{DUU-36} From Alaknandaganga Valley 02-06-07

People Opposed the Dam in the IInd public hearing

Project Name: Proposed Kotli-Bhel Part-1 ‘B’ Hydroelectric Project (280 MW)

River: Bhilangana (Tehri and Pouri District) Uttarakhand

Agency: National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC)

Four months after the first EIA Public Hearing of proposed Kotli-Bhel Part-1 ‘B’, Uttarakhand State Pollution Control Board held the 2nd Public Hearing in Pouri District. In the last EIA Public Hearing, held on 28^th January, 2007, people attending the hearing stated that neither the EIA nor the EMP was provided as the requisite places as per the EIA 2006 Notification. The EIA Notification clearly provides that a minimum notice period of 30 days were to be given which was not done.

The 2^nd Public Hearing was organized in a primary school of Khandukhal Village, Pauri District. At the very onset itself, the people were against the Public Hearing being conducted. They told the Chief Development Officer, who was chairing the panel, that NHPC officials had no right to sit in the panel because they were one of the interested parties.

Finally, when the NHPC officers left the panel, the summary of the EIA was presented. Soon the Headmen of Village Laxhmoli stood up and asked him, “will it possible for you to remember all these? You have to come to our villages and told us before.” The speaker had to stop and sat down.

Thereafter, the people took over the charge of the Public Hearing. The first speaker Mr. Puran Singh Kathat of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (a political party) objected to the project and raised the point that the requisite document were not made available to the people and also the very basic issue of rehabilitation.

Satendra Bhatt of Village Maletha warned the administration and NHPC that they would fight the construction of the dam.

Dr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala, a senior journalist and economist and one of the residents of an affected village Laxhmoli raised legal, economic and environmental issues. He also said that the Public Hearing was wrongly conducted and that the summary of EIA and EMP Report was not true..EIA and EMP has not addressed various important issues such as the quality of water, carrying capacity of the river etc. Other alternatives were not studied either. He also stated that the New Rehabilitation Policy is under way and that compensation for loss of resources was not sufficient. The issues of voluntary sale of land provision was also raised. He strongly condemned the construction of the Dam.

Mrs. Anita from Digoli Village said, “The river Alaknanda is our mother and we will not you to bind our mother. You are snatching our land from us but you can not provide even employment to my sons. We have won the fight for our State Uttarakhand so as we can fight to save our mother Ganga”.

Headmen of Village, Bhaiswara Mr. Vikram Singh Rawat, spoke on behalf of Headmen of other Villages and Matu Peoples’ Organisation, about the shortcomings in EIA & EMP Report. Issues regarding the river culture of Uttarakhand, carrying capacity of the river, global warming, alternative of proposed dam, issue of low rate of oxygen in the reservoir, green belt, Disaster Management Plan, what will be the quantum of water in down stream always. NHPC is failed to taking care of oustees as it can be seen in Onkareshwer Dam, Narmada Sagar, Camera Dam-1,2,3; Parbati 2 & 3 and other dams build by them. Because these issues raised on 28^th January were not resolved, a letter given on that day was annexed..

Headman of Village Maletha, Mr. Raghubir Singh Negi, raised the issue of land acquisition Notice served by the administration. Mr. Devendra Sing, Headmen of village Dhoulkandi, said this dam was like an atom bomb on their heads which they did not want. Some speakers raised the issue of proper rehabilitation.

Finally, Vimalbhai made it clear that this act of administration was disloyal to the people. On one side Public Hearing was being conducted and other side Notice of land acquisition was served personally to some villages.

When minutes were prepared Mr. Mishra, the NHPC Project Manager said openly that project was already cleared. MPO objected to this statement and gave letter to the panel requesting them to include this in the minutes as well. Panel keept the letter but did not mention it in the minutes as it was not said in the Public Hearing.

Minutes of public hearing were made available by the PCB officers and an open discussion was held. They tried to remove the fact that the peoples did not want the dam. Dr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala strongly pointed this out and PCB had to include this in the minutes.

In between the Public Hearing people were shouting slogans like ‘We want Ganga free’, ‘ADB go back’, ‘NHPV go back’, ‘We want development not destruction’ etc. They were also holding play cards with same slogans.

