Social THDC's Approach To Social Impact Issues In Hydro Projects Tehri Project - Setting a Benchmark
The 1000 MW Tehri Project, with the highest Earth and Rockfill Dam in Asia and the fourth highest in the world, involved submergence of 42 sq. km and consequential large-scale displacement of almost 15,000 families. That experience was invaluable for THDC in evolving an understanding and humane approach to handling the social impacts of its projects.
THDC today has set for itself the highest standards in handling issues of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation related to the development of projects it undertakes. The company strives to ensure that the people directly affected by these activities are helped to regain - if not improve - the standard of living they enjoyed before they were relocated
About the Vishnugad Pipalkoti HEP
The 444 MW Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VPHEP) in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, aims at diverting the water of river Alaknanda through a water conductor system to an underground powerhouse located near village Haat in order to generate 444 MW of hydropower. VPHEP is a run-of-river project located where the Alaknanda river runs through a deep gorge. Therefore, it has comparatively limited land requirements impacting private land owners. The project is situated about 225 km from the nearest railhead at Rishikesh.
THDC's Continued Commitment for Social Aspects of Hydro Projects - VPHEP
THDC is committed to following the basic principles of resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) as laid out in the National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation 2007 (NPRR 2007) in the implementation of VPHEP. The project has been proposed for World Bank assistance and will thus also comply with the Bank's policy guidelines on R & R. A project-specific R&R Policy(size 137 KB) has been formulated for VPHEP that in fact exceeds the provisions laid out National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation (NPRR-2007).
THDC has made every effort in the design and planning of the Project to acquire as little land as possible from private landowners, even if it entails a higher cost to the project. The project infrastructure locations are planned in such a way that the existing approach roads are used and laying of new approach roads is kept to a bare minimum to avoid private land acquisition. The location of the switch yard was changed from the original design so that the Hatsari hamlet in the village Haat would not be affected, thus reducing the acquisition of private land.
A Social Impact Assessment (SIA for the Project area was completed in April, 2008. It included consultations with stakeholders, information on socio-economic and cultural features of the population, and baseline data on land acquisition impacts. This information, together with consultations with communities in the project area regarding their concerns, have been included in the proposed measures to ensure that negative impacts are mitigated and that people receive benefits from the Project.
Based on consultations with Stakeholders, a Rehabilitation Action Plan (RAP)(size 1.05 MB) was drawn up to steer the R&R efforts.
For the effective implementation of R&R :
- Dedicated social development staff has been posted at the Project site, as well as in the THDC corporate headquarters, to handle any social issues that may arise.
- THDC has also appointed trained social workers at the Project level to help the staff interact with the project-affected communities and to provide Project-affected People (PAPs) easy access to the staff. This helps better communication between PAFs and project management to understand and mitigate the issue. THDC has also hired a leading NGO of the region, Shri Bhuvaneshwari
- Mahila Ashram (SBMA) to help it implement the RAP.
- THDC has also formulated CSR Policy for sustainable development of the larger local area. Some of the proposed measures include:
- Improving road connectivity in the vicinity of Project area.
- Construction of Drinking water schemes.
- Providing Medical facilities and Organizing Medical Camps.
- Distribution of School bags, dress and stationery in the Project affected primary schools.
- THDC has earmarked Rs 9 crore towards local area development to be utilised by the affected villages during the construction stage of the Project.
- A Consultative and Participative Mechanism has been set up for active participation of the affected persons and stakeholders.
Similarly, a Grievance Redressal Mechanismhas been put in place to address the grievances of the Project Affected Persons.
Likely Impact Issues of VPHEP
- Based on data available, the Social Impact Assessment is as under;
- Of the 18 project affected villages, private land has been acquired from 7 villages. The remaining 11 project-affected villages will only lose some access to government-owned forest/grazing and/or Van Panchayat land.
- A total of 141.569 hectares (ha) of land is required for the VPHEP. This includes 31.639 ha of private land, 100.39 ha of government land (includes forest/grazing land and Van Panchayat land) and 9.539 ha of land owned by the Public Works Department transferred to the Project.
- A total of 664.349 ha of private land available in 18 affected villages out of which only 31.639 ha is acquired which is only 4.76 % of the total private land available with these villages.
- Similarly out of the total 3273.58 ha of Government/forest land available the land to be transferred to Project is 100.39 ha only which is less than 3% of the total government/forest land.
- The project originally did not require entire land of village Hat on right bank of the river Alaknanda. But, in view of the demand of voluntary resettlement by PAFs of Hat, THDCIL agreed for acquisition of entire land of village Hat on right bank of the river. A special package to permanent resident households of village Hat has been provided besides compensation towards land and their old existing structures. The status of various payments made towards compensation is given on subsequent pages.
- No large-scale involuntary displacement was required due to acquisition of private land.
- The acquisition of land and consequent displacement may have potential impacts on the social, economic, cultural and environmental attributes of the affected population. THDC with an overall objective of ensuring that all PAPs at least regain their status of living they had prior to the project implementation or improve upon, that will mitigate the impacts.
