IND: Assam Power Sector Enhancement Investment Program
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 41614 August 2010 IND: Assam Power Sector Enhancement Investment Program Prepared by Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited The 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. ASSAM ELECTRICITY GRID CORPORATION LIMITED INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION & ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEM EXPANSION ASSAM POWER SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT PROJECT GUWAHATI: APRIL 2010 Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd. II TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO Chapter – 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Introduction and Scope of Assessment 1 1.2 Background and Present Scenario 2 1.3 Existing Transmission Infrastructure 4 EXHIBITS 1.1 Details of Existing Substations 5 1.2 Existing Transmission Lines 7 1.3 Photographic views of ongoing Assam power 11 sector development program Chapter – 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 13 2.1 Need for the Project 13 2.2 Basic Objectives 14 2.3 Proposed Transmission System Expansion 16 2.4 Cost Benefit of the Project 33 2.5 Completion Schedule 34 EXHIBITS 2.1 Peak demand and transformer capacity 26 2.2 Refurbishment of existing substations: list of 30 equipments and substations 2.3 to 2.9 Construction schedules 35 – 41 Chapter – 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 43 3.1 Physical Resources 43 3.2 Ecology: Fauna, Flora, and Forests 53 3.3 Socio-economic Conditions 54 3.4 Environmental Sustainability 56 Chapter – 4 SCREENING OF POTENTIAL 58 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 4.1 Environmental Effects Due to Project Location 58 and Design 4.2 Environmental Effects During Construction 59 4.3 Environmental Effects During Operations 69 4.4 Potential Cumulative and Induced Impacts 71 Chapter – 5 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND 74 MONITORING PLAN 5.1 Description Of Monitoring Programs And 74 Parameters 5.2 Public Consultation Activities 76 5.3 Description Of Responsibilities For Mitigation 83 And Monitoring Requirements 5.4 Description Of Responsibilities For Reporting 96 Design Transmission Index Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd. III CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO And Review 5.5 Work Plan 96 5.6 Environmentally Responsible Procurement Plan 98 5.7 Preliminary Cost Estimates 98 5.8 Mechanisms For Feedback And Adjustment 101 Chapter – 6 FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CONCLUSIONS 104 6.1 Findings and Recommendations 104 6.2 Conclusions 104 APPENDICES 1 Site Sketch Maps and Photos - 2009 2 Site Sketch Maps and Photos - 2010 3 Access to Reserved Forests 4 Associated facilities, Due Diligence, and Cumulative and Induced Impacts Design Transmission Index Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd. IV Abbreviations and Terminology ADB Asian Development Bank EMF Electromagnetic Fields EMP Environmental Monitoring Plan EIA Environment Impact Assessment IEE Initial Environment Examination MOEF Ministry of Environment and Forests SEIA Summary Environment Impact Assessment SIEE Summary Initial Environmental Examination ELECTRICAL TERMINOLOGY V Volt Unit of Voltage kV Kilovolt 1000 volts W Watt Unit of active power kW Kilowatt 1000 watts MW Megawatt 1000 kW kWh Kilowatt hour Unit of energy MWh Megawatt hour 1000 kWh VA Volt ampere Unit of apparent power MVA Million volt ampere 106 VA Transmission System 400 kV, 220 kV, 132 kV and/or 66 kV lines supplying (incoming & outgoing feeder) grid substations (Substation) with primary voltage of 400 kV, 220 kV, 132 kV, or 66 kV LILO Line - In - Line - Out WEIGHTS AND MEASURES C degree Celsius DB(A) decibels measured in the audible noise bands Ha Hectare Km Kilometre M Meter m3 cubic meter kg Kilogram mg/l milligram per liter t Ton t/a ton per annum NOTES (i) The fiscal year of the Government ends March 31 (ii) In this report “$” refers to US dollars. Design Transmission Index Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd. 0 CHAPTER - 1 INTRODUCTION Design Transmission Chapter-1: Introduction Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd. 1 CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT 1. The Government of India (GOI) and Government of Assam (GOA) have requested Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide $200 million in loan funding via a multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) to support continued investment in the state power sector, specifically for transmission and distribution system expansion and upgrades. The Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) is the GOA coordinating agency for the MFF. GOA and ASEB will be the Executing Agencies for the MFF. The power sector investments are necessary to support continued investment in the state power sector, which is necessary for economic growth and poverty reduction. 