Beginning of the EndA Preliminary Report on the

Jispa Dam and Hydro-power Project

on Chenab BasinLahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

HIM DHARA EVIRONMENT RESEARCH AND ACTION COLLECTIVE1, PALAMPUR

NOVEMBER 2011

1 Him Dhara is an environment research and action collective based in Palampur' Himachal Pradesh. For further details please contact at erac.himalaya@gmail.com

Beginning of the End

A Preliminary Report on the Jispa Dam and Hydro-power Project Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

November 2011

Financial Support : INTERNATIONAL RIVER NETWORKS (IRN) and RURAL TECOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (RTDC), PALAMPUR (HIMACHAL PRADESH)

Research and Writing : This report has been written by Prakash Bhandari ­ member of Him  Dhara, Environment Research and Action Collective based in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.

Editorial Support : Manshi Asher and Nidhi Agarwal ­ members of Him Dhara, Environment  Research and Action Collective based in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.

This report, or its parts can be used freely. Please do inform  us of the  usage and acknowledge  the source and inform us of the reproduction at erac.himalaya@gmail.com.

1. Background

Of the five major river basins in Himachal, the Chenab basin is the least exploited basin for Hydro Electricity generation. The Chenab is a glacial river which originates from Bara Lacha pass in Lahaul division of Lahaul Spiti district. The water flow towards south forms Chandra River and the water flow towards north forms the Bhaga River and both rivers confluence at Tandi forms Chenab. In Himachal it's basin is spread over a distance of 130 kms and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan. In Himachal Chenab basin  has total hydro power generation potential of 3032.3 MW. In this stretch 20 HEPs (Annexure-1) have been planned but out of this only 5.35 MW of hydro energy has been exploited as the area is inaccessible and remain snow bound and cut off from the rest of the world for 6 months. Table­1: Basinwise Potential in H.P.

Basin Hydro Power PotenialBeas Basin 4604.00 MWRavi Basin 2359.00 MWSatluj Basin 9450.25 MWYamuna Basin 591.52 MWChenab Basin 3032.30 MWMini Micro Projects 750 MWTotal 20787.07 MW(Source: http://www.hpseb.com/hydro_potential.htm)

The part of Chenab basin falling in Jammu and Kashmir state already has 6 major dam projects i.e. Salal, Baglihar (900 MW) Kishenganga (330 MW), Sawalkot (1200 MW), Pakuldul (1000 MW), Bursar (1000 MW), Dal Husti (390 MW) under various stages of planning and construction. In Himachal with the initiation of construction work of Rohtang tunnel the not so accessible Lahual and Spiti valley will now have year round transportation facility which will subsequently be followed by initiation of the spate of HEP in the basin which have been in the pipeline so far. This report takes a look at the probable impacts that will be unleashed as a result of the 300 MW Jispa dam ,the first major hydro electricity project in this river basin in Himachal.

Map-12: Hydro power projects on Chenab

2(Source: IUCN, 2010. Indus Water Treaty and Managing Shared Water Resources for the Benefit of Basin States Policy Issues and Options. IUCN Pakistan, Karachi)

2. Background and Current Status of the Project 

The Jispa dam is coming up along the Leh -Chandigarh national highway, 140 kms from Manali, on river Bhaga. The river is a tributary of Chandra Bhaga/Chenab river. The dam is proposed to be located downstream of the confluence point of the Jankar and Milang streams and the river Bhaga. The Jispa   dam   is   a   200   meter high rock fill dam at an altitude of 3245 meters   amsl  and is envisaged to be primarily a water storage scheme to regulate downstream flow of the river and to generate 300 MW of electricity. 

The   project   when     initially conceptualized, was a 170 MW, run­of­the­river   hydro   electricity   project   under   the   Himachal   Pradesh   State   Electricity   Board (HPSEB).  But   in  August  2008  the  Central  Government    declared  it    a   'National  Water Resource' project and modified it  from a mere hydro electric project to a water storage project with hydro electric generation.   As the project received the status of a  'national' 

project,   the   State Government   of   HP alloted   the   Jispa   dam project   to   Himachal Pradesh   Power Corporation   Limited (HPPCL). 

