47037-005: Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program

Addendum to Resettlement Plan

Project Number: 47037-005 January 2021

Sri Lanka: Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program - Tranche 2

Prepared by Ceylon Electricity Board, Ministry of Power, Government of Sri Lanka for Asian Development Bank. This is an addendum to the resettlement plan originally posted in October 2016 available on https://www.adb.org/projects/documents/sri-gpdeeiip-t2-oct-2016-rp. This addendum to resettlement plan 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 another status of any territory or area. Resettlement Plan

Project No: (SRI) 47037-005 January 2021

Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program –Tranche 2

Addendum to Resettlement Plan (2016) for:

Transmission Line component: New Polpitiya-Hambantota 220 kV Transmission Development

Distribution component: Construction of a new 8 km 33 kV distribution line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry, Construction of Gantry at China bay, Construction of Gantry at Weniwel Ara

Prepared by

Ceylon Electricity Board

Table of Contents Abbreviations ...... 1 1. Purpose of the Addendum ...... 2 2. Transmission Development - New Polpitiya – Hambantota 220 kV Transmission Line ...... 3 2.1 Resettlement Impacts of the Transmission Line Route Deviations ...... 6 2.1.1 Impacts on line lengths ...... 6 2.1.2 Impacts on private land ...... 6 2.1.3 Impacts on government land ...... 7 2.1.4 Impacts on built structures ...... 7 2.1.5 Impacts on households...... 7 2.1.6 Impacts on standing trees and vegetation ...... 8 3. Distribution Development ...... 8 3.1 Construction of new 33 kV, 8 km 4cct Lynx Tower line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry ...... 8 3.1.1Impacts on households ...... 10 3.1.2 Impacts on standing trees ...... 11 3.2 Construction of New 33 kV Gantry at China bay ...... 11 3.3 Construction of two section single busbar Gantry at Weniwel Ara ...... 11 4. Mitigation measures ...... 13

List of Tables Table 1: Differences in the estimates of the Resettlement Plan and the final design ...... 3 Table 2: Reasons for line route deviations and proposed changes ...... 5 Table 3: Locations of the proposed deviations and changes in line lengths ...... 6 Table 4: Impacts on private land ...... 6 Table 5: Impacts on government land ...... 7 Table 6: Affected households ...... 7 Table 7: Compensation for permanent and temporary losses ...... 8 Table 8: Differences in the estimates of the Resettlement Plan and the proposed final design .. 10

List of Figures Figure 1: The Original and Proposed Deviations of Distribution Line Route and Gantry Location of Kappalthurai to Lot D-5 and D-6 Components of the Project ...... 9 Figure 2: The Embilipitiya GSS to Weniwal Ara Distribution Line, Weniwal Ara Gantry and Newly Proposed Gantry at Sooriyawewa ...... 13

List of Annexes Annex 1: Maps of the Proposed Deviations to New Polpitiya – Hambantota 220 kV Transmisison Line ...... 15 Annex 2: Documents related to objections and grievances reported, inquiries / consultations held, and the agreements reached ...... 18 Annex 3: Consent Letter from Sri Lanka Ports Authority for the Construction of the 33 kV Distribution Line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry and the Gantry ...... 36 Annex 4: Consent Letters from Non-Titleholder Households Affected by 33 kV Distribution Line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry ...... 39 Annex 5: Consent Letter from the Divisional Secretary for the Construction of two section single busbar Gantry at Sooriyawewa ...... 47

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (December 2020) Currency unit – Sri Lankan Rupee (SLR.) SLRs.1.00 = $0.0053 $1.00 = SLRs. 187.70

Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank

CEB Ceylon Electricity Board

DSD Divisional Secretariat Division

DS Divisional Secretary

GPDEEIIP Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program

GSS Grid Sub Station

ha Hectares

km Kilometer

kV Kilovolt

RP Resettlement Plan

RoW Right of Way

SLPA Sri Lanka Ports Authority

SLR Sri Lankan Rupee

Addendum to Resettlement Plan of the Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program – Tranche 2 (October 2016)

