final initial environmental examination · final initial environmental examination project number:...

Final Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 46900 February 2012

IND: RAJASTHAN CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER PROJECT Prepared by Environmental Management Center (EMC) for Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Ltd. (RSTEPL) The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “Term of Use” section of this website.

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment

Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Ltd.

Non-sovereign Financing Facility Document Stage: Project Number:

February 2012

Prepared by Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Ltd

This environmental & social impact assessment is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Lender Bank’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff.

2

Environment Management Centre (EMC)

Environment Management Centre, EMC, has been appointed by Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Ltd (RSTEPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Power, as an independent consultant for the preparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report, ESIA, for the 100 MW Concentrated Solar Power being developed at Dhursar, Rajasthan. EMC has been given the responsibility of analyzing the environmental and social impact assessment during the construction and operational stage of project and advise the Project Company on the mitigation plan.

Who We Are

Founded in 1996 by Dr Prasad Modak, the Environmental Management Centre (EMC) has positioned itself as a niche player both in India as well as in international environmental management consultancy.

EMC's expertise lies in how to harmonize economic, environmental and social considerations in the business logic or in the existing policy and developmental framework. EMC makes use of six basic tools that contribute greatly to this approach. These tools include Research, Analyses, Strategic thinking, Stakeholder Consultation, Participatory Approach and Peering.

Many of these services are offered on a portfolio basis and fully customized to client needs.

In delivering these services, EMC has consistently excelled due to its familiarity and understanding of State, National as well as International requirements. Its emphasis on continual research, access to resources such as environmental maps, databases and modelling software has helped in bringing in the required quality.

EMC has been involved in corporate E&S risk assessment, underpinning and EHSDDs since 1997.

We have successfully undertaken EHSDDs in Bangladesh, India and Mexico. We take pride in extending out EHSDDs beyond the immediate paradigm of fault finding to the extent of value addition. We blend multiple strategies to reach prepare the Transaction advice (TA) for investor, such as:

− Enquiry of Historical SHE performance of the investee

− Business risk (incl. Reputation risk) analysis of the investor

− Gap analysis with respect to EHS Compliance

− Institution of Safeguards to be added in Contract Agreement

− Evaluation of Financial burden to achieve safeguards

To add value to our client, we occasionally blend in capacity development, MIS system development, SHE audits and SHE management system implementation.

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Annexures ..................................................................................................................................... 6

List of Figures .......................................................................................................................................... 7

List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... 11

I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 27

A. Project Brief .......................................................................................................................... 27B. Purpose and Scope of the Environmental & Social Impact Assessment .................................. 27C. Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 28D. Layout of the Report ............................................................................................................. 28

II. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework ........................................................................ 30

A. Indian Environmental and Social Governance ....................................................................... 30B. Application of Regulations .................................................................................................... 31C. ADB Safeguard Policy Statement ........................................................................................... 35D. Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards ............................................................... 37E. Proposed Categorization ....................................................................................................... 43F. EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) Policies of Reliance Power ............................................ 44

III. Description of the Project ........................................................................................................ 46

A. Project Location .................................................................................................................... 46B. Land Requirement for the Project ......................................................................................... 47C. Project Cost .......................................................................................................................... 48D. Project Layout ....................................................................................................................... 48E. Steam Generating Solar Field ................................................................................................ 52F. Water System and Plant Utilities ........................................................................................... 53G. Water Treatment Systems .................................................................................................... 55H. Zero discharge technology .................................................................................................... 56I. Water Pipeline and Water Balance ........................................................................................ 59J. Fire Protection System .......................................................................................................... 61K. Plant & Instrument Air System .............................................................................................. 62L. Power Evacuation Transmission Line ..................................................................................... 63M. Proposed Schedule for Project Implementation .................................................................... 65N. Overall Estimation of Quantities ........................................................................................... 65O. Clean Development Mechanism ............................................................................................ 66

IV. Baseline Environmental Description .................................................................................... 68

A. Project’s Area of Influence .................................................................................................... 68

4

B. Baseline Data Collection ....................................................................................................... 68C. Project Surroundings ............................................................................................................ 69D. Meteorology ......................................................................................................................... 69E. Ecology ................................................................................................................................. 71F. Land Environment ................................................................................................................. 73G. Air Quality ............................................................................................................................ 76H. Water Quality ....................................................................................................................... 76I. Socio-economic Condition .................................................................................................... 78J. Current and Proposed Development Activities in Jaisalmer ................................................... 78

V. Analysis of Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 79

A. With or Without Project Alternative ..................................................................................... 79B. Location ................................................................................................................................ 79C. Terrain .................................................................................................................................. 80D. Technology ........................................................................................................................... 80

VI. Anticipated Environmental & Social Impacts ....................................................................... 82

A. Areas of No Significant Impact .............................................................................................. 82B. Positive Impacts .................................................................................................................... 82C. Methodology of Impact Assessment ..................................................................................... 82D. Impacts during Construction Phase ....................................................................................... 83E. Impacts during Operation Phase ........................................................................................... 89F. Impacts specific to Water pipeline construction and operation ............................................. 91G. Impacts due to Construction and Operation of Transmission Lines ........................................ 92H. Impacts during Decommissioning Phase ............................................................................... 94I. Cumulative Impacts Identification ......................................................................................... 95

VII. Information Disclosure, Consultation, and Participation ...................................................... 96

A. Public Consultation Methodology ......................................................................................... 96B. Planned Information Disclosure Measures ............................................................................ 98

VIII. Grievance Redress Mechanism .......................................................................................... 100

A. Grievance Redress Mechanism ........................................................................................... 100B. Grievance Redress Committee ............................................................................................ 101C. Communication with Contractor Staff ................................................................................. 102

IX. Environmental and Social Management Plan ..................................................................... 103

A. Institutional Arrangement ................................................................................................... 103B. Environmental and Social Management Plan ...................................................................... 105C. Human Resource Management ........................................................................................... 119D. Construction Labour Management ...................................................................................... 119E. Decommissioning Plan ........................................................................................................ 120F. Waste Management Plan .................................................................................................... 121

5

G. Road Safety & Traffic Management Plan ............................................................................. 122H. Cumulative impacts Management ....................................................................................... 123I. Environmental Monitoring Program .................................................................................... 124J. Compliance Audit ............................................................................................................... 125K. Cost of Implementation of Environmental Management Plan ............................................. 125

X. Corporate Social Responsibility .............................................................................................. 126

A. Corporate Social Responsibility Plan ................................................................................... 126B. Identifying CSR Initiatives .................................................................................................... 126A. Community Development Plan ........................................................................................... 128

XI. Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................... 129

6

LIST OF ANNEXURES

Annexure 1: Consent to Establish for the Project

Annexure 2: Requirements of Factories Act 1948

Annexure 3: Requirements of BOCW

Annexure 4: Safety Requirements of Indian Electricity Act 2003

Annexure 5: ADBs Prohibited Investment Activities List

Annexure 6: Action Plan for compliance with IFC Performance Standards

Annexure 7: Land Lease Deed

Annexure 8: Approval for Water Allocation

Annexure 9: Public Consultation Advertisement

Annexure 10: Public Consultation Attendance Record

Annexure 11: Format for Compliance Audit

7

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Environmental Governance in India ......................................................................................... 30

Figure 2: Proposed Project Location Map ............................................................................................... 47

Figure 3: Layout Plan for CSP Plant ........................................................................................................ 50

Figure 4: Process of Power Generation .................................................................................................. 53

Figure 5: Water Balance Diagram ........................................................................................................... 60

Figure 6: Water Pipeline Alignment ....................................................................................................... 61

Figure 7: Alignment of Transmission Line ............................................................................................... 64

Figure 8: Project Surroundings ............................................................................................................... 69

Figure 9: Windrose Diagram .................................................................................................................. 70

Figure 10: Geological Map of Jaisalmer Basin ......................................................................................... 75

Figure 11: Seismic Hazard Map of Rajasthan .......................................................................................... 75

Figure 12: Grievance Redress Process .................................................................................................. 101

Figure 13: Structure of Grievance Redress Committee ......................................................................... 102

Figure 14: Structure of Environmental and Social Management Cell .................................................... 105

8

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Applicability and Compliance Status of National (Indian) and State Level Environmental, Health & Safety and Social Regulations ............................................................................................................. 31

Table 2: Application of Equator Principles .............................................................................................. 37

Table 3: Application of IFC Performance Standards to the Project .......................................................... 40

Table 4: General EHS Policy of Reliance Power ....................................................................................... 45

Table 5: Project Cost Break-up ............................................................................................................... 48

Table 6: Proposed Schedule for Project Implementation ........................................................................ 65

Table 7: Monthly Rainfall (In mm) during 1999-2008 ............................................................................. 71

Table 8: List of Plant Species observed within Study Area ...................................................................... 72

Table 9: List of Fauna observed within Study Area ................................................................................. 73

Table 10: Ground Water Quality ............................................................................................................ 77

Table 11: Alternative Locations Comparison .......................................................................................... 79

Table 12: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts (Construction Phase) ...................................... 83

Table 13: Impacts of Influx of Construction Labour ................................................................................ 87

Table 14: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts (Operation Phase) .......................................... 89

Table 15: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts due to Water Pipeline (Construction & Operation Phase) ................................................................................................................................... 91

Table 16: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts due to Transmission Lines (Construction & Operation Phase) ................................................................................................................................... 92

Table 17: Concerns raised and Clarifications given during Public Consultation ....................................... 97

Table 18: Key Responsibilities of Environmental & Social Management Cell ......................................... 104

Table 20: Environmental and Social Management Plan ........................................................................ 107

Table 19: Quantities of material during Decommissioning Stage .......................................................... 120

Table 21: Environmental Monitoring Plan ............................................................................................ 124

Table 22: Cost for Environmental Monitoring ...................................................................................... 125

Table 23: Community Needs in Project Area ........................................................................................ 127

9

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB Asian Development Bank

CLFR Compact Linear Fresnel Reactor

CO Carbon Monoxide

CSP Concentrated Solar Project

CW Circulating Water

dBA Decibel A weighted network

DO Dissolved Oxygen

DPR Detailed Project Report

DSPPL Dahanu Solar Power Plant Limited

EPFI Equator Principles Financial Institution

ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

ESMC Environmental and Social Management Cell

ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan

ETP Effluent Treatment Plant

GOI Government of India

GOR Government of Rajasthan

GRC Grievance Redress Committee

GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism

GRP Glass Reinforced Plastic

IFC International Finance Corporation

IGNP Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana (IGNP)

MFI Multilateral Financing Institution

NH National Highway

NTPC National Thermal Power Corporation

NOx Oxides of Nitrogen

PHED Public Health Engineering Department (PHED)

PUC Pollution Under Control

RoW Right of Way

R&R Resettlement and Rehabilitation

RSTEPL Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Limited

10

RSPM Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter

SO2 Sulphur Dioxide

SPM Suspended Particulate Matter

11

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Limited (RSTEPL), a fully owned subsidiary of Reliance Power Limited signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NTPC1

Purpose and Scope of the Environmental & Social Impact Assessment

Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN), New Delhi and is required to commission the plant by May 2013. The facility will be a 100 MWe Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Station located at Dhursar village in Pokaran Tehsil of Jaisalmer District in the State of Rajasthan. Areva Solar is the technology provider for the project.

2. The project proponent is looking for financing from Multilateral Financing Institutions (MFIs) such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Non-Sovereign Public Sector Financing facility, World Banks private banking arm International Finance Corporation (IFC) or other lenders such as Equator Principle Financing Institutions (EPFIs) that adhere to IFC Performance Standards.

a. The ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) promotes environmental sustainability in all their operations. Under this policy all project loans, financial intermediation loans, program loans, sector development program loans, private sector investment operations and non-sovereign loans, need to undergo an environmental and social assessment.

b. The EPFIs have adopted the Equator Principles (which in turn subscribes to the IFC’s Performance Standards on EHS) for Project Financing in order to ensure that the projects they finance are developed in a manner that is socially responsible and reflect sound environmental management practices.

3. The purpose of the ESIA is to:

a) Identify the significant adverse issues that may arise as a result of proposed works on biophysical, socio-economic and cultural environment of the project area, and carry out their rapid assessment

b) Recommend practical and site specific environmental mitigation and enhancement measures

c) Prepare and implement environmental monitoring plan for the project, and d) Review the land records, entitlements and identify rehabilitation needs of affected

persons, if any e) Conform to environmental and social safeguards of ADB and IFC Performance Standards

II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

1 National Thermal Power Corporation

12

4. Requirements as per Indian regulations are as listed:

a) Consent to Establish has been obtained. Refer Annexure 1. Consent to Operate shall be obtained four months prior to scheduled date of commissioning.

b) Hazardous Waste Authorization shall be obtained prior to commissioning.

c) RSTEPL during plant operation and maintenance shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is channelized to authorized collection centres, dismantlers or recyclers or is returned to the take back services provided by producers and maintain records of e-waste generated by them.

d) RSTEPL shall maintain records and file reports for purchase of any ODS for servicing, maintenance of fire extinguishers, transformers, air conditioning.

e) RSTEPL shall ensure requirements under the Factories Act are observed during plant operation. Requirements are specified in Annexure 2.

f) RSTEPL shall ensure requirements under the Building Construction Workers Act are observed during construction. Requirements are specified in Annexure 3.

g) An approval, if required will be sought from the Chief Inspectorate of Explosives for storage of diesel or similar explosive materials

h) RSTEPL shall ensure requirements under the Central Motor Vehicle Act and Rules for driver’s license; registration, permit for transportation, fitness certificate, limits of weight and insurance of vehicles are observed.

i) The safety requirements specified in Chapter IV of the Indian Electricity Act are to be observed.

j) Approvals, as required, shall be obtained for use of water during construction and operation

k) Permission has to be sought for felling of trees from the local Forest Authority, as per rules.

l) Permission of Private land owners and Panchayat will be required for use of land as borrow areas during construction.

m) An approval has to be sought from Rajasthan Department of Mines, if required.

n) Permission from Pokaran Tehsildar and Panchayat for disposal of construction spoil and surplus excavated soil during construction outside plant area, if required, will be sought

Proposed Categorization as per MFIs / EPFIs

a) Solar technology is environmentally benign and does not emit any substances that have any known major impact on climate, human health or environment.

13

b) The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in the light of technical and scientific information provided by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has clarified that Solar Thermal Projects are not covered by the provision of EIA notification, 2006 and hence do not require to obtain prior Environmental Clearance for setting up the plant. This is in reference to the Office Memorandum dated 30th June 2011 No J-11013/41/2006-IA.II (I).

c) The project is located away from all ecologically sensitive areas like national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, scheduled areas and critically polluted areas

d) The project is using Compact Linear Fresnel Reactor (CLFR) which does not use an intermediate heat transfer fluid as required in Parabolic Trough technology and hence eliminates the potential of environmental spill issues as well as requirement of the fluid.

e) Adverse impacts are diverse but largely mitigative, with few irreversible, unprecedented impacts that do not significantly deteriorate the local environment.

f) All legal compliance requirements are being followed and approvals have been sought before undertaking any pre-construction activity.

g) Analysis of alternatives has been carried out and alternate choices in technology, location, terrain have been assessed so as to minimize environmental impacts to the extent practical.

h) Local public opinion has been sought and incorporated before taking key decisions in the project.

i) A solar power photovoltaic project at the same location (Dhursar, Rajasthan) has been categorized by ADB as Category B based on an overall assessment of long term project benefits, E&S impacts and associated management plans.

In view of the above, the proposed project is recommended for a Category B as per MFIs requirements.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

5. The project site is located near Dhursar Village in Pokaran Tehsil of Jaisalmer District in Rajasthan. The site is situated on the south of NH 114. The nearest major town Pokaran is at a distance of 26 Km and the nearest airport is about 170 kms from site at Jodhpur Rajasthan. This location is advantageous for solar power due to its extended periods of cloudless days, near level terrain, higher DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance), optimized grid connectivity and its proximity to a National highway.

14

6. The site is located in a less populated part of Dhursar. The village settlements within 5 km buffer of the project site are Dhursar, Jhalariya, Bhakri and Lalpura. The relatively larger villages of Lawan and Ujla are located beyond 5 km from the project site

7. The land area required for the project for the current layout is approximately 340 hectares. The required land is owned by the Rajasthan State Government (“Government Land”). The process of land allotment has been completed

Project Layout

8. The plan consists of a solar field and a power block. The solar field collects solar energy and uses it to heat water received from the power block to produce steam. The power block includes the equipment and support facilities needed to convert the energy in the steam to electricity, deliver that electricity to the utility grid and return water to the solar field. Most of the facility land area is required for the solar field and because of the path of the sun during each day the rows of mirrors and collectors will run north-south.

9. The power block will include the steam turbine-generator and regenerative feed-water heaters, condenser, cooling tower, condensate and solar field feed pumps, makeup water treatment system and support systems. The main power house will enclose the steam turbine-generator and most of its auxiliaries. Permanent facilities like service building, workshop, operation and maintenance stores etc will be located near the main power house.

10. The induced draft cooling towers for the project are located towards the west of the switchyard and the main plant area keeping safe distances. The water treatment plant and the demineralization water facilities are located on west side of the main plant keeping the piping distances to a minimum from the main power house island as well as water reservoir.

11. Adequate space provision will be kept in the layout for lay-down and pre-assembly activities, open stores, contractor’s offices and stores etc. Raw water storage for 14 days water requirement will be provided.

12. Project components comprise of Turbine Hall, Solar field, Water system, Water Treatment systems, Transmission line and Water pipeline

IV. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION

Project’s Area of Influence

13. The project’s area of influence for conduct of impact assessment has been defined based on the activities, their predicted impacts and phase of the project.

15

14. During Construction. The construction activities carried out at the project site for construction of the turbine hall and assembling the solar field with respect to impacts on air quality, construction noise, agricultural land and other components would be limited to a maximum distance of 2 kms.

15. The impacts of construction activities to be carried out for construction of water pipeline and transmission lines on air quality, noise levels, severance and other components would be limited to a distance of 1 km on both sides of the alignment.

16. For transport vehicles transporting construction raw materials and CSP plant parts; trucks used for disposal of construction spoil and excess excavated soil, the influence area would include the immediate vicinity of roads (200m) along which they traverse for air quality, noise levels and community safety components.

17. During Operation. An influence area of 2 kms around the project site has been considered for impact assessment. Periodic maintenance activities to be carried out for water pipeline and transmission lines will have impacts similar to those during construction and hence have an influence corridor of maximum 500 m on both sides of the alignment.

Baseline conditions

18. The project site is located in Pokaran Tehsil of Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan. The meteorology data presented in the following sections is that of Jaisalmer city which lies approximately 110 Km from the project location.

19. The windrose diagram for Jaisalmer during winter, summer, monsoon and post monsoon is shown in Figure 9. The wind rose diagram for seasonal variations has been drawn on the basis of hourly wind speed and direction data. Analysis of hourly wind speed shows that the winds are generally light to moderate in this area. The annual mean wind speed varies from 1.30 to 6.30 Km/hr.

20. During winter the wind is calm 49% while that in summer and monsoon seasons is 35% and 34 % respectively. The predominant wind direction in these three seasons is from the South-West. During the post-monsoon season the wing is mostly calm (65%). the wind direction in this season is from the North to North-East and South to South-West almost equally (7-8% respectively).

21. The temperature and rainfall data has been presented for Pokaran Tehsil in which the project site is located. The summers have a mean maximum temperature of 45oC and a mean minimum of 29.8oC, while the winter mean maximum is 22oC and the mean minimum 9.3o

22. Analysis of past rainfall records shows that in the period of 1999 to 2008, the highest rainfall was 273.9mm in the month of August of 2006. On an annual basis, in the year 2004 rainfall was recorded 347.6 mm recorded where as in the year 2002 it was only 9.0 mm and hence 2002 was declared as drought.

C.

16

23. The study area shows almost plain topography. The general feature of the study area shows a sparse vegetation cover. The topography of the site is generally flat with a slope from north towards south varying from RL (+) 323 m to RL (+) 270 m necessitating different formation levels for various facilities in plant area. Overall the proposed project area is plain with a gentle slope.

24. The proposed project area is Government wasteland. There are few shrub thickets near the project site. There are some sand dunes in small area. There are agricultural lands on the western and north-eastern sides of the project site. There are no settlements near immediate vicinity of 1 km of the project site. Jhalariya village settlement located approximately 2km from the project site is the nearest settlement.

25. Geologically, the area forms a part of Jaisalmer basin (Refer Figure 10) of Tertiary and Eocene age rocks formation in the western part of Rajasthan, a part of great Indian Thar Desert which is dominated by Mesozoic and intermittent Tertiary strata.

26. Jaisalmer District lies in Zone III where the maximum intensity would be around MSK VII

27. As the project is located in the Thar Desert, particulate matter is likely to be high, particularly during summer dust storms driven by relatively strong north-west to south-west winds. Vehicular traffic is the only source for pollutants, hence levels of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are expected to be well within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

28. The project location and its nearby vicinity within 5 km have no industries and noise generating activities. Vehicular traffic would be the only contributor to man-made noise. Hence it is expected that the noise levels in the project area should be well within Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of noise during day and night time.

29. There are no perennial rivers in Jaisalmer District, and no natural lakes or ponds, due to the low rainfall. A few ephemeral streams appear during rainfall, and water accumulates in certain low lying areas, but the water is shallow and drains into the sand very quickly. A few manmade reservoirs have been created by constructing simple bunds at certain locations in the district.

30. Population- In 2011, Jaisalmer had population of 672,008 of which male and female were 363,346 and 308,662 respectively. There was growth rate of 32.22% in the population between 2001 and 2011 which is lower than that recorded at 47.52 in the period 1991-2001. the administrative area of Jaisalmer District is 39,313 sq.km. As per census 2011, population density of Jaisalmer District per square km is 17 persons compared to 13 per sq.km of 2001.

31. Literacy- Average literacy rate of Jaisalmer in 2011 was 58.04% compared to 50.97% in 2001. The male and female literacy rates in 2011 census was recorded at 73.09% and 40.23% respectively.

32. Sex Ratio- The Sex Ratio in Jaisalmer, stood at 849 females per 1000 male in 2011 compared to 821 in 2001 census. The average national sex ratio in India is 940 females per 1000 males as per Census 2011 Directorate.

17

33. Occupational pattern of Jaisalmer District as per 2011 Census shows that majority of people in rural sector are cultivators and agricultural labourers which indicates a dominant agricultural economy. A small section of people are engaged as workers in household industries. But in urban sector the existing scenario is completely reversed there most of the people are engaged in non-agricultural activity especially in industrial sector.

34. Per capita income: Per capita income reflects overall economic condition of the region or of the state. The average per capita income in rural area of District is Rs.27,516/- whereas the per capita income in urban area is Rs.56,962/- which is higher.

V. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

35. This project will help on achieving both the demand-supply gap in energy requirement and also enable the country to produce clean energy.

36. For a location to be favorable for Concentrated Solar Power, it should have a high percentage of days without cloud cover or other climate conditions that prevent the solar energy from reaching the surface. This results in high solar radiation availability. In addition the site should have good availability of water and access to the electrical transmission grid. All of these conditions are favorable at the selected site.

37. Before finalizing on the site location at Dhursar, Rajasthan, RSTEPL had analyzed a set of probable locations on various parameters important for success of any Solar CSP plant.

38. While selecting the land for plant area, due care was also taken to minimize the proportion of agricultural and inhabited land in the site.

39. In addition, the site has good soil characteristics for foundations and is almost level. These factors result in lower cost for site grading and foundations.

40. In choosing the technology for the CSP plant Compact Linear Fresnel Reflective (CLFR) and Parabolic Trough Technology (PTT) were studied and compared.

VI. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL IMPACTS AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

Areas of No Significant Impact

41. The project has not acquired any land from private owners and hence does not cause involuntary resettlement.

42. The project road does not traverse through any National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary and is also not in close proximity (10 km) to any such locations. Hence the project does not have an adverse impact on modified, natural, critical habitat; legally protected and internationally recognized areas; and invasive alien species.

18

43. The project is not located in or in proximity to Scheduled areas. Hence the project location or activities do not disturb or affect the habitat of Indigenous People.

44. The project is not located in the vicinity of any cultural heritage sites or structures and hence will not adversely impact these.

Environmental and Social Management Plan Affected

Component Project activity Impact Mitigation/Prevention

1 2 3 4 Pre-Construction Phase

Flora Felling of trees within project site

Reduction in the green cover of the project area

1. It should be ensured that only trees falling within the project facility are felled 2. Trees which can replanted in other areas should be uprooted with care 3. Compensatory tree plantation as per Rajasthan Tree Act should be based on suitably designed tree plantation programmes. Recent studies suggest that it is important to recognize that some significant part of the replacement ratio should allow for a high mortality rate among the newly planted trees

Construction Phase Resource Consumption

Transportation of material for construction and hauling of spoil material Use of kerosene or local fuel wood for domestic / cooking purposes Operation of construction equipments

Fossil fuel consumption

1. Construction machinery / equipment and transportation vehicles should be planned on preventive maintenance schedules and installed with suitable pollution control devices (as per norms) as a good practice to reduce the increase efficiency 2. Labour should be made aware on the optimum use of fuel for cooking

Air Quality Exhaust from construction machinery, equipment including generators, earth moving equipments and transport vehicles, as applicable

Short term emissions for carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, RSPM, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and toxic air pollutants

1. Construction machinery / equipment should be planned on preventive maintenance schedules and installed with suitable pollution control devices (as per norms) as a good practice to reduce the increase efficiency and exhaust emissions 2.Contractors / operators should seek valid pollution under control (PUC) certificates for all construction equipment / vehicles and should comply with the latest applicable emission norms 3. Drivers should be instructed / trained on the benefits of safe driving practices that reduce both the risk of accidents and fuel consumption, including measured acceleration and driving within safe speed limits

Disposal of excavation spoil

Short term rise in SPM and RSPM

1. It is vital to estimate the quantity of soil involved in order to plan for the appropriate number of trucks and trips per truck per

19

Affected Component

Project activity Impact Mitigation/Prevention

1 2 3 4 material and transportation of materials

levels day. 2. Water sprinkling will be done on regular basis 3. Protective masks should be provided to the staff and workers on site

Labour camps demand for fuel wood

This temporary facility may lead to adverse impacts on local ambient air quality due to burning of fuel

1. Unadulterated fuel should be supplied for cooking purposes

Construction activities like - site clearance, -excavation, -foundation preparation, -material movement on site - haul roads

Short term rise in SPM and RSPM levels

1. Area for site clearance should be limited to RoW 2. Water should be sprinkled on area to be excavated and on haul roads to reduce the fugitive dust re-suspension 3. Water sprinkling will be done on regular basis

Fugitive dust emissions from construction camps, stockpile areas, storage of materials


1. The construction camps and storage areas should not be located near residential areas 2. Sensitive electric/ electronic materials will be kept under covered store/ tarpaulin covered.

Noise Pollution

Construction activities and operation of construction equipments

Increase in ambient noise levels

1. Noise generating activities should be scheduled based on distance and timing wherever possible 2. Protective safety equipment should be provided to the staff and workers on site 3. Compliance with the standards should be ensured 4. Manufacturer machinery and equipment guidelines, procedures with regard to noise should be observed 5. Noise barriers should be erected wherever required

Water Resources

Water required for various construction activities – tapping bore wells

Water sourced from tankers

1. Water tankers should be sourced from authentic and legal 2. Consumption of water should be monitored and attempt should be made to avoid spills / wastages and ensure optimal consumption

Land Felling of trees Soil erosion due to loss of soil binding source

1. Spoils (soil) displaced due to construction activities and laying of pipes / transmission lines should be used in fill areas or suitably reused / disposed after ruling out any contamination 2. The exposed areas should be worked on immediately and the remaining area should be compacted and replanted with soil binding cover

Labour camps Degradation of 1. Sanitation and solid waste disposal facilities should be put in

20

Affected Component


1 2 3 4 soil quality due to improper sanitation facilities

place.

Extraction of soil from borrow pits Extraction of rocks and sand from river beds

Long term impact causing accelerated erosion, disturbance in natural drainage and water logging

1. Borrow pit management plan should be prepared 2. Locations of borrow pits and quarry sites should be marked on plan drawings 3. Soil should be borrowed from designated borrow pits and quarries as directed by the local authority 4. The sites should be located away from population centres, drinking water intakes, streams, cultivable lands and natural drainage systems

Disposal of construction spoil

Alteration of drainage pattern

1. The construction spoil should be disposed on designated areas with permission from the Village Panchayat provided disposal is made outside plant area. 2. Care should be taken to avoid water clogging, obstruction to natural drainage.