The Project pre­feasibility proposal   for   Jispa   dam, for   consideration   of Scoping   and   Terms   of Reference   (ToR)   ,   was put up by HPPCL in 43rd Meeting   of   Expert Appraisal   Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment     held   on 12th and 13th November, 2010.   The   Committee was   of   the  opinion   that the   submergence   area and   number   of   affected villages (see table below for   details)   need   to   be brought to the minimum 

by reducing the height of dam and did not accept the   proposal.  In the 48th meeting of the 

Photograph   1:   Dam   site   ­   both   the   banks   are  fluviogacial deposits brought by avalanches

Map 2: Location map of Jispa dam project

(Source:  Pre­feasibility  proposal   report  of   Jispa  dam project  prepared  by  HPPCL)

EAC, HPPCL again put up the case with some minor changes but without reducing the height of dam as suggested by EAC earlier and despite this EAC approved the ToR with some conditions. 

Table­2 : Important Features of Jispa Dam Project

S.No. Initial pre feasibility Proposal Changed   pre   feasibility Proposal

Location Dam   near   Jispa   village   and power house at Stingri village

3.2 kms upstream of Jispa village and   power   house   at   Stingri village

Height of the Dam 200 meters 200 metersCapacity 300 MW 300 MWHRT 11.75 kms 14.96 kmsStorage capacity 1 MAF 0.7 MAFTotal land required 1635 hectares 1322.95 hectaresForest Area 1500 ha 1253.70 ha Private land 135 ha 69.25 haSubmergence Area 1500 hectares 1220 hectaresSubmerged villages 5 4No. of displaced families131 74(Source: Pre feasibility report and EAC meeting minutes)

Being a national project the Central government will bear 90% cost of the project and the Center agreed to release funds for the preparation of detailed project report, environment impact   assessment   and   environment   management   plan.   The   Himachal   Pradesh   Power Corporation Limited has sought Rs 30 crore for the purpose. 

3. Issues of Concern

3.1. Dam of this magnitude not suitable in such a fragile and sensitive zone 

The region where this project is coming up is in the snowbound cold desert area of the state and at   an  altitude  more   than  3000 meters. The area is characterised by   difficult   terrain,   fragile   and loose   mountains   prone   to avalanches   and   landslides   and falls in seismic zone­ IV . Due to these reasons Lahaul is sparsely inhabited   with   a   population density of 2 persons per sq. kms. In such an area construction of a reservoir spread over more than 1200 ha area and drying up of river   in   a   stretch   of 18 kms will have serious implications on local climatic conditions. Any rise in  temperature and   rainfall   can  bring  havoc   in   the   form of   avalanches  and   landslides   and   can   cause disasters similar to the kind that happened in Leh in August 2010. 

Photograph:2  Dam site  which   is  3.4  kms  upstream of   Jispa  village & a portion of road to Leh will submerge

3.2. Adverse impact on livelihood and local economy

There are 12 villages (Darcha­1 and 2, Sumdu, Limkyum, Rarik, Gandaj, Balijim, Yoche, Chikka, Dogma, Nama, Ranglyo, Makseen) which will be completely/partially submerged by the project, displacing more than 250 families Additionally, 40 shops will  be also be submerged  by   the  dam.  Around 10  villages   (Jispa,  Kaimur,  Khangsan,  Sorang,  Kalong, Rangrik, Kwaing, Sitangiri, Kwang etc) will be impacted by drying up of water sources due to construction of 18 kms long head race tunnel. 

Lahaul   and  Spiti   district  has   the highest irrigation intensity for the area   under   cultivation   in   the State.  This means that  the entire area under cultivation is irrigated, without   which   no   agriculture would  be  possible   in   such  harsh dry   cold   desert   climatic conditions. The village settlements are   supported by  the  community owned   and   run   kuhls   (irrigation channels).   The area is known for cultivation   of   high   quality Potatoes,   Hops,   Kuth   (Saussurea costus)  and   Peas   and   is   now moving   towards   Apple   orchards, floriculture   (Lilium)   and   off season   vegetable   cultivation (cabbage, carrot etc) with a rise 

in local temperatures. The   fertile agriculture fields along the river face submergence and the sources of irrigation for the fields in higher altitudes will dry up due to the the under ground construction of the project which will hamper agriculture badly. 