1. Purpose of the Addendum

1. This Addendum is a supplementary to the Resettlement Plan (RP) of the Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program (GPDEEIIP) – Tranche 2 (October 2016) and it responds to a requirement of the Asian Development Bank’s Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS), 2009 which requires the borrower/client to finalize the resettlement plan by completing the census and inventories of loss of assets soon after the completion of engineering designs. At this stage, changes to the resettlement plan take the form of revising the number of displaced persons, the extent of land acquired, the resettlement budget, and the timetable for implementing the resettlement plan. The entitlement matrix of the resettlement plan may be updated at this stage to reflect the relevant changes but the standards set in the original entitlement matrix cannot be lowered when the resettlement plan is revised and finalized. The borrower/client will ensure that the final resettlement plan (i) adequately addresses all involuntary resettlement issues pertaining to the project, (ii) describes specific mitigation measures that will be taken to address the issues, and (iii) ensures the availability of sufficient resources to address the issues satisfactorily (SPS, Appendix 2, para. 22).

2. The Sri Lanka Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program – Tranche 2 (Project Number: (SRI) 47037 – 005) is being implemented during 2014 – 2021 through a series of investments by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) via a $360 million Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF). Funding is structured into two tranches. The objective of the investment is to achieve increased adequacy and efficiency of power system. The MFF will combine finance to support physical and non-physical investments, including energy efficiency and capacity building. The executing agency of the Program is the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy whereas its implementing agency is the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).1

3. Tranche 2 of the Investment Program comprises three major components. They are (i) Transmission infrastructure enhancement; (ii) Medium voltage network efficiency improvements; and (iii) Demand Side Management (DSM) pilot project in the Aweriwatte/Katunayake of Western Province. Each of the three major components included a number of subcomponents. Component 1 encompasses construction and development of 3 transmission lines, second circuit stringing for 1 transmission line, construction of 2 grid substations, and augmentation of 5 existing substations. Component 2 involves construction of 1 distribution line, a gantry and a primary substation and the augmentation of an existing primary substation. The application of smart-grid and smart metering techniques for DSM integration is the scope of Component 3.2

4. The social safeguards management of the Program is guided by a Resettlement Framework (RF) prepared in March 2014. The Resettlement Plan (RP) for Tranche 2 prepared in October 2016 and approved by ADB had been disclosed in the official websites of both ADB and CEB. The RP was based on preliminary designs, surveys and several assumptions. Subsequently, detailed measurement surveys had been carried out by CEB to prepare the final engineering

1 Resettlement Plan for Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program – Tranche 2 (October 2016) 2 ibid 2

designs for each of the subcomponents mentioned above. In preparing the final engineering designs, CEB required to introduce alterations to the preliminary designs of 1 transmission line, 1 distribution line and 2 gantries. The alterations proposed are primarily in response to various objections and grievances raised by project affected persons and institutions requesting CEB to consider alternatives to avoid/minimize harmful effects on their individual properties and resources. Moreover, changes have been proposed in view of finding more appropriate and technically suitable locations to replace the previous locations, as well as due to the changes in CEB’s own power development plans in the respective regions. Design alterations have now been proposed for the following subcomponents of Tranche 2.

Transmission Development Component:

Construction of new 220 kV double circuit, 144 km, 2xZebra Polpitiya-Hambantota Transmission Line Development

Distribution Development: (Under the Medium Voltage Network Efficiency Improvement Component)

i. Construction of a new 33 kV, 8 km 4cct Lynx tower line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay gantry ii. Construction of a new 33 kV gantry at China Bay iii. Construction of a new 33 kV gantry at Weniwel-ara

5. This Addendum presents the results of due diligence conducted for the alterations proposed for the above mentioned subcomponents, and describes the resettlement impacts causing from the proposed deviations to the original designs, and the mitigation measures to address any adverse impacts. The Addendum is subject to ADB’s review and approval, and will be disclosed in the official websites of both ADB and CEB once ADB’s clearance is received.

