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