Preparation of stable base for solar field


1. Drainage channels should be constructed around the project site to prevent water clogging and aid natural drainage

Ground water quality

Use of bituminous material for internal plant road construction

Spillage and leaching to ground water causing contamination

1. The Contractor should train the workers handling bituminous material to avoid spillage 2. In case of spillage the workers should be trained and instructed on immediate clean-up activities to prevent leaching action and dispose the waste safely

Public and Occupational Health and Safety

Air pollution, increase in noise levels

Nuisance and health impacts to communities in the vicinity Health and Safety issues for Labour / staff working on site

1. Measures given to prevent/reduce air pollution and noise levels should be implemented 2. Safety equipment provision and procedures should be mandated on site during the construction phase 3. The workers should be provided training on primary causes of accidents during construction and measures to prevent them as well as actions to be taken in emergency situations. RSTEPL has an emergency response plan, which is attached in Annexure 13, to limit the impacts.

Use of diesel powered construction equipments and diesel generator sets

Improper storage of diesel could lead to a fire hazard

1. Storage and handling measures according to Health and Safety protocol should be followed for fuel storages

Agricultural lands

Runoff from construction activities, dumping of debris and excavation spoils

Long term impact causing loss of productivity and loss of standing crops

1. All material storage areas should be provided with silt traps along the borders of the site to prevent material runoff 2. Locations along the road where construction debris and spoil is stacked should be provided temporary fencing to prevent spillage into the fields.

Operation and Maintenance Phase

21

Affected Component


1 2 3 4 Ground water quality

Sludge disposal from effluent treatment plant and de-mineralization plant

Leaching action causing contamination

1. The sludge drying bed should be provided an impervious base. 2. Provision of non-corrosive and impervious storage area/container should be provided for dried sludge. 3. The dried sludge should be safely disposed to the nearest hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility located at Udaipur.

Neutralization Plant Leaching action causing contamination

1. The neutralization pond should be provided with an impervious lining at the base. 2. The base lining should be periodically checked for identification of cracks and fissures. 3. A standby neutralization tank should be available at the project site to enable maintenance activities of the neutralization pit.

Management of lube oil waste


The waste should be stored on an impervious base

Land Disposal of e-waste (defunct solar panels)

Contamination of land

1.The e-waste shall be disposed to authorized collectors/ recyclers, technology providers 2. The e-waste shall be stored on an impervious base.

Water Resources

Use/re-use/recycling of water

Scarce Resource consumption

1. Water reduction measures through periodic checking of pipeline leakages and water stealing. 2. A water meter shall be installed at water intake works to monitor total waterconsumption . 3. Water audit shall be regularly conducted. 4. De-mineralization plant and effluent treatment plant shall be maintained in good operations to optimize recycling of water for steam generation. 5. Effluents/blow-down water treated and re-used for plantation/horticulture and dust suppression in solar field. 6. Provision for a rainwater harvesting pond which collects drain/storm water drain during monsoon. The rainwater shall be treated suitably upon verification of quality of water collected in the rain water harvesting pond to ensure the re-use of rain water collected in to the plant water system. 7. Provision for raw water storage for 14 days water requirement.

Occupational Health and Safety

Working at the solar field and turbine hall

Failure of the EOT crane, slips, trips and exposure to other physical hazards

1. The Safety Work Practices given in Section 5 of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management Plan by Areva Solar shall be followed

Storage of Chemicals Fires, exposure to

22

Affected Component


1 2 3 4 toxic effects of chemicals

Public health and safety

Operation of solar field

Reflection from solar panels

1. Plantation of trees on the western boundary to visually cut the reflection in manner that does not cast shadows on the solar field.

Impacts specific to Water Pipeline Construction and Operation Air Quality Traffic congestion

due to road constriction / diversions

Short term emissions of SPM/RSPM, CO, NOx and SO2

1. Traffic management and diversion plans should be prepared to avoid congestion in peak periods 2. Traffic diversions and alternate routes should be displayed along the road using signages 3. Working areas should be barricaded on existing roads and diversions should be demarcated with sign boards


Excavation pits/ cuts are left unfilled/ uncovered for a long time

pits / low lying cut areas are used by the local inhabitants for dumping of solid wastes indirectly causing contamination

1. The excavated areas if required to be kept open for a long time should be temporarily covered when work. 2. Solid waste if dumped in the excavated pits should be immediately cleaned up when identified and disposed to the local dumpsite.

Water Resources

Maintenance of water pipeline

Leakages and stealing of water causing loss of scarce resource

1. A leak detection mechanism should be implemented. 2. Water audits should be periodically carried out.

Impacts specific to Transmission line Construction and Operation Air pollution Operation of circuit

breakers, switch gear, and other electrical equipment

Sulphur Hexa fluoride (SF6) a non-toxic greenhouse gas

1. Fix leak detectors

Noise pollution

Transmission line operational

corona noise from the conductors

1. The transmission line alignment should be as defined in Electricity Act 2003

Operation of transformers

Transformer noise

1. The transformer should be located as defined in Electricity Act 2003



Leakage of transformer oil

1. Oil and grease traps should be fit at exit points to prevent runoff of leaked oil to adjoining lands

Occupational Health & Safety

Erection of towers, line stringing

Physicals hazards related to working at height

1. Safety practices to prevent physical hazards should be employed

Public Health & Safety


Exposure to electromagnetic fields

1. The transmission line alignment should be at a distance of 30 m from village settlements at a minimum.

Agricultural lands

Haul Roads Destruction of standing crops and loss of top soil, productivity

1. The topsoil along haul roads for transmission lines should be removed, stored and reused for stabilization of exposed areas. 2. After completion of erecting towers and stringing, the haul roads should be restored. 3. The owners of the lands should be compensated for the loss of standing crops. 4. The haul roads should be sprinkled with dust suppressants to

23

Affected Component


1 2 3 4 prevent re-suspension of dust and their deposition on agricultural lands and crops.

45. A decommissioning plan has been prepared for the proposed project on completion of its design life which identifies the actions to be taken for proper management of wastes and other mechanical and structural components.

46. A road safety and traffic management plan has been prepared to manage impacts that would occur mainly during construction phase of the project.

47. A waste management plan has been prepared for the proposed project that identifies the sources of waste during construction and operation and measures to be implemented for their management.

48. RSTEPL has established an Environment & Social Management Cell (ESMC) at Corporate and Site level, headed by a Project Director of Chief Engineer rank to be responsible for day-to-day implementation of the Project. The ESMC is responsible for coordinating and implementing all environmental and social activities. During project implementation, the ESMC will be responsible for reflecting the occurrence of new and significant impacts resulting from project activities and integrating sound mitigation measures into the EMP.

49. The environmental monitoring plan for the Project describes recommended monitoring sites; parameters to be monitored; time and frequency of monitoring; and the collection, analysis, and reporting of monitoring data, as summarized in Table 9. The objectives of the monitoring plan are to:

a) Record any project impacts during construction and operation, b) Evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation measures, c) Meet legal and community obligations, and d) Respond to unanticipated environmental issues at an early stage.

50. A compliance audit should be conducted during construction and operation phases to monitor the implementation of the mitigation measures outlined in the EMP. The monitoring indicator for each measure has been specified in the EMP Table 8, column 5.

VII. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND PARTICIPATION

51. RSTEPL organized a local stakeholder consultation meeting at Government Senior Primary School in Dhursar Village, Tehsil – Pokhran on 15th February, 2011.

24

52. A total of 33 persons attended the public consultation. Community participants included people from different walk of the society. The participants included the Sarpanch (Village head) of Dhursar and Lawan, NGOs, State Revenue Department officials, teachers, equipment suppliers, employees and local villagers.

53. All speakers emphasized on the need of renewable source of power generation. They also shared the observed change in weather pattern in their locality over last two decades. There was a consensus about the importance and potential of the project for the development of Dhursar and its surrounding areas. They also sought more initiatives for renewable based power projects in local area so that additional investment will result into employment of local people which will lead to increase standard of living.

54. During the interactive session, questions were raised by local community on various aspects such as impact of project on their economic conditions, future expansion plans of the project in the same locality, employment of local community in the project etc. which were answered satisfactorily by the concerned person.

Planned Information Disclosure Measures

55. RSTEPL would disclose the project details to make the community aware of the important features of the project. A Project Information Booklet would be prepared and distributed in the project vicinity village in vernacular language. The booklet in addition to containing the salient features of the project shall have a map depicting the boundaries of the plant and its ancillary facilities. The important landmarks e.g. the settlement, schools and the roads, etc. shall also be demarcated so that it becomes easy for the people in the villages to relate to the ground conditions.

56. To ensure wide circulation of the Project Information Booklet the booklet would be made available at all the schools, Anganwadi centres, and other public facilities in the project affected village.

57. RSTEPL will disclose the construction schedule on the notice board at the site location before the commencement of construction works to ensure that local population are notified and informed of said activities.

58. RSTEPL will involve their local representatives to inform them about the implementation of social and environmental activities.

59. Attempts will be made to ensure that vulnerable groups understand the process and their specific needs are taken into account.

VIII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM

60. The Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) for the project provides an effective approach for complaints and resolution of issues made by the affected community in reliable way. This

25

mechanism will remain active throughout the life cycle of the project. RSTEPL shall have a standard mechanism to:

a) inform the affected people (AP) about GRM and its functions,

b) determine how peoples representatives in the GRM will be selected,

c) set the procedures and mechanisms adopted for making the complaints,

d) support the complainants in communicating their grievance and attending the GRM meetings and

e) Implement compliance with a GRMs' decision, its monitoring and communication to the people.

61. As a part of the grievance redressal, RSTEPL will perform the following actions.

a) Continuously collect and analyze complaint/grievance related data and b) Disseminate this information into its organizational set up c) Review and upgrade exiting plans if required

62. The procedure for grievance redress will be done through various steps:

a) minor grievances will be redressed at the site level through the concerned project engineer and contractor (7 working days),

b) if this fails the grievance will be referred to the GRC which will take all necessary actions within 15 working days,

c) If still unresolved, the aggrieved person will have the option to approach the appropriate court of law for redress.

63. A Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) will be formed and have representatives from local communities, the Panchayat Head, a RSTEPL Project Engineer (Line in Field), and a nominated District Revenue Officer. The GRC will meet as and when major grievances arise.

IX. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN

64. RSTEPL’s CSR initiatives would focus on the following areas:

a) Improving medical facilities in the villages around the project area.

b) Improving awareness and providing sufficient training in hygiene, sanitation and proper diet

c) Encouraging people to send children to school and also educate themselves through adult literacy programs

d) Improving education infrastructure by providing better teaching aid and training for teaching faculty.

26

e) Building skills among villagers as per skills requirements of the project during construction as well as during the operations phase.

f) Encouraging entrepreneurial spirit among people and supporting such initiatives by conducting training programmes to acquire and enhance skills.

g) Creating awareness about long term financial planning.

X. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

65. The project has been proposed to meet national targets on renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels as a source of energy. Solar technology is environmentally benign and does not emit any substances that have any known major impact on climate, human health or environment. The project would indirectly lead to reduction in emission of environmental pollutants that are released by use of fossil fuels in thermal power plants.

66. An environment and social impact assessment has been carried out considering project activities in the construction and operation phase and their interaction with various environmental and social components like topology, air quality, noise levels, water resources and water quality, ecology, demography of the area, climate and natural habitat, community and employee health and safety.

67. From the impact assessment it can be concluded that no major adverse impacts are expected. . Most impacts are expected to occur during the construction phase and are considered to be of a temporary nature. The project does not impact any natural/critical habitat, indigenous people, physical cultural resources and cause land acquisition.

68. The environment and social impact associated with water pipeline and other components of the project is mainly limited to the construction period and can be mitigated through the measures recommended in the EMP.

69. Provisions have been made for the implementation and monitoring of the measures recommended in the EMP. Adverse impacts if additionally identified during implementation will be mitigated using appropriate design and management measures.

70. The mitigation measures to be implemented during construction shall be incorporated into civil works contracts, and their implementation will be primarily the responsibility of the contractors.

71. The proposed project has limited adverse environmental and social impact which can be mitigated following the environmental and social management plan, and hence has been proposed for its classification as a category "B", in accordance with MFIs/ EPFIs safeguards. The Project is not considered highly sensitive or complex.

27

I. INTRODUCTION

This section gives a brief introduction to the project, scope of the document and the methodology followed in conduct of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the project.

A. Project Brief

72. Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Ltd (RSTEPL), a fully owned subsidiary of Reliance Power Limited signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NTPC2

73. Lauren CCL has been appointed by RSTEPL as the Owners Engineer for the Concentrated Solar Power Plant. Their scope includes preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), basic engineering documents, assistance in contract negotiation & finalization and review engineering.

Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN), New Delhi and is required to commission the plant by May 2013. The facility will be a 100 MWe Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Station located at Dhursar village in Pokaran Tehsil of Jaisalmer District in the State of Rajasthan. Areva Solar is the technology provider for the project.

74. Environmental Management Centre has been appointed by RSTEPL to prepare an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Report.

B. Purpose and Scope of the Environmental & Social Impact Assessment

75. The project proponent is looking for financing from Multilateral Financing Institutions (MFIs) like Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Non-Sovereign Public Sector Financing facility, World Banks private banking arm International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other Equator Principle Financing Institutions (EPFIs) that adhere to IFC Performance Standards.

76. The ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) promotes environmental sustainability in all their operations. Under this policy all project loans, financial intermediation loans, program loans, sector development program loans, private sector investment operations and non-sovereign loans, need to undergo an environmental and social assessment.

77. The EPFIs have adopted the Equator Principles for Project Financing in order to ensure that the projects they finance are developed in a manner that is socially responsible and reflect sound environmental management practices.

78. The purpose of the ESIA is to:

2 National Thermal Power Corporation

28

a) Identify the significant adverse issues that may arise as a result of proposed works on biophysical, socio-economic and cultural environment of the project area, and carry out their rapid assessment

b) Recommend practical and site specific environmental mitigation and enhancement measures

c) Prepare and implement environmental monitoring plan for the project, and d) Review the land records, entitlements and identify rehabilitation needs of affected

persons, if any e) Conform to environmental and social safeguards of ADB and IFC Performance Standards

79. This ESIA report was prepared on the basis of detailed screening and analysis of all environmental

parameters, field investigations and stakeholder consultations to meet the requirements for environmental assessment process and documentation per ADB’s SPS, 2009, IFC Performance Standards and Government of India EIA Notification of 2006 as well as other environmental regulations.

C. Methodology

80. Environmental Management Centre carried out a field visit to the project site during November 23-24, 2011 for a rapid reconnaissance and to assess critical environmental, health & safety and social issues that may result from construction and operation of the project. Prior to the field visit, project documents including the Detailed Project Report and maps of the proposed sites were reviewed.

81. Other project documents reviewed for preparation of the report are land lease deed, minutes of public consultation held in February 2011, technical specifications for clear water conveyance system and Consent to Establish from Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board.

D. Layout of the Report

82. The Section I of the report states the purpose of preparation of the report defining its scope. The legal requirements as per Indian national regulations have been explained in Section II of the report. The section also comprises of categorization as per ADB SPS. The project information in Section III gives the alignment of the project, its components, activities in the construction & operation phase and project schedule. The baseline physical, biological and socio-economic environment in the project’s area of influence is given in Section IV. The analysis of alternatives for technology, location etc have been presented in Section V.

83. The environmental impacts of the project during construction and operation phase have been identified and the analysis has been presented in Section VI. Section VII gives details of the public consultation conducted, comments received from the affected persons and public disclosure plan. The grievance redress mechanism for the project has been outlined in Section VIII. Section IX gives

29

the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) suggesting measures to prevent and mitigate impacts identified in the impact assessment study. The details of Corporate Social Responsibility and community development programs in the project area to be conducted by RSTEPL are outlined in Section X. Section XI gives a summary of recommendations and conclusions of the assessment.

30

II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

The Indian environmental and social governance applicable to the project in the construction and operation stages has been elaborated in this section. The Project is seeking financing from ADB, EPFIs and hence their environmental and social safeguards are applicable to this Project. The categorization of the project as per ADB SPS and IFC is also detailed in this section.

A. Indian Environmental and Social Governance

84. India has an extensive environmental and social management system with a comprehensive set of environmental laws, specific statutory mandates, regulatory instruments, and institutional frameworks to implement and enforce environmental policy objectives. The system involves a shared responsibility between the Centre and the States. The Central Government has the responsibility for policy and regulatory formulations and the State Governments are responsible for ensuring implementation and enforcement of national policies and laws. At the central level, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are the nodal agencies responsible for environmental compliance and enforcement. Similarly, the State Government’s Departments of Environment and Forest (DoE/DoF) and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) are the designated agencies to perform these functions at the State level. The institutional structure for environmental governance in India is represented in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Environmental Governance in India

31

B. Application of Regulations

85. The applicability of environmental, health & safety and social regulations at the National, State and local levels for this Project are summarized in Table 1 along with the status on compliance.

Table 1: Applicability and Compliance Status of National (Indian) and State Level Environmental, Health & Safety and Social Regulations

No. Environmental, Health & Safety

Regulations

Requirements of the Regulation Application to the Project

National Level

1. Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and amendments thereafter

Obtaining prior Environmental Clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) or State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for new/expansion of project or activities listed in the Schedule of EIA Notification 2006 and amendments thereafter.

Not applicable to the project in reference to the Office Memorandum dated 30th June 2011 No J-11013/41/2006-IA II (I).

2. Indian Forest Act, 1927

Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, amended 1988

Permission to be sought from State Forest Department, Chief Conservator of Forests for dereservation of forest land for non-forest purposes.

Not applicable to the project.

The project is not located within any forest area.

3. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, amended 1993

The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002

Dereservation of forest land within National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves/Biosphere Reserves requires permission from the National Board for Wildlife and Supreme Court Bench setup for the purpose.


The project is not located within any National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves/Biosphere Reserves.

4. Resolution by Indian Board for Wildlife on Eco Fragile Zone, 2002

The area within 10 km radius of a Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park is notified as eco fragile zone

Construction activity cannot commence without approval from National Board for Wildlife.


The project is not located within any eco fragile zone.

32


Regulations


5. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011

The Notification imposes restrictions on the setting up and expansion of industries, operations or processes in the CRZ. The project proponent has to obtain a clearance from the State Coastal Zone Management Authority.


The project is not located within the CRZ.

State Level

6. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and amendments thereof

Obtaining Consent to Establish (CtE) before commencement of construction and Consent to Operate (CtO) before commissioning from Rajasthan Pollution Control Board (RPCB) under Air Act and Water Act for the plant site.

Consent to Establish has been obtained and attached in Annexure 1.

Consent to Operate shall be obtained prior to scheduled date of commissioning.

7. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and amendments thereof

8. Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and amendments thereafter

No specific statutory approvals required.

For the construction activities as well as plant operations, ambient noise quality will have to be monitored and maintained on a regular basis as part of the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan.

9. Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2008 and amendments thereafter

Obtaining authorization from RSPCB for management and handling of Hazardous Waste like waste lube oil before commissioning.

Authorization shall be obtained prior to commissioning.

10. E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2010

The Rules apply to every producer, consumer, bulk consumer involved in manufacture, sale, purchase and processing of electrical and electronic equipment or components, collection center, dismantler and recycler of e-waste.

RSTEPL during plant operation and maintenance shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is channelized to authorized collection centres, dismantlers or

33


Regulations


recyclers or is returned to the take back services provided by producers and maintain records of e-waste generated by them.

11. The Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000

The Rules regulates the production, use and purchase of specified ODS.

RSTEPL shall maintain records and file reports for purchase of any ODS for servicing, maintenance of fire extinguishers, transformers, air conditioning.

12. Approval for use of water

Approval for use of water from canals to be obtained from Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana (IGNP) during operations.

Approvals shall be obtained for use of water during construction and operation

Local Level

13. Preservation of trees Permission has to be sought for felling of trees from the local Tree Authority.

RSTEPL shall obtain required approval before commencement of construction

14. Borrow area Permission of Private land owners and Panchayat will be required for use of land as borrow areas during construction.

15. Permission for quarrying

An approval has to be sought from Rajasthan Department of Mines.

16. Disposal of construction spoil and surplus excavated soil

Permission of Pokaran Tehsildar and Panchayat will be required for disposal of construction spoil and surplus excavated soil during construction.

Health and Safety Acts and Rules

17. The Factories Act, 1948

Regulates the employment and conditions of service of factory workers and to provide for their safety, health and welfare.

Requires obtaining license from Chief Inspector of Factories.

RSTEPL shall ensure requirements under the Act are observed during plant operation.

Action plan is specified in Annexure 2.

34


Regulations


18. Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996

Regulates the employment and conditions of service of building and other construction workers and to provide for their safety, health and welfare.

RSTEPL shall ensure requirements under the Act are observed during construction.


19. Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988 & Rules 1989

Specifies requirements of driver’s license; registration, permit for transportation, fitness certificate, limits of weight and insurance of vehicles.

RSTEPL shall ensure requirements under the Act and Rules are observed.

20. Petroleum Act, 1934 and Rules 2002

Regulates import, transport, storage, production, refining and blending of petroleum.

An approval is to be sought from the Chief Inspectorate of Explosives for storage of diesel.

RSTEPL shall obtain the required approval prior to commissioning.

21. Indian Electricity Act 2003 and Rules 1956 amended to 2000

The safety requirements specified in Chapter IV of the Act are to be observed.

RSTEPL shall ensure requirements under the Act are observed during construction and operation of the plant.


Social Acts and Policies

22. Land Acquisition Act 1894 amended up to 1985

Lays down the process to be followed during acquisition of land for public purpose.

Not Applicable to the project.

The land for the project has been obtained from Rajasthan State Government.

23. National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy, 2007

For resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected families and persons in case of involuntary resettlement.

24. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers

Provides a framework to recognizes and vest the forests rights and occupation in forest land in forest

Not Applicable to the project.

The project is not located

35


Regulations


(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act ,2006

dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers.

within or in proximity to Scheduled Areas.

C. ADB Safeguard Policy Statement

86. ADB affirms that environmental and social sustainability is a cornerstone of economic growth and poverty reduction in Asia and the Pacific. ADB’s Strategy 2020 therefore emphasizes assisting Developing Member Countries (DMCs) to pursue environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth. In addition, ADB is committed to ensuring the social and environmental sustainability of the projects it supports. In this context, the goal of ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) is to promote the sustainability of project outcomes by protecting the environment and people from projects’ potential adverse impacts.

87. The objectives of ADB’s safeguards are to:

a) avoid adverse impacts of projects on the environment and affected people, where possible;

b) minimize, mitigate, and/or compensate for adverse project impacts on the environment and affected people when avoidance is not possible; and

c) Help borrowers/clients to strengthen their safeguard systems and develop the capacity to manage environmental and social risks.

88. ADB’s SPS sets out the policy objectives, scope and triggers, and principles for three key safeguard areas - (i) environmental safeguards; (ii) involuntary resettlement safeguards; and (iii) Indigenous Peoples safeguards.

89. ADB adopts a set of specific safeguard requirements that borrowers/clients are required to meet in addressing environmental and social impacts and risks. These safeguard requirements are:

a) Safeguard Requirements 1: Environment requires that environment must be considered at all stages of the project cycle from project identification through implementation. This section provides a detailed description of the environmental assessment and review process for project loans in terms of activities that take place during the project cycle.

b) Safeguard Requirements 2: Involuntary Resettlement discusses the objectives, scope of application, and underscores the requirements for undertaking the social impact assessment and resettlement planning process, preparing social impact assessment

36

reports and resettlement planning documents, exploring negotiated land acquisition, disclosing information and engaging in consultations, establishing a grievance mechanism, and resettlement monitoring and reporting.

c) Safeguard Requirements 3: Indigenous Peoples requires that the Indigenous people are identified and if present, benefit from the development projects and the project shall avoid or mitigate potentially adverse affects on indigenous people caused by the project. In India, this applies to Scheduled Tribes (ST).

90. ADB does not finance projects that do not comply with:

a) safeguard policy statement;

b) host country’s social and environmental laws and regulations;

c) ADBs prohibited investment activities list (refer Annexure 5)

2001 Social Protection Strategy. ADB’s Social Protection Strategy (2001 SPS) requires the Borrower to comply with applicable labor laws in relation to the Project, and take the following measures to comply with the core labor standards3

for the ADB financed portion of the Project:

(a) carry out its activities consistent with the intent of ensuring legally permissible equal opportunity, fair treatment and non discrimination in relation to recruitment and hiring, compensation, working conditions and terms of employment for its workers (including prohibiting any form of discrimination against women during hiring and providing equal work for equal pay for men and women engaged by the Borrower);

(b) not restrict its workers from developing a legally permissible means of expressing their

grievances and protecting their rights regarding working conditions and terms of employment;

(c) engage contractors and other providers of goods and services:

(i) who do not employ child labor4 or forced labor;5

(ii) who have appropriate management systems that will allow them to operate in a manner which is consistent with the intent of (A) ensuring legally permissible equal opportunity and fair treatment and non discrimination for their workers, and (B) not restricting their workers from developing a legally permissible means of expressing their grievances and protecting their rights regarding working conditions and terms of employment; and

1 the core labor standards are the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; the abolition of child labor; elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation; and freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, as per the relevant conventions of the International Labor Organization;

4 child labor means the employment of children whose age is below the statutory minimum age of employment in the relevant country, or employment of children in contravention of International Labor Organization Convention No. 138 ‘Minimum Age Convention” (www.ioo.org) 5 forced labor means all work or services not voluntarily performed, that is, extracted from individuals under threat of force or penalty

37

(iii) whose subcontracts contain provisions which are consistent with paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.

D. Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards

1. Equator principles

91. The EPs, based on the IFC Performance Standards on social and environmental sustainability and on the World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines (EHS Guidelines), are intended to serve as a common baseline and framework for the implementation by each EPFI. The applicability of EP to the project has been outlined in Table 2.

Table 2: Application of Equator Principles

Equator Principles Requirements Project Information/Application

Principle 1: Review and Categorization

As the project is seeking financing from EPFIs, the project has to be categorized based on the magnitude of its potential impacts and risks in accordance with the environmental and social screening criteria of IFC (Exhibit I)

A category rating ‘B’ has been recommended for this project. Refer Section E of this chapter for details.

Principle 2: Social and Environmental Assessment

An Environmental and Social Assessment has to be carried out for the project that addresses relevant social and environmental impacts and risks of the proposed project (illustrative list of issues as found in Exhibit II) and also propose mitigation and management measures relevant and appropriate to the nature and scale of the proposed project.

This report presents the Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment carried out for the project.

The project has not acquired any land from private owners and hence does not trigger the requirement of Resettlement and Rehabilitation.

Principle 3: Applicable Social and Environmental Standards

India being a non-OECD country, the IFC performance standards (under exhibit III), General EHS Guidelines and the sector specific EHS Guidelines (Exhibit IV –

The ESIA report has been prepared including the requirements of IFC performance standards and EHS guidelines.

38


General EHS guidelines and Transmission lines) will be applicable

Principle 4: Action Plan and Management System

The action plan will describe and prioritise the actions needed to implement mitigation measures, corrective actions and monitoring measures necessary to manage the impacts and risks identified in the Assessment.

The action plan is given in Chapters IX and X of this ESIA report.

Principle 5: Consultation and Disclosure

The project affected communities are required to be consulted in a structured and culturally appropriate manner

Public Consultation was carried out for the project in February 2011.The concerns identified and actions planned to address these are presented in Chapter VII of this report.

Principle 6: Grievance Mechanism

RSTEPL is required to establish a grievance mechanism as part of the management system.

A grievance redress mechanism has been planned for the project and presented in Chapter VIII of this ESIA report.

Principle 7: Independent Review

An independent social or environmental expert, not directly associated with RSTEPL is required to review the Assessment, action plans and consultation process documentation in order to assist EPFI's due diligence, and assess Equator Principles compliance.

The respective EPFI shall appoint an independent social or environmental expert for review of this ESIA report.

Principle 8: Covenants

The covenants would be a part of the contract documents between RSTEPL and financing agency as well as contractors and technology suppliers based on

E&S Covenants shall be embedded within the contracts drawn between RSTEPL and the contractors hired for construction activities and technology providers and waste handlers. Periodic reporting to the project developers

39


the following:

a) to comply with all relevant host country social and environmental laws, regulations and permits in all material respects;

b) to comply with the action plans (where applicable) during the construction and operation of the project in all material respects

c) to provide periodic reports in a format agreed with EPFIs (with the frequency of these reports proportionate to the severity of impacts, or as required by law, but not less than annually), prepared by in-house staff or third party experts, that i) document compliance with the action plans (where applicable), and ii) provide representation of compliance with relevant local, State and host country social and environmental laws, regulations and permits (where applicable)

d) to decommission the facilities, where applicable and appropriate, in accordance with an agreed decommissioning plan

will have to be carried out by the contractors.

