SUMMARY INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION REPORT. for the TALA-DELHI POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT (INDIA)

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1 SUMMARY INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION REPORT for the TALA-DELHI POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT (INDIA) This report was prepared by the Barrower and is not an ADB document. The IEE is available on request. 16 January 2003

2 1 SUMMARY OF INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION FOR THE TALA-DELHI POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT A. Introduction 1. Tala Delhi Transmission Limited (TDTL), a joint venture of Tata Power Company Limited (Tata Power) and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (Power Grid), proposes to implement the Tala-Delhi Power Transmission Project in India and has requested financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank. The Project was one of the subprojects identified under a power transmission sector loan to Power Grid 1 and was classified as category B. A rapid environmental assessment was carried out and concurred in by Environment and Social Safeguard Division (RSES). This report is based on the feasibility report of the TDTL, available maps, and present regulatory requirements of the Government. B. Project Description 2. A detailed description of the Project is in paras. 24 and 25 of the main report. C. Description of the Environment 3. TDTL s transmission lines passthrough the states of West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh (UP). In West Bengal, the transmission line passes through the hilly areas of northern Bengal. In Bihar and UP, the alignment passes mainly through the Indo-Gangetic plains. 1. Physical Environment a. West Bengal Area 4. The alignment passes through the foothills of the Himalayas. The terrain in the area is predominantly hilly. Rainfall is moderate rainfall during the northeast and southwest monsoons. Annual rainfall is centimeters (cm). Maximum rainfall is occurring during June August period. Maximum and minimum temperatures are 33 o C and 8 o C (at Baghdogra). April is the hottest month and January is the coldest. Annual rainfall is about 320 cm. The alignment passes near Mahananda River. b. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh 5. Transition occurs in Bihar. From east to west, the wet lowlands of Bengal give way to the much drier alluvial plains of western UP. From north to south, the state stretches 600 kilometers (km) from the foothills of Himalaya across the flat plains. The weather ranges from hot summer months (temperatures above 40 o C) to cold winter months (temperatures below 5 o C). Maximum rainfall, about cm, occurs during the southwest monsoon season. The Ganges River runs through the middle of the plains. 6. The Gangetic plain, mainly the alluvial deposits of the Ganges River, occupies three quarters of the state. The plains gently drop from 365 meters (m) in the northwest to 80 m in the 1 ADB Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors on a Proposed Loan to India for the Power Transmission Improvement (Sector) Project. Manila.

3 2 east at Varanasi. These featureless and flat plains are stiflingly hot, dry, and dusty during the summer months. The Ganges and its many tributaries cut across the plains. TDTL s power line alignment passes through the northern side of the Ganges River. 2. Biological Environment 7. The states of West Bengal, UP, and Bihar have human settlements with cultivated lands since the prehistoric era. Long years of human habitation has disturbed the biological environment except for a few patches of forests a. West Bengal 8. North Bengal is famous for its tea plantations. Potatoes, chili, and vegetables are cultivated in the region. Rice is the dominant food crop in West Bengal. Jute is also cultivated in many parts of West Bengal. The Mahanadi wild life sanctuary is close to Siliguri. b. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh 9. Western UP has experienced dramatic agricultural growth compared with the eastern part of the state. There is a large demand for agricultural land across the state. Wheat, rice, maize, and pulses dominate the cropping pattern. Sugarcane, potato, oil seeds, and cotton occupy large acreages. 10. UP has a few sanctuaries, the most famous being Corbett National Park. The national park area is very rich in flora, avi-fauna, and wild life. The proposed alignment of the Project is far from all these sanctuaries and the national park. Both sanctuaries are far from the Project s alignment. Bihar has two famous wild life sanctuaries: Palamau and Hazaribagh. 11. Keoladeo Park near Agra, Bok-khali in Orissa, and Sultanpur Lake near Delhi are the bird sanctuaries in the region. They are located far from the Project s alignment. 3. Sociocultural Environment 12. The population of Bihar, UP, and West Bengal as per the 2001 census is 82,878,796, 80,221,171, and 166,052,859, respectively. These states witnessed the decade population growth rate of 28.4%, 25.8%, and 17.8%, respectively. Hindi is the dominant language in UP and Bihar. Other languages are Urdu, Maithili, and Bhojpuri. Bengali is the predominant language of West Bengal. 13. Bihar and Orissa have the richest mineral resources including coal. Due to the availability of coal and minerals, a number of industries developed in this part of the country including steel plants and heavy engineering industries. 14. Kanpur, Moradabad, Agra, NOIDA are the industrial areas of UP. Leather, cotton, electronic, sugar, and chemical industries have developed in the state. 15. A good communication and road network exists all across these states.