A typical family in Lahaul possesses 4­5   cows,  25­30  goats  and   sheep,  5­6 horses   and   Yak   and   Chiru,   this livestock   is   reared   for   one's   own survival   and   sometimes   for   cash. Submergence   of   more   than   1200 hectares   of   forestland/grass   plots along   the   river   will   make   livestock rearing   difficult   as   in   winters agriculture fields and grasslands along the river are the only source of fodder. There is no doubt that this project will destroy   both   the   agriculture   and livestock   economy   of   the   area.   It   is based on  these two occupations that the   Lahaul and Spiti district has the highest per capita income in the state.

Photograph 4: Alpine pastures for summer grazing used  by migratory communities and local community

Photograph 3:  Pea cultivation along river bank and without  irrigation agriculture is not possible

3.3. Adverse impact on biodiversity

Being   sparsely   populated,   there   is   little pressure   on   forest   resources   currently because of which there are   good forests of Junipers   (Devidyar)  and  Birch   (Bhojpatra) in the area which are very slow growing . The government provides fuelwood to locals through   depots   and   has   promoted plantations of Poplar and Willow trees which provides timber for house construction, both on   forest   and   private   land   and   helps   in protecting the endangered Juniper and Birch forests.   According   to   the   local   residents, there   will   be   more   than   1   lakh   trees   of Devidyar,   Poplar   and   Willow   each   in   the 1200 ha forest area being diverted for the project. Despite this the   project proponents (EAC  meeting  minutes)  have   claimed   that 90%   of     the   forest   land   proposed   to   be diverted for the project is barren land. 

The  forests  which will  be diverted  for   the project  are   rich   in  high  altitude  medicinal and   aromatic   plants   (MAPs)   like  Salam 

Panja  (Dactylorhiza   hatagirea),  Patish   (Aconitum   heterophyllum) and   Kutki   (Picrorhiza   kurroa)   ­  which   are   critically   endangered plants   according   to   the   Red   data list.  These  medicinal  plants  are   in high demand  and of high economic value   (in   pharma   and     cosmetic industries)   because   of   which   they are   on   the   verge   of   extinction   in other   high   altitude   areas.   In   this region   because   of   other,   better livelihood options available to local communities,   extraction   of   these plants   for   commercial   purposes   is more or less absent. According   to   Amchi     Karma (traditional   medical   practitioner 

and also Up­Prdhan, “In traditional medicine  80  plants are used and each plant grows in a specific   area.  This  project  will  have  a  negative   impact  on   the  availability  of   these   for medicinal use”. Similarly, the area is rich in wild fauna found in alpine regions like Ibex, Snow leopard, Black Bear,  Snow Cock, Musk Deer,  Nama, Main, etc.  and the project will  disturb their 

Photographs 6: Submergence area rich is in high altitude  medicinal plant like Salampanja “Dactylorhiza hatagirea” 

Photograph   5:  Project   will   adversely   impact  Juniper, Willow and Birch forest in the area

habitat as hunting will inevitably start with exodus of labour force from outside.3.4. Adverse impact on demography and social fabric of the area

Lahaul   &   Spiti   is   an   entirely   tribal district   and   majority   of   population follows   Buddhism.   It   is   the   least populous district in Himachal with a population   of   31254   according   to 2011   census   data.   It   has   a   unique cultural   mix   of   both   old   tribal traditions and Buddhism. As per  the local   people   there   is   no   word   for 'enemy'   in   their   local   dialect, indicating that it is quite a close knit society, un­exposed to many external dynamics.   In   such   an   area construction   of   a   project   of   such   a huge magnitude by bringing  a   large labour   force   from   outside   will   not only change the demographic profile of   the   area   but   will   have   a   long 

lasting  and  adverse   impact  on   the   social   fabric.  According   to   locals   “Already  very   few suitable  places  exist   in  Lahaul   for  human habitation and  it  will  be  very  difficult   to   to  rehabilitate more than 100 families going to be displaced by these projects”. 

The area falls under Schedule V of the Constitution of India and enjoys a special status in terms of prevention of land alienation, ethnic and cultural identity etc.  Before planning a project like Jispa dam it is the responsibility of project proponents to take the consent of  local community. The Forest Right Act 2006 has been implemented by the state government in this tribal district but not a single individual or community claim  has been recognised under this Act. In such a scenario, it is imperative that the government first ensures the implementation this Act and recognise the rights of people under this Act before moving ahead with any developmental projects.