Principle 9: Independent Monitoring and Reporting

EPFIs will, for all Category A

Projects, and as appropriate, for Category B projects, require appointment of an independent environmental and/or social expert, or require that the

Periodic reporting shall be sent to the EPFI as agreed between the EPFI and RSTEPL.

40


borrower retain qualified and experienced external experts to verify its monitoring information which would be shared with EPFIs.

Principle 10: EPFI Reporting

This shall be prepared by the EPFI Based on the audit and monitoring reports submitted by independent agencies the EPFI will report the findings publicly at least once a year

2. IFC Performance Standards

92. IFC Performance Standards (revised applicable from January 2012) define clients' roles and responsibilities for managing their projects and the requirements for receiving and retaining financing from EPFI’s. The applicability of IFC Performance Standards to the project is outlined in Table 3. The action plan to meet compliance with applicable IFC Performance Standards is given in Annexure 6

Table 3: Application of IFC Performance Standards to the Project

IFC Performance Standards

Requirements Project Information/

Applicability

Performance Standard 1:

Social & Environmental Assessment & Management System

The project should have a social and environmental management system that incorporates the following: (i) policy; (ii) identification of risks and impacts; (iii) management programs; (iv) organizational capacity and competency; (v) emergency preparedness and response; (vi) stakeholder engagement; and (vii) monitoring and review.

This Performance Standard is applicable to the Project. Refer Chapter IX for details.


Labor and Working

RSTEPL requires to follow requirements on (i) working conditions and management of worker relationship (human resource

This Performance Standard is applicable to the Project addressed in the

41



Applicability

Conditions policy, working conditions, terms of employment, workers organizations, non-discrimination equal opportunity, retrenchment, grievance mechanism); (ii) protecting work force (not engaging child labour and forced labour); (iii) occupational health and safety; (iv) workers engaged by third parties; and (v) adverse impacts related to supply chain

management plan.

An Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management Plan has been prepared for the project by Areva Solar.


Pollution Prevention and Abatement

RSTEPL requires to consider (i) resource efficiency (green house gases, water consumption); (ii)pollution prevention (wastes, hazardous materials management, pesticide use and management)

This Performance Standard is applicable to the Project and is addressed in the management plan. Refer Chapter IX for details.


Community Health, Safety and Security

RSTEPL requires to follow requirements on (i) infrastructure and equipment design and safety; (ii) hazardous materials management and safety; (iii) ecosystem services; (iv) community exposure to disease; (v) emergency preparedness and response; and (vi) security personnel.

This Performance Standard is applicable to the Project and is addressed in the management plan. Refer Chapter IX for details.


Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement

Specifies requirements on(i) project design to avoid or minimize physical and/or economic displacement; (ii) compensation and benefits for displaced persons; (iii) community engagement; (iv) grievance mechanism; (v) resettlement and livelihood restoration planning and implementation; (vi) physical and economic displacement; (vii) private

This Performance Standard is not applicable to the Project.

The project has not acquired any land from private owners and hence does not cause involuntary resettlement.

42



Applicability

sector responsibilities under government-managed resettlement


Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management

Specifies requirements on (i) protection and conservation of biodiversity (modified, natural, critical habitat, legally protected and internationally recognized areas, invasive alien species); (ii) management of ecosystem services; (iii) sustainable management of living natural resources; and (iv) supply chain


The project road does not traverse through any National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary and is also not in close proximity (10 km) to any such locations.


Indigenous Peoples

Specifies requirements on (i) avoidance of adverse impacts; (ii) participation and consent; (iii) circumstances requiring free, prior, and informed consent; (iv) mitigation and development benefits; and (v) private sector responsibilities where government is responsible for managing indigenous peoples issues


The project location or activities do not disturb or affect the habitat of Indigenous People. The project is not located in or in proximity to Scheduled areas.


Cultural Heritage

Specifies requirements on (i) protection of cultural heritage in project design and execution (chance find procedures, consultation, community access, removal of replicable cultural heritage, removal of non-replicable cultural heritage, critical cultural heritage); and (ii) project’s use of cultural heritage


The project will not have any impact on the cultural heritage sites or structures.

43

E. Proposed Categorization

93. The significance of a project’s potential environmental impacts is classified by MFIs into three categories. To determine category of the project, the most environmentally sensitive component, including direct, indirect, cumulative, and induced impacts in the project’s area of influence is considered. The proposed project is assessed based on its type, location, scale, and sensitivity and the magnitude of its potential environmental impacts.

a) Category A – Projects with potential significant adverse social or environmental impacts that are diverse, irreversible or unprecedented;

b) Category B – Projects with potential limited adverse social or environmental impacts that are few in number, generally site-specific, largely reversible and readily addressed through mitigation measures; and

c) Category C – Projects with minimal or no social or environmental impacts.

94. Before discussing the project’s category on environment, it is necessary to understand basic

definitions of some of the terms used in the above categorization criteria.

Diverse Impacts – impacts resulting on multiple environmental and social components or receptors over a varying time and spatial scale (e.g. activities that can cause adverse impacts on local air quality, noise levels, generation of hazardous wastes as well as nuisance to community) Irreversible Impacts – impacts on environmental and social components that, in all practical terms are permanent in nature and cannot be reversed in spite of the removal of the causal stress factor (e.g. construction or change in land use that permanently alters the natural drainage or destroys habitats used by migratory birds) Unprecedented Impacts – are impacts that are first of its kind in terms of available knowledge of their potential to cause harm to the environmental and social components and their effective mitigation (e.g. impact of noise pollution on an endangered faunal species in a geographical region where no prior studies are available on impact tolerance and response of the species)

95. Based on the above and the rapid assessment of this project the following conclusions can be drawn:

44

a) Solar technology is environmentally benign and does not emit any substances that have any known major impact on climate, human health or environment.

b) The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in the light of technical and scientific information provided by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has clarified that Solar Thermal Projects are not covered by the provision of EIA notification, 2006 and hence do not require to obtain prior Environmental Clearance for setting up the plant. This is in reference to the Office Memorandum dated 30th June 2011 No J-11013/41/2006-IA.II (I).

c) The project is located away from all ecologically sensitive areas like national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, scheduled areas and critically polluted areas

d) The project is using Compact Linear Fresnel Reactor (CLFR) which does not use an intermediate heat transfer fluid as required in Parabolic Trough technology and hence eliminates the potential of environmental spill issues as well as requirement of the fluid.

e) Adverse impacts are diverse but largely mitigative, with few irreversible, unprecedented impacts that do not significantly deteriorate the local environment.

f) All legal compliance requirements are being followed and approvals have been sought before undertaking any pre-construction activity.

g) Analysis of alternatives has been carried out and alternate choices in technology, location, terrain have been assessed so as to minimize environmental impacts to the extent practical.

h) Local public opinion has been sought and incorporated before taking key decisions in the project.

i) A solar power photovoltaic project at the same location (Dhursar, Rajasthan) has been categorized by ADB as Category B based on an overall assessment of long term project benefits, E&S impacts and associated management plans.

In view of the above, the proposed project is recommended for a Category B as per MFIs requirements.

F. EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) Policies of Reliance Power

96. EHS System is established as per requirements of ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007. The EHS Policy is developed and implemented based on the Environment, Health & Safety risks and concerns envisaged in the engineering, procurement & construction activity of the project.

45

1. Environment, Health and Safety Policy

97. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) division of Reliance Infrastructure is committed to deliver reliable, quality products and services to all its customers with proper systems and processes, thereby creating superior value for our stakeholders in Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Infrastructure Projects in Power Sector. To achieve excellence in our Business Operations, we are committed to improve our Environment, Health & Safety Systems for our employees as well as other stakeholders. In our endeavor to achieve this, we shall :

a) Set objectives and targets in EHS systems and practices

b) Maintain strict compliance of all relevant legislative, regulatory and other requirements.

c) Training and development of employees for effective implementation of EHS standards.

d) Effectively work with major suppliers, contractors & other associates to facilitate them to achieve highest level of performance.

e) To aim and achieve “ZERO ACCIDENTS”.

f) Continual Improvement of systems and processes to maximize conservation of resources and minimization of pollution, health and safety hazards.

2. Compliance Status

98. RSTEPL will comply with all the conditions according to IFC and Equator Principle guidelines and will also adhere with its own EHS policies. The detailed compliance status is described in Table 4.

Table 4: General EHS Policy of Reliance Power

Sl. No EHS Policy Compliance status

1. Environment, health and safety policy is the commitment of the top management to ensure a safe, healthy working environment to all its employees, customers, community and local bodies by complying the relevant statutory Conditions

Will be complied

2. The policy gives standing decision for prevention, control and elimination of accidents, risks, health and environmental hazards at projects and plants located at different places.

Provision detailed in Chapters VII, VIII and IX

3. Management's concern and commitment to Environment, health and safety at design and planning level and giving importance in maintaining all facilities, processes and procedures to secure sustained safety, health and environment protection.

Will be complied

46

4 Providing training and retraining to all level of employees on Environment, Health and safety with necessary PPE to avoid accidents and to show prompt response for any type of emergencies.

Will be complied

5. Organizing the EHS audits by internal and external agencies for total loss control so that customer and stake holder confidence is safe guarded.

Will be complied

6. Adopting and promoting industry the best EHS practices to avert accidents and improve EHS performance by ensuring optimal utilization of resources.

Will be complied

7. Organizing for collection, analysis, and presentation of data on accidents, sickness and incidents involving personal injuries or injuries to health with a view to take corrective remedial and preventive actions.

Provision detailed in Chapters VII, VIII and IX and will be complied accordingly

8. Co-coordinating the activities of the company and of its contractors working in the company's premises for the implementation and maintenance of safe systems of work to comply the statutory conditions with regard to the EHS of the employees.

Provision detailed in Chapters VII, VIII and IX and will be complied accordingly

9. EHS is not only a concern for the Management and it also the responsibility of every employee to follow Environment, Safety and health systems and giving maximum importance to E.H.S. Policy

Will be complied

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

The Sections gives details of the project location and various components of the project like main plant, transmission lines and water pipeline; utilities required for the project that includes water treatment, effluent treatment, waste oil management and management of construction activities. The details of Corporate Social Responsibility and Clean Development Mechanism by RSTEPL are also given in brief.

A. Project Location

99. The project site is located near Dhursar Village in Pokaran Tehsil of Jaisalmer District in Rajasthan. The site is situated on the south of NH 114. The nearest major town Pokaran is at a distance of 26 Km and the nearest airport is about 170 kms from site at Jodhpur Rajasthan. This location is advantageous for solar power due to its extended periods of cloudless days, near level terrain, higher DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance), optimized grid connectivity and its proximity to a National highway.

47

100. The site is located in a less populated part of Dhursar. The village settlements within 5 km buffer of the project site are Dhursar, Jhalariya, Bhakri and Lalpura. The relatively larger villages of Lalwan and Ujlan are located beyond 5 km from the project site (refer Figure 2).

Figure 2: Proposed Project Location Map

B. Land Requirement for the Project

101. The land area required for the project for the current layout is approximately 340 hectares. The required land is owned by the Rajasthan State Government (“Government Land”). The process of land allotment has been completed. The Land Lease Deed was executed on 5th July 2011. The 340 hectares of land that has been allotted to the project falls under Khasra 101. As per the lease deed, the land has been leased to RSTEPL for a period of 30 years under the provisions of Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment of Land for setting up of Power Plant based on Renewable Energy Sources)

Rules 2007. Refer Annexure 7 for a copy of the land lease deed.

102. The transmission shall have total length of approximately 30200 m consisting of about 100 towers and a corridor of 12mts on either side. Dahanu Solar Power Private Limited DSPPL has selected the route in such a way that no land acquisition is required. The transmission route has been finalized and right-of-way permission is in process.

103. The water pipeline alignment from Biliya to project site mostly traverses along the road. The part which traverses through agricultural land shall not entail land acquisition.

48

C. Project Cost

104. The total project cost for the 100 MW CSP project is estimated to be Rs. 1980 Crores. The operation and maintenance cost for the project has been estimated to be Rs. 13 lakh/MW. The break-up of project cost is given below in Table 5.

Table 5: Project Cost Break-up

Particulars Cost (All values in Rs

crores) Land 1 EPC 1748 Pre-Operative expenses & Others

72

Contingency 82 IDC & Financing Charges 170 TOTAL PROJECT COST* 2073

D. Project Layout

1. Layout Plan

105. The plan consists of a solar field and a power block. The solar field collects solar energy and uses it to heat water received from the power block to produce steam. The power block includes the equipment and support facilities needed to convert the energy in the steam to electricity, deliver that electricity to the utility grid and return water to the solar field. Most of the facility land area is required for the solar field and because of the path of the sun during each day the rows of mirrors and collectors will run north-south.

106. The power block will include the steam turbine-generator and regenerative feed-water heaters, condenser, cooling tower, condensate and solar field feed pumps, makeup water treatment system and support systems. The main power house will enclose the steam turbine-generator and most of its auxiliaries. Permanent facilities like service building, workshop, operation and maintenance stores etc will be located near the main power house.

107. The induced draft cooling towers for the project are located towards the west of the switchyard and the main plant area keeping safe distances. The water treatment plant and the demineralization water facilities are located on west side of the main plant keeping the piping distances to a minimum from the main power house island as well as water reservoir.

108. Adequate space provision will be kept in the layout for lay-down and pre-assembly activities, open stores, contractor’s offices and stores etc. Raw water storage for 14 days water requirement will be provided. The layout is shown in Figure 3.

49

2. Turbine Hall Mechanical System

109. The turbine hall will be approximately 50M long and 30M wide consisting of turbine generator bay and heater bay. The control room will be within the turbine generator building and will be housing all peripheral facilities for the control of the entire plant from a single point. In addition the turbine hall would house equipment like vacuum pumps, control fluid equipment, heat exchangers & pumps, drain tank for TG, flash tanks, one condenser, three LP Heaters, one deaerator and two HP heaters.

110. One Electrically Operated Traveling (EOT) crane is envisaged in turbine hall for erection and maintenance of turbo-generators and their auxiliaries.

111. Unitized Electrical switchgears and MCC’s of each unit are located in the electrical annex located near one end of the Turbine Hall. This includes the 6.6 kV switchgear along with electrical batteries with battery chargers DCDB`s, 415 V switchgear, PCC, MCC, ACDB`s, MLDB`s, UPS, Control & Relay panels etc

112. The generating station will have an EHV switchyard, which comprises the 220 kV bays, 220kV switchyard equipment with necessary circuit breakers, Isolators with and without earth switches, current transformers, voltage transformers, lightning arrestors, bus bar conductors, Al Tubes insulators, BPI, hardware; clamps and connectors, spacer bay marshalling boxes etc. Separate CTs and EMVTs and metering equipment shall also be provided for tariff metering including switchyard automation system for remote operation of all the equipments within the switchyard .One switchyard control room is envisaged for, switchyard relay panels, bay control unit, Switchyard switchgear room, fault disturbance recorder; sequential event recorder, wave traps & PLCC with accessories.

113. The unit will have one Generator Transformer along with one Station Transformer and one Unit Auxiliary Transformer.

114. The plant will be controlled from the Central Control Room. The central control room will house the Human Machine Interfaces, which consists of Operator and Engineering Workstations, monitors, input devices and printers. The Control system electronics & marshalling cabinets would be located in the air conditioned Control Equipment Room (CER) located near the Central Control Room.

50

Figure 3: Layout Plan for CSP Plant

51

3. Structural and Civil System

115. All major foundations of equipments including rotating equipments and structure are envisaged to be shallow foundation.

116. The turbine hall building shall be a multi span framed structure consisting of structural steel columns, beams and trusses. This shall be braced in longitudinal direction and moment resistant in transverse direction. All platforms and floors shall be supported on structural steel. An electrical room will be part of main power house.

117. Structural steel pipe racks shall be provided for supporting overhead cables and pipes in the main plant and outlying areas. Administration control, warehouse maintenance, water treatment and other similar buildings located in power block shall be of framed structure. The Solar field and its components will be supported on galvanized structural steel frames.

118. Roof of power house building shall be provided with metal deck sheet over which a RCC layer shall be laid. Further skylight shall be provided for natural light and roof extractors will be provided for proper ventilation. Roof of other buildings i.e. shall be provided with the metal deck sheet with RCC layer or only RCC depending upon the clear height of the roof.

119. The civil and structural work for switchyard bays shall be provided as per switchyard requirement. Towers shall be supported on raft foundations and major electrical equipment as required in the switchyard shall be supported on isolated/combined foundations as required.

120. Intermediate floors of all buildings including main powerhouse building shall be provided with cast-in-situ RCC slab unless otherwise noted. External cladding of all buildings shall have combination of brick work, metal cladding, aluminum composite panel & structural glazing. Entire area from transformer yard to the main plant building shall be provided with paving in combination with interlocking concrete blocks and high wearing resistant concrete.

121. The main plant building shall have a height of 16 m and shall be provided with brick wall followed by colour-coated metal cladding and structural glazing. Control room area shall have brick wall on external face.

122. Internal partitions shall be provided with brick wall /decorated veneer in aluminum framework. However control room internal partitions shall be provided with single or double glazing in aluminum framework. Roof shall be provided with suitable water proofing treatment.

123. Windows shall generally be of aluminum. Doors of control room and office area shall be of aluminum frame with glazing or particle board or some other aesthetically good panels. All fire exits shall be provided with fire proof doors. Hollow metal doors shall be provided for switch-gear room, cable vaults etc.

52

4. Utilities

124. All main plant roads connecting to the power block and administration building will be bituminous. Roads in the solar field will be WBM/ unpaved. Plant area roads shall be 7.5 m with shoulder 1.5m; main artery road & approach road shall be 7.5 m with shoulder 1.5m; and other roads in plant area 7 m or 3.7 m

125. Drains will be constructed on both sides of road. In the main plant areas drains will be of concrete and other areas of masonry with trapezoidal section. However the drains at slopes of terraces will generally be dry jointed rocks / blocks to allow drainage of percolated water from higher terraces.

126. A network of underground sewerage system shall be provided in the plant area collecting sanitary waste from the various major buildings having toilet facilities. Sewage Treatment Plant shall be provided and shall have sufficient capacity to cater for the discharge of plant. CI pipes shall be used for catch pipes and RCC concrete pipes shall be used for trunk sewage disposal pipes. However, CI pressure pipes shall be used for disposal under pressure.

E. Steam Generating Solar Field

127. The steam generating solar field will use Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) technology to capture solar energy and convert water to superheated steam.

128. The CLFR technology functions in a manner that it heats water to produce steam and then heats that steam to superheated temperatures by utilizing mirrors to focus the energy of sun light onto tubes that contain water.

129. To produce large quantities of steam multiple Solar Steam Generators (SSGs) are required to be installed in parallel and each contains many mirrors. For the proposed 100 MWe plant, each SSG will include mirrors that are mounted on reflector assemblies. The reflector assemblies are connected together, end to end, to form a row-segment. Each row-segment has motor drives to control mirror position. The row-segments are installed end to end to make one row that runs the entire length of the SSG.

130. The mirrors focus sun light on a linear receiver. Each linear receiver consists of HCE (Heat Collector Element-Absorber Tubes) in an enclosure that runs the length of the mirror rows. The receiver enclosure has a tempered glass bottom through which the concentrated sun light enters. Above the glass are the absorber tubes and above the tubes is a reflector that collects sun light that may miss the tubes slightly and refocuses it onto the tubes. The outside of the reflector is insulated and then has a galvanized metal cover.

131. Water enters the SSG tubes at one end, travels the length of the SSG crosses over to return tubes and exits as superheated steam at the same end that it entered. As the water flows through

53

the absorber tubes, it receives the solar energy and its temperature increases. When the temperature reaches the boiling point steam starts to form and a two phase (liquid & vapor) flow occurs in the tubes. As more heat is transferred through the tubes to the fluid, the liquid is vaporized to steam and then the steam temperature rises into the superheated region.

132. To control the rate of steam generation as well as steam pressure and temperature two control approaches are utilized. The flow rate of water entering each SSG tube is controlled by control valves and mirror position is controlled to vary the amount of sun light focused on the receiver.

133. Steam leaving the SSG tubes is collected in a header (piping system) and transported to the steam turbine. Steam carrying pipe is insulated to minimize heat loss. The high pressure turbine exhaust steam will be reheated to ensure dry steam at the intermediate pressure turbine inlet. This reheating will be accomplished by using a small portion of the steam from the solar field.

134. The turbine generator shall have a complete self contained lubrication oil system. The system shall cater to the lubrication requirements of the bearings, requirements of turbine turning gear during start-up and shutdown and jacking oil requirement during turning gear operation. In addition, it shall also supply oil to the generator seals under emergency condition. The above process is represented in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Process of Power Generation

F. Water System and Plant Utilities

1. Source of Raw Water and Intake System

135. The total water requirement for the Project of 2.25 Cusecs (5.512 MLD) has been allotted from the PHED with recommendation of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC). Refer Annexure 8.

54

136. RSTEPL shall tap water from IGNP canal and pipe line being laid by Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Government of Rajasthan and distance is about 26km from Raw Water Reservoir in Biliya to the the project site.

137. IGNP has reserved 58 cubic foot/s (1.642 kl/s) for all proposed solar plants to come up alongside the canal region. However, currently only five concentrating solar power projects have been awarded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the water requirement for all these projects together is 12 cusecs. Out of the 2.5 cusec water allocation for RSTEPL, only 2.25 cusec (0.0637 kl/s) has been calculated as the project total water requirement. PHED has installed 72 km of transmission line to convey water from the IGNP main canal to the Raw Water Reservoir (RWR) located at Biliya. And from RWR a 26.10 km pipeline will be constructed by RSTEPL to deliver water to the project site. The RWR has the design capacity of about 125 million l/d (1.44 kl/s). Out of 125 million l/d, 30 million l/d (0.34722 kl/s) has been allocated for industrial use while 75 million l/d (0.868 kl/s) is for domestic water supply. The remaining 20 million l/d (0.231 kl/s) is still unallocated. Since IGNP canal system has been in existence since 1986 no environmental impact assessment has been done but the impact on the installation of transmission pipeline has been included in the ESIA.

138. Raw water shall be drawn and stored at the site in a reservoir with 14 days storage capacity. Two 100% capacity raw water makeup pumps will be installed near the water storage source. Raw water pumps will supply water from the reservoir to the water pre-treatment plant and make-up to the circulating water (CW) system.

2. Circulating Water System

139. For the re-circulating type CW system, it is proposed to supply raw water as make-up. The raw water shall be pumped by raw water pumps to the cold water channel. Water from cold water channel will enter the CW pump intake structure through bar screens/trash racks at low velocity to filter out debris. Stop log Gates shall be provided after the screens to facilitate maintenance.

140. The circulating water cooling system for the project consists of a cooling tower and basin, pumps, condenser, supply and return piping, and monorail hoists to service the pumps, screens, and gates at the pump intake basin. The 3x50% CW pumps will be vertical turbine.

3. Closed Cooling Water System

141. It is proposed to provide a closed cooling water (CCW) system for heat rejection from plant auxiliary coolers. The CCW system will consist of circulating pumps, a main heat exchanger to reject heat to the circulating water system (CWS), and piping to deliver cooling water to the various coolers and return it to the circulating pump suction.

142. Water from the CWS will pass through the heat rejection heat exchanger to cool the CCW and return the heated CW to the main cooling tower. The main heat exchanger will be designed for a terminal temperature difference of approximately 5oC and a heat rise of approximately 8oC. Two 100% capacity CCW pumps will be provided.

55

4. Miscellaneous Water Systems

143. A pipe network for distribution of potable water for plant shall be provided from the storage tanks. Required number of potable water pumps shall be provided.

144. A pipe network spread over the entire plant area would be provided for cleaning of main plant area and other buildings. Required number of service water pumps shall be provided which shall draw water from the service water tank which shall be supplied from CW blow down water.

145. In addition to the above, de-mineralizing (DM) water make-up water system and air conditioning make up system shall also be provided as per requirement.

G. Water Treatment Systems

146. The water treatment system of the project comprises of Water Pre-treatment Plant, Water De-mineralising Plant, Chlorination Plant, Condensate Polishing Plant, and CW Treatment Plant.

1. Water Pre-treatment Plant

147. The pre-treatment plant would be designed to remove suspended/colloidal matter in the raw water. A single pre-treatment plant shall be provided for meeting the CW system, Demineralization (DM) Plant and potable water system. A chemical house shall be provided to store chemicals such as chlorine, lime, alum & coagulant aid and respective lime, alum and coagulant dosing equipments such as tanks, pumps etc for all systems.

148. The clarifier shall be provided with a stilling chamber cum aerator and provision for dosing of alum, lime, coagulant aid and chlorine. Water from the clarifier shall be led to clarified water storage tank or to the filters as the case may be. From the gravity filters, filtered water would flow by gravity to respective filtered water reservoirs and filtered water would be pumped to DM plant and potable water system.

2. Water De-mineralisation Plant

149. The DM plant shall be sized to meet the makeup water requirement of the steam cycle and chemical feed system requirement. Considering the quality of water, it is proposed to adopt a service cycle of 10 hrs for DM Plant and that of regeneration cycle as 6 hours. The D.M. plant shall consist of two (2) streams (1 working stream) each of 100% capacity which shall have activated carbon filter, cation exchanger, degasser system (comprising of degasser tower, degassed water tank, degassed water pumps and degasser blowers etc.), anion exchangers and mixed bed exchanger. The cation resins shall be regenerated with hydrochloric acid (30-33%W/V) and the anion resins with sodium hydroxide available in lye (40-48% W/V) form. One (1) D.M. water storage tank will be provided with a capacity to provide 1 day storage at normal plant operation. One neutralization pit shall be provided for neutralizing the pH and discharging the effluent water from the DM plant.

56

3. Chlorination Plant

150. Chlorination plant shall be provided for chlorine dosing in the CW and water pre-treatment systems to avoid the growth of algae and bacteria. Complete chlorination plant shall be located indoor.

4. Condensate Polishing Plant

151. On-line Condensate Polishing System (CP System) shall be provided to achieve high order of availability of various power cycle equipments as well as to ensure quick start up of the unit and continue the unit operation without any restriction by maintaining desired quality of condensate water as recommended by Solar Steam Generator manufacturer.

152. The proposed CP System shall comprise 4 x 331/3% or 3 X 50% Polisher Vessels (i.e. Mixed Bed Units) along with External Regeneration System. The Polisher Vessels and associated pipe works, valves, instruments, control panels etc. shall be located at ground floor of the Power House.

153. The regeneration facilities comprising Regeneration Vessels, acid and alkali acid and alkali measuring tanks and Pumps shall be located near the Power House. The regeneration system will be located in the Water Demineralising Plant Building. The resins will be transferred to the Regeneration Area from the Polisher Vessels and vice versa through a pipeline.

NOTE: TECHNICAL DETAILS GIVEN IN ABOVE ARE INDICATIVE ONLY AND MAY CHANGE DURING DETAILED ENGINEERING.

H. Zero discharge technology

154. As per the “CONSENT TO ESTABLISH” issued by RAJASTHAN STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, dated: 24.06.2011, for CSP project “Discharge of effluents (1077 kl/d) from the power plant should be utilized for plantation/Horticulture purpose without recycling them. The ceiling limit prescribed for non-recycling of effluents from the plant shall be 1077 kl/d.

155. Industrial processes designed to prevent release of any harmful or toxic material to the environment is called “Zero Discharge Technology”. In its broadest sense, "zero discharge" means no discharge to any media. Main methods of achieving Zero discharge are

a) Improved use of process chemistry: Increasing the COC of CW system.

b) Water use reduction: Water conservation, minimizing water losses, Using closed looped system e.g. CCW water/DMCW system/ CW system etc.

c) Water recycling: Per the guidelines issued by pollution control board vide “CONSENT TO ESTABLISH”, the effluent (waste water) generated from the plant shall be treated in effluent treatment plant. These treated effluents then shall be used for the

http://www.investorwords.com/2442/industrial.html�

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/release.html�

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/toxic.html�

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/material.html�

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/environment.html�

57

plantation/horticulture and dust suppression in the solar field. Hence ensuring the complete recycling of the effluents generated from the plant.

d) Water re-use: Effluents/blow down water treated and re-used for plantation/horticulture and dust suppression in solar field.

e) Hazardous waste emissions reduction: From regeneration of DM streams, CPUs etc.

