Dated :  01.04.2008                                

No. J-12011/91/2007-IA.I

               

 

 

 

Shri B. Murali Mohan Reddy

Managing Director

Sneha Kinetic Power Projects Limited,

7-65, Habsiguda,

Hyderabad-500 007 (Andhra Pradesh)

 

 

Subject:- Dikchu Hydroelectric Power Project  96 MW (3 x 32 MW) in the Districts of North & East of Sikkim by M/s  Sneha Kinetic Power Projects Limited –Environmental Clearance  regarding.

 

 

Sir,

This has reference to your letter No SKPPL/MOEF/07-08/05 dated 29-11-2007 and subsequent letters dated 3.10.2007 and 11-02-2008 on the subject.

 

2.         The above  mentioned project was considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley & Hydroelectric projects at its meeting held on 16-01-2008 and reconsidered on 21-02-2008. The project envisages construction of a 36 m high concrete gravity dam across river  Dikchu located between Dikchu & Lingdok villages which is about 1 km upstream of the confluence of River Dikchu with Teesta. This is a run-of-the river scheme. The power house will be under ground and to be located about 1.5 kms upstream of Dikchu-Teesta confulence.  The total land requirement is 39.126 ha. Out of which 7.794 ha. forest land and 31.332 ha. is private land. The total catchment area up-to dam site is 240 sq. kims. The project will submerge about 5.7 ha.

of land. 75 families are likely to be partially affected due to this project. The total cost of the project is about Rs. 499 Crores and will be completed in 48 months.

                                                   

3.                  The Ministry of Environment and Forest hereby accords environmental clearance as per the provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 1994 & 2006 subject to strict compliance of the terms and conditions as follows:

 

Part A: Specific Conditions

 

 

i).         Catchment Area Treatment Plan as has been proposed should be completed in four years. The plan is given below:

 

Treatment Measures

Year I

Year II

Year III

 

Year IV

 

Total

(A) Biological Measures

 

 

 

 

 

Afforestation (ha)

--

70

105

75

250

Afforestation maintenance (ha)

--

--

70

175

--

Bamboo Plantation (ha)

--

70

50

50

170

Bam(m3 )boo maintenance (ha)

--

--

70

120

--

Pasture Development (ha)

--

30

30

20

80

Pasture maintenance (ha)

--

--

30

60

--

Horticulture Development (ha)

--

25

25

50

100

Broom Grass Development(ha)

--

50

30

20

100

Natural Regeneration (ha)

40

30

20

10

100

Natural regeneration maintenance (ha)

--

40

70

50

--

NTFP/Medicinal Plants (ha)

--

25

25

5

55

NTFP maintenance (ha)

--

--

25

50

--

Seed Sowing & Broadcasting (ha)

40

30

20

10

100

Nursery Development (Nos)

3

0

0

0

3

Nursery maintenance (Nos)

--

3

3

3

-

(B) Engineering Measures

 

 

 

 

 

Dry Stone Wall (m3 )

3000

2300

1500

1300

8100

Dry Stone Sausage Wall(m3 )

2500

1300

1000

850

5650

CCM Wall(m3 )

900

600

350

150

2000

Catch Water Drain (m3 )

1500

900

800

500

3700

Bally Benching (ha)

30

35

20

15

100

Soil & Moisture Conservation (ha)

50

50

50

40

190

Contour Bunding (ha)

10

20

30

30

90

 

(ii)         The land holding of project affected persons whose land is being acquired has to be submitted to this Ministry. During the construction of the project, if any person/family whose acquired land is more than 70% of the total land holding is identified, such family/person shall be treated as fully affected person. NPRR – 2007 as well as Sikkim R&R package would be followed for R&R of project affected persons.

 

(iii)              A Monitoring Committee for R & R should be constituted which must include representatives of project-affected persons from SC / ST category and a woman beneficiary.

 

(iv)               The commitment made during the public hearing should be fulfilled.

 

(v)                 All the equipment which are likely to generate high noise levels are to be fully taken care (noise reduction measures) to meet the ambient noise control standards.

