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ftw: Diversion of 283.818 ha of forest land for construction of 765 KV Dobule circuit Dharamjaigarh- transmission line by Jabalpur Transmission Company Ltd. in Jabalpur, & Dindori district of - Reg.

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SI cover apccl Site Inspection Report by Lakhwinder Singh, APCCF (C), Regional Office, Western Zone, on llll0l20l4 in respect of proposal for diversion of 283.818 ha of forest land for laying of 765 KV Double Circuit, Jabalpur- Dharmjaygarh Transmission Line (MP portion) in the districts of Jabalpur, Mandla & Dindori' Madhya Pradesh in favor of Jabalpur Transmission Company Ltd. ! The following officers accompanied during the field visit: Mr A.K. Sharma (SDO, Dindori Division), Mr Amit Singh (SDO - Shapura,Dindori Division), Mr Sandip Rawat (RO Mehadwani , Division Dindori ), Mr Hemant Sharma (RO - Bijadandi, Division West Mandla) & Mr Vrjay Tiwari (Dy RO, Jabalpur). The user agency was represented by Shri T A N Reddy Head Corporate Affairs & S}rri Nitin Bharti.

1. Legal status of forest land proposed for diversion :

Reserved Forest, Protected Forest, Orange and Revenue Forest Land - 283.818 ha.

2. How the forest land proposed for diversion is to be utilized?

The forest land proposed for diversion will be used for laying of 765 KV D/C Jabalpur-Dharmjaygarh transmission line. Transmission towers will be put up in the forest land wherever required.

3. Whether the proposal involves any construction of buildings (including residential) or not? If yes, details thereof:

No buildings are proposed to be constructed in the forest land.

4. Total cost ofthe project at present rate :

Rs 760 crore.

5. Whether forest area proposed for the diversion is important from wildlifepoint of view or not: No, the forest area proposed for diversion is not important from wildlife point of view. 6. Aerial distance from the nearest boundary of any Protected Area :

The minimum distance from Forest divisions to nearest part of transmission

lineare as follows: :

1. Jabalpur Forest division - Durgawati Sanctuary 34 kilometers, Bandhawgarh National Park- 53 kilometers and Kanha National park - 46kilometers.

ii. West Mandla Forest division - Kanha National park - 45kilometers and Ghughua National Fossil Park- l3kilometers.

1ll. Dindori Forest Division - Karopani Protected Area 2Okilometers Ghughua National Fossil Park- 13 kilometers.

Vegetation: a) Total number of trees proposed to be felled Total number of trees proposed to be felled : 9087 Number of trees to be felled of girth below 60 cm : 5844 Number of trees to be felled of girth above 60 cm :3243

b) Major tree species found in the site inspected include the following: Lannea coromendelica Lagerstroemia parvifl ora Terminalia tomentosa Azadirachta indica Diospyros melanoxylon Schlechera oleosa Butea monosperma Chloroxylon swietenia Cassia fistula

Terminalia arjuna Madhuca indica Anogeissus latifolia i c) Effect of removal of trees on the general ecosystem in the area Laying of transmission line, being a linear project, will not have any significant impact on the general ecosystem of the area. It was informed by the Sub- Divisional officer, Mr A.K.Sharma & Mr Amit Singh that to minimize the local impact of removal of tree growth, a scheme for planting up the entire stretch under the transmission line in the forest land with medicinal plants will be prepared and implemented. This way continuity of vegetation will be restored' The tree growth is stunted and most of the trees are of medium height only.

8. Background note on the proposal : The Government of India has identified the power sector as a key sector of focus to promote sustained industrial growth. It has embarked on an ambitious mission o'Power for all"backed by extensive reforms to make the power sector more attractive for private sector investment and participation. In this regard and for system strengthening of the western Region Grid, the Ministry of power (Mop) has entrusted Power Finance corporation consulting Ltd. (pFC), with the task of selecting an independent Private Transmission Company (IPTC) on 100% private investment for the above scheme.subsequently, pFC through the process of international tariff based competitive bidding (ICB) selected Jabalpur Transmission Company Ltd (JTCL) (A wholly owned subsidiary of Sterlite Grid limited) for implementation of two intrastate transmission lines in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh viz.765 KV s/c euad Jabalpur-Bina, and 765 KV D/c Hexa Jabalpur-Dharmjay garh on Build, Operate & intain (BOM) Basis for the purpose of selling all the project's available transmission capacity to the beneficiary. CERC has already granted transmission license to JTCL for the purpose of build, operate and maintained these transmission lines. The

transmission license shall be valid for the 25 years. Ministry of Power has also accorded approval to implement these ilines under section 68 of the Indian Electricity Act,2003.

9. Compensatory Afforestation :

a) Whether land proposed / selected for compensatory afforestation is suitable for plantation and management point of view?

CA has been proposed in the Jabalpur, Panagar and Sihora Ranges of Jabalpur Forest Division, Tikariya Range of West Mandla Forest Division and North Samnapur and Amarpur ranges of Dindori Forest Division. b) Map with details. Enclosed with proposal.

c) Total financial outlay of 10 years CA program: Rs. 28,84,15,598.00

10. Whether the proposal involves any violation of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980? If yes, a detailed report on the violation including action taken against the concerned officials.

No case of violation of FCA has been reported. ll.Whether the proposal involves rehabilitation of displaced persons. If yes, whether rehabilitation plan has been approved by the state government?

10 Nos. of displacement of Forest Right holder persons involved due to project.

12.Reclamation plan : Details and financial allocation : Not applicable. 13. Details of catchment and command area under the project. Catchment area

treatment plan to prevent siltation of reservoir : Not applicable

14. Cost benefit ratio :

The user agency has informed the cost benefit ratio of the project is

37 8433 6 .6 4 I 7 60 (Cr or e) :497 9 .39

15. Utility of the project :

Number of Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribes to be benefited by the project.Approximately 500 people from 50 villages would get employment. As the project is for transmission of power, a large number of people will be benefited from the project.

16. Whether land being diverted has any socio-cultural / religious value? Whether any sacred grove or very old growth trees / forests exist in the areas proposed for diversion? No.

17. Recommendations of the principal chief conservator of Forests/state government

The PCCF and the State government have recommended the proposal for approval.

18.Regional Addt Principal chief conservator of Forests shall give detailed comments on whether there are any alternative routes or alignments for locating the project on the non-forest land.

The user agency has explored three alternatives and the same have been shown on the map. 19. Recommendations of the Regional Addl Principal Chief Conservator of Forests along with detailed reasons. The project is for laying of transmission line and therefore it is related to infrastructure development of the country. The project is not likely to have any

adverse impact on the general ecosystem 6f tfr" area. A detailed CA scheme has been prepared for 10 years. It is also proposed that the area under the transmission

line shall be planted with medicinal plants.Movement of wildlife will not be affected due to this project.Once the transmission line is completed, there will be very little movement of maintenance personnel in the area. No displacement of people is involved. There will be no air or sound pollution due to this project. Keeping in view the above facts it is recommended that the proposal may be considered for approval.

20. Any other information related to the project.

Pictures taken during the site visit are enclosed for having an idea of the site conditions and the nature of vegetation.

Addl Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Regional Office, Bhopal