2. Transmission Development - New Polpitiya – Hambantota 220 kV Transmission Line

6. The construction of the New Polpitiya – Hambantota 220 kV transmission line was a subcomponent of the transmission infrastructure enhancement component of Tranche 2. In 2018, CEB prepared the first detailed engineering design, and carried out the detailed measurement surveys for the transmission line route. The latest final design prepared by CEB in 2020 observed a number of variations in the estimates provided in the RP (2016), especially in respect of the affected land extents and the number of households. The differences observed are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Differences in the estimates of the Resettlement Plan and the final design

Design features Resettlement Plan Final design (2020) (2016) Transmission line length (in km) 144 147 Area under transmission corridor/RoW 5043 515 (hectares) No. Transmission towers 543 454 No. Towers to be installed on private land 513 383 No. Towers to be installed on government 30 71 land Extent of land required for tower bases 12.22 10.2 (hectares) Extent of private land required for tower 11.54 8.62 bases (hectares) Extent of government land required for 0.7 1.6 tower bases (hectares) No. Households to be affected by 543 383 installation of tower bases Source: Resettlement Plan, 2016 and data from GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

7. The detailed design of the New Polpitiya – Hambantota Transmission Line in contrast to the estimates provided in the RP included the following changes. (i) an increase of the total line length by 3 km; (ii) an increase in the extent of land under the right-of-way (RoW)4 by 11 ha; (iii) a reduction in the number of transmission towers by 89 and their corresponding land requirement by 2.02 ha; (iv) a reduction in the number of towers to be installed on private land by 130 and their corresponding land requirement by 2.92 ha ; (v) an increase in the number of towers to be installed on government land by 41and their corresponding land requirement by 0.9 ha; and (vi) a significant reduction in the number of project affected households by 160.

8. The final design of 2020 further included key line route deviations at six different locations (see Annex 1 for maps of the line route deviations). The reason for the deviations as shown in Table 2 was primarily the numerous objections and grievances raised by some of the affected persons over the line route traversing their private properties as well as taking into consideration some of the factors related to the line’s technical feasibility. In the Deraniyagla divisional secretariat division (DSD), 6 landowners objected to the line traversing their properties and insisted that suitable deviations are incorporated to avoid their properties. Another 13 persons in the Kuruwita DSD requested deviations to the line route, and eventually agreed to the proposed deviations to the route and the compensation offered for the loss of their land for towers, vegetation and standing trees. Similarly, 11 persons in Balangoda DSD and another 11 in the Weligepola DSD requested deviations to the line route. The Divisional Secretaries (DSs) in the respective divisions held inquiries into the objections and grievances raised and consulted the complainants to reach an amicable settlement. CEB officers participated in these inquiring and consulting processes. Finally, CEB agreed to introduce necessary revisions to its final design to avoid/minimize the

3 The Inventory prepared for the New Polpitiya - Hambantota transmission line was based on a 35 m corridor which is the standard width for 220 kV lines (Annex 2.2 of RP, 2016) whereas in the main text it is inadvertently reported as 30 m. According to the Inventory, the affected area of the RoW of the144 km line (original) should be 504 ha whereas in the main text, the affected area is reported as 432 ha (based on a 30 m corridor). 4 The width of the RoW is 17.5 m either way from the centre of the transmission conductor (35 m in total) 4

adverse impacts (see Annex 2 for objections and grievances reported, inquiries/consultations held, and the agreements reached).

