Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program - Tranche 3
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Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 43464-027 October 2020 Part A: Main Report (Pages 1 – 126) and Annexures IND: Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program - Tranche 3 Submitted by: HP Power Transmission Corporation Limited (HPPTCL) This initial environmental examination report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. This report is an updated version of the IEE report posted in January 2018 available on https://www.adb.org/projects/documents/ind-43464-027-iee-0. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Recd. 30.09.20 SFG Log: 4357 Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 43464-027 Loan 3733-IND September 2020 India: Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program - Tranche 3 Prepared by Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited (HPPTCL), Government of Himachal Pradesh for the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Contents Page WEIGHTS AND MEASURES iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 The Tranche 3 Project 1 1.3 Scope of Work and Methodology Adopted 3 2.0 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 5 2.1 Indian - National, Local, Other Applicable Environmental Laws, Regulations, and Standards as applicable to the project. 5 2.2 India and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) 8 2.3 Technical Standards, Rules and Regulations for Indian Power Sector 9 2.4 Asian Development Bank’s Safeguards Policies 9 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 12 3.1 Type of Project 13 3.2 Category of Project 13 3.3 Need for the Project 14 3.4 Location 18 3.5 Size and Magnitude of the Operation 45 3.6 Associated Facilities 52 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT 56 4.1 Physical Resources 56 4.2 Ecological Resources 64 4.3 Economic Development 69 4.4 Social and Cultural Resources 80 5.0 ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 85 5.1 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures 85 6.0 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 99 6.1 HPPTCL’s Approach for Route Selection 99 6.2 Alternatives for Subproject Components 100 7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 106 7.1 Mitigation 106 7.2 Monitoring 110 7.3 Institutional arrangements 112 7.3.1 Implementation Plan 112 8.1 Information Disclosure 117 8.2 Consultation and Participation 117 8.3 Consultation Details 118 9.0 GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 122 9.1 Potential Grievance Channels (Framework) 122 9.2 Time Frame 122 9.3 The Grievance Redress Mechanism 122 10.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 125 ANNEXURES 127 Annexure 1: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 127 Annexure 2: Safe Distances as per Electricity Act 133 Annexure 3: Alternative Site Analysis for Grid Substations 135 Annexure 4: Alternative Route Analysis for Transmission Lines 141 Annexure 5: Inventorisation along the Transmission Lines 151 Annexure 6: Environmental Management Plan 186 Annexure 7: Measurement of Environmental Parameters & Periodicity 196 Annexure 8: Baseline Environment Monitoring for Air, Water, Noise and Soil Sampling for Tranche 3 Subprojects 198 Annexure 9: Details of Public Consultations 207 Annexure 10: Transmission System Map 220 Annexure 11: National Parks and Sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh 221 Annexure 12: Application for Connectivity for Associated Hydropower Projects to HPPTCL system 233 Annexure 13: Forest Clearances for Tranche 3 Transmission Line projects awarded to HPPTCL 240 Annexure 14: HPPTCL’s Health and Safety Plan in response to Covid-19, pandemic 256 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank ACSR – Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced AMSL – Average Mean Sea Level CEA – Central Electricity Authority CPCB – Central Pollution Control Board, Government of India DPR – Detailed Project Report EARF – Environmental Assessment and Review Framework EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMoP – Environmental Monitoring Plan EMP – Environmental Management Plan EHV – Extra-High Voltage EPC – Engineering, Procurement, and Construction ESC – Environment and Social Cell GHG – Green House Gases GoHP – Government of Himachal Pradesh GoI – Government of India GRM – Grievance Redressal Mechanism HPCEDIP – Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Development Investment Program HPCETIP – Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program HPSPCB – Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board HPPCL – Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited HPPTCL – Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited HPSEB – Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board IEE – Initial Environmental Examination LILO – Line – in- Line- out MFF – Multi-tranche Financing Facility MOEF&CC – Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change, Government of India PCB – Poly Chlorinated Biphenyl PGCIL – Power Grid Corporation of India Limited PMU – Project Management Unit RoW – Right of Way WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ha (hectare) – 10,000 sq m km (kilometer) – 1,000 m kV – kilovolt (1,000 volts) kW – kilowatt (1,000 watts) kWh – kilowatt-hour MVA – Megavolt-Amperes MW – MegaWatt EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state in northern India with a population of slightly over 6 million, has abundant water resources in the five major rivers flowing through the state from the western Himalayas. The hydropower generation potential of Himachal Pradesh is about 23,000 MW, which is about one-fourth of the total hydropower potential of India. In its Hydropower Policy (2007) 1 , the Government of Himachal Pradesh (GoHP) targets its comparative advantage in hydropower with the goal to become the "hydropower state" of the country. 2. The Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program (HPCETIP) is a $350 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which will contribute to economic development in Himachal Pradesh through expanded power supplies from clean energy sources, and support a sustainable electricity sector in the state. HPCETIP will produce the following outcomes: (i) increase availability of clean energy downstream at pooling stations for effective power evacuation in a financially sustainable manner, (ii) improve state finances and power sector financial viability from sales revenue earned from power exports, (iii) improve sector governance, (iv) improve capacity in Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited (HPPTCL) for better planning, implementation and management of power evacuation infrastructure, and energy efficiency, and (v) improvement in implementation standards of environmental and social safeguards in the sector. With ADB support, the proposed program will sustain the energy sector reform agenda and is expected to help attract other long-term financiers to the state. 3. The proposed Tranche 3 project, located in Kullu, Chamba, Shimla, Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur districts of Himachal Pradesh, involving the construction of approximately 135 km of transmission lines of various voltages 220/132/66/ and four substations of 583 MVA transformation capacity and one switching substations, consists of the following components: • Power transmission lines: ▪ T1 - 66 kV D/C Line from 66/22 kV GISS Nirmand to 66/220 kV Kotla (23 km) Substation. ▪ T2 - 400 kV D/C (Twin MOOSE) from 400/220 kV,2x315 MVA Lahal GISS to 400 kV Chamera (Rajera) pooling station of PGCIL (35.315 km). ▪ T3 - 220kVD/c Line from Mazra to 33/220 kV Karian (17.45 km), ▪ T4 - 220 kV D/c Line (Twin Moose) from Bhajoli Holi to HEP to 400/220 kV Lahal GISS (18.340 km). ▪ T5 - 132 kV D/C transmission line from Barsaini to Charor (37.230 km). • EHV Pooling Substations: ▪ S1 - 22/66 kV, 2x10 MVA GIS substation at Bagipul. ▪ S2 - 132/220 kV, 2x80/100 MVA GISS at Mazra. ▪ S3 - 220 kV GIS Switching Station at Hatkoti. ▪ S4 - 33/132 kV, 2x 25/ 31.5 MVA GIS substation at Barsaini. • Capacity Building and Training: HPPTCL needs capacity building and skills augmentation through training on technical aspects, study trips and exposure, project management, contracts related conflict resolution, environmental and social assessment, review and monitoring and IT-related Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation shall be undertaken. 4. The ADB-approved Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) report, January 2018 has been updated to reflect the associated environmental impacts & mitigation measures due to the following five additional scope of works under loan 3733-IND (Tranche-3): 1 Government of Himachal Pradesh. 2007. Hydro Power Policy (2007). Shimla. i) Augmentation of existing 220/132 kV Kangoo Sub Station and stringing of 2nd circuit of 220 kV S/C line (3.2 Km) on D/C Towers from Dehar PowerHouse of BBMB to Kangoo sub- station in Mandi district; ii) Construction