HTL report for Installation of offshore structure for LiDAR based offshore wind measurement

1. Introduction

As the onshore wind energy demands more space, higher wind speed and visual intrusion the focus has been shifted towards Offshore Wind Energy in . The preliminary studies indicated two wind potential sites in and in Tamilnadu. Hence the Government has announced National Offshore Wind Energy Policy as an initial step towards the development of offshore wind in the country. This policy allows various government and interested private agencies to get involved in preliminary data assessments in the potential sites.

M/s Samiran Udaipur Windfarms Limited (SUWL) has carried out a Pre-feasibility study for offshore wind potential zones along Indian coast. Two potential zones have been identified each in the States of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. M/s Samiran Udaipur wind farms limited (SUWL) has approached ESSO-NIOT in order to set up a data collecting platform at off coast Jakhau, Gujarat for a period of two years. M/s SUWL along with NIOT has done preliminary wind assessment, Environmental Impact Assessments and various other feasibility studies.NIOT is also one of the authorized agencies by MoEF for carrying out the necessary demarcation line like HTL and LTL. This report details the demarcation of High Tide Line (HTL) for the proposed site.

2. Location: The project site location is located off coast in of Gujarat. The project is 16.8km from the shore, Jakhau. The geographical coordinates of the site is N23o07’24.42” and E68o 27’ 48.24”.The project site location is shown in Fig1.

Government of India has issued a notification during February 1991for regulating the developments along the coastal stretches of seas, bays,estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action.The land between 500 meters from the High Tide Line (HTL) and the LowTide Line (LTL) is identified as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). The coastalstretches within CRZ are classified into four categories, namely, Category I(CRZ-I), Category II (CRZ-II), Category III (CRZ-III) and Category IV (CRZIV).The notification has also laid down regulations to regulate the variousactivities in the coastal zone.

The proposed project lies in the offshore region beyond 4 km from shoreline. Nodevelopmental activities were proposedin the coastal/onshore region. TheProject falls within CRZ IV i.e. within 12 NM from shoreline asper classification of CRZNotification, 2011.The project location is 16.8km from shoreline and there are no eco-sensitive areas within the radius of 7Km from the site location.

Fig. 1. HTL line for the project site 2. Summary and Conclusions  HTL mapping was done on small scale map of 1:150000 as the project layout is 16.8 km away from the shore.  There is no untreated sewage, effluents, ballast water, ship washes, fly ash or solid waste from this project.  No existing authority developments on the sea ward side.