The cause of IInd public hearing:- After the public hearing held on 28-1-07, Matu Peoples' Organisation sent letter and then legal notice through LIFE saying that public hearing was not held according to law and was in violation of the principles of natural justice. The legal notice sent to Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Ministry of Power and Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board asked them to ‘withdraw the public hearing dated 28.01.2007 and conduct a fresh public hearing after providing complete information regarding Kotli-Bhel Stage-1 B (District Tehri & Pauri Uttarakhand) project…’.

MoEF stated that public hearing was according to EIA Notification, 2006, and EIA & EMP Reports were at the places prescribed in the notification. But under the pressure of legal notice MoEF directed the UEPPCB to hold another Public Hearing in the other affected District as well.

Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment {LIFE} is taking care of the legal work.

Vimalbhai

Development for all, not only for few

{DUU-28} From Alaknandaganga Valley 05-02-07

Again an unjust public hearing

Project Name: Proposed Kotli-Bhel Part-1 ‘B’ Hydroelectric Project (280 MW)

River: Bhilangana (Tehri and Pouri District) Uttarakhand

Agency: National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC)

On 28^th morning at 11 O’clock hundreds of villagers enter in the pandal where Environmental Public Hearing of proposed Kotli-Bhel Phase 1 “A” was organized. They were shouting slogans ‘If no information-No dam’, ‘without information-cancel public hearing’ etc. officials of project proponent NHPC and police try to stop people forcibly but could not.

They occupy the dais of public hearing. Pradhan of village Maletha read out a long letter written on behalf of 27 villages going to be affected by the proposed project. He announced the boycott of so called public hearing by affected people. People second his announcement and leave the pandal. They sat outside pandal and start Dharna (sit-in), meeting, shouting slogans.

Inside pandal public hearing was going on, with the people brought from Devprayag-Srinagar (closest town) already from NHPC. This is the same strategy which has been use by the project proponent every where.

We demanded that the public hearing panel should meet people who are sitting on Dharna.

After the so called public hearing the presiding officer C.D.O. Tehri Ms. Sojanya and S.D.M. of Kritinagar Mr. Dumka came outside to meet people. We told them that people did not know about the documents like Environment Impact assessment report and management plan. Only after the campaign starts by Matu peoples’ organisation affected people came to know about the real meaning of public hearing and about the documents.

What has been done:-

A letter 12-1-2007 was sent to the Sec. MoEF and the Member Secretary of UEPPCB, then again on 19-1-2007, then on 20-1-2007, then on 22-1-2007 requesting them for postponement of the public hearing by affected people. On 20-1-2007 affected villagers organised a mass protest before the S.D.M. Kiritinagar District Tehri against the conducting the public hearing without informing the real impact of the project to the people. This was the ever first mass protest by dam affected people on the issue of providing EIA and EMP in Hindi. More then 250 people rallied from village Maletha to Kirtinagar. They were shouting slogan No information-No Dam. After these long agitation and campaign the executive summary of the EIA & EMP was distributed in the affected villages and which was not sufficient to know about the impact of the project. A leaflet ‘41 benefits of project’ was also distributed, which was only an exercise to conceal the real impact of the project.

She said that she was not aware about the previous letter written by the villagers and gave assurance that all these points raised previously and now in the letter sent by people, all will be the part of the public hearing proceedings.

Peoples basic demands are:-

• The EIA and EMP report and other document should be made available at the village level & make them understand at least one month prior to the public hearing.
  
• All the document should be in Hindi. Govt. always talks about promoting Hindi.
  
• This public hearing should be conducted after the formation of competent Govt. and should also be conducted at least in two of the affected villages.
  

Vimalbhai

Ravinder Bist

Development for all, not only for few

{DUU-27} From Bhagirathi Valley 20-1-2007

No lesson learned from Tehri Dam

People Boycotted KBHEP Phase-1 “A” Public Hearing

Project Name: Proposed Kotali-Bhel Phase-1 “A” Hydroelectric Project (195 MW)

River: Bhagirathi (Tehri Distt.) Uttarakhand

Public Hearing held on: 16-1-2007

Agency: National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC)

The compound of under construction state Dispensary in village Bagi, District Tehri, Uttarakhand was decorated for the EIA public hearing of Proposed Kotali-Bhel Phase-1 “A” Hydroelectric Project (195MW). One person on behalf H.N.B.University, who prepared the EIA, furnished his long presentation.

