New Delhi: After conducting post-construction EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) for four power stations, Ministry of power PSU NHPC Limited is set to undertake more post-construction environment impact assessments of its power stations. "NHPC has also carried out post-construction EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) for Uri-I, Rangit, Dhauliganga and Teesta-V power stations. All such studies have indicated that the intervention measures adopted in the respective projects have yielded positive effects on the environment and contributed towards sustainable development in the region. Such studies are planned to be conducted for other power stations also," the company said in an official statement on Tuesday.
NHPC's 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station in Sikkim is the first hydroproject in the country to publish results against new performance criteria, covering its resilience to climate change and mitigation of carbon emissions based on the latest HSAP (Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol). This protocol is the leading international tool that offers a way to benchmark the performance of a hydropower project against a comprehensive range of environmental, social, technical and governance criteria. Teesta-V has met all the stipulated criteria, said NHPC.
Environment Management Plans being implemented at various NHPC projects include compensatory afforestation in lieu of forestland diverted for the project, CAT (Catchment Area Treatment) Plan, biodiversity conservation plan, fishery management plan, landscaping, green belt development, restoration of muck disposal and quarry sites, rehabilitation and resettlement, monitoring of environmental safeguards.
An EIA study is undertaken during the investigation stage of a project and on the basis of the guidelines laid down by the Environment Ministry. It assesses the likely environmental and socio-economic impacts on land, flora, fauna, air, water, socio-economics of the area etc. The EIA studies lead to the formulation of EMP to address various issues identified by the study.
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