(Feature image: Yamuna river at Lakhwar dam site, April 2019. Bhim Singh Rawat/SANDRP)
Details of proposals related to hydro power projects discussed by Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley Projects during Dec 2019-Feb. 2021
| SN | Project Name | Capacity (in Mw) | Developer | District State | River Basin | Date | Proposal | Decision |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH | ||||||||
| 1 | Sutlej basin Cumulative Impact Assessment and Carrying Capacity Study of HEPs including less than 10 MW projects. | NA | NA | Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej | 26 Dec. 2019 | CIA | Approved[i] |
| 2 | Integrated Kashang HEP | 243 | HPPCL | Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh | Kashang/ Sutlej | 15 May 2020 | Extension of validity of EC | Project Proponent absent |
| 24 June 2020 | Not Required! | |||||||
| 3 | Dugar HEP | 449 | NHPCL | Chamba Himachal Pradesh | Chenab/ Indus | 24 June 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 4 | Dugar HEP | 449 | NHPCL | Chamba Himachal Pradesh | Chenab/ Indus | 2 Dec 2020 | For amendment in ToR | Approved |
| 20 Jan. 2021 | ||||||||
| 5 | Jangi Thopan Powari HEP | 804 | SJVNL | Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej | 31 Aug. 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 6 | Shongtong-Karcham HEP | 450 | HPPCL | Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej | 31 Aug. 2020 | For revalidation of install capacity vis-à-vis Satluj River Basin Study | Deferred |
| 29 Oct. 2020 | Project Proponent absent | |||||||
| 7 | Gyspa Hydro Power Project | 300 | HPPCL | Lahaul Spiti Himachal Pradesh | Bhaga/ Indus | 02 Dec. 2021 | For ToR | More Info Sought |
| 8 | Luhri HEP-1 | 210 | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej | 07 Feb. 2021 | For amendment in EC | Approved | |
| 9 | Reoli Dugli HEP | 430 | SJVNL | Lahaul Spiti Himachal Pradesh | Chenab/ Indus | 07 Feb. 2021 | For ToR | Approved |
| 10 | Bardang BHEP | 175 | SJVNL | Lahaul Spiti Himachal Pradesh | Chenab/ Indus | 07 Feb. 2021 | For ToR | Approved |
| 11 | Purthi HEP | 232 | SJVNL | Chamba Himachal Pradesh | Chenab/ Indus | 07 Feb. 2021 | For ToR | Approved |
| UTTARAKHAND | ||||||||
| 12 | Jakhol Sankri HEP | 44 | SJVNL | Uttarkashi Uttarakhand | Yamuna | 26 Dec. 2019 | For EC | Approved |
| 13 | Sela Urthing HEP | 230 | UJVNL | Pithorgarh Uttarakhand | Dhauliganga/ Sarda | 05 March 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 14 | Sela Urthing HEP | 202 | UJVNL | Pithorgarh Uttarakhand | Dhauliganga/ Sarda | 29 July 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 15 | Sirkari Bhyol Rupsiabagar HEP | 120 | UJVNL | Pithorgarh Uttarakhand | Gauriganga/ Sarda | 29 July 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 16 | Sirkari Bhyol Rupsiabagar HEP | 120 | UJVNL | Pithorgarh Uttarakhand | Gauriganga/ Sarda | 07 Feb. 2021 | For EC | More info sought |
| 17 | Vishnugad Pipalkoti HEP | 444 | THDC | Chamoli Uttarakhand | Alaknanda | 29 July 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 18 | Lakhwar Multipurpose Project | 300 | UJVNL | Tehri Garhwal Uttarakhand | Yamuna | 02 Dec. 2020 | For EC | Approved |
| NORTH EAST INDIA | ||||||||
| 19 | Demwe Lower HEP | 1750 | Athena Demwe Power Pvt. Ltd | Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh | Lohit/ Brahmaputra | 05 March 2020 | For EC | Approved |
| 20 | Rongnichu HEP | 115 | Madhya Bharat Power Corp Ltd | Gangtok, Sikkim | Rongnichu/ Teesta | 29 July 2020 | For EC | Deferred |
| 21 | Simsang Dam Project | 65 | East Garo Hills, Meghalaya | Simsang | 02 Dec. 2020 | For ToR | Approved | |
| EAST INDIA | ||||||||
| 22 | Rammam-III HEP | 120 | NTPC | Darjeeling W Bengal | Rammam/ Teesta | 15 May 2020 | Extension of validity of EC | Asked to apply for fresh EC[ii] |
| 23 | Rammam-III HEP | 120 | NTPC | Darjeeling W Bengal | Rammam/ Teesta | 29 July 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 24 | Teesta Intermediate HEP | 930 (2×30+2×15) | W Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company | W Bengal | Teesta | 07 Feb. 2021 | For ToR | Approved |