156. Waste water (Effluent) consists of the following which are suitably treated and recycled/reused.-

a) Oily waste water system (Power house, Transformer yard area)

b) Cooling Tower Blow Down

c) DM plant regeneration waste (neutralized)

d) Condensate polishing unit neutralized effluent

157. CW System: At CSP, Rajasthan, closed circuit circulating water system is used. In this system less water is required as compared to once through cooling system as only make up water is required. The thermal discharge into river /canal water system is eliminated. In this system the hot water from condenser is cooled in the cooling tower and the cooled water is circulated to the condenser by CW pumps through the water conductor system. The cooling in the cooling towers is achieved by evaporation. The evaporation and drift losses etc from the cooling towers are 329m3/hr. In Circulating Water system, the concentration of salts increases due to evaporation. The salts may precipitate once they get saturated in the water. To keep the salt concentration within limits blow down is done. To increase Cycles of Concentration (COC), reduce blow down and prevent the salts precipitation, chemicals like Organo Phosponate, H2SO4 etc are dosed. In CSP project, the system is designed to have a COC of 5 to keep blow down/effluents within limit of 1077 kl/d prescribed per consent to establish. Further the treated blow down/effluent water is re used for the following:

a) Service ( cleaning, washing, etc) requirements

b) Plantation/horticulture

c) Dust suppression in the solar field

158. The blow down/effluent shall be routed to the effluent treatment plant where these are treated and the water from ETP discharge shall then be used for the uses prescribed above. In the Cooling tower some water particles escape along with hot air and this is called Drift. By employing Drift Eliminators drift losses are minimized below 0.05% of CW flow.

159. Additionally, per the CONSENT OF ESTABLISH, Sl No: 24 of the conditions prescribed therein, we are envisaging the rain water harvesting inside the plant boundary which collects plant drain/storm water drain during monsoon. This water shall be treated suitably upon verification of quality of

58

water collected in the rain water harvesting pond. Hence ensuring the re-use of rain water collected in to the plant water system.

160. Thermal cycle: In the thermal cycle piping, zero leakages are achieved through proper selection of equipments, valves, connectors, gaskets and proactive maintenance.

161. Reduction of seepage in Reservoirs: The recycle reservoir shall be earthen reservoir prepared to ensure to avoid leaching effect.

162. Green belt & Plantation: To utilize waste water, plantation is a good method which also helps environment.

163. DM Plant Regeneration Waste: The waste effluents from neutralization pits of DM plant and condensate polishing plant shall be collected in the respective neutralization pits and neutralized before pumping to the evaporation pond before final disposal.

1. Best Practices in Operation & Maintenance

164. The plant is operated from a modern PLC based system with operator work stations from the ETP control room. Necessary pH analyzers and other instruments are envisaged and all the parameters can be viewed from control room. By employing PLC control it is possible to continuously monitor the performance of the plant and immediate corrective actions can be taken if required. In addition, sample shall be taken manually at the outlet of CMB and tested in the Laboratory for other parameters as suspended solids, and oil content etc. as per requirement.

2. Water Balance Diagram:

165. It is observed that the effluent generated from the plant is:

• Effluent from DM plant regeneration- 61 kl/d approx.

• Condensate polishing unit- 48 kl/d

• Cooling tower blow down- 640 kl/d

166. Hence total effluent generated is 749 kl/d approx, which is well within ceiling limit of 1077 kl/d prescribed by the “CONSENT TO ESTABLISH” issued by the state pollution control board.

167. Per the guidelines, at CSP project, Rajasthan, we are also ensuring the treatment of the plant effluents and re-use of the treated effluents for plantation/horticulture and dust suppression. Hence ensuring complete utilization of the water allocated to the plant.

168. Additionally, per state pollution control Board guidelines, we are envisaging a rain harvesting pond wherein the rain water shall be collected. This collected water to be treated suitable to make usable as a plant water and for domestic use purpose. Hence ensuring complete utilization of rain water collected. As per the Water Balance Diagram, the rain water collected in the RWH pond shall be used in the plant after proper treatment. Since, the rain water collected in RWH pond shall be

59

treated in the Effluent Treatment Plant, the final design for Effluent Treatment Plant is subjected to the quality of rain water collected in the RWH pond. The study for rain water is in process. Depending upon the result of the study, the ETP shall be suitably designed. The effluent generated from the plant shall be approximately 749 kl/d which being lesser than the permissible limit set by RSPCB, the treated water shall be used for horticulture and other purposes inside the plant area.

I. Water Pipeline and Water Balance

169. Clear Water Sump of PHED at Biliya being most reliable and approved source of supply located at about 26.10 Km from project site has been selected as source of supply of water for the project. Total water demand of the project has been calculated as 5.512 million litres per day (MLD).

170. The Intake arrangement proposed for this project comprises of GRP intake connecting pipe from clear water sump at Biliya of PHE Department to water conveyances system to be executed by RSTEPL. RSTEPL has entered into the water intake contractor for operation and maintenance of pipeline for first five (5) years. RSTEPL will own the pipeline.

171. Water will be lifted from clear water sump through vertical turbine pumps, installed in the pump house. Lifted water shall be conveyed through common manifold of 500 mm diameter pipeline to the GRP pipe conveyance system at a distance of 3 meter from the pump house. The mild steel connecting main shall be laid underground (buried) and shall terminate at the start of GRP pipe conveyance main. A full bore electromagnetic flow meter shall be installed on the connection main within PHED boundary area for measurement of quantity of clear water let out into the sump of water conveyance system. A flow meter of 500 mm dia will be installed before branch point so as to measure incoming water at the project site at Dhursar.

172. The schedule completion of INGP pipeline is likely to be September 2012.

173. The water balance diagram for the project is shown in Figure 5.

174. The pipeline traverses along the State Highway No. 40 for 16.4kms and continues towards the south via a PWD village road about 3.23kms long till Ujlan. Thereafter it off-takes in the eastern direction towards the project site on a 3.93 kms long stretch through private agricultural land. The water intake pipeline contractor shall obtain Right of Way, RoW, from private land owners for use of their land and will suitably compensate them. Adequate and fair compensation for the RoW will be negotiated and mutually determined, and appropriate documentation will be completed to ensure transparency of the negotiation and settlement process. The water pipe line laying process shall not involve any land acquisition. The last 2.54kms stretch of the pipeline is within the plant site boundary. Refer Figure 6 for the alignment.

60

Figure 5: Water Balance Diagram

61

Figure 6: Water Pipeline Alignment

J. Fire Protection System

175. A comprehensive fire detection and protection system is envisaged for the complete power station. This system shall generally be as per the recommendations of TAC (INDIA)/IS: 3034 & NFPA- 850.

176. The following protection systems are envisaged:

a) Hydrant system for complete power plant covering main plant building, turbine and its auxiliaries, all pumps, and miscellaneous buildings of the plant. The system shall be complete with piping, valves, instrumentation, hoses, nozzles, hose boxes/stations etc.

b) Automatic high velocity water spray system for all oil filled transformers of rating 10MVA and above located within the boundary limits of plant, turbine oil tank and purifier, turbine oil/lube oil piping (zoned) in turbine area, etc. This system shall consist of QB detectors, deluge valves projectors, valves, piping & instrumentation.

62

c) Automatic medium velocity water spray system for cable vaults and cable galleries of main plant and switchyard control room consisting of smoke detectors, linear heat sensing cable detectors, deluge valves, isolation valves, piping, instrumentation, etc.

d) For protection of central control room, equipment room, computer room and UPS using Inert Gas extinguishing system as per NFPA-2001 would be opted.

e) Fire detection and alarm system - A computerized analogue, addressable type Fire detection and Alarm system shall be provided to cover the complete power plant. Following types of fire detection shall be employed.

Multi-sensor type smoke detection system. Photo electric type smoke detection system. Combination of both multi-sensor type and photo electric type smoke detection

systems. Linear heat sensing cable detector for cable galleries. Quartzoid bulb heat detection system for transformers. Infra red type heat detectors.

f) Portable and mobile fire extinguishers, such as pressurized water type, carbon-dioxide

type, foam type, dry chemical powder type, will be located at strategic locations throughout the plant.

g) Required Fire Tenders/Engines of water type, DCP type/Foam type, trailer pump with fire jeep etc shall be provided in the fire station.

h) Fire water storage tanks and fire water pumps would be provided. Capacity of storage tanks and pumps shall be based on TAC requirement. Required booster pumps for Hydrant and Spray System shall be provided wherever required.

i) For the above fire water pumping station, automatic pressurization system consisting of jockey pumps shall be provided.

j) Complete Instrumentation and Control System for the entire fire detection and protection system shall be provided for safe operation of the complete system.

K. Plant & Instrument Air System

177. For instrument air requirement of main plant and auxiliaries, required numbers of air compressors & Air Drying Plants (ADP) shall be provided.

178. Air conditioning system shall be provided for all those areas which require close control of environment conditions in turbine generator building; in service/ control room; DM plant building; switchyard building; construction office building; Workshop cum FQA lab building; training center building; gate complex building; and administrative building.

63

179. RSTEPL received the Grid Connectivity letter from Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. (RVPNL) for the Solar Thermal Project from the proposed 220KV/132kV Dechu GSS. Power evacuation from the CSP project is envisaged at 220 kV voltage level through a 220 kV D/C line from plant switchyard to Dechu 220kV Substation.

180. Power Generated from a single 100 MW unit would be stepped up to the evacuation voltage level through a suitable rated Generator Step-Up Transformer and evacuated through 220kV transmission lines.

181. The start-up power of the plant has been envisaged to be drawn from the 220 kV system itself through the Station transformer.

182. For meeting the unit auxiliary loads and station service loads a 6.6 kV station switchgear bus is proposed.

183. The main parameters of Generator would be as follows:

a) Rated Output : 156.47 MVA

b) Power Factor : 0.85 lagging/ 0.95 (leading)

c) Rated Voltage : 15.75 ±10kV

d) Speed : 3000 rpm

e) Frequency : 50 Hz

f) Standard : IEC 34

184. The connection between the generator and generator transformers shall be through isolated phase bus ducts.

185. The 100 MW unit will have a three-phase transformer with a combined rating of 180 MVA for the Generator Step-Up Transformer. This transformer will be OFAF cooled with a no–load tap changer.

186. The voltages adopted for the AC auxiliary system are: 415 V for motors rated up to 200 kW; and 6.6kV for motors above 200 kW.

L. Power Evacuation Transmission Line

187. Dahanu Solar Power Private Limited (DSPPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Power Ltd is building a 40 MW Solar PV plant at Dhursar adjacent to the 100 MW CSP plant. DSPPL is also building a 30 km 220 kV D/C transmission line to the Dechu S/S. The power generated from the proposed solar CSP plant will be evacuated through 220KV transmission line of DSPPL’s Solar PV Project to 220kV Dechu Sub-Station of Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. (RRVPNL). RSTEPL shall enter into suitable facility sharing agreement with DSPPL for usage of same transmission line for evacuation of power. The 220/132 kV Dechu GSS is under commissioning stage

64

and the target date of the commissioning is March 2012. RRVPNL will be construct and operate the Dechu 220 kV GSS.

188. The point of connection to the electrical grid is 35 km from the proposed site. RSTEPL had received the Grid Connectivity letter from RRVPNL for the Solar Thermal Project from the proposed 220KV/132kV Dechu GSS. The alignment of the transmission line is shown in Figure 7.

189. DSPPL has received approval for the project from ADB in October 2011 which includes the power evacuation component.

Figure 7: Alignment of Transmission Line

1. Details of Transmission Line

190. The transmission shall have total length of approximately 30200 mts consisting of about 100 towers. This shall be passing through villages namely Dhursar, Lalpur, Dolhinadi ,Changsama ,Mandla ,New Nadhi, of Pokran Tehsil of Jaislmer district of Rajasthan.

191. The transmission corridor of 12 mts on either side was identified and this is barren land all through majorly private land. The right of way does not affect any household and does involve felling of trees. Land being barren agriculture is also not affected.

65

192. The minimum ground clearance from the bottom conductor shall not be less than 7150mm for 220KV lines at the maximum sag conditions i.e. at 75°C and still air. An allowance of 300mm shall be provided to account for errors in stringing.

193. Clearance from ground, buildings, trees and telephone lines shall be provided in conformity with the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 as amended up to date.

194. At all important road crossings, the tower shall be fitted with double suspension and tension insulator strings depending on type of tower but the ground clearance at the roads under maximum temperature and in still air shall be such that even with conductor broken in adjacent span, ground clearance of the conductor from the road surfaces will not be less than specified minimum ground clearance. At all national highways DD type towers with double tension insulator strings shall be used and crossing span will not be more than 250 meters. At all NH and SH crossings, crash barriers shall be employed for the safety of the towers. A resettlement framework was adopted by DSPPL to cover involuntary resettlement impacts that may be induced by the construction of transmission line and towers.

M. Proposed Schedule for Project Implementation

195. An implementation schedule, outlining the sequence of major activities and the time required for engineering, construction, installation and commissioning of the 100 MW Solar CSP plant is given in Table 4.

Table 6: Proposed Schedule for Project Implementation

S.No Activity Completion time 1 Award of EPC contract July 2011 2 Site mobilization Sep 2011 3 Basic Infrastructure building Oct 2011 4 Detailed Engineering & Procurement Nov 2011 5 Power Block construction start Feb 2011 5 Mirror and Tubes delivery March 2012 7 STG delivery Nov 2012 8 STG Commissioning Feb 2013 9 Plant COD May 2013

N. Overall Estimation of Quantities

196. The preliminary quantities for solar field and power block have been listed below.

1. Solar Field

197. The proposed Solar Field will include several SSGs. Each SSG will include mirrors, drives, reflector assemblies etc. The reflector assemblies will be connected together, end to end, to form a row-

66

segment. Each row-segment will have motor drives to control mirror position. The row-segments will be installed end to end to make one row that will run the entire length of the SSG. Each SSG will be approximately 94 meters wide and 545 meters long.

2. Power Block

198. The Power Block will include the following major equipment:

a) One nominal 100 MW steam turbine-generator with accessories

b) One water cooled surface condenser

c) One wet cooling tower

d) Three circulating water pumps with electric motor drives

e) Two condensate extraction pumps with electric motor drives

f) Three SSG feed pumps with electric motor drives

g) Three low pressure feed water heaters

h) One deaerating feed water heater

i) Two high pressure feed water heaters

j) One reheater with the heating steam drain directed to a heat exchanger that provides final heating of feed water

k) A raw water system including storage reservoir with two forwarding pumps with electric motor drives

l) One water treatment system

m) One condensate polishing system

n) Two condenser air evacuation pumps with electric motor drives

o) One Generator Step-up Transformer

p) One Unit Auxiliary Transformer

q) One Station Service Transformer

r) One emergency diesel generator

s) A set of 220V station batteries with chargers

O. Clean Development Mechanism

199. As a part of the renewable energy source Solar Power projects are eligible to generate (CERs) under the Approved Consolidated Methodology (ACM0002). Crediting period of the CERs for the projects could be a fixed 10 year crediting period.

67

200. The project would generate approximately 266,169 Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)/ Carbon Credits annually. The project is at validation stage, TUV Nord has been appointed for carrying validation of project on behalf of UNFCCC.

68

IV. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION

This Section presents the baseline status of the project influence area. The baseline status comprises of existing condition of various environmental attributes such as air, noise, water, and soil and socio-economic attributes which include demographic details, occupational pattern etc. These data has been collected from various secondary and primary sources, keeping with the Indian regulations and ADB SPS requirement. Primary monitoring on key air, groundwater and soil parameters is being planned in the month of January 2012. However, considering the nature of the landscape and land use in the project area no substantial influence on the impact assessment is expected.

A. Project’s Area of Influence

201. The project’s area of influence for conduct of impact assessment has been defined based on the activities, their predicted impacts and phase of the project.

1. During Construction

202. The construction activities carried out at the project site for construction of the turbine hall and assembling the solar field with respect to impacts on air quality, construction noise, agricultural land and other components would be limited to a maximum distance of 2 kms.

203. The impacts of construction activities to be carried out for construction of water pipeline and transmission lines on air quality, noise levels, severance and other components would be limited to a distance of 1 km on both sides of the alignment.

204. For transport vehicles transporting construction raw materials and CSP plant parts; trucks used for disposal of construction spoil and excess excavated soil, the influence area would include the immediate vicinity of roads (200m) along which they traverse for air quality, noise levels and community safety components.

2. During Operation

205. An influence area of 2 kms around the project site has been considered for impact assessment. Periodic maintenance activities to be carried out for water pipeline and transmission lines will have impacts similar to those during construction and hence have an influence corridor of maximum 500 m on both sides of the alignment.

B. Baseline Data Collection

206. The baseline environmental setting has been studied using secondary data. Freeware tools like Google Earth were used for spatial understanding of the project site and its surroundings.

69

C. Project Surroundings

207. The site is located in a less populated part of Dhursar. The village settlements within 5 km buffer of the project site are Dhursar, Jhalariya, Bhakri and Lalpura. The relatively larger villages of Lalwan and Ujlan are located beyond 5 km from the project site. Refer Figure 8.

Flat Terrain

Seasonal Water Availability

Figure 8: Project Surroundings

D. Meteorology

208. The project site is located in Pokaran Tehsil of Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan. The meteorology data presented in the following sections is that of Jaisalmer city which lies approximately 110 Km from the project location.

1. Wind Speed and Pattern:

209. The windrose diagram for Jaisalmer during winter, summer, monsoon and post monsoon is shown in Figure 9. The wind rose diagram for seasonal variations has been drawn on the basis of hourly wind speed and direction data. Analysis of hourly wind speed shows that the winds are generally light to moderate in this area. The annual mean wind speed varies from 1.30 to 6.30 Km/hr.

70

Winter Season

Post Monsoon

Monsoon Season

Summer Season

Figure 9: Windrose Diagram6

210. During winter the wind is calm 49% while that in summer and monsoon seasons is 35% and 34 % respectively. The predominant wind direction in these three seasons is from the South-West. During

6 The windrose diagrams were generated using http://www.windrose.indianclimate.org,

http://www.windrose.indianclimate.org/�

71

the post-monsoon season the wing is mostly calm (65%). the wind direction in this season is from the North to North-East and South to South-West almost equally (7-8% respectively).

2. Temperature and Rainfall

211. The temperature and rainfall data has been presented for Pokaran Tehsil in which the project site is located. The summers have a mean maximum temperature of 45oC and a mean minimum of 29.8oC, while the winter mean maximum is 22oC and the mean minimum 9.3o

212. Analysis of past rainfall records shows that in the period of 1999 to 2008, the highest rainfall was 273.9mm in the month of August of 2006. On an annual basis, in the year 2004 rainfall was recorded 347.6 mm recorded where as in the year 2002 it was only 9.0 mm and hence 2002 was declared as drought. Monthly rainfall data during the period 1999-2008 is given in Table 7.

C.

Table 7: Monthly Rainfall (In mm) during 1999-2008

Year/Month 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 January Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1.4 February 3.0 Nil Nil Nil 37.0 Nil 0.1 Nil 11.7 0.4 March Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 0.6 7.5 13.1 Nil April Nil Nil 16.0 Nil Nil 2.0 1.7 2.0 1.7 0.4 May 25.0 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 19.6 Nil 2.8 1.4 June Nil 10.0 Nil 9.0 Nil 5.0 23.2 28.5 4.1 5.1 July 30.0 24.0 79.0 Nil 103.0 227.0 29.7 5.4 44.1 52.9 August 120.0 Nil 31.0 Nil 99.0 36.0 12.3 273.9 88.6 153.7 September Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 61.6 52.3 4.0 21.5 11.3 October 4.0 Nil Nil Nil Nil 11.0 Nil 0.5 Nil Nil November Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil December Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 5.0 Nil 3.6 0.8 20.6 Annual Total

182.0 34.0 126.0 9.0 239.0 347.6 139.5 325.4 188.4 247.2

E. Ecology

1. Flora

213. The study area shows almost plain topography. The general feature of the study area shows a sparse vegetation cover and is largely dominated by Cutch Tree (Acacia catechu), bushes of Calotropis gigantea, Khejri (Prosopis spicigera linn.), Tropaeolum majus and Chhota pilu (Salvadora persica). Occasionally a fine carpet of grasses, Bhrut (Cenchrus setigerus) and Sewan (Elanorus hirsutus) comes up with first shower of rains and vanishes after three months of short cycle. However, this vegetation remains the lifeline both for cattle and men; cattle for their fodder and men for their fuel wood, thatching material, vegetable, medicines and food.

72

214. There is no any wildlife sanctuary within 25km of project area. Distance of desert national park from site is at distance of 75km. With reference to the list of endangered species prepared by Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, none of the species present in the study area belonged to the endangered flora & fauna of Schedule I. The list of plant species observed within study area is given in Table 8.

Table 8: List of Plant Species observed within Study Area

S.No. Scientific Name Common Name Trees, Shrubs and Herbs

1. Acacia nilotica Babul 2. Acacia senegal Gum Arabic Tree 3. Calligonum polygonoides Phog 4. Calotropis procera Aak 5. Capparis decidua Kair 6. Citrullus colocynthis Gavakshi 7. Crotalaria burhia Saniya 8. Indigofera cordifolia Gokhru 9. Leptadenia pyrotechnica Khimp 10. Maytenus emerginatus Kankera 11. Prosopis cineraria Kejari 12. Prosopis juliflora Vilyati Babul 13. Salvadora persica Arak 14. Tecomella undulata Rohida 15. Tephrosia purpurea Sarphonk 16. Ziziphus nummularia Jharber

Grasses and Hedges 1. Aristida adscensionis Sixweeks

threeawn 2. Cenchrus bulflorus Bhurat 3. Cenchrus ciliaris Linn Anjana 4. Cyperus conglomeratus Flat sedges 5. Dactyloctenium scindicum Duck Grass 6. Desmostachya bipinnata Daab 7. Lasiurus scindicus Sewan grass 8. Pennisetum glaucum Pearl millet

2. Fauna

215. The study on terrestrial fauna in the study area is based on the field investigation, reports of Forest Department, Documents of University and Zoological Survey of India. Due to scanty vegetation growth in this region, not much of varied animal life is found in this State. Despite this,

73

still a large variety of animals are found in this area. The different variety of faunal life can be categorized as (i) Primates, (ii) Carnivores, (iii) Angulate, (iv)Rodents, (v) Lagomorpha, (vi) Insectivore and (vii) Crustivore. Corresponding to its variegated topography and climate, the state has a wealth of animal life. Mostly domestic animal like cow, sheep, buffalo and goat are reported in the study area. The list of fauna observed within study area is given in Table 9.

Table 9: List of Fauna observed within Study Area

S.No Scientific Name Local Name Mammals

1 Presbytis entellus Langoor 2 Canis aureus Siyaar/ Jackal 3 Gervus unicolor Sambhar 4 Herpestes odwardsitotus Nebla 5 Vulpus bengalensis Indian Fox 6 Canis lupus Wolf 7 Pipistrellus mimus Indian Pygmy Pipistrell 8 Funambulus pennanti Five-striped Squirrel 9 Tatera indica Indian Gerbille

Reptiles 10 Varanus monitor Goh

Avifauna 11 Vanollus indicus Redwattled lapwing 12 Himantopus himantopus Black winged stilt 13 Columba livia Blue rock pigeon 14 Streptopelia decaccto Ring dove 15 Corvus spelendens House Crow 16 Turdoides caudatus Common Babbler 17 Copsychus saularjs Magpie Robin 18 Passer domesticus House Sparrow 19 Pavo cristatus Peacock 20 Francolinus pondicarinus Titar 21 Pycnonotus cafer Bulbul

F. Land Environment

1. Topography

216. The topography of the site is generally flat with a slope from north towards south varying from RL (+) 323 m to RL (+) 270 m necessitating different formation levels for various facilities in plant area. Overall the proposed project area is plain with a gentle slope.

74

2. Land use

217. The proposed project area is Government wasteland. There are few shrub thickets near the project site. There are some sand dunes in small area. There are agricultural lands on the western and north-eastern sides of the project site. There are no settlements near immediate vicinity of 1 km of the project site. Jhalariya village settlement located approximately 2km from the project site is the nearest settlement.

3. Geology

218. Geologically, the area forms a part of Jaisalmer basin (refer Figure 10) of Tertiary and Eocene age rocks formation in the western part of Rajasthan, a part of great Indian Thar Desert which is dominated by Mesozoic and intermittent Tertiary strata. The rocks exposed in the district are pre-Delhi granites, granite, gneisses, schist and Alwar, Ajabgarh and Rialto formation of Delhi group. The major part of the district is covered by quarter- hairy sediments. The pre-Delhi group of rocks comprises Mica-schists and gneisses. Occupy a major part of the western part of the district. The rocks of Delhi form super group from high relief in the north, north-east and south-eastern part of the district. The Rajalos are exposed in a small patch towards north-east of the district. The Aravalli hills and piedmont, plains contain good amount a fractures/lineaments because of multiphase tectonic movement. The lineament is generally parallel to the great boundary fruit of Rajasthan, Lineament intersection density also counted per 10 sq.km.

4. Hydrogeology

219. Rajasthan State can be divided into three hydro geological units namely, unconsolidated sediments, semi-consolidated sediments and consolidated rocks. Semi-consolidated formations include sandstones, lime stones and Aur beds, covering Jaisalmer and Barmer districts. The dug wells in Jaisalmer lime stones yield 13 to 68 m3/day. The yield of wells in Lathi sandstone varies from 50-150 m3/hr. The consolidated rocks includes gneiss, granites, schist, phyllites, marble and Vindhyan sandstones, limestone, quartzite and basaltic flows, mostly restricted to eastern part of the State. The yield prospect is limited unless the well is located near major lineaments or any other weak planes. The ground water quality is in general poor (brackish to saline) at deeper levels.

75

Figure 10: Geological Map of Jaisalmer Basin7

5. Seismicity

220. Jaisalmer District lies in Zone III where the maximum intensity would be around MSK VII. Figure 11 shows the seismic hazard map for Rajasthan State.

Figure 11: Seismic Hazard Map of Rajasthan

7 Obtained from http://www.geodynamics.no/guest/India_Remag_gji2503%5B057-064%5D.pdf

http://www.geodynamics.no/guest/India_Remag_gji2503%5B057-064%5D.pdf�

76

6. Soil Quality

221. The Jaisalmer region has Aeolian sand that varies from sandy to sandy loam. Although Jaisalmer Town is situated in the heart of the Thar Desert with its characteristic large and mobile sand dunes, the town and its environs present a different physiography. The soils of the Arid Zone are generally sandy to sandy-loam in texture. The consistency and depth vary according to the topographical features. The low-lying loams are heavier and may have a hard pan of clay, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or gypsum. The pH varies between 7 and 9.5. The soils improve in fertility from west and northwest to east and northeast. Desert soils are Regosols of windblown sand and sandy fluiratile deposits, derived from the disintegration of rock in the subjacent areas and blown in from the coastal region and the Indus Valley. The proposed site is mostly non agricultural with hard sandy mixture soil.

G. Air Quality

1. Ambient Air Quality

222. There is no secondary data available on ambient air quality in Jaisalmer town. The project location and Jaisalmer town are is not subject to monitoring by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RPCB) as there are no major industries located here.

223. As the project is located in the Thar Desert, particulate matter is likely to be high, particularly during summer dust storms driven by relatively strong north-west to south-west winds. Vehicular traffic is the only source for pollutants, hence levels of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are expected to be well within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

2. Noise Levels

224. The project location and its nearby vicinity within 5 km have no industries and noise generating activities. Vehicular traffic would be the only contributor to man-made noise. Hence it is expected that the noise levels in the project area should be well within Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of noise during day and night time.

H. Water Quality8

1. Water Bodies

225. There are no perennial rivers in Jaisalmer District, and no natural lakes or ponds, due to the low rainfall. A few ephemeral streams appear during rainfall, and water accumulates in certain low lying areas, but the water is shallow and drains into the sand very quickly. A few manmade reservoirs have been created by constructing simple bunds at certain locations in the district.

8 http://www.ruidp.gov.in/work-progress/IEE%20PDF/IEE%20Jaisalmer%20Drainage.pdf

http://www.ruidp.gov.in/work-progress/IEE%20PDF/IEE%20Jaisalmer%20Drainage.pdf�

77

2. Ground Water Quality

226. Ground water quality for Jaisalmer District referred from the Central Ground Water board website is presented in Table 10.