3.5. Violation of Indus Water Treaty (IWT), 1960 and a potential source of conflicts

The usage of Chenab water is governed by Indus Water Treaty, 1960 between India and Pakistan on three western rivers i.e. Chenab, Indus and Jhelum. As per the IWT Pakistan has exclusive usage but India has right to tap the hydropower potential of these rivers without affecting water flows and natural timing of water flows. The treaty also allows India to tap the 1.7 MAF water storage on Chenab basin. To tap this potential, 1.1 MAF water storage facility has been be created in the Bursar project in the adjoining Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 0.6 MAF has been planned to be stored at Jispa. According to the IUCN report, 'Indus Water Treaty and Managing Shared Water Resources, for the Benefit of Basin States Policy Issues and Options', "If Salal and Baglihar were the only two dams built by India on the Chenab, there would be a limited impact on flows of water to Pakistan. But India has developed an extensive plan for the construction of hydro-power projects like Walkot, Pakuldul, Bursar, Dal Husti, Gyspa (Jispa), etc. The cumulative live storage will be large, giving India an unquestioned capacity to have major impact on the timing of flows into Pakistan, especially during the dry periods.”

Already a conflict situation has arisen due to the construction of Baglihar dam on Chenab 

Photograph  7:  Women   in   traditional   dress   from  project  affected area

river and India has had to reduce the height of the dam. However, with more projects  coming up on Chenab this situation is likely to deteriorate. Clearly, the protocol requires that before construction of Jispa dam the Indian government take consent of Pakistan which is part of the IWT.   According to John Bresco3  “India can not decrease the water for her any project and can not change the natural timing of the water flow. Here is the problem though electricity projects don't drink water but India is changing the water flow timing.”

Highlights of Indus Water Treaty

1. The   Indus   Waters   Treaty   (IWT)   was   signed   on   19   September   1960   by   Prime   Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and  President Ayub Khan. 

2. Allocated the waters of the three eastern rivers, viz. Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, to India for exclusive use and the waters of the three western rivers,  viz. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, to  Pakistan

3. India has the right to tap the hydropower potential of  the western rivers before they entered Pakistan, without affecting water flows and natural timing of those flows

4. Permits India for creating storages on the Western Rivers of 1.54, 1.98 and 0.933 MAF (million acre feet)  for general, power and flood storages, respectively, amounting to total permissible storage of 4.45 km (3.6 MAF)

5. In terms of rivers, 0.4 MAF of storage allowed on the Indus, 1.5 MAF on the Jhelum and 1.7 MAF on the Chenab

 4. Local Resistance against the project

Most  panchayats,  not  only   from  the project affected area, but from Lahaul division, around 16 panchayats, have passed   resolution,   against   the construction   of   Jispa   dam   project. The   people   from   Sitangiri   (power house   construction   site)   to   Darcha Panchayat   are   opposing   since conceptualization   stage   and   have formed   “Jispa   Bandh   Jan   Sangarsh Samiti” and to deal with the issues of displacement   formed   a   separate group     “Jispa   Bachao   Samiti”.   The reasons   for  opposition   include   ­   the huge magnitude of the project which is not feasible   in a snow bound cold desert region which will cause havoc on fragile ecology, geology, flora and 

fauna and the unique social, cultural and economic fabric of the are. Moreover, the project will uproot villagers from their cultivable lands   and field that they have nurtured in this cold desert over centuries, not only through submergence but also due to drying up of local irrigation facilities because of tunneling activity 

On 7th June 2010 a rally was organised against Jispa project in Kelang town, which started 

3 John Briscoe, “War or Peace on the Indus? The News, 05 April 2010. 

Photograph 8:  Protest   rally  organised  by  locals  against  Jispa   dam   in   Kelang   town   (from  http://lahuli.blogspot.com)

with a padyatra from Sitingri village (power house site). On17th October 2010 a meeting of people from project affected villages, but residing outside Lahaul was held in Bhuntar and a memorandum (Annexure­2: Copy of memorandum) was submitted to the Governor of HP during the inauguration of Dusshea fair in Kullu town. This was followed by one day fast on 3rd November 2011 and submission of memorandum to the Ministry of Environment and Forests   (MoEF)   through   Deputy   Commissioner   (DC),   Lahaul   &   Spiti.   The   EAC   took cognizance of this memorandum in its 43rd   meeting held on 12th and 13th November 2011 and asked the HPPCL to reduce the height of the dam to lessen the impact of the project.   In response,  while HPPCL did not reduce the height of   the dam,  it  shifted the project   3.2   kms   upstream   of   Jispa   village,   thereby   removing   Jispa   village   from   the submergence area, a village which was most vocal in voicing their opposition to the project. But this step brought a new set of villages under the submergence area of dam. 

