Allege that the changes are anti-people and environment
About 15 environmental groups, concerned citizens and activists from Himachal Pradesh over the last few days have sent a series of submissions to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh raising strong objections to the amendments in the Hydro power Policy made by the State Government wide the notification of 4th March 2014. Claiming that the gross dilutions in clearance procedures by the State Government not only unduly favour the power producers but will be disastrous for the environment and the people of the state.
The submission highlights that the notification was issued post the setting up of a Committee on Speedy Development of Small Hydro Projects in 2013, which made a series of recommendations in order to deal with the delays in the execution of Hydropower Projects. The Committee formed was headed by the Chairman, HP Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) and has mostly recommended doing away with several departmental clearances, in order to expedite the implementation of Small Hydropower Projects. But the notification issued earlier this year consequently covers the big hydro projects as well. “If this is the case, then we are shocked that the government has made this amendment without taking into account the fact that the mandate of the committee formed in 2013 was only to make recommendations with regard to SHPs” states the submission.
The amendments introduced are intended to fast track the clearance procedure with respect to small hydels, by doing away with separate NOCs from Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation & Public Health Department (IPH), Revenue, Fisheries and Wildlife. “These NOCs are critical because they recognise the fact that these Hydropower Projects, both small and large, have serious ecological and social impacts. For instance, the fact is that water sources do get impacted and affect the irrigation and drinking water needs of the villages in the project area. “A thorough investigation and NOC by the IPH is critical in determining whether the design of the project is feasible from the point of view of the impact on water sources”, said members of Himdhara, Environment Research and Action Collective, one of the signatories of the memorandum.
The memorandum also states that the committee constituted has been biased. “Out of the 15 members of the committee, about 6 are power producers, which include Himurja and representatives of private power producers association. There is a clear conflict of interest and we are appalled that the State government created such a committee in the first place. Further, the committee has no representation of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment or any non governmental, independent persons that would look into social and environmental issues. The committee did not even have a member of the Forest department”.
Another major objection raised is that of diluting the consultation process with the local affected villages by relying on a one time consultation with the Gram Panchayats to be headed by a Single Joint Inspection Committee. “The earlier guidelines required an NOC from the Gram Panchayat and followed two consultations, one at the initial stage and one after signing of the Implementation Agreement,” says R.S Negi of Him Lok Jagriti Manch. “This notification is unconstitutional because it undermines the the role of the Panchayats, but for tribal areas like Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba, this is a clear violation of the 2006 Forest Rights Act and 1998 PESA Act, which protects the democratic rights of Gram Sabhas by making their NOC mandatory for any such development activity.”
The memorandum states that ‘the committee came to these recommendations without conducting any kind of impact assessment study or case study of any of the existing projects, their local impacts as well as their background and feasibility’.
Members of environment group Himdhara add,” We interviewed and spoke to series of departmental officials and staff with regard to the new notification and were shocked that most of them were not aware of the changes. Infact, many of them also felt that this dilution would reduce considerably the power of the department to demand accountability of the project proponents. Officials at the Fisheries, PWD and IPH were most concerned with regards to the new notification”.
The groups have demanded that the March 2014 notification be withdrawn and that the government should carry out a series of public consultations before ammending the Hydropower Policy 2006. Some of the key demands made in the memorandum are that NOCs from Gram Panchayats, PWD, Revenue, Fisheries, Widlife be made mandatory. The submission highlights the serious impacts of hydropower projects in the state which include heavy deforestration; loss of local irrigation Systems; Drying up of Water sources; Damage to houses due to blasting; end of fisheries based livelihoods; illegal dumping of muck and landslides and erosion.
The signatories to the memorandum include: People’s Voice and Secretary General, Himachal Angling Association, Palampur; Him Lok Jagriti Manch, Kinnaur; Jan Jagran evam Vikas Samiti, Haripur, Kullu; Paryavaran evam Jan Chetna Kendra, Chamba; Urban Tribal & Hills Advancement Society (UTHAN), Kangra; People’s Action for People in Need, Sirmaur; Paryavaran evam Grameen Vikas Samiti, Karsog; Himalaya Niti Abhiyan; People’s Campaign for Socio-economic Equity in Himalayas, Kangra; Paryavaran and Kisan Vikas Samiti, District Shimla; Childline, Chamba; Pandoh Visthapit Kalyan Samiti, Mandi; Social Upliftment Through Rural Action (SUTRA), Solan.
To See the press notes and memorandum :
Press Note 11th November 2014 (1)
11th November_Submission on Amendments 2014
Hindi press note Small Hydro Kruti dev