Table 2: Reasons for line route deviations and proposed changes

Divisional Reasons for deviation Changes introduced Secretariat Angle Length of Division points the deviated changed section (km) Deraniyagla Landowners raised objections for 19 - 21 0.6 installation of towers on their land and for way leave clearance. CEB agreed to change the line route in consultation with DS, Deraniyagala in October 2018. Kuruwita Villagers requested to shift the line in the 39 - 41 1.0 Adavikanda area to avoid it traversing right in the middle of their lands. CEB consulted the villagers, conducted a joint inspection visit with the villagers and agreed with DS, Kuruwita to change the route in September 2018. Balangoda Villagers in Wilpita requested to shift the 100 - 104 3.5 line to avoid it traversing a water catchment area that provides water to communities in the downstream and to secure the water sources getting dried-up due to removal of trees. CEB conducted a joint field visit with DS, Balangoda, and agreed to change the route in May 2019. Weligepola Villagers in Udagangoda requested to shift 109 – 111 1.4 the line to protect their home gardens and cultivations. CEB conducted a joint field inspection and held consultations with the villagers and the DS, Weligepola and agreed to change the line route in October 2019. Embilipitiya CEB agreed with DS, Embilipitiya to shift 134 –135A 1.8 the line route to a technically suitable location to avoid the RoW of the existing 132kV line at Udawalawe. Sooriyawewa CEB agreed with the DS, Sooriyawewa to 173 – 176 3.2 change the line route to avoid the land

reserved for the Sooriyawewa highway interchange and to comply with the request from the Road Development Authority. Source: GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

2.1 Resettlement Impacts of the Transmission Line Route Deviations

2.1.1 Impacts on line lengths

9. The line route deviations at six locations would cause a minor increase of the line lengths by 0.4 km in the deviated sections as shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Locations of the proposed deviations and changes in line lengths

Location Design Change Angle Point Distance (km) Final Deviated (length in km) section (length in km) 19-21 8.8 – 9.4 0.6 0.6 No change 39 – 41 20.9 – 21.9 1.1 1.0 Decreased 100 – 104 70.2 – 73.7 3.6 3.5 Decreased 109 – 111 75.1 – 76.5 1.3 1.4 Increased 134 – 135A 95.0 – 96.8 1.7 1.8 Increased 173 – 176 128.3 – 131.6 2.8 3.2 Increased Total 11.1 11.5 Increased (+0.4 km) Source: GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

2.1.2 Impacts on private land 10. As per the final design of 2020, the RoW of the transmission line would spread over 515 ha of land. The land under the RoW comprises both private and government land. The social impact assessment conducted for the preparation of the 2016 RP estimated that an area of 408.13 ha of private land would be affected by the transmission line. Deviations proposed for the six locations of the line route however, would marginally reduce the impacts on private land by 0.2 ha as shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Impacts on private land

Location Design Change Angle Point Distance (km) Final (land Deviated extent (ha) section (land extent (ha) 19-21 8.8 – 9.4 0.6 0.6 No change 39 – 41 20.9 – 21.9 1.1 1.0 Decreased 100 – 104 70.2 – 73.7 3.6 3.5 Decreased 109 – 111 75.1 – 76.5 0.9 1.0 Increased

134 – 135A 95.0 – 96.8 0.8 1.0 Increased

173 – 176 128.3 – 131.6 2.6 2.3 Decreased

Total 9.6 9.4 Decreased (-0.2 ha) Source: GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

2.1.3 Impacts on government land 11. Conversely, the impacts of the transmission line on the government land in the deviated sections of its route would marginally increase by 0.7 ha of land as shown in Table 5. The RP estimated that altogether 23.87 ha of government land would be affected by the transmission line.

Table 5: Impacts on government land

Location Design Change Angle Point Distance (km) Final (land Deviated extent (ha) section (land extent (ha) 19-21 8.8 – 9.4 0 0 No change 39 – 41 20.9 – 21.9 0 0 No change 100 – 104 70.2 – 73.7 0 0 No change 109 – 111 75.1 – 76.5 0.4 0.4 No change

134 – 135A 95.0 – 96.8 0.8 0.8 No change

173 – 176 128.3 – 131.6 0.2 0.9 Increased

Total 1.4 2.1 Increased (+0.7) Source: GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

2.1.4 Impacts on built structures

12. The deviated sections of the line route will not cause any impacts on the built structures located within its RoW. Line sections will traverse bare land, shrubs, paddy fields, tea and coconut cultivations and other mixed crop cultivations.