The project proponent has distributed 26 point leaflet at the time of public hearing which only stated about the benefits of the project not the real impact.

Then ex-principal of a collage Mr. Girdhar Pandit stood and said that this public hearing is not according to notification because People did not get access to any document, which could have given them information about the impact of the project.

In big number of affected people come and shout slogan ‘stop public hearing’. They were holding play card saying ‘public hearing is fake, where is EIA & EMP? Postpone public hearing; provide full EIA & EMP in Hindi.

Mr. Krishnakant, Member of Area Panchyat said that people are unhappy. They do not know what is going to be happening? What will be the affect of the project? So this public hearing should be re-organising after providing all the related documents.

Affected People submitted a letter about their demand shout slogan and boycott the public hearing stood outside the pandal.

Public hearing continued with NHPC officials and non affected persons. And some ignorant villagers who know nothing about why public has been organised and what are their rights. They pointed out the impact which already done damage to the project affected villages. The villager also protested for postponement of public hearing and boycotted it. They were incapable of registering their opinion without proper information.

Even after the repeated protest by the villager of the effected area to postpone the public hearing in absence of proper information about the project. These documents were even not provided to Panchyats offices of effected villages.

People’s demand written in the letter given at the time of public hearing:-

• The EIA and EMP report and other document should be made available at the village level make them understand at least one month prior to the public hearing.
  
• All the document should be in Hindi. Govt. talks always talks about promoting Hindi.
  
• This public hearing should be conducted after the formation of competent Govt. and should also be conducted at least in two of the affected villages.
  

Vimalbhai

Ravinder Bist

Development for all, not only for few

{DUU-26} From Alaknandaganga Valley 12-01-2007

Pipalkoti-Vishnugad HEP Second Public Hearing-

Was a fake exercise

Project Name: Proposed Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (444MW)

River: Alaknanda (Chamoli Distt.) Uttarakhand

Agency: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)

On 9^th January without any change in the documents, without giving any document in Hindi to the affected people the 2^nd EIA public hearing of proposed Vishnugad-Pipalkoti HEP was held.

The two public hearing held on this project did not have any difference except the time gap of 2.5 months. In between people were not given right and complete information regarding the project which they were demand, the Environment Impact Assessment Report and Environment Management Plan and other documents. Instead they were told about the hollow promises related to the project. Peoples’ demands were not met by the officials of T.H.D.C.

When on 09/01/07 the EIA public hearing began the affected people started raising slogans against the cancellation of the hearing without giving relevant documents. One group raised slogans and sat out on the road and started presenting the hazards of the projects through speeches.

People of Haat village came in a form of a rally in the public hearing place they were shouting slogans under the banner - Shri Laxmi Narain Punarwas Jankalyan Samiti (Shri Laxmi Narain Rehabilitation Welfare Association) against T.H.D.C.

The block chairman Shri Bisht who was sitting on the panel, on seeing me demanded the exclusion of outsiders (i.e. me) and only the inclusion of affected people in presenting their demand. The reason being I had asked him, whether everyone present in the panel had read the EIA report? A letter prepared by Matu People’s Organiztion and the Samiti was read by Mr. Sharad Gairola. After this all the people of Haat village and others came out and sat on road with other people. The protest and slogan shouting continued in the presence of 2 officials of UEP & PCB, S.D.M. and Block Chairman.

On the stage around 10- 12 people presented their problems. The S.D.M. gave a speech on stage to the public assuring them that public hearing should be held infact in village to village and people should be heard at home to home. This process will be continuing. And there by concluded the hearing for the day.

UEP & PCB’s Shri Pal agreed with me about the hearing being concluded. While the S.D.M. was on his way out, I asked him a question as to what will happen to the public hearing. On this he replied that people presented their problems which were resolved and what more do they want? Not everything can be done in day. After this the S.D.M. left in his car. This public hearing was held on the context of old information and the officials of T.H.D.C. made the maximum use of the experiences of Tehri.