2. The MFF will partly finance the expansion and augmentation of the transmission and distribution (T&D) networks. The proposed investments are necessary to: (i) facilitate increased power transfers to accommodate increased demand and economic growth; (ii) improve supply-side energy efficiency by system de-bottlenecking and reducing technical losses; (iii) reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) and other emissions via improved system efficiency; (iv) support expanded private sector participation in distribution system operations and other energy services; and (v) facilitate poverty reduction via improved electricity services and economic growth. 3. For the purpose of project preparation, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared for the transmission system expansion to be supported by ADB (the Project).1 The Implementing Agency (IA), Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd. (AEGCL), has prepared this Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for the proposed transmission system project, with consulting support from ADB TA 7096- IND. This IEE describes the proposed transmission system investments, environmental benefits and negative impacts, public consultations, proposed mitigation measures, and preliminary environmental management plan (EMP).2 4. The proposed Project is classified as Category B under Asian Development Bank (ADB) Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). This category is assigned due to “greenfield” transmission lines and substations which are assigned Category B. The IEE of the proposed investments is being carried out following the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Safeguard Policy Statement (2009), Environmental Assessment Guidelines (2003), and the Government of India (GOI) environmental 1 A separate DPR is being prepared for the distribution system investments. 2 The IEE and EMP may be updated periodically if necessary during project implementation. Assam Transmission System Chapter-2: Description of the Project Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd. 2 assessment regulations and guidelines. The primary statutory body responsible for ensuring environmental compliance by the Project is the Assam Department of Environment and Forests (ADEF), and the Assam State Pollution Control Board (APCB) which operates under the aegis of ADEF.3,4 5. An Environmental Assessment and Review Framework (EARF)5 has been prepared which is applicable to all investments funded by the proposed MFF, including subsequent tranches that have not been fully defined. The EARF outlines the policies, procedures, and institutional requirements for preparing subsequent tranches. The EAs are responsible for preparing the required environmental assessments and obtaining ADB concurrence before implementation. These approvals must be in place before contracts are finalized and work begins. The EARF specifically notes that sensitive areas will be avoided at the design and planning stage to the maximum extent possible. ADB requirements for environment Category B-sensitive (or A) projects may be applied in cases where technical design constraints require access to reserved forests or other environmentally sensitive areas.6 6. A preliminary EMP that will apply to all components and subprojects has been prepared (see Chapter 5). The EMP is developed based on environmental analysis of the proposed transmission system components, as well as a review of environmental impacts of other typical power transmission and distribution projects in India. The mitigation measures for distribution system investments in subsequent tranches will be developed in accordance with the EARF and EMP framework. 1.2 BACKGROUND AND PRESENT SCENARIO 7. Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL), a successor company of Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) came into existence in the year 2004 as a part of the reforms program in the power sector initiated by the GOI. AEGCL was created out of the Transmission and Transformation (T & T) wing of ASEB to operate, maintain and develop the transmission system in the entire state of Assam. 3 The Ministry of Environment and Forests updated environmental assessment procedures prescribed in the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, via notification published in the Gazette of India, Extraorodinary, Part- II, and Section 3, Sub-section (ii). Transmission systems are not included in the list of projects subject to the notification and environmental impact assessment clearance requirements. Government of India regulations consider transmission and distribution systems to be non-polluting activities, and as such do not require environmental assessments or prior regulatory approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. State- and central-level regulatory approval is required for right-of-way and sites located in reserved forests, wildlife preserves,