4 3 D. Screening of Potential Socio-Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures 16. Carelessly planned and executed power transmission lines can result in a large variety of adverse environmental impacts causing damage to the natural, physical, and ecological resources and to human economic and quality-of-life values. 1. Physical Environment 17. The scientific community has expressed the concern that exposure to the electric and magnetic fields of power transmission lines has potential adverse effects on health. Scientists are still investigating whether and to what extent these effects are harmful and what their longlasting implications for public health are. 18. Interference with drainage patterns due to the construction of the tower bases will be minimal since the transmission lines will pass through the plains. Good engineering design, proper connection of the construction site, and strict monitoring of construction activities can further minimize the impacts. 19. A suitable engineering design will minimize the impact on environmental aesthetics. TDTL will adopt the latest safety design standards to ensure the safe operation of its power transmission lines. 2. Biological Environment 20. While selecting the preliminary alignment, all possible steps were taken to avoid forestland, wildlife sanctuaries, and other precious ecological areas. To avoid forest patches in Gorakhpur-Lucknow and Bareilly-Mandaula stretches in the preliminary survey, The Project s alignments have been rerouted. Presently no forest exists along the alignment except the social forests along the roadways. The necessary permission will be obtained before clearing these forests. Adequate afforestation will compensate for the loss. 21. Although no bird sanctuaries are noted along the alignment, suspension towers may be provided with bird guards to prevent aviation hazards. This measure can be considered at a later stage after analyzing the bird hazard data on each stretch. 3. Sociocultural Environment 22. Since the preliminary survey avoids public utility services like playgrounds, schools, and other establishments, adverse impacts from these fronts are likely to be minimal. The Project s alignment cuts across many roadways and some temporary traffic disruption can arise at these points during construction. To minimize the impact, work at these locations will be carried out during off-peak hours. 23. The availability of electric power brings many positive socioeconomic benefits. The primary socioeconomic benefits include upgrading the quality of life of people and communities, increasing the availability of electricity for final consumption and for increasing economic output, and generating additional employment opportunities. The availability of electric power will reduce the use of diesel generating sets in the northern parts of India, hence, local improvement in air quality can be expected.

5 4 24. No land acquisition is envisaged in the feasibility report. As per the Indian Electricity Act and Indian Telegraphic Act, right-of-way need not be acquired for construction and maintenance. If any crop loss occurs during the construction and operation and maintenance stage, then adequate compensation for damage will be provided. To minimize crop loss, the construction activities will be planned for the lean season. The land for staff quarters and other maintenance structures of TDTL will be purchased on the open market or leased from interested parties. However, this requirement will be on a very low scale. 25. Land for infrastructure such as substations, staff quarters, etc. is outside the scope of this project. Power Grid will carry out these activities as per its environmental and social policy and procedure, which also covers World Bank Operational Directive The preliminary survey for the Project s alignment avoided developed areas, human settlements, and cultural and historical places. Most of the alignment will passthrough agricultural and underdeveloped areas, hence, the adverse impact will be negligible. E. Institutional Requirement and Environmental Monitoring Program 27. Power transmission lines are not on the list of projects that require environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment of the Government except for a few notified ecologically sensitive areas. The Project s alignment does not passthrough any ecologically sensitive area. 28. Power Grid has already obtained this clearance. The Project requires techno-economic clearance from Central Electricity Authority (CEA). 29. The designated environmental and social officer of TDTL will need to monitor the construction activities for environmental and social issues. At the same time, the services of an environmental specialist to carry out monitoring will be included in the project management contract. Periodically, TDTL will report to senior management on the environmental and social management of the Project. A copy of the annual assessment of social and environmental management will be sent to ADB with the project implementation progress reports. F. Findings and Recommendations 30. The Project will provide better electric power and will improve agricultural and industrial development as well as ensure a better quality of life in many parts of northern India. It will also help utilize renewable hydroelectric power to be generated at Tala. The identified environmental impacts are either insignificant or minimal with short-term impacts related mostly to construction activities. G. Conclusion 31. A full environmental impact assessment report is not required by the regulations of the Government and is not needed based on ADB s Environmental Impacts Assessment Guidelines for Infrastructure Projects.