In the last EIA public hearing which was held on 17/10/06, affected people created uproar about not being provided with the complete information related with the project. World Bank also has a stake in the project. Matu People’s Organization sent a letter to the World Bank asking about their involvement in the proposed project along with the letter of the affected people and with their own analysis. A date for next public hearing of the project was fixed on 09/01/07. Attached photos (17-10-06) were taken by Mr. Priyabrata from LIFE (A collective of lawyers working on Environment issues) who attends the public hearing.

This update reflects the work of MATU PEOPLES ORGANISATION.

Development for all, not only for few

Vimalbhai

{DUU-25} From Alaknandaganga Valley 9-12-2006

victory of people

Pipalkoti-Vishnugad HEP Second Public Hearing will be on 9-1-2007

Project Name: Proposed Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (444MW)

River: Alaknanda (Chamoli Distt.) Uttarakhand

Agency: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)

According to a notice published in a daily Hindi Newspaper of Uttarakhand, environmental Public hearing of proposed Pipalkoti-Vishnugad HEP (444MW) will be held on 9^th January.

Just to remind us all that on 17^th Oct, the public hearing held was opposed by the women of the village and a fresh public hearing was demanded. Also that all documents, like EIA and EMP, must be provided in local language and the provisions thoroughly explained and discussed with the public. The SDM who was chairing the public hearing, in the end she announced that the next public hearing would be soon held and the date would be announced accordingly.

After this people, repeatedly asked about next public hearing and wrote a letter o he Ministry as well, regarding this matter.

On 25 Nov 06, villagers of Haat stopped the tunneling work of Pipalkoti-Vishnugad HEP. THDC officials threatened them with use of force, but the officials had to give in, at last they agreed to have a talk with the villagers.

Matu Peoples’ Organisation considers this next public hearing as the victory of people. The fresh Public hearing should be held with the following demands met:-

1. Environment Impact Assessment Report, Environment Management Plan and all other documents in complete, should be provided in Hindi at village level.
2. A process should start for affected villagers to explain about the documents in simple Hindi.

Development for all, not only for few

Vimalbhai

{DUU-24} From Alaknandaganga Valley 29-11-2006

People stopped tunneling work of Pipalkoti-Vishnugad HEP

Land acquisition has began

People waiting for second public hearing

Project Name: Proposed Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (444MW)

River: Alaknanda (Chamoli Distt.) Uttaranchal

Agency: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)

On 25 Oct 06, villagers of Haat stopped the tunneling work of Pipalkoti-Vishnugad HEP. Villagers of most affected village Haat have no information about the work going on in the Haat village from last two years. Two tunnels, 100M and 800M long, were built, water resource dried-up and all water entered into the tunnels. People are facing water crises.

When villagers stopped, THDC officials asked them not to stop the work otherwise with the help of administration they will use force. The officials are still threatening the villagers with dire consequences of refusal to obey them, but the villagers remain adamant.

The SDM has not so far announced any date for the next public hearing. On the contrary, the lands are being acquired under S.17 (Emergency Clause) of the Land Acquisition Act. This merely is an attempt by the authorities to create pressure on the public to accept the dam construction.

Matu Peoples’ Organisation condemns government’s step, which comes in the way of the right to information and fundamental rights of the affected people. We support people’s struggle for justice.

Development for all, not only for few

Vimalbhai

{DUU-22} From Alaknandaganga River Valley 24-10-2006

PUBLIC HEARING WITH OPPOSITION

SDM PROMISED TO ANNOUNCE DATE OF SECOND PUBLIC HEARING

Project Name: Proposed Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (444MW)

River: Alaknanda (Chamoli Distt.) Uttaranchal

Agency: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)

18-10-06: USPCB organized an environmental public hearing. Nearly two hundred people were present at the hearing. During the entire process, there were voices of protest against the public hearings. Two penal members have also left, as they were not provided with complete documents like EIA.

The hearing was presided over by SDM Ms. Nidhi Yadav. Promising to declare the date for the second hearing soon, the public hearing was concluded.

