Environmental clearance for Polavaram project by MoEF

Letter of Government of India Ministry of Environment & Forests Paryavaran Bhawan, C.G.O. Comple, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003 - Dt.25-10-2005

Environmental clearance for Polavaram project by MoEF

No. J-12011/74/2005-IA.I,                                         25th October 2005

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests

Paryavaran Bhawan,

C.G.O. Comple, Lodi Road,

New Delhi-110003

The Secretary (I & CAD)

I&CAD Department,

A.P. Secretariat

Hyderabad.

Subject -          Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Multipurpose Project in West Godavari District Andhra Pradesh - Environment Clearance regarding.

Sir,

This has reference to your letter No. CE (Hydrology)/EE-IV/DEE-II/AEE/1866/Vol-III-1, dated 10.10.2005 & subsequent letter dated 20.10.2008 on the subject.

2.   The above referred proposal was considered by the Expert Committee for River Valley & Hydroelectric projects at its meeting held on 19.10. 2005.  The project   is a intended to provide Irrigation facilities to 2.91 lakh hectares in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari under Left Main Canal and West Godavari and Krishna Districts under Right Main Canal.   The project is across the river Godavari.   This project besides providing Irrigation facilities in the aforesaid manner will also generate hydel power of 960 MW, divert 80 TMC of Godavari water to Krishna River for stabilizing the existing command under Prakasam barrage and provides drinking facilities to 540 enroute villages covering 25 lakhs population together with water supply to Visakhapatnam city and to industries enroute. Total land requirement for the project is 46060 hectare and out of that 3279 ha. is forest land. Forest clearance yet to be obtained.  Total 1,93,35 persons are likely to be affected by this project, out of that 1,75,275 persons in Andhra Pradesh and 6,316 persons from Orissa and 11,766 are from Chattisgarh. Public hearing was held on 10.10.2005. The capital cost of the project is Rs. 9072 Crores.

3.   The Ministry of Environment and Forests hereby accords environmental clearance as per the provision of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification-1994, subject to the strict compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned below -

Part - A: Specific conditions

i)    34500 ha. degraded area shall be brought under CAT (Biological) . In addition to this, gully plugs, check dam, percolation tanks etc. will also be done under engineering measures. The action plan for Catchment area treatment s proposed in the EMP report is reproduced below:

ii)   Total 1,93,357 persons are likely to be affected by this project, out of that 1,75,275 persons in Andhra Pradesh and 6,316 persons from Orissa and 11,766 are from Chattisgarh. The project-affected families will be rehabilitated as per Andhra Pradesh Government's R & R policy -2005 and same package also should be provided for the project affected persons from the Orissa and Chattisgarh State.

iii)   A monitoring committee should be constituted which must include representatives of project affected persons from SC/ST category and a women beneficiary. The committee would also attend the Grievance Redressal of the affected peoples.

iv)  Commitment made during Public hearing by the project authority on different issues should be fulfilled.

v)   Forest Clearance should be obtained for acquiring 3279 hectare forest land & submitted.

vi)  As proposed a fish ladder would be constructed for migration of fishes.

vii)  Occurrence of stagnant pools/slow moving water channels during construction and operation of the project providing breeding source for vector mosquitoes and other parasites. The river should be properly channelised so that no small pools and poodles are allowed to be formed.  Even after taking precaution, due to unforeseen situations, breeding of mosquito and resultant malaria or mosquito borne diseases can increase. If such a situation arises, it will be the responsibility of project authorities to take all corrective steps i.e. residual insecticidal spray in all the project impact area and surrounding 3 Km. area, keeping the flight range of mosquitoes in consideration.

viii) Any other clearance from any other organization if required should be obtained.

Part -B. General conditions

i)    Provision of supplying kerosene or cooking gas / Pressure Cooker to the labourers should be kept instead of supplying fuel wood.

ii)   Fuel depot may be opened at the site to provide the fuel (kerosene/wood /LPG). Medical facilities as well as recreational facilities should also be provided to the labourers.

iii)   All the labourers to be engaged for construction works should be thoroughly examined by health personnel and adequately treated before issue the work permits.

iv)  Restoration of construction area including dumping site of excavated  materials at dam site & power house site should be ensured by leveling,   filling up of    borrow pits, landscaping etc.  The area should be properly afforested with suitable plantation.

v)   A multidisciplinary committee should be constituted with representative  from the disciplines of forestry, ecology, wildlife, soil conservation, NGO etc. to oversee the effective implementation of the suggested safeguard  measures.

vi)  Financial provision should be made in the total budget of the project for implementation of the above suggested safeguard measures.

vii)  Six monthly monitoring reports should be submitted to the Ministry and  its Regional Office, Bangalore for review.

4.   Officials from Regional Office MOEF, Bangalore would be monitoring the implementation of environmental safeguards should be given full cooperation, facilities and documents / data by the project proponents during their inspection.

5.   The responsibility of implementation of environmental safeguards rests fully with the Irrigation Department and Government of Andhra Pradesh.

6.   In case of change in the scope of the project, project would require a fresh appraisal.

7.   The Ministry reserves the right to add additional safeguard measures subsequently if found, necessary and to take action including revoking of the clearance under the provisions of the environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, to ensure effective implementation of the suggested safeguard measures in a time- bound and satisfactory manner.

8.   This clearance letter is valid for a period of five years from the date of issue of this letter for commencement of construction work.

9.   A copy of the clearance letter will be marked to concerned Panchayat, if any, from whom any suggestion/representation has been received while processing the proposal.

10. State Pollution Control Board / Committee should display a copy of the clearance letter at the regional office, district industries centre and collector's office / tehsildar's office for 30 days.

11. The project proponent should advertise within seven days from the date of issue of the clearance latter, at least in two local newspapers widely circulated in the region around the project, one of which shall be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned informing that the project has been accorded environmental clearance and copies of clearance letters are available with the State Pollution Control Board/Committee and may also be seen at Website of the Ministry of Environment and Forests at http:// www.envfor.nic.in/.

(Dr. S. Bhowmik)

Additional Director

Copy to: -

1. The Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi - 110001.

2. Dr. Mallu Ravi, Special Representative of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Bhawan, 1, Ashoka Road, New Delhi.

3. Secretary, Department of Environment, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad.

4. Secretary, Department of Irrigation, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad.

5. The Advisor (I & CAD) Planning Commission, Yojana Bhawan, New Delhi -110001.

6. The Chief Engineer (PAD), Central Water Commission, Sewa Bhawan, R.K. Puram, New Delhi - 100062.

7. Member Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Hyderabad.

8. CCF, Regional Office, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Bangalore.

9. EI - Division, MOEF, New Delhi - 110001.

10. Guard file.

(Dr.S.Bhowmik)

Additional Director