2.1.5 Impacts on households 13. The RP (2016) recorded a population of 543 households who would be altogether affected by the installation of tower bases on their private properties, and 35 structures (residential dwellings and other buildings) that would be affected by the erection of transmission conductors over those structures. The total number of transmission towers to be installed in the deviated sections is estimated at 41 as shown in Table 6. The surveys conducted for the deviated sections of the route show an increase in the number of affected households by 5 from 78 in the final design to 83 in the deviated sections (see Table 6). The impacts on these households would be caused either because of the installation of tower bases or the conductors traversing their private properties. The increase in the number of affected households is mainly due to the deviation proposed to avoid expressway reservation, which is unavoidable. No vulnerable households were identified in the deviated sections of the route.

Table 6: Affected households

Location No. Towers Design Change Angle Point Distance to be Final (No. Deviated (km) installed Households) section (No. Households) 19-21 8.8 – 9.4 02 10 6 Decreased 39 – 41 20.9 – 21.9 03 9 7 Decreased

100 – 104 70.2 – 73.7 12 15 10 Decreased 109 – 111 75.1 – 76.5 06 8 12 Increased

134 – 135A 95.0 – 96.8 06 6 8 Increased

173 – 176 128.3 – 131.6 12 30 40 Increased Total 41 78 83 Increased (+5) Source: CEB’s GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

2.1.6 Impacts on standing trees and vegetation

14. The line route surveys conducted for the deviated sections of the transmission line enumerated 410 standing trees within its RoW which comprised 260 teak trees, 80 coconut trees, 30 ginikooru trees, 13 mango trees, 10 rubber trees, 9 jak fruit trees, 7 areca nut trees, and 1 breadfruit tree. These trees will be removed to clear the route for stringing the conductors.

15. CEB estimates that 20% of the total number of transmission towers would be installed over tea plantations. This amounts to 90 towers. Installation of towers will require the temporary removal of tea plants. Since there is no land acquisition for transmission towers, landowners will be allowed to re-plant the tea underneath the towers once the construction work of the line is completed. The compensation estimated by CEB for the loss of tea plantations is LKR 90 million at an average of LKR 1 million per tower. This compensation will be in addition to the compensation to be paid to the affected persons for the loss of their land for tower bases.

16. As at 3rd quarter of 2020, compensation paid by CEB to persons affected by the New Polpitiya – Hambantota transmission line amounted to the following.

Table 7: Compensation for permanent and temporary losses

No. Compensation Amount (SLR Mn) 1. Loss of private land for tower bases 5,600,000 2. Temporary loss of agricultural land 21,000,000 and crops 3. Loss of standing trees 265,000,000 Total 291,600,000 Source: CEB’s GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

3. Distribution Development

3.1 Construction of new 33 kV, 8 km 4cct Lynx Tower line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry

17. The construction of the new 33 kV, 8 km 4cct Lynx Tower line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry is a subcomponent of the medium voltage network efficiency improvement component of Tranche 2.

18. In 2016, CEB prepared the first detailed engineering design, and carried out the detailed measurement surveys for the line route. The technical design of the 33 kV distribution line from the Kappalthurai GSS to the distribution point at China Bay included a total length of 8 km; a 20

m RoW of the line (10 m either way from the centre of the line)5; and the installation of 28 distribution towers. A significant part of the line was to traverse the vacant government land except for its last 3.7 km which was to traverse the land belonging to the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) and connecting the distribution point through a new gantry to be constructed on CEB’s own land. There were no settlements or built structures within the RoW.