| 25 | Dagmara Multipurpose Hydropower Project | 130 | Bihar-State Hydro-Electric Power Corp. | Supaul, Bihar | Kosi | 27 Jan. 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 26 | Shaheed Lakhan Nayak SHEP | 25 | Meenakshi Odisha Power Pvt Ltd | Koraput, Odisha | Kolab (SAbari)/ Godavari | 05 March 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| SOUTH INDIA | ||||||||
| 27 | Saundatti HEP Integrated Renewable Energy with Pumped Storage Project | 1200 | Greenko Solar Energy Pvt. Ltd. | Belgaum, Karnataka | Malaprabha/ Krishna | 29 Oct. 2020 | For EC | Approved |
| 28 | Completion of Balance Works of Two Units at Lower Sileru Hydro Power House and Improvement of Power Canal Works | 230 (2×115) | V. Surya Lakshmi | East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh | Godavari | 02 Dec. 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 29 | Sillahalla Pumped Storage HEP-I | 1000 (4×250) | TN Gen & Distribution Corp | Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu | Sillahalla | 26 July 2020 | For ToR | Approved |
| 30 | Kundah Pumped Storage HEP | 500 (125×4) | TN Gen & Distribution Corp | Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu | Kundah | 02 Dec. 2020 | For EC | More Info Sought |
| 20 Jan. 2021 | For EC | Approved |
EC: Environmental Clearances, ToR: Terms of References; NA: Not Applicable
Between Dec. 26, 2019 and Feb. 7, 2021, the EAC on River Valley Projects held 11 meetings. In this period EAC considered about 30 proposals of hydro projects (non-hydro projects considered by the EAC were additional to this number). Of these 11 proposals were from Himachal Pradesh and 7 from Uttarakhand. The EAC approved ToR to 16 projects and ECs to 5 projects. It also approved amendments in
ToR and EC of one project each and also approved the Sutlej Basin Cumulative Impact Assessment in Himachal Pradesh. About proposal for extension of validity of the Kashang Hydro project in HP, the EAC controversially decided that it is not required! Some projects for which the EAC decision is deferred for want of more information include: Validity of Installed capacity for Shongtong Karcham, ToR for Gyaspa Hydro project, EC for Sirkari Bhyol Rupsiabaghar HEP, Rongnichu HEP. For Rammam III HEP in W Bengal, EAC asked the project to apply for the EC afresh. The meetings dates and links of proposal discussed is given below.
Details of hydro and dam projects considered by FAC for forest clearances in 2020
| SN | Project Name | Capacity (in Mw) | Developer | District/ State | River Basin | Date | Proposal | Decision |
| 1 | Talong Londa HEP | 225 (3×75) | GMR Londa Hydro Power Pvt. Ltd | Kameng/ Arunachal Pradesh | Kameng/ Brahma- putra | 27 Feb. 2020 | For diversion of 280.54 ha forest land | Deferred |
| 2 | Etalin HEP | 3097 | Etalin Hydro-Electric Power Company | Dibang Valley Arunachal Pradesh | Dri, Talo/ Dibang | 23 April 2020 | For diversion for 1165.66 Ha of forest land | Deferred |
| 3 | Pauk HEP | 145 | Heo Hydro Power Pvt Ltd | West Siang Arunachal Pradesh | Yarjep/ Siang | 11 June 2020 | Additional forest area of 0.6 ha and re appropriation of 4.2 ha forest area from already diverted forest area (PH & Barrage Quarry of 0.5 ha and Muck Access road of 3.7 ha) and to surrender 0.6 ha forest area in respect of Heo HEP (240 MW) | Approved |
| 4 | Tato-I HEP | 186 | Siyota Hydro Power Pvt Ltd | West Siang Arunachal Pradesh | Yarjep/ Siang | 11 June 2020 | 0.8 ha forest land and to surrender equal forest land from already diverted 52.8 ha forest area (surface forest land-47.1 ha, riverbed-2.3 ha & underground area-2.8 ha) -change in location of PH quarry site of 0.5 ha. | Approved |
| 5 | Bajoli- Holi HEP | 180 | GMR Bajoli Holi Hydro Power Pvt. Ltd | Chamba/ Himachal Pradesh | Ravi/ Indus | 27 Feb. 2020 | Diversion of 75.304 ha of forest land in Bharmour Forest Division. Permission for felling of additional 12 trees and use of non-diverted degraded/blank forest land in lieu of diverted dense forest land of almost equal area. | Approved |
