Jammu, 15-02-2025: The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has recommended environmental clearance for the 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II Hydroelectric Project on the Jhelum River in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. The clearance comes with specific conditions to ensure environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, disaster management, and socio-economic benefits for the affected communities.
The Uri-I Stage-II Hydroelectric Project is an extension of the existing Uri-I Stage-I (480 MW) project, utilizing infrastructure from Stage-I, including the barrage, head regulator, headrace tunnel intake, spillway, and de-silting basin, to optimize resources and minimize additional environmental impact. The EAC had earlier directed the Project Proponent to submit a public hearing report to ensure transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements. In its recent meeting, the committee reviewed the report and acknowledged the approval of the Biodiversity Conservation and Wildlife Management Plan for Schedule-I species by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)/Chief Wildlife Warden on October 14, 2024. A total of Rs 186 lakh has been allocated for biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, and the protection of Schedule-I species, with provisions for monitoring and evaluation.
The committee also noted a revision in fund allocations, with an increase in the budget for biodiversity conservation from Rs 144 lakh to Rs 186 lakh, while funds for the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan were reduced from Rs 1346.05 lakh to Rs 1297.00 lakh. Expressing concern over this reallocation, the EAC has strongly advised the Project Proponent to restore the CAT Plan budget to its originally proposed amount to ensure the effective implementation of conservation activities. After detailed deliberations, the EAC recommended granting prior environmental clearance for the project, covering an area of 102 hectares, subject to strict adherence to the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) as outlined in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EMP reports. The committee mandated that budgetary provisions for EMP implementation be fully utilized and adjusted in case of project cost revisions, with no diversion of funds for other purposes. The installation of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations before the commencement of construction has been emphasized, and the use of funds earmarked for Wildlife Conservation for vehicle purchases has been strictly prohibited. Additionally, the Project Proponent has been directed to incorporate measures to minimize human-animal conflict, particularly for black bears and leopards, in consultation with the J&K Forest Department.
Concerning socio-economic development, the EAC has stipulated that land acquired for the project be compensated in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013. To support the affected population, the project must provide solar panels with annual maintenance to families residing within a 10 km radius, establish and manage a school up to the 12th standard with smart classrooms to offer free quality education, and construct a 50-bed multi-specialty hospital to serve the tribal and local population, with free medical facilities for the tribal community within a 10 km radius.
The EAC has also imposed stringent conditions related to disaster management, including a comprehensive disaster risk assessment, emergency preparedness plans, and structural safety measures to withstand seismic activities, given the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes. The recommendation now awaits final approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The project, once approved, is expected to enhance Jammu and Kashmir’s power generation capacity while prioritizing environmental sustainability, ecological protection, and socio-economic welfare.