Table 10: Ground Water Quality

Pollutant Pollutant Concentrations Salinity EC > 3000 µS/cm at 25 ° C Fluoride >1.5 mg/l Chloride > 1000 mg/l Iron >1.0 mg/l Nitrate >45 mg/l

3. Surface Water Quality

Main Indira Gandhi Nahar is at a distance of 96 km from the project site and the tributary canal is at a distance of about 20 km from the site. Based on the monitoring data for the month of February, 2011 physico-chemical characteristics of surface water are very good, conforming to drinking water standards, prescribed in IS: 10500 (Test Characteristics for Drinking Water), but the water contains significant bacteriological contamination. The water requires treatment before complying with potability standards. The results of water quality monitoring are presented in table below:

S. No. Parameters and Unit Indira Gandhi Nahar near Dhursar

Tributary Canal near Dhursar

1 pH 7.7 7.7 2 Temperature 25 25 3 Conductivity, umho/cm 268 266 4 TSS, mg/l 72 58 5 TDS, mg/l 190 186 14 Sodium (Na), mg/l 23 22 15 Potassium, mg/l 3 3 16 Calcium, as CaCO3 mg/l 29 29 17 Magnesium, as CaCO3 mg/l 7 7

Source: Test Report: Shiriram Institute for Industrial Research

78

I. Socio-economic Condition

227. Population9

228. Literacy- Average literacy rate of Jaisalmer in 2011 was 58.04% compared to 50.97% in 2001. The male and female literacy rates in 2011 census were recorded at 73.09% and 40.23% respectively.

- In 2011, Jaisalmer had population of 672,008 of which male and female were 363,346 and 308,662 respectively. There was growth rate of 32.22% in the population between 2001 and 2011 which is lower than that recorded at 47.52 in the period 1991-2001. the administrative area of Jaisalmer District is 39,313 sq.km. As per census 2011, population density of Jaisalmer District per square km is 17 persons compared to 13 per sq.km of 2001.

229. Sex Ratio- The Sex Ratio in Jaisalmer, stood at 849 females per 1000 male in 2011 compared to 821 in 2001 census. The average national sex ratio in India is 940 females per 1000 males as per Census 2011 Directorate.

230. Occupational pattern of Jaisalmer District as per 2011 Census shows that majority of people in rural sector are cultivators and agricultural labourers which indicates a dominant agricultural economy. A small section of people are engaged as workers in household industries. But in urban sector the existing scenario is completely reversed there most of the people are engaged in non-agricultural activity especially in industrial sector.

231. Per capita income: Per capita income reflects overall economic condition of the region or of the state. The average per capita income in rural area of District is Rs.27,516/- whereas the per capita income in urban area is Rs.56,962/- which is higher.

J. Current and Proposed Development Activities in Jaisalmer

232. Rajasthan Solar Processing Zone (120 MW) is Located at Ramdevra, Jaisalmer district, in between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, in the interiors of the Thar Desert spread over 620 acres near Pokaran and is first privately owned solar park in India.

233. DA Surya Shakti Services Pvt. Ltd is coming up with a 50 MW solar power plant in Pokhran, in Jaisalmer registered under Rajasthan Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (RRECL). The project is named ‘Suryavath’. The Commercial Operation Date for the first 10MW is 31st March 2012 and total project of 50 MW is 31st December 2012.

9 http://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/439-jaisalmer.html

http://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/439-jaisalmer.html�

79

V. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

The alternatives considered by RSTEPL while finalizing the location and technology inorder to optimize the consumption of land for the project and scarce resources like water are detailed in this section.

A. With or Without Project Alternative

234. Electricity consumption in India steadily increased from 1995 to 2010, driven by high economic growth. Although India’s generation and distribution capacity has grown significantly over the last decade, many parts of the country continue to suffer power shortages both in terms of unmet demand during peak periods and an overall energy shortage. This project will help on achieving both the demand-supply gap in energy requirement and also enable the country to produce clean energy. The only viable generating options for energy production to meet the supply-demand gap in western region are fossil fuel energy. India is already facing huge short fall in fulfilling the coal requirement for already existing thermal power plant. So, it is imperative to look for alternatives to fossil fuel based power generation to achieve long term power solution of the country.

B. Location

235. Setting up of a Solar Power project involves selection of environmentally and techno-economically suitable site, land characteristics, meteorology, infrastructure, grid availability, water availability, rail and road connectivity, accessibility and shading aspects etc. Before selecting the project site, a comprehensive review of the measured data of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for similar and nearby locations of Dhursar village have been studied and compared.

236. For a location to be favorable for Concentrated Solar Power, it should have a high percentage of days without cloud cover or other climate conditions that prevent the solar energy from reaching the surface. This results in high solar radiation availability. In addition the site should have good availability of water and access to the electrical transmission grid. All of these conditions are favorable at the selected site.

237. Before finalizing on the site location at Dhursar, Rajasthan, RSTEPL had analyzed a set of probable locations on various parameters, important for success of any Solar CSP plant. Each site location has its own unique advantage to offer. Some locations were near the load centre while some come under the highest solar insolation region in the country. After completing the process, RSTEPL further studied two locations – Dhursar and Ladkan. The comparison between Ladkan and Dhursar for setting up the solar CSP plant is given in Table 11.

Table 11: Alternative Locations Comparison

Parameters Ladkan (Bikaner, Rajasthan) Dhursar (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan)

80

Parameters Ladkan (Bikaner, Rajasthan) Dhursar (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan) 1. Location considering PPA with NVVN

Bikaner, Rajasthan 8 Dhursar, Rajasthan 8

2. Land Area 900 acres 8 2000 acres 10

3. DNI(kwH/m2) 1968 8 2062 9

4. R&R NA 10 NA 10

5. CTU/ STU transmission line availability

30Km 7 35Km 5

6. Civil Works High as the top soil is sandy

6 Very minimal as the sand is hard soil on the top up to 1.5m and soft rock after that

9

Grand Total 47 51 Ranking 2 1

238. While selecting the land for plant area, due care was also taken to minimize the proportion of agricultural and inhabited land in the site.

C. Terrain

239. In addition, the site has good soil characteristics for foundations and is almost level. These factors result in lower cost for site grading and foundations.

D. Technology

240. In choosing the technology for the CSP plant Compact Linear Fresnel Reflective (CLFR) and Parabolic Trough Technology (PTT) were studied and compared.

241. In comparing CLFR and PTT, the primary advantage of CLFR is simplicity and the primary advantage of PTT is that it has been proven to reliably perform on a full scale commercial basis. CLFR’s simplicity compared to PTT is a result of several basic design differences.

242. Some differences between CLFR and PTT include:

a) CLFR produces steam directly from solar energy. It does not use an intermediate heat transfer fluid with associated pumps and heat exchangers. This results in a simpler design and lower parasitic power usage than PTT. Since no heat transfer fluid is needed for CLFR both the potential of environmental spill issues and the requirement of the fluid are eliminated.

b) CLFR has a turbine cycle efficiency advantage because it allows a higher main steam temperature, but this advantage is offset because CLFR cannot achieve as high reheat temperature as PTT.

81

c) CLFR has a lower solar to thermal efficiency which results in a need for more mirror surface, but it requires less space between mirror rows. The net result is less land area required by CLFR for a given electricity production.

d) The PTT design includes curved mirrors that focus light on a tube located within two meters of the mirror and the assembly is about 4-5 meters high. CLFR has slightly curved mirrors mounted approximately one meter above grade and focuses light on a receiver that is about 30 meters above the mirrors. The greater distance between the mirrors and the receiver requires more precise adjustment of mirror focus and is part of the reason that the CLFR solar to thermal efficiency is lower than Parabolic Trough.

e) Cleaning and maintenance of the CLFR mirrors is easier because they are located closer to the ground.

f) The CLFR glass closure at the receiver is also approximately 30 meters above grade and must be cleaned to keep solar transmittance high. PTT does not have this maintenance requirement.

g) CLFR utilizes a once through steam generating approach that allows achieving rated steam temperature faster, but this approach also requires more extensive water treatment.

h) PTT requires an external heat source to maintain the heat transfer fluid at a temperature above its freezing temperature.

243. The CLFR technology was finalized for the project based on the above differences.

82

VI. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL IMPACTS

The key physical, biological and socio-economic environmental components have been identified. The impacts of various project components on these environmental components during planning, construction and operation which require measures to avoid, mitigate and compensate these impacts have been identified in this section.

A. Areas of No Significant Impact

244. The project has not acquired any land from private owners and hence does not cause involuntary resettlement.

245. The project road does not traverse through any National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary and is also not in close proximity (10 km) to any such locations. Hence the project does not have an adverse impact on modified, natural, critical habitat; legally protected and internationally recognized areas; and invasive alien species.

246. The project is not located in or in proximity to Scheduled areas. Hence the project location or activities do not disturb or affect the habitat of Indigenous People.

247. The project is not located in the vicinity of any cultural heritage sites or structures and hence will not adversely impact these.

B. Positive Impacts

248. The project is being built to meet national targets on renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels as a source of energy. Solar technology is environmentally benign and does not emit any substances that have any known major impact on climate, human health or environment. The project would indirectly lead to reduction in emission of environmental pollutants that are released by use of fossil fuels in thermal power plants.

C. Methodology of Impact Assessment

249. The environmental components (biophysical) in the project influence area have been identified and the project activities during the construction and operation phase have been listed. The adverse impacts have been qualitatively classified as high, moderate and low based on the type of impact (direct/indirect), duration (long/ medium/ short term) and scale (local/regional).

250. The environmental components identified in conducting environmental impact assessment for the corridor are air quality, noise, surface water quality, ground water quality, soil quality, flora and fauna, agricultural land, occupational health and safety, public health and public utility/ intrusion.

83

251. The activities during construction and operation of the project that could have an adverse impact on environmental components are as listed in the following subsections.

D. Impacts during Construction Phase

252. Most of the environmental and social impacts during construction phase are limited to the construction period till May 2013 and would have a local impact. The adverse impacts of these activities on the environmental and social components would thus range between low to moderate. The impacts that may occur during construction have been identified in Table 12.

Table 12: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts (Construction Phase)

Affected Component

Project activity Impact

A) Pre-Construction Phase Flora Felling of trees within project site Minimal loss of vegetation / habitat as

the site is barren land with almost no vegetation.

B) Construction Phase Resource Consumption



Air Quality Exhaust from construction machinery, equipment including generators, earth moving equipments and transport vehicles, as applicable

Short term emissions for carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, RSPM, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and toxic air pollutants

Disposal of excavation spoil material and transportation of materials








84

Affected Component


Noise Pollution Construction activities and operation of construction equipments


Water Resources Water required for various construction activities – tapping bore wells



Labour camps Degradation of soil quality due to improper sanitation facilities

Extraction of soil from borrow pits Extraction of rocks and sand from river beds

Long term impact causing accelerated erosion, disturbance in natural drainage and water logging

Disposal of construction spoil Alteration of drainage pattern Preparation of stable base for solar field





Public and Occupational Health and Safety

Air pollution, increase in noise levels

Nuisance and health impacts to communities in the vicinity Health and Safety issues for Labour / staff working on site

Use of diesel powered construction equipments


Influx of contract labour Moderate impact on neighboring settlements and villages social fabric and spread of diseases

Agricultural lands Runoff from construction activities, dumping of debris and excavation spoils


1. Resource consumption

253. Various construction equipments typically consume diesel as a fuel during operation. The transportation of material for construction and hauling of spoil material for disposal is also expected to consume petrol or diesel fuel. Labour camps set up during construction could be using kerosene or local fuel wood for domestic / cooking purposes. This is likely to increase consumption and burning of fossil fuels in the project area to some extent. These are limited to the construction period till May 2013 and shall have a low impact.

254. Digging bore wells in the project site to meet the requirement of water during construction and testing of the plant would impact the availability of water to the local inhabitants as the project

85

influence area has an existing condition of water scarcity. Contractor has reviewed the water use for flushing and startup during construction phase. This can and will be supplied from off-site and brought to site by a licensed hauler and stored in temporary tankage. It is expected that the water requirement can be managed within a window of less than 100 cubic meters per day. Contractor is in the process of making plans for the ultimate water source and the temporary tankage.

2. Impacts on Land

255. Extraction of material like soil from borrow pits and aggregates from quarries could disrupt natural land contours and vegetation resulting in accelerated erosion, disturbance in natural drainage patterns locally near quarries and borrow pit areas. This activity shall have a moderate impact.

256. The solar field for CSP technology requires a large parcel of land with a stable base which will permanently alter the topography in and around the project site and hence have a high impact on the drainage pattern. Similarly disposal of excess excavated soil after backfilling shall also permanently alter the topography and drainage pattern of the dumping location.

3. Ambient air quality

257. The activities like operation of diesel powered construction equipment, transportation of raw materials, disposal of spoil material release pollutants like SPM, SO2, NOx, CO into the ambient air by movement of vehicles and fugitive dust from materials.

258. Hauling of construction materials (sand, aggregate, and construction debris) will increase the SPM levels enroute due to fugitive dust and re-suspension from roads. The burning of fuel wood for cooking purposes in labour camps would also release pollutants in the air thus affecting the local ambient air moderately during the construction period.

259. Fugitive dust emissions from construction camps, stockpile areas, storage areas and disposal areas located near village settlements could potentially cause moderate levels of health impacts due to air pollution.

260. Use of fuel wood in labour camps for cooking purposes and burning of household waste could cause moderate levels of air pollution in the immediate vicinity of the labour camp.

4. Ambient noise levels

261. The construction of turbine hall, effluent treatment plant, demineralization plant civil work involving concrete pouring, operation of needle vibrators, operation of DG sets , rebar cutting and trimming and operation of various construction equipments would generate high levels of noise thus increasing the ambient noise levels above day time permissible limits.

86

5. Water Quality

262. Spillage of bituminous material in unpaved areas during road construction within the project site may leach into the soil and pollute the groundwater thereafter highly impacting its quality. There are no major surface water bodies in and around the project site and hence eliminates the possibility of surface water contamination.

6. Public Health and Safety

263. All activities during construction causing air pollution and increasing noise levels have the potential to indirectly affect the health of the local inhabitants to a moderate extent.

7. Occupational Health and Safety

264. The workers on site are exposed to health risks and hazards of various intensities due to construction activities and equipments. For example risk from fires in labour camps, exposure to equipment fumes and particulates could cause injury to workers. Safety hazards during assembly and erection of solar fields and turbine hall machinery include those applicable in any industrial operations.

8. Agricultural Lands

265. Runoff from construction activities as well as dumping of debris and excavation spoils could significantly affect the productivity and destroy existing crops of the agricultural lands located on the west and north-east of the project site.

9. Impacts of Labour Camps

266. Labour camps would be setup at the project site. Inadequate provision of sanitation facilities and improper drainage system would lead to unhygienic living conditions and spread of disease vectors. Similarly improper management of solid waste generated at labour camps would also cause spread of vectors. Use of wood for cooking purposes could increase pollutant levels in the local ambient air thus impacting the quality and indirectly the health of the residents of the labour camp. Open defecation, dumping of solid waste on the roads also causes nuisance to local inhabitants.

267. During construction, there will be a sizeable influx of contract labour which may impact the social fabric of the areas surrounding the project. The impact may be moderate in nature as the camp will be constructed within the project site on lands already acquired and hence there would be no impact on any host community. the influx of contract labour may also contribute to the spread of diseases. However as the nearest village is two km from the project site, the impact would be moderate. Impacts of influx of labour on various social components are given in Table 13.

87

Table 13: Impacts of Influx of Construction Labour

Environmental Health Areas

Influx camp followers, job seekers, family, service workers

Human movement Water management Including creation of new water bodies; altering existing water bodies and changes in drainage pattern

Linear features Roadways; transportation routes;

Hazardous materials control and disposal

Changes in income & expenditure consumption including food/ housing inflation

Vector Related Increasing human parasite

Movement to different prevalence area

Creation and movement of breeding grounds

Improper drainage, temporary water pool

Creation of breeding sites with drums at household level

Respiratory & Housing

Crowded housing, both work camps and community

Number of occupants per room; mix of occupants children/elderly/ adults (different vulnerability)

Facilitating mixing/interaction of different groups

Housing inflation triggered crowding

Veterinary Medicine

Movement and migration of livestock

Movement and migration of livestock due to influx of new groups

Creation and/or movement of livestock watering locations

Inadvertent water source contamination, of streams/ rivers

Sexually Transmitted Infections; HIV / AIDS

Facilitating movement of high risk groups into rural settings

Men with money mixing with vulnerable women

Soil, Water & sanitation

Overburdening existing services/systems; explosive food-borne epidemics

Failure to anticipate extended family influx in initial design

Changes in surface water flows/quality, potential groundwater drawdown

Releases into surface water; long-term impacts to ground water

Food & Nutrition Influx of extended family more mouths to feed

Shift from subsistence agriculture to peri-urban living/petty trading

Changes in crop/garden selection and planting cycle

Changes in access to gardens or local markets

Food inflation further marginalizing vulnerable groups

Accidents & Overcrowding, falls, Road traffic, Unplanned

88

Environmental Health Areas

Influx camp followers, job seekers, family, service workers

Human movement Water management Including creation of new water bodies; altering existing water bodies and changes in drainage pattern

Linear features Roadways; transportation routes;

Hazardous materials control and disposal

Changes in income & expenditure consumption including food/ housing inflation

Injuries burns, road traffic increased pedestrian activity

releases/emissions

Hazardous Materials Exposure

Squatter developments adjacent to industrial facilities with unplanned releases

Road traffic, increased pedestrian activity

Unplanned releases/emissions

Psychosocial; Gender Issues

Cultural shock due to rapid societal change

Transformation of rural to peri urban/urban lifestyle

Greater ease of mixing social/ ethnic groups

Sudden money influx in a barter economic structure

Cultural Health Practices

Introduction of new practices and / or elimination of existing practices

Introduction of new practices and/or elimination of existing practices

Shift to western medicine

Health Services Infrastructure & Capacity

Increased visits for out and inpatient services

Increased visits for out and inpatient services if access improves

Changes in access Attraction of additional private providers/ increase in insurance enrollment

Non-communicable; hypertension, diabetes

Changes in diet urban living versus high intensity subsistence farming

Shift from physical activity to sedentary lifestyle

89

The Labour camp shall be constructed outside the project site area by the EPC contractor/ sub-contractors with the consent from the land owners. Additionally, contractors shall rent some houses in the nearby villages for labour accommodations. RSTEPL shall draw a Labour Deployment & Welfare Management Plan for the proposed Solar CSP project. The EPC Contractor and the sub contractor shall ensure the compliance of the labour welfare arrangement plan: Accommodation for Labour – Provision of Military Tents for accommodating outstation labours Accommodation for Women Labour- Separate provision of Military Tents for accommodating

women labours Prevention from Insects/Snakes – Carbolic Acid bottles will be buried under the ground

surrounding the perimeter of the Labour accommodation area to prevent them from the risk of Snakes/Insects

Sanitation for Labour – Portable Toilets/WC will be provided for Labour. Waste water will be disposed in septic tanks/ soak pits.

Sanitation for Women Labour- Separate Toilets/ WC will be provided for women labour. Waste water will be disposed in septic tanks/ soak pits.

Water Arrangements – Treated Water will be made available at Site for Labour drinking purpose.

Health arrangements - Tying up with Local Doctor for any exigencies at site. Also the doctor will make occasional visits to site for Health check-up of labour

Strict adherence to the Labour Laws applicable in the area of work will be ensured through robust Time Office department at Site.

E. Impacts during Operation Phase

268. The impacts that may occur during operation of the solar CSP have been identified in Table 14.

Table 14: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts (Operation Phase)

Affected Component



Sludge disposal from effluent treatment plant and de-mineralization plant


Neutralization Plant Leaching action causing contamination Management of lube oil waste Leaching action causing contamination Operation of Transformers and Switchyard

Leaching of effluents containing oil

Land Disposal of e-waste (defunct solar panels)


Water Resources Use/Conservation/ Re-use/Recycling of water

Scarce Resource consumption

Occupational Working at the solar field and Failure of the EOT crane, slips, trips and

90

Affected Component


Health and Safety turbine hall exposure to other physical hazards Storage of Chemicals, oils Fires, exposure to toxic effects of

chemicals, effluents containing oils Public health and safety

Operation of solar field Reflection from solar panels

269. No groundwater through deep well will be developed instead main source of water to be tapped

will be from Indira Gandhi Nahar Prariyojana (IGNP) canal10, and water requirement will be diminished through (i) water recycling of effluent (wastewater)11

270. If sludge from water demineralization plant and filter backwash effluent treatment plant is not disposed safely could lead to soil and ground water pollution due to leaching action. Similar impacts could be caused during conveyance of the backwash to the treatment plant due to leakage.

;, (ii) water use reduction measures such as water conservation, minimizing water losses, using closed looped system (e.g. Closed cooling water/De-mineralization/Circulating Water system), and (iii) provision for a rainwater harvesting pond to meet the water requirement during operations.

271. If the waste neutralization pit is not provided with impervious lining and maintained in a good condition, the leachate from the waste could contaminate the soil and ground water in the project area.

272. Improper storage of chorine at the chemical room could lead to spillage and exposure of workers to chemicals and their toxic effects.

273. The maintenance of turbines and other mechanical equipments would lead to the generation of lube oil waste which if not collected and disposed safely could lead to land and ground water pollution and safety risks from fires and slips.

274. Failure of the EOT crane, working with the machinery at the turbine hall, cleaning of solar panels could lead to slips, trips and exposure to other physical hazards.

275. The plant will consume water for generation of steam required for generation of electricity. However this activity will not impact the ground water resource of the project area as the water is being sourced from IGNP canal. Water would also be used during periodic cleaning of the solar panels.

276. The solar panels could generate reflection which could cause a nuisance to the nearby settlements, impact flight pattern of local birds.

10 Government of Rajasthan, particularly the Energy Department has conveyed allocation of 2.5 cusecs 11 The treated effluents then shall be used for the plantation/horticulture and dust suppression in the solar field to ensure complete recycling of effluents generated from the plant.

91

277. The activities that could potentially cause ground water pollution would have a high impact on the water resources as the project area is prone to droughts.

278. During maintenance activities improper disposal of defunct solar panels could lead to land and ground water pollution as well as physical hazards from fires and explosion.

F. Impacts specific to Water pipeline construction and operation

279. The impacts that may occur during construction and operation of the water pipeline for solar CSP have been identified in Table 15.

Table 15: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts due to Water Pipeline (Construction & Operation Phase)

Affected Component


Air Quality Traffic congestion due to road constriction / diversions




pits / low lying cut areas are used by the local inhabitants for dumping of solid wastes indirectly causing contamination

Water Resources Maintenance of water pipeline Leakages and stealing of water causing loss of scarce resource

Agricultural lands Haul Roads Destruction of standing crops, felling of trees and loss of top soil, productivity

Public Health and Safety

Pipeline construction activities along agricultural lands

Severances due to obstruction to access to certain areas

1. Environmental Impacts

280. The impacts of activities like clearing and leveling of land, excavation, hauling & transportation of excavated material and dumping of excavated material, in case of construction of rising main and distribution network, will be similar to those as described in Section D.

281. During construction of pipeline there may be obstruction to the movement of vehicles leading to traffic congestion along the bypass and SH-40. The vehicles in the idling state cause incomplete combustion of fuel thus increasing higher levels of SPM and CO. Also the concentration of pollutants like NOx and ozone (formed in the presence of NOx, hydrocarbons and sunlight) released by vehicles also increases in congested locations.

282. The felling of trees or removal of vegetation along the right of way (RoW) of the pipeline could loosen the soil in such areas thus causing soil erosion especially in the section from Ujlan to the project site that does not run along an existing road.

92

283. Contamination of groundwater during excavation is possible particularly if pits / cuts are left unfilled / uncovered for a long time. Often these pits / low lying cut areas are used by the local inhabitants for dumping of solid wastes

284. Improper maintenance of the pipeline could cause leakages and loss of valuable water resource.

2. Social Impacts

285. In the section of pipeline between Ujlan and the project site where the pipeline traverses from agricultural lands, a number of trees would have to be felled, there would be loss of topsoil and re-suspended dust settling on crops due to haul roads and various construction activities. Spill of construction material on agricultural lands could cause a high impact on the productivity of soil. As the pipe would be laid underground, no land acquisition would be involved. However during construction phase land would temporarily be required for haul roads, storage of pipes and other allied construction activities.

286. The obstruction of access to certain areas due to the construction activities could cause inconvenience to local inhabitants. However since the project area is sparsely populated, the impact would be low.

G. Impacts due to Construction and Operation of Transmission Lines

287. The impacts that may occur during construction and operation of the water pipeline for solar CSP have been identified in Table 16.

Table 16: Identification of Activities & Probable Impacts due to Transmission Lines (Construction & Operation Phase)

Affected Component


Air pollution Operation of circuit breakers, switch gear, and other electrical equipment


Noise pollution Transmission line operational corona noise from the conductors Operation of transformers Transformer noise


Operation of transformers Leakage of transformer oil


Erection of towers, line stringing Physicals hazards related to working at height


Transmission line operational Exposure to electromagnetic fields

Agricultural lands Haul Roads Destruction of standing crops and loss of top soil, productivity

93

1. Environmental Impacts

288. The project does not cause any terrestrial habitat alteration as the transmission lines do not pass through forested areas. As the Project is located in an area with hot and dry climate, vegetation is sparse and hence clearing will not be required and occurrence of forest fires is a rare prospect. Also the transmission lines do not lie in the vicinity of migratory bird paths and critical habitats. The potential fatal risk to birds and bats through collisions and electrocutions is very low. The transmission lines do not cross any water bodies and hence no damage shall be caused to aquatic habitat.

289. The project activities during construction phase will involve clearing of trees along the route alignment wherever required, excavation for installation of towers, erection of towers, civil works related to transmission line and line stringing.

290. During the operation phase of the project, there may be corona noise from the conductors which will be felt only up to 15 to 30 m area, hence the ambient noise level will meet the CPCB standard for residential areas : 55 dB(A) during daytime and 45 dB(A) during night time.

291. As per the preliminary survey a few trees shall be removed during the line construction. The initial construction works along the alignment involving land clearance, cutting, filling, and leveling that may cause loss of vegetation, soil erosion and loss of top soil.

292. Transformers, tower material, substation equipment, iron bars, concrete materials, piling equipment, will be transported through the provincial and local road network to the project site. This may impact local traffic temporarily.

293. Project activities could impact the health and safety of the work force and of the general public, in particular, in terms of risk of accidents and exposure to electromagnetic fields along the alignment. The accidents may be caused due to electrocuting, lightening, fires and explosions.

294. Electric shock may lead to death or injury to the workers and public in the area.

295. Possible exposure to electromagnetic interference could occur during maintenance activities. Design of transmission line shall comply with the limits of electromagnetic interference from overhead power lines.

296. Contamination of land and ground water by the transformer oil can occur during operation due to leakage or accident.

297. Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) is a non-toxic greenhouse gas used as a dielectric in circuit breakers, switch gear, and other electrical equipment and its leakage could have significant impacts on the ambient air quality of the project area.

94

2. Social Impacts

298. The Project Area is sparsely populated and also the transmission lines do not pass through populated areas. Hence the exposure of public to Electric and Magnetic Fields is very low.

299. As the transmission line traverses through agricultural lands, a number of trees would have to be cut, there would be some loss of topsoil and re-suspended dust settling on crops due to haul roads and various construction activities. Spill of construction material on agricultural lands could cause a high impact on the productivity of soil.

300. No overburden on the local transportation system is envisaged due to the proposed project.

H. Impacts during Decommissioning Phase

301. The dismantling operation could raise the ambient noise levels and lead to the generation of dust thus impacting the ambient air quality. The decommissioning of the power house could impact the economic and social structure of the nearby villages and towns as well as macroeconomic scenario on supply of power. The dismantling operation could also have residual wastes at the site. For understanding of the activity involved, the approximate quantities that are to be handled are given in table below:

S. No. Description Estimated Qty Remarks 1 Solar CSP Glass 30,000 m2 All used glass can be recycled. 2 Other structural steel including

boiler tubes 40,000 MT Bulk of steel is galvanized and can

be recycled. 3 Power Block Lot As per standard practices within

applicable local laws 4 Mechanical Equipment Lot 5 Electrical Equipment Lot Switchgears, transformers, cables,

batteries, trays, etc. 6 Electronic Equipment Lot Control panels, electronic

hardware, pCs, Instruments, etc.

302. In order to handle the dismantling of each type of item a specific strategy will have to be planned to keep the impact during the actual activity low. During this phase of the plant, all structures will be cleared away, all rubbish cleared, excreta or other disposal pits or trenches filled in and effectively sealed off and the site left clean and tidy, at the contractor’s expenses, to the satisfaction of the engineer.

95

I. Cumulative Impacts Identification

303. Western India comprising of Rajasthan and Gujarat have been identified as potential locations for solar power generation due to the light availability in that region.

304. Two more solar power plants have been proposed in Pokharan and its vicinity. The cumulative impacts such large projects need to be identified.

