Role of EIAs in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Forest ProtectionManju Menon

Environment Clearance

CWC Guidelines

Mandatory since 1994 as per the EIA notification (Under EPA, 1986): Need for EIA and Public Hearing for a project before clearance

Specific Amendments related to River Valley projects in the notification

2/34 Global Biodiversity hotspots: Indo

Burma and Himalaya

Birds

Large Fauna

Undocumented biodiversity

104

HydropowerEnvironmental and Social Challenges

Brahmaputra river system

International river: China, India, Bangladesh

Highly seismic zone, glacial origins, heavy rainfall –

flashy

Second highest sediment, fourth highest volume

Wetlands, grasslands, fisheries, agriculture

“Geological surprises”

Decision making

Balancing environment and development: Sustainable Development (socio-env vs techno-eco)

Scoping, assessment, public hearings, appraisal, approval

Complex ecosystems- challenging

Rapid, Post clearance EIAs

Subansiri, Dibang and Demwe- “compromised documents” but all granted clearance

EIA documents

Incorrect data: eg: 55 species of fish instead of 156

No data: (downstream areas/ impacts beyond project site/no risks other than dam break inspite of accidents)

No peer review; so much hidden by methods, choices of data analysis eg: averaging vs counting

Fresh data may be needed, usually sought after approval; fait accompli

Post facto assessments: Did the EIA get it right?

Social Impacts

PAP: Small displacement in actual numbers by comparison to dam projects (large by percentage due to small populations, eg Idu Mishmi- 9500)

Percentage of land for project: Unconventional land arrangements for livelihoods due to geography (altitude, weather and soil conditions)

Common use areas, lands without property titles, readily compensated

Ethnic territories, so resettlement is a problem

Influx: Dibang valley, 1,50,000 workers for 17 projects

The river matters

“Run or the river”- no permanent pondage

Fluctuating rivers: starving and flooding of rivers. (6-2500 cumecs, winter normal-400)

So regular winter floods every evening during peak demand; affect on fisheries, agriculture, livestock and transporatation

Wetland ecosystems (Kaziranga, Dibru ) Engandered spp (B. Florican)

Cumulative impact: upto 4 m (13 ft) of water in d/s areas (Dibru)

• Sedimentation: “Unsound investment on uncertain knowledge”

• Hydrology

• Seismicity

• Dam induced floods

• Climate change

• GLOFs

Rise in water levels of the

Brahmaputra at Dibrugarh

after the great earthquake

of 1950

Courtesy: Dr. Dulal Goswami

and Dr. Partha Das

Serious knowledge gaps: Environmental risk assessment

Impact List

Downstream Impacts (Mahadayi, Lower Subansiri)

Dam Induced Risks (flooding; GLOFs)

Loss of Shifting Cultivation land (Tipaimukh; Middle Siang)

Impacts on Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitats (Lower Subansiri; Kameng; Karcham Wangtoo; Athirappilly)

Impacts on Catchment Area

Cultural and Demographic Changes (Demwe, TeestaV and III; Allain Duhangan)

Conservation Offsets (Polavaram; Lower Subansiri)

EIA policy problems

EIA consultants paid by Company

Public come in too late in the process; public comments not used in decisions

Conflict of interest: Head of EAC resigned in 2009 (DemweL +PTC)

Kalpavriksh & Others v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 2667 of 2011 in High Court of Delhi

Almost all projects get approval (2009-10: 90%)

No dumping in forest areas, river beds but

only in designated places

Catchment Area Treatment

Compensation for loss of forests (e.g.

afforestation, declaration of PAs)

Facilities for labour: medical and

recreational

Rehabilitation

Environment Clearance

Conditions

- Hill areas dont have enough flat land for

dumping sites; project proponents find

transportation expensive

- Road construction/ dumping of debris in

forest areas

- Violations recorded by FD, MoEF regional

office, PCB

Excavation and Disposal of

Muck/Debris

TEESTA V, SIKKIM

PARBATI II, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Lower Subansiri

Catchment Area Treatment (CAT)

Project Proponent transferred money to Forest Department, delay in undertaking CAT by FD (NHPC-Parbati II)

CAT money spent on purchase of equipment, vehicles, repair of rest houses etc.

NHPC troubled as siltation affecting dam - no construction upstream of the dam/diversion sites

Incremental changes

E-Flows- concept, not defined

Cumulative impact studies (NEAA, 2007, EAC 2010) but not connected to approvals

Independent river basin/Carrying Capacity studies

No-go areas (Ganga/Teesta)

NEWRA; will it be better?

Revisions to tehno-eco-financial decision making

Monitoring and Compliance