Role of EIAs in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Forest...
Transcript of Role of EIAs in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Forest...
Role of EIAs in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Forest ProtectionManju Menon
Environment Clearance
CWC Guidelines
Mandatory since 1994 as per the EIA notification (Under EPA, 1986): Need for EIA and Public Hearing for a project before clearance
Specific Amendments related to River Valley projects in the notification
2/34 Global Biodiversity hotspots: Indo
Burma and Himalaya
Birds
Large Fauna
Undocumented biodiversity
104
HydropowerEnvironmental and Social Challenges
Brahmaputra river system
International river: China, India, Bangladesh
Highly seismic zone, glacial origins, heavy rainfall –
flashy
Second highest sediment, fourth highest volume
Wetlands, grasslands, fisheries, agriculture
“Geological surprises”
Decision making
Balancing environment and development: Sustainable Development (socio-env vs techno-eco)
Scoping, assessment, public hearings, appraisal, approval
Complex ecosystems- challenging
Rapid, Post clearance EIAs
Subansiri, Dibang and Demwe- “compromised documents” but all granted clearance
EIA documents
Incorrect data: eg: 55 species of fish instead of 156
No data: (downstream areas/ impacts beyond project site/no risks other than dam break inspite of accidents)
No peer review; so much hidden by methods, choices of data analysis eg: averaging vs counting
Fresh data may be needed, usually sought after approval; fait accompli
Post facto assessments: Did the EIA get it right?
Social Impacts
PAP: Small displacement in actual numbers by comparison to dam projects (large by percentage due to small populations, eg Idu Mishmi- 9500)
Percentage of land for project: Unconventional land arrangements for livelihoods due to geography (altitude, weather and soil conditions)
Common use areas, lands without property titles, readily compensated
Ethnic territories, so resettlement is a problem
Influx: Dibang valley, 1,50,000 workers for 17 projects
The river matters
“Run or the river”- no permanent pondage
Fluctuating rivers: starving and flooding of rivers. (6-2500 cumecs, winter normal-400)
So regular winter floods every evening during peak demand; affect on fisheries, agriculture, livestock and transporatation
Wetland ecosystems (Kaziranga, Dibru ) Engandered spp (B. Florican)
Cumulative impact: upto 4 m (13 ft) of water in d/s areas (Dibru)
• Sedimentation: “Unsound investment on uncertain knowledge”
• Hydrology
• Seismicity
• Dam induced floods
• Climate change
• GLOFs
Rise in water levels of the
Brahmaputra at Dibrugarh
after the great earthquake
of 1950
Courtesy: Dr. Dulal Goswami
and Dr. Partha Das
Serious knowledge gaps: Environmental risk assessment
Impact List
Downstream Impacts (Mahadayi, Lower Subansiri)
Dam Induced Risks (flooding; GLOFs)
Loss of Shifting Cultivation land (Tipaimukh; Middle Siang)
Impacts on Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitats (Lower Subansiri; Kameng; Karcham Wangtoo; Athirappilly)
Impacts on Catchment Area
Cultural and Demographic Changes (Demwe, TeestaV and III; Allain Duhangan)
Conservation Offsets (Polavaram; Lower Subansiri)
EIA policy problems
EIA consultants paid by Company
Public come in too late in the process; public comments not used in decisions
Conflict of interest: Head of EAC resigned in 2009 (DemweL +PTC)
Kalpavriksh & Others v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 2667 of 2011 in High Court of Delhi
Almost all projects get approval (2009-10: 90%)
No dumping in forest areas, river beds but
only in designated places
Catchment Area Treatment
Compensation for loss of forests (e.g.
afforestation, declaration of PAs)
Facilities for labour: medical and
recreational
Rehabilitation
Environment Clearance
Conditions
- Hill areas dont have enough flat land for
dumping sites; project proponents find
transportation expensive
- Road construction/ dumping of debris in
forest areas
- Violations recorded by FD, MoEF regional
office, PCB
Excavation and Disposal of
Muck/Debris
TEESTA V, SIKKIM
PARBATI II, HIMACHAL PRADESH
Lower Subansiri
Catchment Area Treatment (CAT)
Project Proponent transferred money to Forest Department, delay in undertaking CAT by FD (NHPC-Parbati II)
CAT money spent on purchase of equipment, vehicles, repair of rest houses etc.
NHPC troubled as siltation affecting dam - no construction upstream of the dam/diversion sites
Incremental changes
E-Flows- concept, not defined
Cumulative impact studies (NEAA, 2007, EAC 2010) but not connected to approvals
Independent river basin/Carrying Capacity studies
No-go areas (Ganga/Teesta)
NEWRA; will it be better?
Revisions to tehno-eco-financial decision making
Monitoring and Compliance