6 titled Topographical, Geological and Seismic Aspects, the EIA report of Chanju III HEP claims that landslides along Chanju river are rare due to slopes being stable in nature and covered by thick forest. In same sentence the EIA contradicts the claim stating that landslides have been initiated by human interference such as construction of roads and buildings. At one place in Chapter 6, the EIA report suggests that the EIA report was prepared without credible field visits by expert geologist.

Locals risking their lives while crossing the landslide prone road near Chanju III HEP in Chamba. Image source: Amar Ujala, May 03, 2024

As per the EIA reports, the Chanju III and Deathal Chanju HEPs are located in highly seismic Central Himalayas where 83 earthquakes greater than 4 Richter Scale have occurred between 1964 and 1995. It further states that the most important tectonic ‘plane’ (plate) within this belt is Main Central Thrust (MCT). But then the EIA report underestimates the seismic vulnerabilities of the project sites by mentioning that the MCT position in the area between the rivers Beas and Chenab has not been clearly demarcated.

Similarly, the Chanju III and Deathal Chanju HEPs are coming up above 2000-m elevation in Chanju valley which is covered by 4000 to 5300 m high mountains with number of glaciers and experiences heavy snow fall spells, however the EIA reports have overlooked threats of avalanches, glacial moraines and are mute on cloudburst induced flashflood disaster to all the HEPs on Chanju river.

The construction of large number of tunnels, approach roads, workers colonies, ropeways, power transmission lines and other project infrastructures for the HEPs along Chanju river have increased the geological and climatic disaster potential of Chaurah valley manifold which required timely precautionary measures including scrapping of unviable HEPs and strict compliance to environmental norms before it is too late.

Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)

Some Useful Links:

1. Deothal Chanju HEP, EIA Report

2. Chanju I HEP, Emergency Action Plan 2022-23

3. Chanju I HEP Catchment Area Treatment Plan:

4. Chanju I HEP, CDM Form

5. HPPCL, HEP Environment Policy May 2017

References: –

[i] https://www.divyahimachal.com/2024/05/worker-dies-after-being-hit-by-stones/

[ii] https://www.amarujala.com/himachal-pradesh/chamba/the-familys-only-support-was-snatched-away-in-an-accident-chamba-news-c-88-1-ssml1006-124015-2024-05-03

[iii] https://www.amarujala.com/himachal-pradesh/chamba/stones-fell-on-the-beer-site-of-hydro-power-project-one-worker-died-chamba-news-c-88-1-ssml1006-124003-2024-05-03

[iv] https://hppcl.in/content/607_5_ChanjuIIIHEP.aspx