305. The major cumulative adverse impacts that a large number of solar power projects could have are:

a) Stress on water resources during construction. Depending on the technology being used requirement of water during operation as a heating media.

b) Alteration of topography, drainage pattern as the solar fields require a stable ground

c) Influx of construction labour thus changing the social fabric of the region

306. A large number of solar power projects would also raise the standard of living in the region due to availability of alternate job opportunities; and CSR activities of the companies improving the existing social infrastructure.

307. While there is adequate land available next to the project site for future expansion as has been shown in Figure 3 - Layout Plan for CSP Plant the government has not yet come out with a policy/ bid process for Phase II CSP projects. Hence at this point there is no information available on future capacity at the site and the associated timelines. Based on the letter from Rajasthan Government (dated 26.5.2011) the 58 cubic feet per second has been allocated for projects coming up along the vicinity of the IGNP canal (current & future). The total requirement for the 5 approved CSP projects coming up in the vicinity of the canal is only 12 cubic feet per second.

96

VII. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND PARTICIPATION

The methodology used for public consultation with project stakeholders including affected persons, capturing and their concerns with the project installation at Dhursar, responding to their concerns considering the project feasibility as well as future disclosures regarding the project are elaborated in this section.

A. Public Consultation Methodology

308. RSTEPL organized a local stakeholder consultation meeting at Government Senior Primary School in Dhursar Village, Tehsil – Pokhran on 15th February, 2011 for the purpose of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and ESIA. An advertisement was published in vernacular language in a daily newspaper, inviting wider participation of local community, copy of which is attached in Annexure 9.

309. The consultation was conducted in Hindi and local vernacular language. Pamphlets giving a summary of the project were distributed among the public.

1. Participants

310. A total of 33 persons attended the public consultation. Community participants included people from different walk of the society. The participants included the Sarpanch (Village head) of Dhursar and Lawan, NGOs, State Revenue Department officials, teachers, equipment suppliers, employees and local villagers. List of the attendees is included in Annexure 10.

2. Consultation Proceedings

311. The meeting started with the presentation made by RSTEPL’s officials about the company followed by the process of electricity generation using Concentrated Solar Power technology. Local stakeholders were informed about the project execution, social and environment impacts due to project especially during construction phase and utilization of local resources by RSTEPL during construction phase. The local stakeholders were informed about the benefits of the project along with environment and social impact especially during construction phase.

312. All speakers emphasized on the need of renewable source of power generation. They also shared the observed change in weather pattern in their locality over last two decades. There was a consensus about the importance and potential of the project for the development of Dhursar and its surrounding areas. They also sought more initiatives for renewable based power projects in local area so that additional investment will result into employment of local people which will lead to increase standard of living.

313. During the interactive session, questions were raised by local community on various aspects such as impact of project on their economic conditions, future expansion plans of the project in the

97

same locality, employment of local community in the project etc. which were answered satisfactorily by the concerned person.

314. Initially, people were apprehensive about their land being acquired for the project. They were informed by the representatives of RSTEPL that all allotted land is government land. Hence, it will not result into any project related displacement. The local community is aware about the fact that this is environment friendly project and will result into increased economic activity in the surrounding area. Local people will get employment in the project and successful implementation and operation of the project may result into more investment in such projects in future.

315. Some of the concerns raised by local stakeholders regarding additional economic activities, use of local resources by especially during construction phase are listed in Table 17.

Table 17: Concerns raised and Clarifications given during Public Consultation

Sr. N. Concerns Raised during the Consultation

Clarifications provided by RSTEPL

1. Will employment opportunities be generated with the project?

The project activity will generate the employment opportunities during implementation and operation phase.

2. Can locals be preferred for the employment in the project?

As per the requirement of the project and suitability of the skilled and unskilled manpower the employment will be offered. Depending on the education skills and the interest of the local community, necessary skill development shall be carried out in the vocational areas, to employ local community.

3. Will there be kind of smoke from the project having negative impact on health of locals?

The project activity is based on renewable solar power generation technology. Project does not employ any fossil fuel burning. Hence project activity will not emit any pollution affecting health of locals.

4. When will the project anticipated to be commissioned?

The commissioning of the project is expected within 28 months from 08/01/2011 i.e. date of signing power purchase agreement with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited.

5. Is there any scope for the improvement of capacity and if there is any such scope, will it be considered by Reliance Power?

State of Rajasthan has tremendous scope for Solar based energy installations. As a business entity, Reliance power is keen to make renewable energy investments throughout India, including Rajasthan. Scope of increased investment would be decided at the appropriate time.

6. Will any contribution from In order elaborate on the potential sustainable

98

Sr. N. Concerns Raised during the Consultation

Clarifications provided by RSTEPL

project activity be made to the welfare of the local community?

development activities at the project site, in line with the Corporate Social Responsibility framework of Reliance Power, various initiatives will be undertaken by company for community development.

7. Will RSTEPL provide any medical help to the local community, in case of the requirement?

Project participant proposes to organize the mobile medical facilities addressing the medical needs of local community, specifically the gynecological and neonatal issues. Existing medical facilities will be improved to base on the requirement and approval for improving such facilities from relevant authorities.

B. Planned Information Disclosure Measures

316. RSTEPL would disclose the project details to make the community aware of the important features of the project. A Project Information Booklet would be prepared and distributed in the project vicinity village in vernacular language. The booklet in addition to containing the salient features of the project shall have a map depicting the boundaries of the plant and its ancillary facilities. The important landmarks e.g. the settlement, schools and the roads, etc. shall also be demarcated so that it becomes easy for the people in the villages to relate to the ground conditions.

317. To ensure wide circulation of the Project Information Booklet the booklet would be made available at all the schools, Anganwadi centres, and other public facilities in the project affected village.

318. RSTEPL will disclose the construction schedule on the notice board at the site location before the commencement of construction works to ensure that local population are notified and informed of said activities.

319. RSTEPL will involve their local representatives to inform them about the implementation of social and environmental activities.

320. Attempts will be made to ensure that vulnerable groups understand the process and their specific needs are taken into account.

For the development of the community, the company believes that its endeavours will be successful with the involvement of local community. To take the initial step towards the community development, the company has held a meeting with District Collector (DC), Jaisalmer on November 17, 2011 to

99

formalize the direction of community development activities. The meeting has helped in galvanizing the opinion and setting the road map for development plan.

Additionally, the Company is engaged in public welfare through the involvement of local people representatives, prominent local people and women. This is evident from the fact that these people participated in the Public Consultation held for Solar CSP project. Please refer the annexure 10 for the list of attendee. During the medical camp organized by the company on December 26, 2011, local people representatives and government officials were also involved.

100

VIII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM

The framework available to the aggrieved parties for registering their grievances about the project during construction and operation of the project is presented in this section.

A. Grievance Redress Mechanism

321. Environmental and social grievances will be handled in accordance to the project grievance redress mechanism. Open and transparent dialogue will be maintained with project affected persons as and when needed, in compliance with ADB safeguard policy requirements.

322. The Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) for the project provides an effective approach for complaints and resolution of issues made by the affected community in reliable way. This mechanism will remain active throughout the life cycle of the project. RSTEPL shall have a standard mechanism to:

f) inform the affected people (AP) about GRM and its functions,

g) determine how peoples representatives in the GRM will be selected,

h) set the procedures and mechanisms adopted for making the complaints,

i) support the complainants in communicating their grievance and attending the GRM meetings and

j) Implement compliance with a GRMs' decision, its monitoring and communication to the people.

323. As a part of the grievance redressal, RSTEPL will perform the following actions.

d) Continuously collect and analyze complaint/grievance related data e) Disseminate this information into its organizational set up f) Review and upgrade exiting plans if required

324. The procedure for grievance redress will be done through various steps:

d) minor grievances will be redressed at the site level through the concerned project engineer and contractor (7 working days),

e) if this fails the grievance will be referred to the GRC which will take all necessary actions within 15 working days,

f) if still unresolved, the aggrieved person will have the option to approach the appropriate court of law for redress.

325. The process flow diagram for grievance redressal is shown in Figure 12.

101

Figure 12: Grievance Redress Process

B. Grievance Redress Committee

326. A Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) will be formed and have representatives from local communities, the Panchayat Head, a RSTEPL Project Engineer (Line in Field), and a nominated District Revenue Officer. The GRC will meet as and when major grievances arise.

327. The main responsibilities of the GRC are to:

a) provide support to aggrieved persons on problems arising from environmental and social impacts

b) record grievances and action them within 4 weeks.

328. The ESMC will keep a record book of all grievances (concerning the environment, health, safety, and working conditions) brought to the attention of RSTEPL staff and to the GRC.

329. The structure of the GRC is shown in Figure 13.

102

Figure 13: Structure of Grievance Redress Committee

C. Communication with Contractor Staff

330. During the construction phase there would be an influx of employees and labour into the project area. As these persons would have cultural differences with the resident population there are potential that a conflicts may arise because of issues related to the environment, safety and privacy issues of the women in the surrounding villages, spread of various communicable diseases, nuisance caused by workers due to improper sanitation facilities, etc.

331. A communication shall be made to all contractor staff with the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ and requesting proper behavioural actions and discipline amenable with the local customs and traditions during their association with the project.

332. The Project will provide a grievance mechanism where employees may raise reasonable work place concerns. The mechanism shall involve appropriate level of management involvement and address concerns promptly, using a transparent process that provides feedback to those concerns without any retribution.

333. As given in Section B of this chapter, RSTEPL has prepared a framework for redressal of grievances/complaints during all phases of the project. This framework will be continuously monitored & improved as the project moves from one stage to other.

103

IX. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

This section elaborates the Environmental and Social Management Plan that has been designed to include protective, mitigative as well as enhancing measures to minimize environmental and social risks and to maximize environmental and social benefits without compromising the interest of development.

A. Institutional Arrangement

334. RSTEPL shall establish an Environment & Social Management Cell at Corporate and Site level, headed by a Project Director of Chief Engineer rank to be responsible for day-to-day implementation of the Project. The ESMC is responsible for coordinating and implementing all environmental and social activities. During project implementation, the ESMC will be responsible for reflecting the occurrence of new and significant impacts resulting from project activities and integrating sound mitigation measures into the EMP.

335. The ESMC includes a safeguard specialist and supporting staff, together forming the Environmental and Social Unit, appointed by RSTEPL to look environmental, social and safety issues. The ESMC will be empowered to implement safeguards planning and monitor implementation. The safeguards specialist gives guidance to the Project Manager and his staff to adopt the environmental good practice while implementing the project. The safeguard specialist is responsible for implementing safeguard issues associated with the project through a site team composed of RSTEPL site staff and contractor’s staff, to be assigned by the ESMC as necessary.

336. The duties of the Environmental and Social Unit of the ESMC at corporate level are to:

a) Monitor the implementation of mitigation measures during construction and operation phases of the project.

b) Prepare suitable environmental management plan and standard operating procedure (SOP) for various sites.

c) Advise and coordinating field unit’s activity towards effective environment management.

d) Co-ordinate with the Ministry of Power, CEA, GOR and state agencies such as RSPCB, and seek their help to solve the environment related issues of the project implementation.

e) Advise during project planning/design cells on environmental and social issues.

337. The duties of the Environmental and Social Unit at site level are to:

a) Implement the environment policy guidelines and environmental good practices at the sites.

104

b) Advise and coordinate the contractor(s) activity towards effective environment management.

c) Implement environment and safety manual.

d) Make the contractor staff aware of environmental and social issues so that EMP could be managed effectively.

338. The ESMC is responsible for processing and implementing all subproject(s). Subprojects will be monitored by qualified technical staff/experts (e.g., design and technical reports, feasibility studies, environmental and/or social assessments, and associated EMP's and budgets), who will also ensure and monitor compliance with MFIs/EPFIs safeguards and Government of India legal requirements.

339. Summary appraisal reports will be submitted to the MFIs subsequent to obtaining the ESMC's approval and clearance(s) from the Government of Rajasthan during operation phase. The ESMC will prepare and submit performance monitoring reports to the MFIs twice yearly.

340. Activities to be monitored include: all planning, coordination and management activities related to the implementation of management plans; root cause analysis; the identification of corrective and preventive actions; records of health and safety matters and training activities; consultations with project affected peoples (as and when needed, particularly during the implementation); feedback, trouble shooting and project related grievances (per the project grievance redress mechanism); preparation of progress and monitoring reports as required by the MFIs/ EPFIs; and verifying the projects overall compliance with safeguard measures and its progress towards achieving the intended loan outcomes.

341. The ESMC comprises of a team of qualified and experienced environmental engineers, analytical chemists, horticulturists, safety engineers and well trained personnel for environmental monitoring. The ESMC shall also conduct regular training programs for the other personnel in the areas of environment, air quality and water quality aspects, energy and water conservation measures, safety and health aspects etc. The ESMC shall be supported by well equipped testing laboratory and other facilities to facilitate effective working.

342. The key responsibilities of ESMC are given in Table 18 and the structure of ESMC is given in Figure 14.

Table 18: Key Responsibilities of Environmental & Social Management Cell

S. No. Designation Responsibility

1. Project Director (1 no.) Environmental and Social policy and directions

105

S. No. Designation Responsibility

2. Head-Operations (1 no.) Overall in-charge of operation of environment & social management facilities; Ensuring legal compliance by properly undertaking activities as laid down by various regulatory agencies from time to time and interacting with the same.

3. General Manager (1 no.) Secondary responsibility for environment & social management and decision making for all environmental issues including Occupational Health and Safety

4. Social Expert (1no) & Environmental Expert (1no)

Ensure environmental monitoring and social issues related to project as per appropriate procedures

Figure 14: Structure of Environmental and Social Management Cell

B. Environmental and Social Management Plan

343. The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) has been designed to include protective, mitigative as well as enhancing measures to minimize environmental and social risks and to maximize environmental and social benefits without compromising the interest of development.

106

The management plan to eliminate / mitigate the impacts identified in Chapter VII is presented in Table 19.

344. The plan focuses on both construction as well as operational phases of the project. It details out the adverse issues / concerns on environment and the affected community and proposed mitigation actions along with monitoring indicators (to track the ESMP), timeframe and responsibility of implementation as well as supervision.

345. The management of human resources, construction labour, waste, health and safety of site personnel and labour are explained in separate sections below.

107

Table 19: Environmental and Social Management Plan

Affected Component

Project activity Impact Mitigation/Prevention Indicator to check the

implementation

Timeframe Responsibility Implementation Supervision

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A) Pre-Construction Phase

Flora Felling of trees within project site

Reduction in the green cover of the project area

1. It should be ensured that only trees falling within the project facility are felled 2. Trees which can replanted in other areas should be uprooted with care 3. Compensatory tree plantation as per Rajasthan Tree Act should be based on suitably designed tree plantation programmes. Recent studies suggest that it is important to recognize that some significant part of the replacement ratio should allow for a high mortality rate among the newly planted trees

No. of trees felled and planted, periodic inspection of plantation areas and recording of survival and growth parameters

During Pre-Construction

EPC Contractor

B) Construction Phase Resource Consumption



1. Construction machinery / equipment and transportation vehicles should be planned on preventive maintenance schedules and installed with suitable pollution control devices (as per norms) as a good practice to reduce the increase efficiency 2. Labour should be made aware on the optimum use of fuel for cooking

Vehicle/ equipment maintenance log

During Construction

EPC Contractor

Air Quality Exhaust from Short term 1. Construction machinery / Equipment During EPC Contractor Project

108

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 construction machinery, equipment including generators, earth moving equipments and transport vehicles, as applicable

emissions for carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, RSPM, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and toxic air pollutants

equipment should be planned on preventive maintenance schedules and installed with suitable pollution control devices (as per norms) as a good practice to reduce the increase efficiency and exhaust emissions 2.Contractors / operators should seek valid pollution under control (PUC) certificates for all construction equipment / vehicles and should comply with the latest applicable emission norms 3. Drivers should be instructed / trained on the benefits of defensive driving practices that reduce both the risk of accidents and fuel consumption, including measured acceleration and driving within safe speed limits

maintenance log Ambient concentrations of CO, SPM, SO2 and NOx

Construction

Disposal of excavation spoil material and transportation of materials


1. It is vital to estimate the quantity of soil involved in order to plan for the appropriate number of trucks and trips per truck per day. 2. The vehicles carrying the materials should be covered and secured to prevent loss or re-suspension of material during travel 3. Protective masks should be provided to the staff and workers

Log of spoil generation and disposal Periodic manual inspections of vehicles

During Construction

EPC Contractor

109

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 on site



1. Unadulterated fuel should be supplied for cooking purposes

Levels of SPM/RSPM and workers health check

During Construction

EPC Contractor



1. Area for site clearance should be limited to Row 2. Water should be sprinkled on area to be excavated and on haul roads to reduce the fugitive dust re-suspension 3. Cover exposed earthworks and surfaces when not under active work

1. Total area under site clearance 2. Frequency of water sprinkling 3. Levels of SPM/RSPM

During Construction

EPC Contractor



1. The construction camps and storage areas should not be located near residential areas 2. The material storage areas should be covered with tarpaulin

Location of construction camp and stockpile Check for covering on stockpiles

During Construction

EPC Contractor

Noise Pollution

Construction activities and operation of construction equipments


1. Noise generating activities should be scheduled based on distance and timing wherever possible 2. Protective safety equipment should be provided to the staff and workers on site 3. Compliance with the standards should be ensured

1. Ambient noise levels and noise levels during construction activity 2. Number of workers using the protective equipments during operations shall be

During Construction

EPC Contractor

110

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4. Manufacturer machinery and equipment guidelines, procedures with regard to noise should be observed 5. Noise barriers should be erected wherever required

checked randomly

Water Resources

Water required for various construction activities – tapping bore wells


1. Water tankers should be sourced from authentic and legal 2. Consumption of water should be monitored and attempt should be made to avoid spills / wastages and ensure optimal consumption

Water consumption as a function of activity or work or time

During Construction

EPC Contractor


1. Spoils (soil) displaced due to construction activities and laying of pipes / transmission lines should be used in fill areas or suitably reused / disposed after ruling out any contamination 2. The exposed areas should be worked on immediately and the remaining area should be compacted and replanted with soil binding cover

Periodic inspection before and after tree removal

During Construction

EPC Contractor

Labour camps Degradation of soil quality due to improper sanitation facilities

1. Sanitation and solid waste disposal facilities should be provided

Soil quality During Construction

EPC Contractor

Extraction of soil from borrow pits Extraction of rocks

Long term impact causing accelerated

1. Borrow pit management plan should be prepared

Locations of borrow pits and quarry sites

During Construction

EPC Contractor

111

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 and sand from river beds

erosion, disturbance in natural drainage and water logging

2. Locations of borrow pits and quarry sites should be marked on plan drawings 3. Soil should be borrowed from designated borrow pits and quarries as directed by the local authority 4. The sites should be located away from population centres, drinking water intakes, streams, cultivable lands and natural drainage systems

Disposal of construction spoil


1. The construction spoil should be disposed on designated areas with permission from the Village Panchayat. 2. Care should be taken to avoid water clogging, obstruction to natural drainage.

Locations of disposal sites Approval letter from Village Panchayat

During Construction

EPC Contractor

Preparation of stable base for solar field


1. Drainage channels should be constructed around the project site to prevent water clogging and aid natural drainage

Provision at site During Construction

EPC Contractor




1. The Contractor should train the workers handling bituminous material to avoid spillage 2. In case of spillage the workers should be trained and instructed on immediate clean-up activities to prevent leaching action and dispose the waste safely

Check at site Training records

During Construction

EPC Contractor

Public and Air pollution, Nuisance and 1. Measures given to Air and noise During EPC Contractor

112

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Occupational Health and Safety

increase in noise levels

health impacts to communities in the vicinity Health and Safety issues for Labour / staff working on site

prevent/reduce air pollution and noise levels should be implemented 2. Safety equipment provision and procedures should be mandated on site during the construction phase 3. The workers should be provided training on primary causes of accidents during construction and measures to prevent them as well as actions to be taken in emergency situations

monitoring Training records Use of personal protective equipments at site

Construction

Use of diesel powered construction equipments


1. Storage and handling measures according to Health and Safety protocol should be followed for fuel storages

Inspection of storage areas

During Construction

EPC Contractor

Agricultural lands

Runoff from construction activities, dumping of debris and excavation spoils


1. All material storage areas should be provided with silt traps along the borders of the site to prevent material runoff 2. Locations along the road where construction debris and spoil is stacked should be provided temporary fencing to prevent spillage into the fields.

C) Operation and Maintenance Phase Ground water quality

Sludge disposal from effluent treatment plant and de-mineralization plant.


1. The sludge drying bed should be provided an impervious base. 2. Provision of non-corrosive and impervious storage area/container should be provided for dried

Ground water quality monitoring reports Check provisions at site

During Operation

O&M Contractor

113

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 sludge. 3. The dried sludge should be safely disposed to the nearest hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility located at Udaipur.

Disposal records Monitoring of effluent generated per day should be within the ceiling limit of 1077 kl/d as prescribed by the Consent to Establish. (The breakdown of effluent generated from the plant is in Section H – Zero Discharge Technology)

Neutralization Plant Leaching action causing contamination

1. The neutralization pond should be provided with an impervious lining at the base. 2. The base lining should be periodically checked for identification of cracks and fissures. 3. A standby neutralization tank should be available at the project site to enable maintenance activities of the neutralization pit.

Ground water quality monitoring reports Check provisions at site

During Operation

O&M Contractor

Management of lube oil waste


The waste should be stored on an impervious base Disposal of used oil to the nearest hazardous waste treatment.

Check storage area Disposal records

During Operation

O&M Contractor

Land Disposal of e-waste (defunct solar


1.The e-waste shall be disposed to authorized collectors/ recyclers,

Disposal records During Operation

O&M Contractor

114

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 panels) technology providers

2. The e-waste shall be stored on an impervious base.

Water Resources

Use of water Scarce Resource consumption

1. Water reduction measures through periodic checking of pipeline leakages and water stealing. 2. A water meter shall be installed at water intake works to monitor total water consumption. 3. Water audit shall be regularly conducted. 4. De-mineralization plant and effluent treatment plant shall be maintained in good operations to optimize recycling of water for steam generation. 5. Effluents/blow-down water treated and re-used for plantation/horticulture and dust suppression in solar field. 6. Provision for a rainwater harvesting pond which collects drain/storm water drain during monsoon. The rainwater shall be treated suitably upon verification of quality of water collected in the rain water harvesting pond to ensure the re-use of rain water collected in to the plant water

Water audit report Pipeline testing reports

During Operation

O&M Contractor

115

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 system. 7. Provision for raw water storage for 14 days water requirement.


Working at the solar field and turbine hall

Failure of the EOT crane, slips, trips and exposure to other physical hazards

1. The Safety Work Practices given in Section 5 of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management Plan by Areva Solar shall be followed

Safety audit reports During Operation

O&M Contractor

Storage of Chemicals Fires, exposure to toxic effects of chemicals

During Operation

O&M Contractor

Public health and safety

Operation of solar field

Reflection from solar panels

1. Plantation of trees on the western boundary to visually cut the reflection in manner that does not cast shadows on the solar field.

Planted trees During Operation

O&M Contractor

D) Impacts specific to Water Pipeline Construction and Operation Air Quality Traffic congestion

due to road constriction / diversions


1. Traffic management and diversion plans should be prepared to avoid congestion in peak periods 2. Traffic diversions and alternate routes should be displayed along the road using signages 3. Working areas should be barricaded on existing roads and diversions should be demarcated with sign boards

Ambient and kerbside levels of CO, SPM, SO2 and NOx

During Construction

EPC Contractor



pits / low lying cut areas are used by the local inhabitants for

1. The excavated areas if required to be kept open for a long time should be temporarily covered when work.

Periodic inspection at site

During Construction

EPC Contractor

116

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 dumping of solid wastes indirectly causing contamination

2. Solid waste if dumped in the excavated pits should be immediately cleaned up when identified and disposed to the local dumpsite.

Water Resources

Maintenance of water pipeline

Leakages and stealing of water causing loss of scarce resource

1. A leak detection mechanism should be implemented. 2. Water audits should be periodically carried out. 3. Regular coordination with the office of PHED and IGNP regarding monitoring of water allocation.

Leak detection report Water audit reports

During implementation

RSTEPL

Agricultural lands

Haul Roads Destruction of standing crops, felling of trees and loss of top soil, productivity Temporary

1. The topsoil along haul roads for transmission lines should be removed, stored and reused for stabilization of exposed areas. 2. After completion of erecting towers and stringing, the haul roads should be restored. 3. The owners of the lands should be compensated for the loss of standing crops. 4. The haul roads should be sprinkled with dust suppressants to prevent re-suspension of dust and their deposition on agricultural lands and crops. 5. Compensation will be

Check at site Documentation

During Construction

EPC Contractor

117

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 disruption and RoW

negotiated and mutually agreed upon. Proper documentation will be kept for transparency.

kept for future review and audit.

Public Health and Safety

Pipeline construction activities along agricultural lands

Severances due to obstruction to access to certain areas

1. The schedule of construction activities should be posted at the Village Panchayat office to inform the local inhabitants. 2. The area used temporarily for construction activities should be restored immediately after completing work in that section.

Check at site Copies of posters

During Construction

EPC Contractor

E) Impacts specific to Transmission line Construction and Operation Air pollution Operation of circuit

breakers, switch gear, and other electrical equipment


1. Fix leak detectors at locations where SF6 is used.

Check at site During Operation

DSPPL DSPPL

Noise pollution


corona noise from the conductors

1. The transmission line alignment should be as defined in Electricity Act 2003

Check design and at site

During planning DSPPL DSPPL


Transformer noise

1. The transformer should be located as defined in Electricity Act 2003

Check design and at site

During planning DSPPL DSPPL



Leakage of transformer oil

1. Oil and grease traps should be fit at exit points to prevent runoff of leaked oil to adjoining lands

Check at site During Operation

DSPPL DSPPL


Erection of towers, line stringing

Physicals hazards related to working at height

1. Safety practices to prevent physical hazards should be employed

Accident register During Construction

EPC Contractor appointed by DSPPL

Project Company



Exposure to electromagnetic fields

1. The transmission line alignment should be at a distance of 30 m from village settlements at a minimum.

Check at site During planning DSPPL DSPPL

Agricultural lands

Haul Roads Destruction of standing crops

1. The topsoil along haul roads for transmission lines should be

Check at site During Construction

EPC Contractor appointed by

DSPPL

118

Affected Component


implementation


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 and loss of top soil, productivity Involuntary displacement

removed, stored and reused for stabilization of exposed areas. 2. After completion of erecting towers and stringing, the haul roads should be restored. 3. The owners of the lands should be compensated for the loss of standing crops. 4. The haul roads should be sprinkled with dust suppressants to prevent re-suspension of dust and their deposition on agricultural lands and crops. 5. Resettlement framework will be implemented, as necessary

DSPPL

119

C. Human Resource Management

346. RSTEPL has a Human Resources Policy, which specifies the terms of employment and working conditions. These include procedures for hiring and recruiting, probation, training, performance review, promotion, insurance, salary and compensation, resignation, lay-off and retrenchment, leave and vacation, and superannuation, which follow Indian labour law. All the employees will have access to the human resources policy and procedures.

D. Construction Labour Management

347. The measures for welfare, health and safety of construction labour is given in Annexure 3 as also required by Building and Other Construction Workers Act 1996.

348. Labour camps shall be constructed within the plant premises thus eliminating the conflict of migrant labour with local community. After construction, the labour camps shall be restored to original condition.

349. Labour inspections are done annually by the relevant government agency, which reviews wages, working hours, benefits, etc. Most of the construction labor will be on contractual basis.

350. Mobile medical vans shall be operated in the project area and its close vicinity to monitor and arrest spread of diseases in local community due to labor influx. The construction labour shall be regularly subject to health checkups.

351. RSTEPL shall draw a Labour Deployment & Welfare Management Plan for the proposed Solar CSP project. The EPC Contractor and the sub contractor shall ensure the compliance of the labour welfare arrangement plan.

a) Accommodation for Labour – Provision of Military Tents for accommodating outstation labours

b) Accommodation for Women Labour- Separate provision of Military Tents for accommodating women labours

c) Prevention from Insects/Snakes – Carbolic Acid bottles will be buried under the ground surrounding the perimeter of the Labour accommodation area to prevent them from the risk of Snakes/Insects

d) Sanitation for Labour – Portable Toilets/WC will be provided for Labour. Waste water will be disposed in septic tanks/ soak pits.

e) Sanitation for Women Labour- Separate Toilets/ WC will be provided for women labour. Waste water will be disposed in septic tanks/ soak pits.