| 6 | Luhri HEP Stage-I | 172 | SJVNL | Kullu/ Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej | 11 June 2020 | Additional area of 0.9486 ha (in addition to the already diverted 98.1004 ha) of forest land for approach road under the jurisdiction of Ani at Luhri Forest Division | State Govt to examine 3 alternatives and provide compliance of the conditions of earlier approval. |
| 7 | Ujh Multipurpose HEP | 186 | JKSPDC | Kathua/ J&K | Ujh/ Ravi | 22 Dec. 2020 | 680.1 ha (instead of 1100 ha.) of Forest land | Approved |
| 8 | Shahpurkandi Dam | 206 | JKSPDC | Kathua/ J&K | Ravi | 13.24 ha forest land | Approved |
In 2020, FAC considered 8 proposals giving approvals to 5 proposals while deferring 3. Dates and links of relevant FAC meetings held in 2020 are given in table below.
Post Script:- There have been some relevant development regarding functioning and governing of EAC which are being given as below.
MoEF EAC to fast track appraisal process A letter on Nov 11 from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEF&CC) Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) division, that coordinates Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meetings, issued fresh guidelines to accelerate the appraisal process.
The recommendations include ensuring that EAC meetings are held at least once in 15 days. All proposals that were placed for approval 10 days before a meeting ought to be considered (It is 15 days now). “The queries or issues, which the division may have, should be raised during the EAC meeting only. Member Secretary (MS) ought to ensure that the relevant queries of the division are also pointed out at the time of EAC meetings itself so as to avoid occasion for such queries before and after examination by EAC,” the missive notes. Environment minister Prakash Javadekar has said he’s committed to bringing down the time required for clearance down to less than 100 days.
Kanchi Kohli said it was legally contentious if an office order could curtail the role of the EAC that requires detailed scrutiny of applications seeking environmental clearance. “What is even more concerning is the Environment Ministry’s approach to reading down its own mandate for environment protection. Accelerated approvals definitely don’t allow for good environmental decisions and do not necessitate that projects will be up and running to support an already sluggish economy. Our current approval rates are close to 100%, and yet there is an economic slowdown,” she said. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-to-fast-track-green-nod/article33163541.ece (23 Nov. 2020)
Real Worries about EAC’s on River Valley Projects In this Guest Article, well known Supreme Court lawyer RITWICK DUTTA writes that the MoEF’s new office memorandum on Nov 18, 2020, that mandates its expert appraisal committee (EAC) to meet “at least” twice every month to “cut down the time” for environmental clearances (ECs). However, real question is who are the chair and members of the EAC, for example, of River Valley Projects, what expertise they have and how they are selected. Plz Read, Share. https://sandrp.in/2020/11/30/the-real-worries-about-moefs-expert-committee-on-river-valley-projects/ (30 Nov. 2020)
EAC on River Valley Green Signals All in 2019 Even as the EAC on River Valley Projects (RVP) appointed by MoEF in December 2016 completes three years with the end of 2019, it has kept up its record of green signalling everything that came its way in 2019, with one exception: EAC in its meeting on January 28, 2019 rejected the proposal for EC extension for the Brutang Major Irrigation Project in Nayagarh District of Odisha, but it was essentially on procedural issue and the EAC “recommended for taking of the proposal afresh”, so it was not a full stop, but only a comma. https://sandrp.in/2019/12/31/expert-appraisal-committee-on-river-valley-projects-green-signals-all-in-2019/ (31 Dec. 2019)
Compiled by Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
End Notes:-
[i] EAC minutes does not say that explicitly
[ii] Extension of validity of EC granted on Aug 17, 2007: 13 yrs will be over on Aug 16, 2020, rules do not allow further extension, apply de novo for fresh EC
SANDRP 