Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized TEHRI HYDRO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project Rehabilitation Action Plan For 444 MW For 444 CONTENTS Chapter-1 : Introduction and Methodology Chapter -2 : Profile of Project Area and Project Affected Population Chapter -3 : land acquisition and impacts Chapter – 4 : Income Restoration And Benefit Sharing Chapter-5 : Resettlement Policy and Legal Framework Chapter-6 : Community Participation and Consultations Chapter-7 : Institutional Arrangements Chapter-8 : Grievance Redress Mechanism Chapter-9 : Monitoring and Evaluation Arrangements Chapter-10 : Implementation Schedule Chapter-11 : Costs and Budget Rehabilitation Action Plan for Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project CHAPTER -1 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 1.1 BACKGROUND Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) has been given the responsibility by the Government of Uttarakhand (GOU) to develop, commission and operate Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VPHEP) in the district Chamoli, Uttarakhand. The project aims at diverting the water of river Alaknanda through a water conductor system to an underground powerhouse located near village Haat and proposes to generate 444 MW of hydropower. The project envisages construction of a concrete diversion dam resulting in submergence area (area within the high flood level of the water spread area), and affected area within 7 km of the periphery of water-spread area and other appurtenances of the project and catchments area (of directly draining streams). The project is proposed for the World Bank assistance. The project involves acquisition of public (government and forest land) and private land from titleholders located in 19 villages. The acquisition of land and consequent displacement will have potential impacts on the social, economic, cultural and environmental attributes of the affected population with specific impacts on their productive assets, sources of income, habitat, community structure, social relations, cultural identity, traditional authority and also their potential for mutual help. The present report comprises the findings of the Social Impact Assessment and presents a Rehabilitation Action Plan (RAP) for the affected and displaced population prepared in conformity with the provisions of the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy of the VPHEP and the requirements of World Bank operational policy (OP 4.12). THDC will implement the RAP through non-governmental agency (NGO) and in coordination with various line departments. 1.2 VISHNUGAD PIPALKOTI HYDRO ELECTRIC PROJECT The project is situated on river Alaknanda in the district of Chamoli about 225 kms from the nearest railhead Rishikesh. The catchment of river Alaknanda extends from latitude 300 15’ 00” N to 310 07’ 00” N and longitude 790 15’ 00” E to 800 15’ 00” E. It is completely mountainous, significant part of which is covered by snow (2700 Sq. km). The project is located in District Chamoli on the downstream of Vishnu-Prayag and Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydro Electric projects. Access to the main project components of the present hydro-electric development over Alaknanda is from left side of National Highway No. 58 serving Srinagar – Pipalkoti – Joshimath. Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VHEP) aims to harness the energy of the river Alaknanda for generation of hydroelectric power. The primary features of VPHEP include the following. · Project is a run of the river scheme with construction of a 65 m high gravity concrete diversion dam on river Alaknanda to provide a live storage of 2.47M CM · Project annual energy generation - 1813 MU (90% dependable year) · Water conductor systems comprising power intakes and underground de-siltation chambers (3 nos) · 13.4 km long horse shoe shaped Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of 8.8 m dia · 130 m high restricted orifice type up stream surge shaft of 22/15 m dia · Underground powerhouse having 4 Turbine Generating Units of 111 MW each · Underground Transformer Cavern and 420 KV GIS Switch yard 1 Rehabilitation Action Plan for Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project · 3.07 km long horse shoe shaped Tail Race Tunnel (TRT) of 8.8 m dia to discharge the water back to river Alaknanda 1.3 LAND REQUIREMENT – DISPLACEMENT – SOCIAL ASSESSMENT Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project as envisaged is purely a run of the river scheme without having any storage except upstream pondage up to EL 1267 m to facilitate diversion of water into the water conveyance system. Thus the land requirement for the project is primarily for accommodating different project components and other allied works. The estimated land requirement for different project components is presented in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 Activity wise Total Land Requirement (Ha.) Area to be Sl. Acquired No. Type of Activity (Ha.) % to Total Area 1 Dam Area 9.722 6.87 2 Approach Area 31.192 22.04 3 Quarry Area 11.712 8.27 4 Dumping Area 5.037 3.56 5 Colony Area 8.836 6.24 Power House, switchyard and TBM 6 assembly area 27.35 19.32 7 Reservoir Area 20.231 14.29 8 Underground works 23.13 16.34 9 Electrical works 4.3435 3.07 Total 141.5535 100.00 A total of 141.55 hectares (ha) of land is required to create the necessary facilities and infrastructure and other activities under VPHEP. Of the total land required 31.621 ha of private land will be acquired from 542 titleholders located in 7 villages, 9.54 ha will be transferred from Public Works Department and about 77 ha of government / van panchayat land will transferred to THDC (excluding 23.13 Hac land for underground works). In addition 60 numbers of non- titleholders are also affected due to the transfer of PWD / government / Van panchayat land/Government land. 1.4 MEASURES TAKEN FOR MINIMIZING IMPACTS Efforts were made to minimize the adverse impacts pf the project. Measures adopted for minimizing included the following: 1) Site selection for construction of infrastructure and other facilities were done in such as manner which involved minimal land acquisition of private land (16.46%) 2) During the design stage additional care is taken to avoid cultural and religious properties and public property 2 Rehabilitation Action Plan for Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project 3) Efforts are made to avoid displacement of habitation/settlements centers and the project activities are planned in such a way that they do not disturb the main habitation. 4) The project infrastructure locations are planned in such a way that the existing approach roads are used and laying of new approach roads is kept bare minimum to avoid private land acquisition. 5) Use of tunnel boring machine instead of traditional drilling and blasting method for a large part of head race tunnel. Use of TBM will substantially reduce the risk of tremors in the habitations above the tunnel alignment. 1.5 SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT The loss of private assets resulting in loss of income and displacement has made social impact assessment an important input into the project design while initiating and implementing developmental interventions. An understanding of the issues related to social, economic and cultural factors of the affected people is critical in the formulation of an appropriate rehabilitation plan. A detailed social impact assessment (SIA) therefore was carried out incorporating social analyses and participatory processes into project design and implementation to make it responsive to social development concerns. SIA also helped in enhancing the project benefits to poor and vulnerable people while minimizing or mitigating concerns, risks and adverse impacts. Further as the project implementation entails a large number other social issues such as influx of labour during construction and others, a systematic assessment provided the basis to prepare a Social Management Plan. 1.6 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main objective of the study is to ensure that the project addresses the adverse impacts on the livelihood of the people and that nobody is left worse off after implementing RAP and those affected have access to project benefits, both during project construction as well as operation. In specific, the objectives of the study are: q To carry out a socio-economic, cultural and political/institutional analysis to identify the project stakeholders and social issues associated with the project; q To assess the extent of land acquisition/appropriation and other losses and undertake the census of potential project affected people; q To develop a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) in consultation with the affected people and project authorities; q To identify likely occurrence of HIV/AIDS resulting from the influx of outside labourers and others and develop a strategy to reduce their incidence; and q To develop a consultation framework for participatory planning and implementation of proposed mitigation plan. 1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY The study began with the identification of social issues and stakeholders and communities, including socially and economically disadvantaged communities. The focus of SIA was on identifying local population likely to be affected by the project either directly or indirectly and undertake census survey. The scope of the study in particular included the following: a) Identifying key social issues associated with the proposed project and specify the project’s social development outcomes; b) Assessing potential social and economic impacts both during the construction phase and in