120

f) Water Arrangements – Treated Water will be made available at Site for Labour drinking purpose.

g) Health arrangements - Tying up with Local Doctor for any exigencies at site. Also the doctor will make occasional visits to site for Health check-up of labour

h) Strict adherence to the Labour Laws applicable in the area of work will be ensured through robust Time Office department at Site.

All the labour for the project will be sourced by the contractor. The contractor is responsible for their safety and other aspects related to their well being. The contractor is contractually obliged to abide by all applicable laws concerning them and hence, if such a permit exists then the contractor is liable to obtain them. Quarterly and Semi-annual reporting (for construction and operation phase, respectively) shall be made as the Labour Deployment & Welfare Management Plan is implemented.

E. Decommissioning Plan

352. The life of the plant with further renovation and modernization is estimated to be 35-40 years. However when the plant becomes unviable due to major technological changes or due to regulations, decommissioning of the plant will be undertaken. This involves a series of steps to be planned and executed. The total operation can be broadly categorized in to De-operationalization and Dismantling phases. When glasses are taken out service, they shall be recycled or environmental protective measures shall be undertaken as per the advice of supplier. De-operationalization is a technical activity carried out by experts. The approximate quantities materials that would have to be handled are given in Table 20.

Table 20: Quantities of material during Decommissioning Stage

S. N. Description Quantity Remarks 1 Solar CSP Glass 30,000 m2 All used glass can be recycled. 2 Other Structural steel

including boiler tubes 40,000MT Bulk of steel is galvanized and can be

recycled.

3 Power Block Lot As per standard practices within applicable local laws

4 Mechanical Equipment Lot

5 Electrical equipment Lot Switchgears, transformers, Cables, batteries, Trays etc.

6 Electronic equipment Lot Control panels, Electronic hardware, PCs, Instruments etc.

121

353. In order to handle the de-installation of each item a specific strategy will have to be planned to keep the impact during the actual activity low. During this phase of the plant, all structures will be cleared away, all rubbish cleared, excreta or other disposal pits or trenches filled in and effectively sealed off and the site left clean and tidy, at the contractor’s expenses, to the satisfaction of the engineer.

F. Waste Management Plan

1. Scope & Purpose of the Plan

354. This Waste Management Plan (WMP) identifies the wastes that are likely to be generated during the construction and operation of the proposed Plant and documents cradle to grave waste management practices to be employed for their collection, storage, treatment and/or disposal. Specifically, the waste covered by this WMP includes the following sources:

a) Construction and commissioning of plant and the associated facilities b) Operation of plant and the associated facilities throughout the project life-cycle. c) Temporary accommodation during construction phase for the workers. d) Other operations like equipment maintenance, road construction, site preparation etc. e) Operation and maintenance of infrastructures both during construction and operation

phase.

355. WMP is intended to serve as a guideline for the project proponent & the contractor(s) to manage wastes effectively during construction and operation phase. The contractor(s) shall prepare their own WMP in compliance with this WMP and implement the same during the construction phase. RSTEPL shall implement the WMP throughout the operational phase. The WMP describes how wastes will be managed during the construction and operation phase of the project and how the project will:

a) Minimize the potential to cause harm to human health and the environment. b) Comply with Indian Environmental Regulations and lenders safeguards. c) Reduce operational costs and any potential liabilities which may arise from waste

handling operations.

2. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

356. The mitigation measures with respect to waste treatment, storage, handling and disposal during both construction and operation phases of the project have been discussed in the paragraphs below.

357. During Construction Phase the following measures will be implemented:

a) A waste inventory of various waste generated will be prepared and periodically updated.

122

b) The excavated material generated will be reused for site filling and leveling operation to the maximum extent possible.

c) The scrap metal waste generated from erection of structures and related construction activities will be collected and stored separately in a stack yard and sold to local recyclers.

d) Food waste and recyclables viz. paper, plastic, glass etc will be properly segregated and stored in designated waste bins/containers. The recyclables will be periodically sold to local recyclers while food waste will be disposed through waste handling agency.

e) Hazardous waste viz. waste oil etc will be collected and stored in paved and bunded area and subsequently sold to authorized recyclers. Necessary manifest for the same will be maintained.

• During operational phase no solid wastes likely to be generated but effluent are

expected to be generated from the plant and the breakdown is shown below:Effluent

from DM plant regeneration- 61 kl/d approx.

• Condensate polishing unit- 48 kl/d

• Cooling tower blow down- 640 kl/d

And the sludge will be treated and will be safely disposed of the nearest hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility located at Udaipur.

G. Road Safety & Traffic Management Plan

358. The plan addresses community safety related impacts that may arise from the increased vehicular traffic due to movement of equipment/machineries and vehicles along the site access and approach roads particularly during construction phase. The plan will be regularly reviewed and as vehicle movement requirements are identified in detail.

359. The following mitigation measures will be implemented during construction phase:

a) Project vehicular movement will be restricted to defined access routes.

b) Proper signage will be displayed at important traffic junctions along the vehicular access routes to be used by construction phase traffic. The signage will serve to prevent any diversion from designated routes and ensure proper speed limits are maintained near residential areas.

c) Any road diversions and closures will be informed in advance to the project vehicles accessing the above route. Usage of horns by project vehicles will be restricted near sensitive receptors viz. schools, settlements etc.

123

d) Traffic flows will be timed wherever practicable during period of increased commuter movement in the day.

e) Temporary parking facilities shall be provided within the work areas and the construction sites to avoid road congestion.

f) Vehicular movement to be controlled near sensitive locations viz. schools, colleges, hospitals identified along designated vehicular transportation routes.

g) Routine maintenance of project vehicles will be ensured to prevent any abnormal emissions and high noise generation.

h) Adequate training on traffic and road safety operations will be imparted to the drivers of project vehicles. Road safety awareness programs will be organized in coordination with local authorities to sensitize target groups viz. school children, commuters on traffic safety rules and signage.

360. Since limited vehicular movement is anticipated during operational phase considering only the daily movement of project personnel any impacts arising from the same can be effectively addressed through implementation of mitigation measures as discussed during the construction phase.

H. Cumulative impacts Management

361. Rain water harvesting structures should be built into each project to compensate for the use of water during construction and operation. The project proponents should ensure that water is not wasted in any manner during construction and operation. If the project includes pipelines supplying water from a distance, a mechanism should be setup to minimize and arrest leakages and illegal tapping of water.

362. Each of the project proponents need to keep natural drainage and its deviation in focus during designing of the solar field to ensure that topographical changes do not lead to flood situations during seasonal rains and also at the same time do not stop water flows to other agricultural lands.

363. A construction labour management plan should be incorporated in each project including health to identify and remedy any diseases that may spread during the construction period. Labour colonies with basic amenities for domestic waste management, sanitation and potable drinking water should be provided to prevent spread of diseases and maintain hygiene of the region.

364. The CSR activities of various project proponents should be harmonized for a larger community development.

365. While there is adequate land available next to the project site for future expansion as has been shown in Figure 3 - Layout Plan for CSP Plant the government has not yet come out with a policy/ bid process for Phase II CSP projects. Hence at this point there is no information available on future capacity at the site and the

124

associated timelines. Based on the letter from Rajashan Government (dated 26.5.2011) the 58 cubic foot per second has been allocated for projects coming up along the vicinity of the IGNP canal (current & future). The total requirement for the 5 approved CSP projects coming up in the vicinity of the canal is only 12 cubic foot per second.

I. Environmental Monitoring Program

366. The environmental monitoring plan for the Project describes recommended monitoring sites; parameters to be monitored; time and frequency of monitoring; and the collection, analysis, and reporting of monitoring data, as summarized in Table 21. The objectives of the monitoring plan are to

a) Record any project impacts during construction and operation, b) Evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation measures, c) Meet legal and community obligations, and d) Respond to unanticipated environmental issues at an early stage.

Table 21: Environmental Monitoring Plan

Component

Project Stage

Parameters Standard

s to be referred

Location Frequency Duration Institutional Responsibility

Implementation Super-vision

Ambient Air Quality

Construction

PM 2.5, PM 10, SO2, Nox

CPCB Standard

s

Near Construction Yard, near Village settlements located towards the south

Once during construction

24 hours readings for consecutive 3 days

MoEF Approved agency

Project Company

Ambient Noise levels

Construction

Ambient noise levels

for 24 hours

CPCB Standard

s

Construction Yard, 200 m from project boundary on the southern side

Semi annually during construction

24 hours readings for consecutive 3 days / can be aligned with Air quality monitoring

MoEF Approved agency

Project Company

Operation

Within the turbine hall Near settlements along transmission line

Annually after operation starts

Ground Water Quality

Construction

pH, BOD, TSS, TDS,

DO, turbidity,

CPCB Standard

s

Near Construction Yard

Semi annually during construction

NA MoEF Approved

agency Project

Company

125

Component

Project Stage

Parameters Standard

s to be referred

Location Frequency Duration Institutional Responsibility

Implementation Super-vision

Operation

and oil and grease Near

neutralization pond

Semi-Annually after operation starts

NA

dB(A) = decibel acoustic, BOD = biological oxygen demand, CPCB = Central Pollution Control board, DO = dissolved oxygen, SPM = suspended particulate matter, TDS = total dissolved solids , TSS = total suspended solids, WHO = World Health Organization

J. Compliance Audit

367. A compliance audit should be conducted during construction and operation phases to monitor the implementation of the mitigation measures outlined in the EMP. The monitoring indicators for each measure have been specified in the EMP Table 8, column 5.

368. A quarterly compliance audit should be carried out during construction phase and a semi-annual compliance audit could be carried out during the first two years of operations. Refer Annexure 11 for format for compliance audit.

369. In the event of non-compliance with the ESMP, root cause should be identified and corrective actions should be taken to meet required standards.

K. Cost of Implementation of Environmental Management Plan

370. The mitigation measures listed in Table 8 would have a marginal cost implication and would form a part of the Contractors Agreement for implementation. Hence individual costs have not been estimated for mitigation measures. Environmental monitoring would be an additional cost which has been estimated in Table 22.

Table 22: Cost for Environmental Monitoring

Sr. No. Item Cost (Rs./sample) Remarks 1 Air Quality 3500 2 Noise Levels 1000 Hourly Leq noise

calculation for 24 hours

3 Water Quality 4000 For 17 essential parameters

4 D G Set exhaust 3250

126

X. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Details of Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development Plan are elaborated in this section.

A. Corporate Social Responsibility Plan

371. Being part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, RSTEPL would follow the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) philosophy of the group, which is derived from the vision of the founder Late Sh. Dhirubhai H Ambani that “Organizations, like individuals, depend for their survival, sustenance and growth on the support and goodwill of the communities of which they are an integral part, and must pay back this generosity in every way they can “

372. In line with the group’s philosophy, RSTEPL’s social responsibility would not be an occasional act of charity or a one-time token financial contribution to a local school, hospital or environmental NGO. It would be an ongoing year-round commitment, which would be integrated into the very core of SPL’s business objectives and strategy.

373. RSTEPL’s CSR initiatives are being designed in line with the above principles. The CSR activities are also being designed keeping in mind local requirements.

374. The objective is to communicate to the local community, the nature, importance and impact of the project on the local community, the state and the country. The initiatives are being designed, to create a positive impact on the lives of the local people and improve their living conditions. Monetary and short term initiatives are kept to the minimum. Major focus is to initiate activities which are sustainable and will help to build lasting relationship with the local community. This would also help in creating inter-dependencies with local community, so that they also have a sense of responsibility towards the well-being of the project.

375. The proposed action plan will serve as a preliminary framework and would be modified based on results of such initiatives and feedback from community and stakeholders.

The proposed CSR activities by the RSTEPL, along with time line are as shown in Annexure 12. Please note that most of the activities are ongoing activities. It shall be followed up by the RSTEPL throughout the project life.

B. Identifying CSR Initiatives

376. Based on site visits by RSTEPL team and discussions with local people, a number of issues have been highlighted as given in Table 23.

127

Table 23: Community Needs in Project Area

Area Community Need

i.

Health Non-availability of adequate health related infrastructure; women and children are most affected

Low awareness on hygiene, sanitation and dietary issues

ii.

Education Facilities for higher secondary education are inadequate and distant

Higher education and counseling for youth missing

Technical skill building institutions far and few and have poor infrastructure

iii.

Employment / Livelihood

Scope of employment for unskilled or semi-skilled labourers

iv.

Financial literacy

Lack of information/ about long term fiscal planning needs. Very important to prevent misuse of compensation package

377. Keeping in mind the above mentioned issues, RSTEPL’s CSR initiatives would focus on the

following areas:

h) Improving medical facilities in the villages around the project area.

i) Improving awareness and providing sufficient training in hygiene, sanitation and proper diet

j) Encouraging people to send children to school and also educate themselves through adult literacy programs

k) Improving education infrastructure by providing better teaching aid and training for teaching faculty.

l) Building skills among villagers as per skills requirements of the project during construction as well as during the operations phase.

m) Encouraging entrepreneurial spirit among people and supporting such initiatives by conducting training programmes to acquire and enhance skills.

n) Creating awareness about long term financial planning.

128

A. Community Development Plan

378. The main stakeholders for the project include local communities, Gram Sabha, Land Revenue Department and District Administration.

379. Based on the community needs identified in the previous section, a few focus areas have been detailed for community development for villages in close proximity to the project location.

a) Health Care Facilities: RSTEPL shall help villagers by arranging the health care support in form of bi-weekly clinics, family planning camps, eye camps, Mother – Child care camps, etc. and ambulance service. RSTEPL shall also support the developments of permanent health care facility in the project affected villages in consultation with the district administration. The centre shall be equipped to handle primary level emergencies throughout the day and shall be accessible to the villagers. It shall also have the infrastructure and expertise required to handle delivery patients.

b) Drinking Water: At present people are dependent on the tube wells for the drinking water. Scarcity of water during summer months due the drop in water level has observed in the region. RSTEPL can undertake repair work of old tube wells and sinking of new tube wells or supply of low voltage electric motors as per the needs of the villagers.

c) Community Centres: Generally Gram Panchayat offices or common meeting places are used by villages as community centres. RSTEPL shall take an initiative to develop community centres for villagers. The primary responsibility of planning, implementing financing of the community development would rest with RSTEPL. However it would ensure (through the implementing agency) that the communities in these villages are involved in the planning process.

380. The detailed plan for each of the community facility shall be planned through a participative process. Even though RSTEPL would be primarily responsible for the implementation of the plan it shall be done in consultation with local administration with involvement of the local community in monitoring the construction of these assets and also operating the same.

RSTEPL shall use the 2% of CERs revenue for the community development plan.

129

XI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

381. The project has been proposed to meet national targets on renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels as a source of energy. Solar technology used in the project is of an environmentally benign nature and does not, in its operational stage, emit any substances that have any known major impact on climate, human health or the local environment. The project would indirectly lead to reduction in emission of environmental pollutants that are released by use of fossil fuels in thermal power plants.

382. An environment and social impact assessment has been carried out considering project activities in the construction and operation phase and their interaction with various environmental and social components like topology, air quality, noise levels, water resources and water quality, ecology, demography of the area, climate and natural habitat, community and employee health and safety.

383. From the impact assessment it can be concluded that no major adverse impacts are expected. Most impacts are expected to occur during the construction phase and are considered to be of a temporary nature. The project does not impact any natural/critical habitat, indigenous people, physical cultural resources and cause land acquisition.

384. The environment and social impact associated with water pipeline and other components of the project is mainly limited to the construction period and can be mitigated through the measures recommended in the EMP.

385. Provisions have been made for the implementation and monitoring of the measures recommended in the EMP and other associated requirements. Adverse impacts if additionally identified during implementation will be mitigated using appropriate engineering and management measures.

386. The proposed project has environmental and social impacts that can be effectively mitigated following the environmental and social management plan, and to achieve this, the mitigation measures to be implemented during construction shall be incorporated into civil works contracts, and their implementation will be primarily the responsibility of the contractors. RSTEPL will periodically review and monitor the actions points to ensure their effective implementation.

387. Based on the above, the project is not considered highly sensitive or complex and hence is classified as a category "B", in accordance with MFIs/ EPFIs safeguards. The design and planning of the project is in alignment with the environmental and social safeguards followed by the international lenders.

Annexures



Annexure 3: Requirements of BOCW


Annexure 5: ADBs Prohibited Investment Activities List






Annexure 11: Format for Compliance Audit

Annexure 12: Planned CSR Activities and Time Line for Execution

Annexure 13: Emergency Response Plan

Lucille

Typewritten Text

Lucille

Typewritten Text



Heading Provision Section/ Rule

Registration and licensing

Registration and licensing of factories from the Chief Inspector is required 6(d)

Notice of Occupation

The occupier shall send a written notice of occupation to the Chief Inspector 7(1)

Cleanliness All inside walls & partitions, ceilings & all walls shall be painted atleast once in every 5 years & record of the same is maintained. 11

Treatment of waste

Arrangement for the treatment of wastes and effluents due to the manufacturing process so as to render them innocuous and for their disposal should be made in the Factory

12

Ventilation Ventilation and temperature- effective & suitable provision shall be made. 13

Dust and fumes Measures required to avoid Dust and Fumes inhalation & accumulation 14

Humidification Artificial humidification & equipments related provisions 15

No. of Occupants in a room

No room in any factory shall be overcrowded to an extent injurious to the health of the workers employed 16

Lighting Occupier required to provide and maintain sufficient and suitable lighting , natural or artificial as per standards & prevent glare, hard shadow or strong contrast

17

Drinking water Provision related to quantity, source/storage of water, cleanliness of reservoir and provision of water centers at convenient points. 18

Latrines and Urinals

Provisions related to Latrine accommodation, privacy of latrines, sign boards, urinal accommodation, drainage system, connected to sewerage system and white / colour washing

19

Spitoons Sufficient number of spittons in convenient places in a clean and hygienic condition shall be provided.No person shall split within the premises of factory.

20

Fencing of machinery

Moving part of a prime mover and flywheel; headrace and tailrace of water-wheel and water turbine; stock-bar; every part of electric generator, a motor or rotary convertor, transmission machinery

21

Hoists & Lifts

Shall be of good construction, sound material & adequate strength. Properly maintained & shall be checked by competent person once in six months. Safe working load shall be marked on them. Provided with all safety devices for safe & efficient working.

28

Lifting M/c, chains, ropes & tackles

Lifting of machines, chains, tackle are tested and certified by a competent person before use & at an interval of once in every 12 months.

29

Floors, stairs and means of access Floors, stairs and means of access as prescribed 32

Excessive weight No person shall be employed in any factory to lift, carry or move any load so heavy as to be likely to cause him injury

34(1)


Protection of eyes Protection of eyes - from particles or fragments thrown off in the course of the process; exposure to excessive light

35

Confined space Precautions against dangerous fumes, gases, etc. - Confined space entry, Minimum dimensions of man-holes

36

Prevention and percautions for fire

Prevention of fire & Precautions in case of fire, Fire fighting apparatus and water supply

38

Appointment of Safety Officer

The appointment of qualified safety officers, in factory employing 1000 or more workers normally, & in smaller units or as per instructions of DISH or as per specified by state government.

40-B

Disclosure of Information

Compulsory disclosure of information by Occupier where hazardous process is involved. 41-B(5)

Approval of Inspector to be taken for hazardous process handling, usage, transportation 41-B(7)

Medical checkup Annual Medical check-up for employees engaged in hazardous process. 41-C

Maintain up-to-date health records of workers who are exposed to any chemical, toxic or other harmful substance. 41-C

Safety Committee Set up safety committee where hazardous processess takes place consisting of equal number of representatives from workmen & management

41-G

First Aid First -aid boxes to be maintained ( one for every 150 employees). Trained person who holds certificate in FA treatment recognized by state government should be made responsible for the FA box.

45-1

One Ambulance room to be provided & maintained for more than 500 workers 45-4

Canteen For factory wherein more than two hundred and fifty workers are employed 46

Shelters, rest rooms and lunch rooms

For factory wherein more than one hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed 47

Creche for children For factory wherein more than thirty women workers are employed 48

Welfare Officers Occupier shall employ for factory wherein five hundred or more workers are employed 49

Weekly hours 48 hours in a week 51

Daily hours 9 hours in a day 54

Intervals for rest Period of work for 5 hours with an interval of half an hour 55

Overlapping shifts Prohibition of overlapping of shifts 58

Periods of work Notice of periods of work for adults 61

Register The manager of every factory shall maintain a register of adult 62


workers

Child labour restriction

No child who has not completed his fourteenth year shall be required or allowed to work in any factory 67

Notice of accident Notice of accident causing death / bodily injury where the injured person is prevented from working for a period of 48 hrs or more immediately following the accident.

88

Dangerous Occurences Notice of certain dangerous occurances 88-A

Notice of certain diseases. Notice of certain diseases as specified in thrid schedule of FA 89

Returns Factories to submit returns, occasional or periodical as per State Rules 110

Annexure 3: Provisions of BOCW

The clauses given in the table below have been extracted from the BOCW Act 1996 and are required to be implemented by the EPC Contractor appointed for periodic resurfacing works. INIPPL should check the implementation of these clauses and covenant them in contractual agreements.


Registration of Contractor

Contractor to make an application to the registering officer for the registration of such establishment

7 (b)

Registration of building workers

Application for registration of building workers as beneficiaries who has completed eighteen years of age, but has not completed sixty years of age, and who has been engaged in any building or other construction work for not less than ninety days during the preceding twelve months

12 (1),(2) 13 (1)

Wages for overtime Wages for work in excess of the number of hours constituting a normal working day shall be entitled to wages at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of wages

29(1)

Register of building workers

Every employer shall maintain registers and records giving particulars of: - building workers employed by him, - the work performed by them, - the number of hours of work which shall constitute a normal working day for them, - in day of rest in every period of seven days which shall be allowed to them, - tile wages paid to them, - the receipts given by them

15, 30 (1)

Exhibit Exhibit of building workers and employment particulars 30 (2)

Drinking water Provide sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water and the points shall be legible marked “Drinking Water” in a language understood by a majority of the person employed and no such point shall be situated within six metres of any washing place, Urinal or latrine

32 (1), (2)

Sanitation Provision of latrines and urinals 33

Accomodation and ancillary facilities

Provision of temporary accomodation and seperate cooking place bathing, washing and lavatory facilities for building workers free of cost

34 (1), (2)

Demolition of temporary accomodation

Demolition of temporary accomodation and associated facilities and return land given by municipal or local authority

34 (3), (4)

Creche for children Provision of creche in places where more than 50 women are employed for use by children under the age of six; with adequate light, ventilation, clean and in sanitary condition; under the charge of women trained in the care of children and infants

35 (1), (2)


First aid facilities Provision of first-aid facilities 36

Canteen Provision of canteen for workers where their numbers exceed 250

37 (a)

Safety Committee Constitution of Safety Committee in an establishment with more than 500 building workers are employed

38 (1)

Safety Officer Appointment of a Safety Officer 38 (2)

Notice of accident Notice of accident to the authority causing death or body injury due to which the person injured is prevented from working for a period of forty-eight hours or more immediately following the accident

39 (1)

Safety rules Follow rules regarding the measures to be taken for the safety and health of building workers in the course of their employment and the equipment and appliances applicable for scaffolding, demolition, explosives, construction equipments, hoists, lighting, ventilation of workplace, material storage, emergencies like fire, weights, safety nets, electric live wires, medical facilities

40(2)

Notice to inspector before construction

Notice to the Inspector thirty days before commencement of building or other construction work

46(1)



General Safety Requirements Chapter IV

Electric supply lines and apparatus safety

All electric supply lines and apparatus shall be of sufficient ratings for power, insulation and estimated fault current and of sufficient mechanical strength for the required purpose

Rule 29

Cut-out A cut-out shall be provided in each conductor of every service-line Rule 31

Earthed terminal Provide an earthed terminal in inaccessible position at or near the point of commencement of supply safe from mechanical damage Rule 33

Dangerous Notice The owner of every medium, high and extra-high voltage installation shall affix permanently in a conspicuous position a Danger notice in Hindi or English and the local language of the district, with a sign of skull and bones: (a) every motor, generator, transformer and other electrical plant and equipment together with apparatus used for controlling or regulating the same; (b) all supports of high and extra-high voltage overhead lines which can be easily climbed upon without the aid of ladder or special appliances.

Rule 35

Safety measures for handling of electric supply lines and apparatus Rule36

Safety measures for supply to vehicles, cranes, Rule 37

Flexible Cables Flexible cables shall not be usedfor portable or transportable motors, generators, transformer rectifiers, electric drills, electric sprayers, welding sets or any other portable or transportable apparatus unless they are heavilyinsulated and adequately protected from mechanical injury.

Rule 38

Distinction of different circuits by means of indication of a permanent nature Rule 41

Provisions for protective equipment

Fire buckets filled with clean drysand and ready for immediate use for extinguishing fires, in addition to fire extinguisherssuitable for dealing with electric fires shall be kept at site

Rule 43

Instructions for restoration of persons suffering from electric shock

* Instructions, in English or Hindi and local language for the restoration of persons suffering from electric shock, shall be affixed by the owner in a conspicuous place in every generating station, enclosed sub-station, enclosed switch-station and in every factory *The owner of every generating station, enclosed sub-station, enclosed switch-station, and every factory or other premises to which this rule applies, shall ensure that all authorised persons employed by him are acquainted with and are competent to apply the instructions referred above *In every manned high voltage or extra-high voltage generating station, sub-station or switch station, an artificial respirator shall be provided and kept in goods working condition.

Rule 44


Electrical contractor Electrical installations including additions,alterations, repairs and adjustments to existing installations shall be carried out by an electrical contractor licensed by the State Government

Rule 45

Inspection Periodic inspection of LT/HT installation - atleast once in five years Rule 46

Connection with Earth

All earthing systems belonging to the supplier, shall, in addition, be tested for resistance on dry day during the dry season not less than once every two years.

Rule 61

Notice of accident Give notice to the Electrical Inspector in case of any accident due to supply or use of electricity

Sec 161 in Act of 2003

Annexure 5: ADB’s Prohibited Investment Activities List

The following do not qualify for Asian Development Bank financing:

1. production or activities involving harmful or exploitative forms of forced labor1 or child labor2

2. production of or trade in any product or activity deemed illegal under host country laws or

regulations or international conventions and agreements or subject to international phaseouts or

bans, such as (a) pharmaceuticals3, pesticides and herbicides4, (b) ozone‐depleting substances5, (c)

polychlorinated biphenyls6 and other hazardous chemicals7, (d) wildlife or wildlife products

regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora8, and (e) trans‐boundary trade in waste or waste products9

3. production of or trade in weapons and munitions, including paramilitary materials10

4. production of or trade in alcoholic beverages, excluding beer and wine10

5. production of or trade in tobacco10

6. gambling, casinos, and equivalent enterprises10

7. production of or trade in radioactive materials11, including nuclear reactors and components thereof

8. production of, trade in, or use of unbonded asbestos fibers12

9. commercial logging operations or the purchase of logging equipment for use in primary tropical

moist forests or old‐growth forests

10. marine and coastal fishing practices, such as large‐scale pelagic drift net fishing and fine mesh net

fishing, harmful to vulnerable and protected species in large numbers and damaging to marine

biodiversity and habitats

1. Forced labor means all work or services not voluntarily performed, that is, extracted from individuals under threat of

force or penalty. http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm (scroll down for Convention No. 29)

2. Child labor means the employment of children whose age is below the host country’s statutory minimum age of

employment or employment of children in contravention of International Labor Organization Convention No. 138

“Minimum Age Convention” http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm

3. A list of pharmaceutical products subject to import / export and phase‐out / ban is available at

http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/restrictions/en/

4. A list of pesticides and herbicides subject to phaseouts or bans is available on the website of the Rotterdam

Convention at http://www.pic.int/home.php?type=s&id=30&sid=30

5. A list of the chemical compounds that react with and deplete stratospheric ozone resulting in the widely publicized

ozone holes is listed in the Montreal Protocol, together with target reduction and phaseout dates. Information is

available at http://www.unep.ch/ozone/Publications/MP_Handbook/MP‐Handbook‐2009.pdf and

6. A group of highly toxic chemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls are likely to be found in oil‐filled electrical transformers,

capacitors, and switchgear dating from 1950 to 1985.

7. A list of hazardous chemicals is available at http://www.pic.int

8. A list is available at http://www.cites.org

9. As defined by the Basel Convention; see http://www.basel.int

10. This does not apply to project sponsors who are not substantially involved in these activities. Not substantially involved means that the activity concerned is ancillary to a sub‐borrowers primary operations.

11. This does not apply to the purchase of medical equipment, quality control (measurement) equipment, and any

equipment for which ADB considers the radioactive source to be trivial and adequately shielded.

