Question raised in Lok Sabha on Hydro Power Projects, 08/12/2015

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Hydro Power Projects, 08/12/2015. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 provides detailed procedure of appraising various developmental projects including Hydropower projects proposals for granting environment clearance. EIA notification mandates conducting of detailed environmental impact assessment study to assess and predict impacts of a project on environment. Accordingly, environment management plan (EMP) is prepared and evaluated to mitigate the environmental impacts. As far as hydropower projects are concerned, they are broadly categorised as: Category A – Hydropower projects having capacity more than 50 MW, considered at Central Level; Category B - Hydropower projects having capacity more than 25 MW and less than 50 MW, considered at the State Level. Hydropower projects with proximity to National Park/Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve and/or projects situated within 10 km of inter-state/international boundaries also require similar environment clearance from the Union Government. The Government has also undertaken a separate study to assess impacts caused by existing and under construction hydropower projects in the upper reaches of Ganga in Uttarakhand.