The proceeding of public hearing continued for more than two hours. People from different villages raised the issue of EIA and EMP not being provided in Hindi. Nobody knows the impact of this project. THDC officials tried to simplify the problem by saying that now we will have the answer to every question. But the main problem everyone had with the public hearing was with fact that they are never provided with enough relevant documents or other information regarding the impact the dam construction would have on them. In such a case, the answers given by the officials were of little satisfaction. Mr. Paul, the representative of Uttaranchal State Pollution Control Board was set quite. He made no notes of points raised by the people.

Mr. Naval Gairoula raised the issue of faulty data used in EIA. Yuvak Mangal Dal, president, Rajendra Hatwal said, “We are living very happily. This project cannot give us a better life. We will not allow you to destroy our village like this.”

Bachan Singh Panwar from Tpovan-Vishnugad HEP (a project on upstream of Vishnugad-Pipalkoti HEP) said that till today NTPC, the dam proponent, did not inform us about the impacts such a project would have. “Public hearing was a drama for us. It is going on here as well.

Vimalbhai says that World Bank is responsible for huge displacement in India and just because of World Bank’s initial financial support, lakhs of people are facing displacement and other problems created by Sardar Sarover dam on River Narmada. We also understand that the attitude to the mandatory public hearing process is as if it’s a mere formality that has to be performed, no matter how grave are the violations. For instance, there were attempts to carry out public hearing for Lata-Tapovan HEP on August 18, 2006 without imparting detailed information to affected people and although, people strongly opposed it, pollution control board went on to grant its approval and further forwarded the papers to Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

A Letter read out by Mr. Sharat Kumar, which was submitted in the public hearing on behalf of Shri Laxmi Narain Punarvas Jan Kalyan Samiti and Matu Peoples’ Organisation.

Some important excerpts from the letter: -

Villagers have no information that what will be the effect of the project. All the related facts are not known to the villagers like where will muck disposed off? What will be the severe effects on tree, mountains and water? Where will be the effect of explosives? What will happen to grassland? What about of connecting routs? Which type of socio-economy effects will be brought to the different villages?…………

It is known that villages like Helang, Daving, Tapovan, Hyuna, Langsi, Guniyala, Math Bemaru, Syunt, Jhadeta, Bajani, Surinda, Hatt, Gansal, Durgapur and other villages situated between the dam and power house will be effected because of it. But there is no mention of this. That is why the villagers have doubts, fear and anguish. There is no mention about the effect and security especially of women due to the presence of thousand migrant labour in the free life of mountains.

From last two years we are demanding for the information but there is no solution. In this reference, a letter dated 21-10-05 is attached.

…………………we had written many letters, one letter dated 20-7-2006 is attached. How can we support the project without knowing the effect of project? And already we are bearing cracks in our houses and other losses. We should provide all the information, without this public hearing will not entertain complete. We should provide another chance (of public hearing), otherwise tension will be continued, which will not in the favor of anyone.

…………

We are shocked at apathy from concerned officials, terrified at uncertain future, and angered at the continuation of violation of our human rights. But, we are all firm in our resolve that we will defend to last moment our rights on our land, river and natural resources. The same was the backbone of sustained movement of affected people of Tehri dam.

………….

Environment Impact Assessment report and Environment Management Plan, which have not been given to us, shall be made available in Hindi language; so that we can make our comments on the same and put forward at the rescheduled public hearing.

…………..

All the above mentioned points shall not only be dwelt on, but they shall also be appended with the letter we intend to submit once we are given the copies of EIA and EMP reports.

Development for all, not only for few

Vimalbhai

{DUU-20} From Dhouli Ganga 31-08-06

Public Hearing was not performed

Project Name: Proposed Lata-Tapovan Hydroelectric Project (171 MW)

River: Dhouli Ganga (Chmoli Distt.) Uttaranchal

Agency: National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

On18th August 2006 local villagers boycotted the so-called public hearing as it was held without providing Environment Impact Assessment Report and Environment Impact Management Plan to people. Impact of other run-of the river Hydro Electric Project in the same area like Vishnu Prayag HEP and Tapovan-Vishnugad etc. were also the cause of opposition.

