Rampur Hydroelectric Status Update: March 2014

Tunneling

Powerhouse

The work at the powerhouse had proved challenging because of weak rock conditions, which affected the stability of the structures. Slope stabilization measures in the section just above the power house needs to be completed and closely monitored.

Evacuation Infrastructure

The electricity generated at Rampur will be evacuated to the national grid through a 400 kv LILo (loop in loop out) transmission system being constructed by Powergrid. Of the 12 transmission towers required, 9 have been completed, and the remaining are expected to be in place before the commissioning of the first unit. 

Electro Mechanical Works

Work on installing the electro-mechanical equipment in the powerhouse is proceeding well -- all six units have been boxed.  All three butterfly valves, and five generator transformers have been erected. A series of dry and wet tests will be conducted over the next two to three months before final commissioning.

Social Management

Land Acquisition & Resettlement

The implementation of land acquisition and resettlement actions is fully completed. The project had acquired 30 acres of private land from 208 families in seven villages. Families who lost part of their land were compensated at rates that were higher than usual.  All but one of the 208 families affected by land acquisition have received all eligible entitlements. The remaining family has chosen to go to court seeking enhanced cash assistance.

Of the 207 families, some 37 families were deemed “landless” as the landholdings left with them after acquisition were not economically viable. These 37 families, along with 51 other vulnerable families, have received additional rehabilitation grants and financial assistance respectively. Out of the e 19 families that lost their dwellings, 14 have got plots of land at places of their choosing, as well as the funds to build their new homes and are living in their new homes. The remaining 5 families choose to receive cash in lieu of house plots.

As some villagers had complained about the effects of construction dust on their crops, SJVN agreed to compensate them for the damage. The company has deposited the required sum of Rs 70.34 million with the district administration of the two districts in which the project falls; compensation has been distributed to around 98 per cent of the affected people. In addition, SJVNL also deposited about Rs. 50 million towards blast damage of houses and of which about 94% has been distributed. SJVNL and the World Bank are pursuing the matter with the state authorities for distributing the remaining compensation money.

Local Area Development

In an attempt to improve the quality of life for the people living in the general vicinity of the project, SJVNL had launched an intensive local area development scheme. Small community infrastructure facilities -- like footbridges and footpaths, street lighting and drinking water supply -- have been completed in various villages. The villagers have led the development exercise throughout. They have identified their needs, be it a new schoolroom, an irrigation channel, or a concrete mountain path, and the project has funded them.  In many cases, the villagers have even taken part in the construction, with the project’s engineers guiding and helping them. Bayal village for instance, where the powerhouse is located, now has a new bus-stand, street-lighting, a post office, a new gram panchayat hall and a renovated village temple.  SJVNL has so far spent Rs. 142 million for these infrastructure works. In addition, after the change in implementation arrangements for these local area development plans by the Government of Himachal Pradesh to the district administration,  SJVNL is accordingly providing the funds to Local Area Development Authority (LADA) for various works identified by the communities. SJVNLhas to date made Rs 52.5 million available to district administration for developing small village infrastructure works in project-affected villages in the Shimla and Kullu districts.  However, the implementation of LADA works has not progressed much since July 2012, and no fresh funds have been released by the state government since then.  Both SJVNL and the World  Bank have been and will continue to follow-up with the state government.

SJVNL had also undertaken to get two major drinking water works in the project-affected area implemented in collaboration with the state government. It has financed the installation of four borewells and seven handpumps at various locations in the project area so that villagers can draw water for their needs.  It has also provided Rs 40 million towards a Rs 74.8 million-multi-panchayat drinking water scheme to be implemented by the the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department. 

Corporate Social Responsibility Works

As part of its corporate social responsibility activities too, SJVNL has spent Rs. 10.26 million in the Rampur project area during 2012-13 for various community development works such as playgrounds, renovation of temples and community halls, repair of school buildings, and scholarships to meritorious students in the project area.  The company also plans to adopt the village of Bayal, where the powerhouse is located, as a model village and invest in its all-round development. In the coming years, the focus on CSR activities  incudes training to women in vocational trades, health check-ups, scholarships and support to local schools to improve their infrastructure facilities.

Health facilities

SJVNL also runs a medical dispensary in Bayal; about 33,000 people from the project area have accessed the medical services there. The company is also financing a mobile health van since 2006 that does the rounds of the eight project-affected villages, taking basic healthcare to the people's doorstep. Till date more than 60,000 persons have availed of the services of this mobile health van.

Skill Development & Livelihood Opportunities

The construction of the large infrastructure project was also an opportunity for local people to find jobs.  Some 344 local people found employment during the course of the project with the civil works contractors. One person from affected family has been provided regular employment in SJVNL. In addition, 11 local people have also got employed through HIMPESCO.  SJVNL also made it a point to bring business to local entrepreneurs by hiring their vehicles or contracting their catering services etc.  59 families have benefited from hiring of vehicles for more than 3150 vehicle months.

Environmental Management 

The implementation of the environment management plan, aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of the project has is progressing as planned.  Of a total outlay of Rs 233.8 million planned to be handed over to the state forest department for improving the Catchment Area in the Sutlej Basin, SJVNL has already deposited Rs. 214.77 million with the forest department which has informed SJVN that Rs. 155.26 million has been utilised upto March 2013.  The forest department had asked SJVNL to work on improving the five nallahs in the basin and SJVN has completed that work.  

Muck-dumping

SJVNL has set in place a robust system for ensuring that the debris being generated by tunnel excavation or other construction activity are safely dumped in designated sites that have strong retaining walls to stop the muck from slipping into the river. SJVNL environmental engineer vigorously monitors that their construction contractors stick to the agreed regime. In order to allow local communities and other stakeholders to also monitor the muck-dumping and to report if they find any unauthorized dumping of project debris in either the river or at non-designated sites, SJVNL has also displayed contact details of key project officials at public spots and all the four dumping sites.

Since tunneling work has been completed not much of muck is currently generated from the Project. Overall about 4.4 million cu.m of muc is generated in the project of which 2.55 cu m is disposed off at designated dump site and the remaining 40 percent has been recycled and used.

Restoration of Muck Dumping and Construction Sites  

SJVN has piloted restoring two muck dumping sites by planting them over with an environment friendly geo-green blanket.  This helps restore the sites with thick native vegetation that merges visually with the natural greenery in the area.  SJVN is now scaling up this practice for all the muck dumping sites.

Onsite safety

The construction of tunnels is difficult and requires careful attention to safety rules and guidelines. In addition to equipping workers with standard safety gear, SJVNL has put stringent safety systems in place that include emergency response training; controlling and monitoring blasting for excavating tunnels; and technical measures for preventing accidental rock-falls.  Safety audits are carried out periodically and any gaps founds are addressed by SJVNL and the contractors.