19. However, the LIOC did not consent to the construction of the line over their property. Therefore, CEB proposes to re-route this line section, length of which is estimated to be 4.1 km. Figure 1 below shows the proposed deviation to the line route.

Figure 1: The Original and Proposed Deviations of Distribution Line Route and Gantry Location of Kappalthurai to Lot D-5 and D-6 Components of the Project

20. This deviated section of the line will traverse the land vested in Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), for which CEB obtained clearance from SLPA in May 2019 (see Annex 3 for the consent letter from SLPA). The permission from SLPA had been granted subject to the (i) signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between SLPA and CEB; (ii) construction of the line to be confined to the boundary of the SLPA property; and (iii) CEB’s agreement to waive off the development charges upto 5 MVA consumption requirements under the proposed Trincomalee port development plan to be implemented by SLPA. The MoU between SLPA and CEB will be signed once the ongoing preparatory work of cost estimates is completed.

21. The changes proposed for the line route contrast the previous estimates on the impacts of the line route provided in the Resettlement Plan of 2016 (Table 8).

5 The inventory prepared for the 2016 RP included a 30 m corridor for the RoW. 9

Table 8: Differences in the estimates of the Resettlement Plan and the proposed final design

Distribution Line Features Estimates provided Changes due to in the Resettlement deviations Plan 2016 Total length of the line (km) 8 7.8 Total affected area (RoW) (hectares) 12 11.7 Total private land affected (hectares) 11.14 0.6 Total government land affected (hectares) 0.86 11.1 Estimated No. Towers 28 32 No. Towers to be installed on private land 2 1 No. Towers to be installed on government 26 31 land Total area required for tower bases (hectares) 0.10 0.1152 Total area of tower bases on private land 0.01 0.0036 (hectares) Total area of tower bases on government land 0.09 0.1116 (hectares) No. affected households on tower bases 02 01 Source: Resettlement Plan, 2016 and data provided by GPDEEIIP – Tr.2

22. Accordingly the following differences were observed.

(i) A decrease in the total line length by 0.2 km; (ii) A decrease in the extent of land under the right-of-way RoW by 0.3 ha; (iii) An increase in the number of distribution towers by 4 while their corresponding land requirement also increased by 0.0152 ha; (iv) A decrease in the number of towers on private land reduced by one and their corresponding land requirement by 0.0064 ha ; (v) an increase in the number of towers to be installed on government land by 5 and their corresponding land requirement by 0.0216 ha; and (vi) A decrease in the number of households to be affected by the tower bases by one.

3.1.1Impacts on households

23. The alternate line section proposed however, will affect 4 non-titleholder households living within the SLPA land. The distribution line will traverse their individual properties. Of them, one household will be affected by the installation of a single tower on their property. CEB has optimized its designs to avoid towers being installed in the homesteads of these non-titleholder families. The maximum space required for a single tower is 36 sq.m, which is relatively small. The family profiles of the 4 households are as follows.

1. A N Ushani (44 years): A woman headed household with 5 children comprising 3 males and two females. The head of the household is engaged in farming activities while her eldest daughter of 20 years is employed in a garment factory. Her monthly wage is around SLR 8,000. The eldest son (24 years) is a differently able person and unemployed. The rest three children are schooling. The household receives the government’s food subsidy valued at SLR 5,000 a month provided under the Samurdhi program. 2. R A Jayasena: The head of the household is an elderly person of 77 years who lives with his wife (66 years). The household does not have a source of livelihood, and is dependent on government’s Samurdhi food subsidy of SLR 5,000 a month. 10

3. K A I Pushpakumara (39 years): The head of the household lives with his wife (38 years), and a daughter of 6 years who is schooling. Farming is the source of livelihood for the household which brings them about SLR 8,000 a month. The distribution tower will be installed in their homestead. 4. G M John (30 years): The head of the household is a technician who lives with his wife (26 years) and daughter who is 5 years old. Their monthly household income is around SLR 15,000.