Against this decision locals from three project affected Panchayts i.e. Kelang, Darcha and Yurnath gathered in at Darcha Panchyat to reevaluate their  strategy and to make necessary changes   in   composition  of  Sangarsh  Samiti   according   to   the   revised  proposal.     In   the revised  proposal  despite   reducing   the  height  of   the  dam as   suggested  by  Environment Advisory Committee, the project proponents have merely changed the location of project whereas the local community is against the project of this size in their ecologically and geologically sensitive area. According to  Rigzin Hayerpa, member Zila Parishad “This step (of changing the location) will not lessen the negative impacts of the project but will bring  new set of villages under submergence and  will increase the number of villages going to be adversely impacted by tunneling.” Due to these reasons the affected people with one voice opposed the project and have appealed to the MoEF to stop any survey work for the dam project.

5. Conclusion

The Chenab basin in Himachal which so far has been free of hydro power projects, today has 20 projects lined up in a stretch of   130   kms   attempting   to  utilize   every stretch of river that offers a vertical drop. Apart from Jispa, 120 MW Miyar and 400 MW Seli Hydro projects are also currently in the process of getting cleared. The fate of   the   Chenab,   this   means,   will   be   no different from Satluj, Ravi and Beas where a cascade of projects have threatened the free   flow   of   these   rivers   and   their tributaries.   While   cumulative   impact assessment   studies   are   being   made mandatory   prior   to   clearances   by   the Ministry   of   Environment,   the   Chief Minister of Himachal has recently written to the Ministry to exempt the Chenab basin from such studies because these were acting as  'obstacles' in the quick implementation of the projects. 

In 2008 the HP government was planning to construct the Jispa Dam as a 170 MW project  but the Central government modified this project into a water storage scheme to have 1.7 MAF storage in Chenab basin as per IWT, without properly assessing the benefits of this project and the environmental and socio­economic implications. The project which is going 

Photograph 9: Meeting against Jispa dam project at  Darcha

to have a huge environmental cost has been planned on the grounds that there was no other suitable place for storage of  Chenab water. 

The Jispa dam project is still in its initial stages of implementation and there is not much information about the project like EIA, DPR  in the domain . Even the pre­feasibility report  available  is for the old dam site .  However, whatever little information  is available related to the sheer magnitude and location of the project is enough to ring the alarm bells and indicate that this is the beginning of a cycle of destruction that the rest of the state has  already   witnessed.   The   residents   who   are   living   in   this   fragile,   difficult   and   hostile environment of the Lahaul valley have opposed the Jispa dam since the day they have heard of it. They have seen the condition of the Satluj and Ravi in their front yards and have vowed to protect the pristine Chenab for everything its worth. 

Annexure­1: Proposed hydro power projects in Chenab basin in Himachal Pradesh

S.No. Name River/Khad MW

1 Shansha Shansha Nallah 0.20

2 Sishu Sishu Nallah 0.10

3 Billing Billing Nallah 0.20

4 Killar Mahal Nallah 0.30

5 Thirot Thirot Nallah 4.50

6 Khoksar/Tunsha Chandra River 150.00

7 Bardang/Tingar Chenab River 180.00

8 Sachkhas/Sagpari Chenab River 210.00

9 Gyspa Dam Bhaga Nallah 240.00

10 Gondala/Chandra Bhaga Bhaga Nallah 270.00

11 Chhatru Chandra River 140.00

12 Reoli/Dugli Chenab River 715.00

13 Seli Chenab River 150.00

14 Patam Miyar Nallah 60.00

15 Teling Chandra River 81.00

16 Tinget Miyar Nallah 81.00

17 Miyar Miyar Nallah 90.00

18 Tandi Chenab River 150.00

19 Rashil Chenab River 150.00

20 Dugar Chenab River 360.00

   Total    3032.30

  I. Under Operation.      5.30

  II.Under Construction with State/Central/Pvt. Nil

  III DPR Ready    Nil

  IV Under Investigation    240

(Source: http://www.hpseb.com/hydro_potential.htm)

Annexure­2: Memorandum submitted to the Governor of Himachal Pradesh