In morning, at the time of Public Hearing except some govt., NTPC and THDC official no one was inside the Pandal. People gathered nearby and opposed the public hearing without providing necessary documents. They wrote a letter and sign that. A part of the letter is reproduced here:-

We have seen, what has been done by NTPC in Tapovan-vishnugad HEP. What ever happened in Tapovan-vishnugad HEP it will be repeated here. We were not provided the Environment Impact Assessment Report and Environment Impact Management. After many difficulties we did get only executive summary. We answered that. Till today NTPC has not given correct information to the affected people (Tapovan-vishnugad HEP). There is nothing at the information center (NTPC). Affected families did not get even the land compensations till today.

Workers of NTPC tried to take people inside the venue of public hearing forcibly. Hearing was started without the affected people then under the leadership of senior social activist and ex headmen of the Lata village (also one of the penal member) this letter given to the representative of USPCB. He refuges to give the sign copy.

A letter was also given to representative of USPCB from Matu People Org. saying at area like this should be protected. For reasonable power needs Solar and Wind power should be use. After taking the letter he started reading it and refused to give signed copy. We insisted to give a sign copy to us, after requesting many time he agreed and did so. We told him that this public hearing is fraudulent and villagers are opposing with sufficient cause, as villagers have not been given access to EIA & EMP.

Even after that when they continued so-called public hearing, villager started Dharna inside pandal and shouted slogans. Leader of CPI (ML) Mr. Atul Sati warned the authorities that we will not allow this drama and he continues slogans till end of the public hearing drama. People capture the dais.

Village women requested S.D.M., representative of USPCB and others to stop the so-called public hearing because it was apprehended that authorities will show this agitation as public hearing and the legal condition of EIA process will be filled by this agitation. That is why villager and Supporter did not allow the continuation of the so-called public hearing. We all were expecting that representative of board will behave like an independent person but he did not.

S.D.M. and Block headmen Mr. Rana had hot discussion with the villagers and supporters. He said why people form outside like Delhi or Tehri come over here and provoke the people.

CPI (ML) Mr. Atul sati told him that why don’t you did so? He narrates how S.D.M. who is sitting on dais is connected with NTPC. He stop the

Senior social activist Mr. Dhan Singh said how come govt. sacrifice schedule tribe on the name of development and this area which already surrounded by six sanctuaries and reserve forests.

Vimalbhai ask them when others can build dam here then why not social activist come over here. We have seen what happened in Tehri and what has done by NTPC in other projects we would not allow them to repeat that same here. On the name Urja Pradesh (Power State), do not destroy the environment and sabotages the peoples’ rights on natural recourses.

After nearly two hours one person from the same dais where the villagers seated, declared public hearing is over. Official left the pandal, only after villagers and supporters leave the pandal.

The DRAMA of so-called public hearing was over.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE OF FOLLOW-UP

The cancellation of the public hearing was reported in Hindi daily newspaper Amar Ujala. It stated that due to villagers' opposition public hearing was canceled. Very next day Mr. Paul gave a statement that public Hearing was conducted.Very next day Mr.Paul gave a statement that public Hearing was conducted. After that people wrote a letter to opposed the public hearing.

Matu People’s Organisation on 30^th August wrote a letter to MoEF and USPCB

Saying that public hearing was totally false, untrue and:-

• it is a complete violation of the notification of Ministry of Forest and Environment dated 10^th January 1994.
• it is Violation of Constitutional rights of the people.

In this situation we demand that the Public hearing held on 18th August 2006 on proposed Lata-Tapovan HEP should not be accepted.

We would like to mention here that Lata villagers are schedule tribe. When villages has disowned project even then it is USPCB's obligation to hold next public hearing to provide all the true information to the villagers.

Public hearing can be conducted only after following is done:

1. Environment Impact Assessment Report, Environment Management Plan and all other documents in complete, should be provided in Hindi at village level.

2. A process should start for affected villagers to explain about the documents in simple Hindi.

3. Next Public Hearing should be hold after minimum a month when this whole process is complete.

Development for all, not only for few.

Vimalbhai