24. CEB consulted the four affected households at which the households were informed about the line route, installation of the tower, compensation procedure for affected land and crops and the grievance redress procedures. All the four households consented to the line traversing their properties and the installation of a single tower (see Annex 4 for consent letters).

3.1.2 Impacts on standing trees

25. The RP of 2016 provided an estimate of 22 standing trees altogether to be affected by the distribution line. They include 5 palmyrah trees, 2 mango trees, and 15 teak trees. However, as per the final design of the line route, the number of trees to be affected is estimated at 106 comprising 31 palmyrah trees, 14 coconut trees, 1 jak fruit tree, 2 mango trees, and 58 teak trees. The deviated section of the distribution line will largely traverse scrublands but altogether will affect 49 trees which include 32 teak trees, 14 coconut trees, 1 jak fruit tree, 1 mango tree an 1 palmyrah tree.

3.2 Construction of New 33 kV Gantry at China bay

26. The construction of the 33 kV gantry is another subcomponent of the medium voltage network efficiency improvement component of Tranche 2. CEB’s previous plan was to construct the gantry at a location adjacent to the existing switching point at China bay (8°33'7.76"N, 81°11'31.46"E) and to replace the same. The land required for the construction of the gantry was approximately 20 perches, and the land earmarked was claimed to be owned by the government. The gantry was to be located at the existing distribution point besides the Lanka India Oil Company (LIOC) premises so that it can be connected to the proposed 33kV Kappalthurai - China Bay line described in the previous section 3.1.

27. Since the RoW of the Kappalthurai-China bay line requires its re-alignment (see section 3.1), CEB now proposes to shift the proposed gantry to an alternate location to align with the proposed re-routing of the line.

28. There will be no land acquisitions for the gantry. The alternate land identified for the construction of the gantry is located in the Kavaddikuda (229D) grama niladhari division (GND) of the Trincomalee Town and Gravets DSD. The land is a government land vested in the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). CEB received the permission of SLPA in 2019 to use 0.05 ha (20 perches) of SLPA land for the construction of the gantry (see Annex 3 for SLPA’s consent letter). The land is vacant but covered with shrubs. It is free of encumbrances, and there are no built structures or settlements within the boundaries of this land.

3.3 Construction of two section single busbar Gantry at Weniwel Ara

29. CEB’s Medium Voltage Plans (2013-2022 and 2016-2025) included the construction of the 33kV DC Lynx line (11km) from Embilipitiya GSS to Weniwel Ara and a Gantry at Weniwel Ara. 11

The construction of the gantry at Weniwel-ara was another subcomponent included in the scope of Tranche 2. Meanwhile, due to some changes in the provincial development plan of CEB, the proposed grid substation (GSS) to be constructed in Sooriyawewa had been cancelled. The main reason for abandoning the proposed GSS was its technical capacity to absorb the anticipated loads. Therefore, in the absence of Sooriyawewa GSS, it was proposed to shift the gantry from Weniwel Ara to Sooriyawewa, and extend the DC Lynx line from Weniwel Ara to Sooriyawewa at an additional length of 10.9 km. This proposal to change the scope was originated by the Planning Unit of the Southern Province as per the Medium Voltage Distribution System Development Plan of CEB’s Distribution Division 4 (DD4) for the planning horizon 2019-2028.

