Press Note: January 9,
2013
World Bank Inspection Panel
to Investigate Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Dam
First of its kind
for any hydro projects funded by the World Bank (WB) in India, the recourse
mechanism of the WB, the Inspection
Panel will investigate the policy violations by the
proposed 444 MW Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project built on Alaknandaganga
river, a main tributary of Ganga, in Uttarakhand.
World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors
approved the Inspection Panel's Report and Recommendation to investigate
matters of policy non-compliance and related harm last month.
This was followed by a complaint filed by the
affected communities and their representatives in July last year to the
Inspection Panel, raising serious social and environmental issues arising out
of this project.
The complaint has raised issues of water shortages that will occur in the stretch of the
river where water will be diverted into the underground tunnel. The "environmental
flow" of the river has not been properly estimated and yet to finalized.
It further said that the quality of the water in the Alaknanda River will be
degraded when it is diverted into the underground tunnel and its free flow is
blocked.
The loss of aquatic species and also degradation of the
natural habitat of endangered species such as the "Cheer" pheasant,
otter, and mahaseer fish is yet another major issue raised in the complaint. There are serious concerns about the loss of
livelihood due to this project. People’s access to river, sand and fish will be
severely impacted due to this project. There are also health issues people are
afraid of. Considering the inadequate and flawed Environment Impact Assessment
used for the public hearing of the project, the World Bank got a fresh EIA
done, but that was neither part of legal process, nor part of public
consultation.
The houses and land located in the area under which
the tunnel is being dug have developed cracks already (the project is yet to
get final forest clearance without which any work is illegal and blasting for
making tunnel for the Powerhouse are continue) and there has been no
compensation for this. They also fear these houses will collapse if there were
to be an earthquake as the area is in a high risk seismic zone. Construction and
planning of multiple bumper to bumper dams on the same river has led to the
possibility of serious negative impacts but these have not been analyzed via a
comprehensive credible cumulative impact assessment. World Bank has not
conducted an analysis of the no-project scenario, nor has there been a study of
the impacts of the Project on different stakeholders.
In addition to this, the complaint also says that due
to the diversion of the river there is
no river water available for religious and cultural rituals like bathing
festival, funeral rites, river worship, etc.
“We are happy that the
complaint has been accepted for a full investigation by the Inspection Panel” said
Briharshraj Tadiyal, one the complainants. Another complainant Bharat
Jhunjhunwala said “we hope for a fair and independent investigation and no work
or funds disbursements should happen till all issues are settled to the
satisfaction of all concerned”.
The recommendation for investigation was given by the
Inspection Panel after their visit to the project in November last year,
meeting all parties connected with the project. Among the representations
before the panel it was shown that there is zero length of free flowing river
between the upstream under construction Tapovan-Vishnugad HEP and Planned Vishnugad Pipalkoti Project.
Inspection Panel
was set up in 1993 following the
Independent Review Committee which looked into the violations by Sardar Sarovar
(Narmada) Dam resulting World Bank’s withdrawal from the project.
Resources:
World Bank documents on the
project: http://goo.gl/sM4NW
Vimalbhai
Convener
Puran Singh Rana
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