Question : Hydro-Power Projects on Ganga

(a) the number of hydro-power projects under-construction on the Ganga and its tributaries at present;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the effects of these projects in the flow of water in the Ganga and its tributaries, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has constituted any inter-ministerial committee to suggest ways and revenues to ensure unobstructed flow of water in the Ganga and protection of environment from hydropower projects; and

(d) the time by which the committee is likely to submit its report to the Government?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER,
COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES

( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) & (b) : At present, nine (9) Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs) (above 25 MW) with an aggregate installed capacity of 2585 MW are under construction on the river Ganga and its tributaries.

A 12 member Expert Body (EB) was constituted by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on 03.06.2015 with representatives from Central Electricity Authority, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of Uttarakhand, National Institute of Rock Mechanics, Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Indian Institute of Science under the convenor-ship of Joint Secretary, MoEF&CC to make recommendations regarding longitudinal connectivity and month wise e-flow including other safety measures during tunneling, muck disposal, transportation, disaster mitigation etc. for six HEPs. The report in respect of the 6 HEPs has since been finalized by the EB in Oct., 2015, which was submitted by MoEF&CC to the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 05.11.2015. Subsequently, MoEF&CC has also filed an affidavit on 06.01.2016, stating that design modification would be required for two projects, namely, Kotlibhel-IA & Alaknanda HEPs, while 3 other projects, namely, Lata Tapovan, Bhyundar Ganga and Khairo Ganga could be implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the Expert Body Report as well as fulfilling the criteria indicated in the Report. However, the stand of the Government viz. Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD&GR), Ministry of Power and MoEF&CC before the Hon’ble Supreme Court is to be finalised. One project namely Jhelam Tamak HEP (108 MW) is yet to be concurred by CEA.

(c) & (d) : An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) was set up under the chairmanship of Sh. B.K. Chaturvedi (Member), Planning Commission in June’2012 for the various objectives including suggesting environmental flow requirement for various stretches of Bhagirathi, Alaknanda and other tributaries of river Ganga and to review the environmental impacts of the hydro projects proposed on these tributaries of river Ganga and recommend necessary remedial action. Report of the IMG on issues relating to river Ganga was submitted in April, 2013.


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