 

(vi)               . The proposed plan for 3.6 lakh Cu m of muck disposal- i.e. about 1.1 lakh Cu m is proposed to be reutilized during construction and the remaining 2.5 lakh cumecs of muck to be disposed of at 6 designated areas in North and South Sikkim Districts. Consolidation and compilation of the muck should be carried-out in the muck dumping sites and the dumping sites should be above high flood level.

                      

(vii)             The fishery management plan as proposed in the letter dated 11-02-2008 should be implemented in totality. Creating hatcheries, establishment of fish farms and reservoir fishery has been proposed for conservation and fisheries development and suitable sites for establishment of hatcheries should be identified in consultation with the State Fisheries Department. The total budget of Rs 55.75 lakhs for the fishery development and conservation should not be diverted for any other purpose.

 

(viii)           The proposed afforestation programme in double of degraded forest area of 15.6 ha (10 ha in North & 5.6 in East districts) using native plant species are identified for this afforestation programme should be strictly implemented. Necessary forest clearance under  Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 should be obtained in this regard.

 

(ix)              The proposed green belt within the 39.1 ha of the project area along the network of approach roads, residential areas, office complex, dam site, around the periphery of the reservoir shpuld be strictly adhered and also proposed to in-situ /ex-situ conservation of Orchids and take-up rehabilitation of these species along the road from Rangpo to Ranipoo which are ideal places for rehabilitation should be strictly implemented.

 

x)         During lean season 4.92 cumec of water flow is available in the river. A minimum one Cu m of the water shall be released during the lean season for maintaining the aquatic life in the river.

Part-B: General Conditions

 

(i)                 Adequate free fuel arrangement should be made for the labour force engaged in the construction work at project cost so that indiscriminate felling of trees is prevented.

 

(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 issuing them work permit.

 

(iv)              Restoration of construction area including dumping site of excavated materials should be ensured by leveling, filling up of burrow pits, landscaping etc. The area should be properly treated with suitable plantation.

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

 

(vi)              A Multidisciplinary committee in consultation with the Ministry should be constituted with Ecologists, Environmental Scientists, Conservationists and experienced administrators etc. to oversee the effective implementation of the suggested safeguard measures.

 

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

 

4.  Officials from Regional Office MOEF, Shillong who 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 Sneha Kinetic Power Projects Limited & Government of Sikkim

 

6.  The total amount of Rs.2346.88 lakhs kept in the budgetary provisions in the letter dated 11.2.2008 for implementation of environmental management plan should be strictly adhered and not to be diverted for any other purpose.

 

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

 

8.  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 Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to ensure effective implementation of the suggested safeguard measures in a time- bound and satisfactory manner.    

    

9.    This clearance letter is valid for a period of 10 years from the date of issue of this letter for commencement of construction work.

 

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

 

11.   State Pollution Control Board / Committee should display a copy of the clearance letter at the Regional Office, District Industries Center and Collector’s office/ Tehsildar’s office for 30 days.

 

12. The project proponent should advertise within 7 days 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

 

13.       Any appeal against this environmental clearance shall lie with the National Environment Appellate Authority, if preferred within a period of 30 days as prescribed under Section 11 of the National Environment Appellate Act,1997.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               (Dr. S. Bhowmik)

                                                            Additional Director

                                                                                                 

Copy to:

 

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

2.      The Adviser (Power), Planning Commission, Yojna Bhawan, New Delhi - 110001.

3.       Secretary, Department of Power, Government of Sikkim, Secretariat, Gangtok.

4.      The Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment & Wildlife Management, Forest Secretariat, Goverment of Sikkim, Deoral, Gangtok-737 102, Sikkim

5.      The Chief Engineer, Project Appraisal Directorate, Central Electricity Authority, Sewa Bhawan, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066.

6.      The Regional Office, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Shillong

7.      Member Secretary, State Pollution Control Board, Department of  Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Deorali, Gangtok- 737 102, Sikkim

8.      EI- Division, Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi-110003.

9.      Guard file.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (Dr. S. Bhowmik)

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Additional Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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