SAANI POWER PRIVATE LIMITED RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN STUDY OF 40.32 MW HARIGEHL-MAJEEDGALA HYDROPOWER PROJECT Arja Bridge INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION REPORT VOLUME-IV JUNE 2014 RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSULTANTS (RENCON) House No. 36, Main Road, Sector G-15/4, Islamabad, Pakistan Phone: +92-51-230 4402 Fax: +92-51-230 4404 Email: <[email protected]> With the technical support of: M/S Geological & Environmental Management Services (GEMS), Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir. Email: <[email protected]> Phone: +92-345-537 2847 40.32 MW HARIGEHL-MAJEEDGALA HPP 0 40.32 MW HARIGEHL-MAJEEDGALA HPP TABLE OF CONTENT 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Purpose and Scope of Examination .............................................................. 8 1.3 Overview of the Project Area ...................................................................... 12 1.3.1 Project Area boundary .......................................................................... 12 1.3.2 Proponent and Feasibility Study Consultants ....................................... 12 1.3.3 Project Location and Accessibility ........................................................ 13 1.4 Physical Characteristics of Catchment ........................................................ 13 1.5 Mean Monthly Flows ................................................................................... 17 1.6 Installed Capacity and Annual Energy ........................................................ 17 1.7 Project Layout and Design .......................................................................... 18 1.9 Project Cost Estimation ............................................................................... 21 1.10 Summary of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) ................................. 21 1.10.1 General Impacts on Fauna .................................................................. 22 1.10.2 Involuntary Resettlement of Project Affected Persons......................... 23 1.11 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 24 1.12 Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plan (ESMMP), Mitigation Measures and Proposed Training............................................ 25 1.13 Need / Justification for Project Proposal .................................................. 25 2. POLICY, ADMINSTRATIVE & LEGAL FRAMEWORK ................................... 27 2.1 Background ................................................................................................. 27 2.2 Objective of the IEE Study .......................................................................... 27 2.3 The State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir .......................................................... 27 2.3.1 Policy of the GoAJK .............................................................................. 29 2.3.3 Import Policy ........................................................................................ 30 2.3.4 Infrastructure Facilities ........................................................................ 30 2.3.5 Fiscal Incentives ................................................................................... 30 2.4 Environmental Legal Framework ................................................................ 31 2.4.1 Pakistan Penal Code 1861 ................................................................... 32 2.4.2 AJK Environmental Protection Act 2000 ............................................... 32 2.4.3 National Conservation Strategy (NCS) – Pakistan ............................... 33 1 40.32 MW HARIGEHL-MAJEEDGALA HPP 2.4.4 Regulations for Environmental Assessment ......................................... 34 2.4.5 Guidelines for Environmental Assessment .......................................... 36 2.4.6 Miscellaneous Other Relevant Laws .................................................. 37 2.4.7 National Policy Framework .................................................................. 38 2.4.8 National Resettlement Policy and Ordinance ....................................... 38 2.5 Environmental Limit Values under National Environment Quality Standards (NEQs) ........................................................................................................ 40 2.6 Water Apportionment Accord In 1991 ........................................................ 41 2.7 Environment Regulatory Authorities ............................................................ 41 2.8 National Environment Policy ....................................................................... 41 2.9 Guidelines for Sensitive and Critical Areas ................................................. 42 2.10 Forest Act, 1927 ..................................................................................... 42 2.11 International Obligations ......................................................................... 42 2.11.1 International Finance Corporation, Policy and Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability ....................................................... 42 2.12 Institutional Framework ............................................................................ 43 2.12.1 Federal Government Institutions ......................................................... 43 2.12.2 Provincial / AJK Government Institutions .......................................... 43 2.12.3 International and National Non-Governmental Organizations ........... 44 2.13 International Framework ......................................................................... 44 2.13.1 World Bank Policies ............................................................................. 44 3. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING AND EXPECTED CONDITIONS ................. 47 3.1 Spatial & Temporal boundaries adopted for various aspects of the study.. 47 3.1.1 Existing Socio-economic Statistics of Districts Bagh and Poonch .......... 47 3.1.2 District Bagh ......................................................................................... 47 3.1.3 District Poonch ..................................................................................... 50 3.2 Industry, Trade and Commerce ................................................................. 53 3.3 The People .................................................................................................. 54 3.4 Roads.......................................................................................................... 55 3.5 Telecommunications ................................................................................... 55 3.6 Power .......................................................................................................... 56 3.7 Agriculture and Industry .............................................................................. 56 2 40.32 MW HARIGEHL-MAJEEDGALA HPP 3.8 Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................... 57 3.8.1 General Impacts on Flora ..................................................................... 57 3.9 Existing (baseline) Condition of the Biophysical and the Socio- Economic Environment, trends and anticipated future Environmental Conditions ...... 59 3.9.1 Diagnosis of the Environments ............................................................ 59 3.10 Physical Resources of the Project Area .................................................. 61 3.10.1 Topography ......................................................................................... 61 3.10.2 Hydrology .......................................................................................... 61 3.10.3 Geology ............................................................................................... 63 3.10.4 Soils ..................................................................................................... 64 3.11 Biodiversity ............................................................................................. 65 3.11.1 Natural Flora ........................................................................................ 66 3.11.2 Forests ................................................................................................ 66 3.11.3 Medicinal Plants .................................................................................. 67 3.11.4 Vegetation in the Weir Area ................................................................. 68 3.11.5 Vegetation at Powerhouse Area .......................................................... 68 3.12 Natural Fauna ......................................................................................... 69 3.12.1 Birds .................................................................................................... 69 3.12.2 Mammals ............................................................................................. 70 3.12.3 Reptiles and Amphibians ..................................................................... 70 3.12.4 Insects, Butterflies and Vectors ........................................................... 71 3.12.5 Agro-biodiversity .................................................................................. 71 3.12.6 Aquatic Ecology ................................................................................... 73 3.13 Sensitive / Protected Areas ..................................................................... 74 3.13.1 Downstream water demands ............................................................... 74 3.13.2 Natural plants