(a) whether the Government has taken note of the unrest and apprehension
of people of Assam about the environmental hazards due to the proposed hydro
power projects in Assam;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to set up more of mini/micro hydro
power projects which are considered less detrimental to environment instead
of mega hydro power projects; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
( SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL )
(a)&(b) : People of Assam have expressed apprehensions about the
adverse downstream impact of hydro electric projects in upstream of
Brahmaputra Basin particularly about Subansiri Lower Project (SLP), 2000 MW
in Arunachal Pradesh. Taking due note of the apprehensions of the people of
Assam, it has been decided to carry out comprehensive environment impact
and downstream impact studies for the three major basins of Brahmaputra
river namely, Lohit, Siang and Subansiri Basins.
Report of the Lohit Basin has been completed by Water and Power
Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) and submitted to Ministry of Environment &
Forest (MoEF). The terms of reference for the environment impact assessment
studies for Siang and Subansiri Basins have been finalized by MoEF and Central
Water Commission (CWC) is undertaking these studies.
As regards Subansiri Lower project, on the direction of Govt. of
Assam, to allay the apprehensions of people of Assam, a comprehensive
Downstream Impact Study was awarded to Group of Experts from IIT Guwahati,
Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University by NHPC which submitted its
report in March, 2011. The Expert Group in their report has made two sets of
recommendations i.e. one set pertaining to the safety of the dam and other set
pertaining to its operational management. To examine the technical
parameters of the dam for its safety, Planning Commission has constituted a
two members Technical Experts Committee. Similarly, for examining the
second set of recommendations of the Expert Group, as desired by Government
of Assam, a Joint Steering Committee (JSC) has been constituted by NHPC for
mitigative measures in the downstream areas of Subansiri project.
Representatives of NHPC, Govt. of Assam, Central Water Commission (CWC),
Brahmaputra Board and IIT, Roorkee are members of the JSC.
(c) & (d) : Setting up of Mini/Micro hydel projects falls within the jurisdiction
of State Government, under the Constitution of India and therefore there is no
proposal to set up any Mini/Micro hydel project by the Central Government.
However, keeping in view the greater advantages and relatively less adverse
downstream effects of such projects, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
has got a scheme to provide financial assistance for such projects.