12. This does not apply to the purchase and use of bonded asbestos cement sheeting where the asbestos content is less

than 20%.

1


IFC Performance Standards Requirements Project Status on Compliance Actions required to meet compliance

Performance Standard 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts

Policy

The client will establish an overarching policy defining the environmental and social objectives and principles that guide the project to achieve sound environmental and social performance (a stand‐alone, project‐specific policy)

RSTEPL shall establish an overarching policy for the project outlining the objectives and principles to achieve sound environmental and social performance

Identification of Risks and Impacts –

The client will establish and maintain a process for identifying the environmental and social risks and impacts of the project.

Should be based on:

type, scale, and location of the project context of the project’s area of influence risks and impacts in the project’s area of influence resulting from

a third party’s actions findings and conclusions of related and applicable plans, studies,

or assessments prepared by relevant government authorities or other parties directly related

identify individuals and groups that may be directly and differentially or disproportionately affected by the project because of their disadvantaged or vulnerable status

The impacts of the project and its associated facilities in their influence area have been identified in Chapter VI of the ESIA Report.

RSTEPL shall address any new impacts that come forth during construction and operation of the project.

Management Programs

The client will establish management programs that, will describe mitigation and performance improvement measures and actions that address the identified environmental and social risks and impacts of the project.

The management program consisting of mitigation and performance measures ensuring compliance with legal requirements and PS 1‐8 and action (management) plans are

RSTEPL shall implement the management plans as outlined in the ESIA report and conditions of consents and approvals granted to the project.

2


Management Program shall consist of:

combination of operational procedures, practices, plans, and related supporting documents (including legal agreements)

mitigation and performance measures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and meet the requirements of Performance Standards 1 through 8.

environmental and social Action Plans

given in Chapters VII, VIII, IX and X of the ESIA report.

Organizational Capacity and Competency

The client, will establish, maintain, and strengthen as necessary an organizational structure that defines roles, responsibilities, and authority to implement the ESMS.

It will include:

Personnel within the client’s organization with direct responsibility for the project’s environmental and social performance

external experts to assist in the risks and impacts identification process

The organizational structure for environmental and social management of the project is defined in Chapter IX, Section A of the ESIA report.

RSTEPL shall organize training sessions for its personnel on environmental and social management, if required

Emergency Preparedness and Response

The client will establish and maintain an emergency preparedness and response system so that the client, in collaboration with appropriate and relevant third parties, will be prepared to respond to accidental and emergency situations associated with the project in a manner appropriate to prevent and mitigate any harm to people and/or the environment.

It shall include:

identification of areas where accidents and emergency situations may occur

communities and individuals that may be impacted

RSTEPL shall establish and maintain an Emergency Preparedness and Response System for the plant and associated facilities as required

3


response procedures provision of equipment and resources designation of responsibilities communication, including that with potentially Affected

Communities periodic training to ensure effective response

Monitoring and Review

The client will establish procedures to monitor and measure the effectiveness of the management program, as well as compliance with any related legal and/or contractual obligations and regulatory requirements.

It shall include:

involving representatives from Affected Communities to participate in monitoring activities.

retain external experts to verify its monitoring information for projects with significant impacts

internal inspections and audits, where relevant, to verify compliance and progress

identify and reflect the necessary corrective and preventive actions

periodic performance reviews of the effectiveness of the ESMS to senior management of client organization

Chapter IX, Section C & D of the ESIA report describes the environmental monitoring plan and compliance audit plan.

The project does not have any significant impacts and hence external experts may not be required for monitoring.

Representatives from affected communities shall be engaged for monitoring where relevant.

RSTEPL shall conduct internal audits to verify compliance with regulatory requirements, Environmental Management Plan and progress.

RSTEPL shall identify corrective and preventive actions where required.

RSTEPL shall annually report review of ESMS for the project.

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement is an ongoing process that may involve the following elements:

stakeholder analysis and planning disclosure and dissemination of information consultation and participation grievance mechanism

Stakeholders largely include affected communities and regulatory authorities.

Grievance mechanism is covered under Chapter VIII;

Reporting to regulatory authorities as specified in the consents/approvals granted to the project shall be conducted.

Stakeholders shall be engaged during

4


ongoing reporting to Affected Communities and disclosure and consultation under Chapter VII.

the course of construction and operation where relevant and necessary.

External Communications and Grievance Mechanisms

Clients will implement and maintain a procedure for external communications that includes methods to (i) receive and register external communications from the public; (ii) screen and assess the issues raised and determine how to address them; (iii) provide, track, and document responses, if any; and (iv) adjust the management program

Establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of Affected Communities’ concerns and grievances about the client’s environmental and social performance

A grievance mechanism has been designed for the project and presented in Chapter VIII of the ESIA Report.

RSTEPL has also developed a plan for information disclosure during construction and operation in Chapter VII, Section B of the ESIA Report.

RSTEPL shall implement procedure for external communications that includes methods to (i) receive and register external communications from the public; (ii) screen and assess the issues raised and determine how to address them; (iii) provide, track, and document responses, if any; and (iv) adjust the management program

RSTEPL shall implement actions as per the designed grievance mechanism.

Ongoing Reporting to Affected Communities

The client will provide periodic reports to the Affected Communities that describe progress with implementation of the project Action Plans on issues that involve ongoing risk to or impacts on Affected Communities and on issues that the consultation process or grievance mechanism have identified as a concern to those Communities.

Project is currently in the planning phase.

RSTEPL shall communicate the action plans on issues involving the Affected Communities and issues identified during consultation or through grievance mechanism.

Periodic reporting on these shall also be carried out as relevant during project construction and operation

Performance Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions

Human Resources Policies and Procedures

The client will adopt and implement human resources policies and procedures appropriate to its size and workforce that set out its approach to managing workers consistent with the requirements of

The regulations on occupational health & safety applicable to the project have been presented in Table 1,

RSTEPL shall implement actions listed in Annexure 2, 3 & 4

5


this Performance Standard and national law

The client will provide workers with documented information regarding their rights under national labor and employment law, rights related to hours of work, wages, overtime, compensation, and benefits upon beginning the working relationship.

Chapter II of the ESIA report.

The Annexures 2, 3 & 4 of the ESIA report list actions to be implemented by RSTEPL to meet compliance.

Working Conditions and Terms of Employment

Where the client is a party to a collective bargaining agreement with a workers’ organization, such agreement will be respected.

It shall also include identification of migrant workers, quality and management of the accommodation and provision of basic services.

RSTEPL shall abide by the collective bargaining requirement where applicable.

Worker’s Organizations

The client will not discourage workers from electing worker representatives, forming or joining workers’ organizations of their choosing, or from bargaining collectively, and will not discriminate or retaliate against workers who participate, or seek to participate, in such organizations and collective bargaining.

The client will engage with such workers’ representatives and workers’ organizations, and provide them with information needed for meaningful negotiation in a timely manner.

RSTEPL shall abide by the collective bargaining requirement where applicable.

Non‐Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

The client will base the employment relationship on the principle of equal opportunity and fair treatment, and will not discriminate with respect to any aspects of the employment relationship, such as recruitment and hiring, compensation (including wages and benefits), working conditions and terms of employment, access to training, job assignment, promotion, termination of employment or retirement, and disciplinary practices.

RSTEPL shall abide by the non‐discrimination and equal opportunity requirements where applicable.

6


The client will take measures to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, and/or exploitation, especially in regard to women. The principles of non‐discrimination apply to migrant workers.

Retrenchment

Prior to implementing any collective dismissals, the client will carry out an analysis of alternatives to retrenchment. If the analysis does not identify viable alternatives to retrenchment, a retrenchment plan will be developed and implemented to reduce the adverse impacts of retrenchment on workers.

RSTEPL shall abide by the retrenchment requirements where applicable.

Grievance Mechanism

The client will provide a grievance mechanism for workers (and their organizations, where they exist) to raise workplace concerns. The client will inform the workers of the grievance mechanism at the time of recruitment and make it easily accessible to them.

RSTEPL shall abide by the grievance mechanism requirements where applicable.

Protecting the Work Force

The client will not employ children in any manner that is economically exploitative, or is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development.

The client will not employ forced labor, which consists of any work or service not voluntarily performed that is exacted from an individual under threat of force or penalty.

The regulations on occupational health & safety applicable to the project have been presented in Table 1, Chapter II of the ESIA report.




The client will provide a safe and healthy work environment, taking into account inherent risks in its particular sector and specific classes of hazards in the client’s work areas, including physical, chemical,

The regulations on occupational health & safety applicable to the project have been presented in Table 1, Chapter II of the ESIA report.


7


biological, and radiological hazards, and specific threats to women.


Areva Solar (technology provider) has prepared an Environmental, Health & Safety Management Plan (EHSMP)for the project applicable during construction and operation.

Workers Engaged by Third Parties

With respect to contracted workers the client will take commercially reasonable efforts to ascertain that the third parties who engage these workers are reputable and legitimate enterprises and have an appropriate ESMS that will allow them to operate in a manner consistent with the requirements of this Performance Standard.

The contractor employing contract workers shall be engaged by Areva and their EHSMP shall be applicable to the project.

RSTEPL shall abide by the requirements for workers engaged by third parties where applicable.

Supply Chain

The client will monitor its primary supply chain on an ongoing basis in order to identify any significant changes in its supply chain and if new risks or incidents of child and/or forced labor are identified, the client will take appropriate steps to remedy them.

The client will introduce procedures and mitigation measures to ensure that primary suppliers within the supply chain are taking steps to prevent or to correct life‐threatening situations

RSTEPL shall communicate its human resources policy to their vendors.

Performance Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention

Resource Efficiency

The client will implement technically and financially feasible and cost

The project has been designed

RSTEPL shall optimize the use of

8


effective measures for improving efficiency in its consumption of energy, water, as well as other resources and material inputs, with a focus on areas that are considered core business activities.

The client will consider alternatives and implement technically and financially feasible and cost‐effective options to reduce project‐related GHG emissions during the design and operation of the project.

The client shall adopt measures that avoid or reduce water usage so that the project’s water consumption does not have significant adverse impacts on others.

to optimize the use of resources. The Detailed Project Report gives details of measures incorporated in the design.

The project consumes a large quantity of water for generation of electricity, hence the plant design includes for treatment and recycling of water for reuse.

water and operate the treatment plants efficiently.

RSTEPL uses SF6 for transformers and circuit systems. Its use shall be optimized and leakages shall be controlled.

Pollution Prevention

The client will avoid the release of pollutants or, when avoidance is not feasible, minimize and/or control the intensity and mass flow of their release. This applies to the release of pollutants to air, water, and land due to routine, non‐routine, and accidental circumstances with the potential for local, regional, and transboundary impacts.

The client will avoid the generation of hazardous and non‐hazardous waste materials; reduce the generation of waste, and recover and reuse waste in a manner that is safe for human health and the environment; and treat, destroy, or dispose of it in an environmentally sound manner.

The client will avoid or, when avoidance is not possible, minimize and control the release of hazardous materials. In this context, the production, transportation, handling, storage, and use of hazardous materials for project activities should be assessed.

The project does not cause transboundary impacts. The air emissions from the project are mainly limited to the construction period. The project site and near vicinity does not have perennial or large surface water bodies to cause pollution. The EMP includes measures to mitigate ground water pollution, disposal of hazardous waste (sludge from the effluent treatment plant).

The hazardous materials used in the project shall be handled

9


The client will, where appropriate, formulate and implement an integrated pest management (IPM) and/or integrated vector management (IVM) approach targeting economically significant pest infestations and disease vectors of public health significance.

as per MSIHC Rules1.

Integrated pest management is not applicable to the project.

Performance Standard 4: Community Health, Safety, and Security

Infrastructure and Equipment Design and Safety

The client will design, construct, operate, and decommission the structural elements or components of the project taking into consideration safety risks to third parties or Affected Communities

Chapter VI of the ESIA report includes anticipated impacts on affected communities and Chapters VII, VIII, IX and X gives measures and mechanisms to manage the impacts.

RSTEPL shall implement the management measures and mechanisms given in Chapters VII, VIII, IX and X of the ESIA report.

Hazardous Materials Management and Safety

The client will avoid or minimize the potential for community exposure to hazardous materials and substances that may be released by the project.

Community Exposure to Disease

The client will avoid or minimize the potential for community exposure to water‐borne, water‐based, water‐related, and vector‐borne diseases, and communicable diseases that could result from project activities, taking into consideration differentiated exposure to and higher sensitivity of vulnerable groups.

Security Personnel

When the client retains direct or contracted workers to provide security to safeguard its personnel and property, it will assess risks posed by its security arrangements to those within and outside the project site.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

The client will also assist and collaborate with the Affected

RSTEPL shall establish and maintain

1 Manufacture, Storage, Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989

10


Communities, local government agencies, and other relevant parties, in their preparations to respond effectively to emergency situations, especially when their participation and collaboration are necessary to respond to such emergency situations.

an Emergency Preparedness and Response System for the plant and associated facilities as required

Ecosystem Services

The project’s direct impacts on priority ecosystem services may result in adverse health and safety risks and impacts to Affected Communities.

The project does not impact priority ecosystem services.

Not applicable

Lucille

Typewritten Text


Annexure 11: Compliance Audit and Action Plan

1. FORMAT FOR COMPLIANCE AUDIT

Audit Ref. No: Date of Audit:

Division/Dept./ Function:

Lead Auditor:

Documents reviewed:

Sr. No.

Recommended Mitigation Measures

Monitoring Indicators

Primary Responsibility

Timeframe Status Compliant/Non-Compliant

Remarks

(Signature of Site Manager) Name:

(Signature of Auditor) Name:

2. COMPLIANCE ACTION PLAN Audit Ref. No: Date of Audit:

Division/Dept./ Function:

Lead Auditor:

Documents reviewed:

Sr. No.

Identified Non-Compliances

Corrective Actions Timeframe Action completion indicator

Means of Evaluation

Name of Responsible person

(Signature of Site Manager) Name:

(Signature of Auditor) Name:

Annexure 12: Planned CSR activities and time line for execution

Sr. No Interventions Details Time Line

1. Medical Camp for local population

The Project company is planning to organize the medical camp on monthly basis. It can be organized more frequently as per the requirement of local population. The project company has organized the first medical camp on December 26, 2011.

It is expected to be organizing on monthly basis or as per requirement considering the ground reality and villager’s requirements. This activity has been already started.

2. Infrastructure Development in nearby villages

Considering the requirement of the local villagers the Company has taken initiative to construct a 4 km long access road to facilitate pedestrian and vehicle movement in east-west direction of its boundary as desired by the villagers. It is also planning to develop another 500 meters road in Dhursar village, as per demand from local villagers.

The road construction activity for 4 Km long road has been already started and expected to be completed within 3 months. Company shall take up more such activity as per the requirement in nearby villages.

3. Setting up Multi-purpose health vehicle “Aarogyam” The program shall

reach out to approx.

20000 individuals

The mobile health unit shall be operated by Reliance in partnership with Medy Assist- partnering body and the local government machinery. The vehicle shall be accompanied by a full-fledged medical team to cater to the community needs. The centers shall focus on infant and child health, reduction of prenatal mortality, antenatal, delivery and post natal care etc. apart from the behavioral change. Each village will have 1-2 barefoot

health workers to undertake the

promotive and preventive health

services along with the PHC, sub

centers and other community

workers.

The procurement process for Health Vehicle “Aarogyam” is in advance stage and expected to complete soon. The mobile health camp facility is expected to be started by April, 2012.

4. Infrastructure support to school

As per the request of the villagers of improved school infrastructure, which the company also feels is a pre-requisite for providing the quality

The construction activity is expected to start in second half of the year 2012.

education, the company is planning to improve the school infrastructure and renovate the existing schools’ infrastructure of surrounding villages. The renovation work includes the better class room experience and sanitation facility for school children.

5. Promote education amongst the children from under-served communities

To promote elementary education and reduce the drop-out rate of the children, award scholarships to meritorious children from underserved communities studying in grade 6 to 10 in government schools of Jalariya, Dhursar, Bhakhri and Lawan villages. Provide the children from the earmarked primary schools an educational kit on an annual basis. Run remedial centers for weaker students in Dhursar and Bhakri villages. Extend Infrastructure support to the

schools by equipping them with

improved teaching aids and physical

structure including constructing class

rooms, providing solar lighting

systems etc.

This is an on-going activity being planned by the project company. CSR team is working on the modalities of implementing the scheme. It shall be started in next fiscal year.

6. Building capacities of women from the earmarked villages

Impart vocational skills to women to initiate home-based business activities for financial upliftment. Tie up with local resource groups

and government machinery to

impart training to the women folk.


7. Empowering women through constructive community action

Organize women under Self Help Groups (SHG’s) model for a holistic community action in the area of promoting:

sustainable livelihood and related skill trainings,

credit and lending model for asset building,

entrepreneurial development


Emergency Response Plan Page - 1 -

Annexure 13: Emergency Response Plan

RAJATHAN SUN TECHNIQUE ENERGY PRIVATE LIMITED

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

FOR

RAJASTHAN SUN TECHNIQUE ENERGY POWER PROJECT

at

Village- Dhursar, Tehsil- Pokhran,

District- Jaisalmer,

Rajasthan

Emergency Response Plan Page - 2 -

Table of Contents 1.0 Objective of Emergency Plan.................................................................................................................................4

Aim of Emergency Plan ..............................................................................................................................................4

Definition of Major Emergency ..................................................................................................................................4

Major Hazard Potential Assesments ...........................................................................................................................4

1.1 Work Incident Controller ......................................................................................................................................4

1.2 Chief Incident Controller ......................................................................................................................................5

1.3 Emergency Control Centre ...................................................................................................................................6

1.4 Key Personnel .........................................................................................................................................................7

1.5 Declaring Emergency .............................................................................................................................................8

1.6 Role of Key Personnel ............................................................................................................................................9

1.7 Assembly Point ......................................................................................................................................................12

1.8 Important Telephone No .....................................................................................................................................12

Annexure 1: Communication Chart ........................................................................................................................13

Emergency Response Plan Page 3

1.0.1 Aim of Emergency Plan

The emergency planning is aimed to ensure safety of life, protection of environment, protection at

installation and restoration of work in these orders of priorities. For effective implementation of the

Emergency Response Plan, it shall be widely circulated and personnel shall be trained through

rehearsals/drills. 1.0.2 Definition of Major Emergency

A major emergency is one that affects several departments within the project or may cause serious

injuries, loss of life, extensive damage to property or serious disruption of works which require the

involvement of several resources to handle it effectively.

1.0.3 Major Hazard Potential Assessments

The major disasters or emergencies usually take birth from one or any combination of the following:

Fire and Explosion at Site.

Collapse of lifting appliances and transport equipment;

Collapse of building, sheds or structure etc.;

Serious Injury or Loss of life due to accident

Natural Calamities like earthquakes, flood, lightning strikes etc

Violent mob attacks.

Depending upon the nature, speed and impact on environment each of these may constitute an

emergency, the hazard potential of various plant sections are identified and tabulated.

1.0.4 Objectives of the Plan

The plan is developed to make best possible use of resources at its command and /or outside

agencies for the following purposes.

Rescue of victims and treating them suitably to affect speedy recovery at Hospital.

Safeguard others by evacuating them to safer places.

Containing the incidence and controlling it with minimum damage to life and property.

Identify the personnel affected/dead.


Inform relatives of those deceased/affected.

Providing relevant record/data needed as evidence for subsequent enquiry.

Inform local authorities, if needed.

1.1.0 WORKS INCIDENT CONTROLLER (WIC)

The primary task of Works Incident Controller is to go to the scene of the emergency, make an

informed assessment of the situation and decide whether a major emergency exists or is likely, he/

she is responsible for implementing the emergency plan to control and/or to contain the hazard.

The Role of Works Incident Controller shall be carried out by Discipline Head on rotational basis. A

circular in this respect shall be issued by the Project Director.

The Works Incident Controllers shall be assisted by the Engineers who are available at site during

emergency and shall respond to the orders of Works Incident Controller.

1.1.1 The Works Incident Controllers shall identify:

1. All probable emergency causing situations and take proper precautionary measures to

prevent/ control such situations.

2. Ensure that all emergency team under him are informed about their functions before and

during emergency.

3. Direct all operations within the affected area with the following priorities:

Secure the Safety of personnel

Minimize damage to plant & environment

Minimize loss of material

Provide advice and information to all concerned as required.

Direct and Guide rescue and fire fighting operations and personals.

4. Ensure that all non-essential workers in the affected area evacuate to appropriate

assembly point.

5. Set up communication contact through telephone /messenger etc., with Emergency


Control Centre

6. Report significant developments to the Chief Incident Controller.

7. Assume duties of Chief Incident Controller pending his arrival and in particular.

Direct the shut down and evacuation of plant and effected areas likely to be

threatened by the emergency.

Ensure key personnel are informed and they are called in.

Preserve evidence that would facilitate subsequent inquiry into the causes of the

emergency.

Inform local authorities, police, if needed.

1.2 CHIEF INCIDENT CONTROLLER

The senior most officer at the site shall assume responsibility of Chief Incident Controller.

1.2.1 Functions

Immediately after knowing about the emergency, the Chief Incident Controller reports to

Emergency Control Centre and on arrival he shall:

Send Information to Project Director immediately on phone.

Relieve the Works Incident Controller from the responsibility of overall main

control.

Declare major emergency, if considered necessary and ensure outside emergency

services are called in and nearby firms are informed.

Ensure key personnel are called in to exercise direct operation control.

Directing to stop the work and evacuation of plants in consultation with Works

Incident Controller and key personnel

Ensure casualties are received, that they are given adequate attention and rendered

needed help.

Establish co-ordination with Officers responsible for Fire, Safety, HR/ Admin, and

Security.

Where emergency is prolonged, arrange for relief of personnel and catering facilities.

Ensure information/ reporting to Corporate Centre and other statutory bodies as per


requirement and provisions of statute.

1.3 EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTRE (ECC)

The Security Control room at Construction Office at Site is EMERGENCY CONTROL

CENTRE (ECC).

The Phone number of Emergency Control Centre shall be displayed prominently at all offices

and stores.

The Emergency Control Centre shall be manned by security personnel, the officials nominated

as key personnel and Senior Officers of outside services shall be called in for assistance.

ECC would have the following facilities:

Site Plan.

Emergency call out list of persons drafted for emergency control key personnel, fire,

safety, first aid, and medical, HR, Security and Admin,.

Torches

Ambulance on call.


1.4 KEY PERSONNELS

Sr.

No.

Name Designation Phone Number

1 Mr. Hemraj Sharma Project Director 9314120793

2 Senior most person at site

during emergency

Chief Incident Controller

3 Discipline Head on

rotational basis

Work Incident Controller

4 Mr. Rakesh Joshi IHead, Civil 9351470519

6 Mr. Hari Singh Chouhan Head (Security & Admin),

Fire(I/C) & Transport (I/C)

9782894495

7 Mr. Madhup Dubey Head (Electrical) 9314335303

9 Mr. Hari Singh Chouhan Head HR, 9782894495

As necessary, they shall decide the actions needed to stop work, evacuate personnel, carryout

emergency, and arrangement of supplies of equipment, personnel etc, and carryout atmosphere

tests, informing relatives of the victims.

1.5 DECLARING EMERGENCIES

The first person who detects the emergency shall inform by shouting or by telephone to Head

Admin / Head Safety / Head Security / Head HR about the hazard. The Admin / Safety Head /

Head Security / Head HR shall inform Works Incident Controller, Chief Incident Controller and

also communicate it to all concerned offices of the emergency. The Chief Incident Controller

shall, after taking into account the severity of situation, declare emergency.

1.6 ROLE OF KEY PERSONNEL.


1.6.1 Role of Work Incident Controller 1. All probable emergency causing situations and take proper precautionary measures to

prevent/control such situations.

2. Ensure that all emergency team under him are informed about their functions before and during

emergency.

3. Direct all operations within the affected area with the following priorities

(a) Secure the safety of personnel.

(b) Minimize damage to plant & environment.

(c) Minimize loss of material

4. Provide advice and information to all concerned as required. Direct and guide rescue and fire

fighting operations.

5. Ensure that all non-essential workers in the affected area evacuate to appropriate assembly

point.

6. Set up communication contact through telephone /messenger etc., with Emergency Control

Centre.

7. Report significant developments to the Chief Incident Controller.

8. Assume duties of Chief Incident Controller pending his arrival and carry out the following:-

Direct the stopping of work and carry out evacuation of plant and effected areas

likely to be threatened by the emergency.

Ensure key personnel are informed and they are called in.

Preserve evidence that would facilitate subsequent inquiry into the causes of the

emergency.

Immediately on hearing the fire alarm he shall rush to the scene of fire and assume

charge of rescue and fire fighting operations.

1.6.2 Role of Chief Incident controller

Immediately after knowing about the emergency, the Chief Incident Controller reports to

Emergency Control Centre and on arrival he shall:

Send Information to Project Director immediately on phone

Relieve the Works Incident Controller from the responsibility of overall main control.


Declare major emergency, if considered necessary and ensure outside emergency services

are called in.

Ensure key personnel are called in to exercise direct operation control.

Directing to stop the work and evacuation of plants in consultation with Works Incident

Controller and key personnel

Ensure casualties are received, that they are given adequate attention and rendered

needed help.

Establish co-ordination with Chief Officers of Fire, Safety, HR, Admin and Security.

In case emergency is prolonged, arrange for relief of personnel.

Ensure information/ reporting to Corporate Centre and other statutory bodies as per

requirement and provisions of statute. 1.6.3 Role of Head, (Civil)

After getting the information about emergency inform all executive of civil department.

Rush to ECC, asses to situation and facilitate Construction Manager to tackle the

emergency.

Make sufficient number of contractors, workers available to do civil jobs like filling sand

bags, making bunds, closing drains, excavations etc. as required for emergency.

Facilitate earth moving equipment like Cranes, Dozers, etc. required for handling the

emergency.

1.6.4 Role of Head (HR)

Rush to ECC, assess the situation and facilitate construction manager to tackle the

emergency.

Assess the situation with Chief Incident Controller and ensure that causalities get

adequate transportation / medical help.

Make arrangement to shift all the persons to the safe place, if called for.

Arrange an emergency vehicle immediately for ECC.

Inform medical centre for sending ambulance to emergency spot.

1.6.5 Role of Admin/ Security/ Fire

Assess “Law & Order” situation.


Inform district Authorities/ local police station in case their help is required for

evacuation of personnel / preserving law and order.

Assess the situation and call fire staff from barrack.

Immediately rush along with the fire crew to emergency spot.

Arrange transport and temporary shelters for evacuated personnel and inform the

relatives of the affected personnel, if required.

During emergency arrange for opening of relevant gates / barriers for easy movement of

vehicles. Security Guards should be posted on these gates / barriers to prevent

unauthorized entry. 1.6.6 Role of Head (Mechanical)

Rush to ECC, assess the situation and facilitate Construction Manager to tackle the

emergency.

Inform all executive of mechanical department.

Workshop facility with adequate manpower should be made available on priority.

1.6.7 Role of Head (Electrical) Rush to ECC, asses to situation and facilitate Construction Manager to tackle the

emergency.

Ensure electrical isolation of the affected areas, if required, through electrical staff.

Arrange to provide lights at (a) affected locations (b) assembly points

Remain in touch with Construction Manager.

1.6.8 Role of Head-First Aid Centre

Rush to medical centre after getting information.

Depute one medical attendant on spot first aid.

Remain in touch with Construction Manager.

Take note of the injured, coordinate with Construction Manager for their shifting to

Hospital. 1.6.9 Role of Head (Safety)

Rush to ECC, asses to situation and facilitate Construction Manager to tackle the


emergency.

Identify the hazards.

Arrange necessary personnel protective equipment to the staff and project staff, wherever

required

Remain in touch with Project Director / Construction Manager and inform of any

foreseen dangers in plant operation.

1.7 Assembly Point:

The Assembly Point during the emergency shall be the nearby Security Office.

1.8 List of Fire Extinguishers

Fire protection system shall be provided through out the project site area in order to control the fire origin instantly. Personnel shall be provided adequate training on usage of fire extinguishers through mock drills/ training session. At the same time, guidelines on usage of fire extinguishers shall be provided.

1.9 Important Telephone No

List of following important phone no shall be displayed at the security control room, main

control room of switchyard and main administrative building.

Police CR: Pokhran

Sub-divisional Magistrate, Pokhran

District Collector: Jaisalmer

Government Hospital: Pokhran

Fire Office: Pokhran


Annexure 1: Communication Chart for on-site Emergency Response

Chief Incidence Controller

Head, Admin & Security

Head, Electrical

Head, HR

Head, Civil

Head, Mechanical

Work Incident Controller

Project Director

Emergency Control Centre