30. The need for constructing a gantry at Sooriyawewa is triggered by the need to improve the reliability of power supply to Mattala International Airport (MIA) which has been requesting two independent, separate circuits preferably from separate feeders from separate substations. At present, MIA is supplied by Hambantota GSS Feeder 10, and the proposed gantry (in the absence of a GSS) would provide another independent feeder to MIA. This new arrangement will also be an added benefit to the Sooriywewa International Cricket Stadium to improve its supply reliability. The location of the proposed gantry is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: The Embilipitiya GSS to Weniwal Ara Distribution Line, Weniwal Ara Gantry and Newly Proposed Gantry at Sooriyawewa

31. There will be no land acquisitions for the gantry. The land identified for the proposed gantry at Sooriyawewa is a government owned land vested in the Divisional Secretary of the Sevanagala DSD. The land is part of a larger area with approximately 152 ha reserved for the use of the Board of Investment (BoI). However, the ownership had not been transferred to the BoI. The extent of the land required for the construction of the gantry is 0.05 ha. The land is located in the Nugegalyaya GND of the Sevanagala DSD. In June 2018, CEB received the consent of the Divisional Secretary to construct the gantry on this land (see Annex 5 for the consent letter from the Divisional Secretary). The land is vacant land covered with shrubs. It is free of encumbrances, and there are no built structures or settlements within the boundaries of this land.

4. Mitigation measures

32. CEB does not have a policy or the mandate to acquire land for the construction of transmission or distribution lines. Persons who own/occupy properties within the RoW of the transmission and distribution lines can retain their ownership and tenurial rights and use them for cultivation purposes or building constructions provided the standard vertical clearance is maintained. In the case of 220 kV New Polpitiya – Hamabntota transmission line, the vertical clearance required between the rooftop of any structures and the lines is 4.6 m. The vertical clearance required for medium voltage distribution lines is 3.7 m. CEB, if required, will further consider increasing the height of the towers to avoid/minimize the impacts.

33. Moreover, CEB would pay compensation for any temporary or permanent losses caused to the affected parties as determined by the Divisional Secretary in the respective region and in compliance with the entitlement matrix of the RP and the Resettlement Framework. The Divisional Secretary is delegated with the powers of the Public Utility Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and empowered to address the complaints and grievances of the persons affected by electricity projects.6 Grievances and complaints particularly with regard to issues of severances and disturbances to private properties causing from electricity projects and compensation for lost/affected assets can be brought to the notice of the Divisional Secretary.

34. Accordingly, any temporary damages caused due to construction work to the cultivations and built structures located within the RoW will be compensated by CEB. Additionally, CEB will provide compensation at market rates for the trees to be removed within the RoW for the installation of transmission and distribution conductors, and the land lost for tower bases, both of which are permanent losses to the affected persons.

35. In addition to the Divisional Secretary who is empowered to resolve grievances and complaints from the affected parties, the aggrieved parties will also have access to a project based multi-tier grievance redress mechanism (GRM) as provided for in the RP 2016 (Chapter 5, p.39- 40). This project based GRM has a wider scope to address grievances/complaints ranging from issues related to land acquisition, payment of compensation, loss of livelihoods and other assistance to environment related issues. The GRM consists of three levels. Level 1 is the project implementation units (PIUs) established at projects’ site level and the construction contractor; Level 2 is the project management unit (PMU); and Level 3 is the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) comprising representatives from the project, DS, Grama Niladhari, contractor etc. Grievances/complaints that have not been resolved in the first two levels will be forwarded to the GRC. Each level has a stipulated timeframe for grievance resolution.

6 Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act, No.31 of 2013.

Annex 1: Maps of the Proposed Deviations to New Polpitiya – Hambantota 220 kV Transmisison Line

The Red Line shows the Old Route while the proposed deviation is shown with the White Line.

AP39 –AP41

AP100 – AP104

AP109 – AP111

AP134 – AP135A

AP173-AP176

AP19-21

Annex 2: Documents related to objections and grievances reported, inquiries / consultations held, and the agreements reached

Annex 3: Consent Letter from Sri Lanka Ports Authority for the Construction of the 33 kV Distribution Line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry and the Gantry

Annex 4: Consent Letters from Non-Titleholder Households Affected by 33 kV Distribution Line from Kappalthurai GSS to China bay Gantry

Annex 5: Consent Letter from the Divisional Secretary for the Construction of two section single busbar Gantry at Sooriyawewa