Lok Sabha Question No. 4053 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Environmental Impact of Infrastructural Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4053

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## Environmental Impact of Infrastructural Projects

## 4053.  SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  theincreasing  instances  of  fish  deaths  reported from riverTeesta and tributaries in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkimregion due to hydropower and other infrastructuralprojects;
- (b) the details of the steps taken by the Governmentto mitigate the environmental impacts of theseinfrastructural projects in the said region;
- (c) whether the Government has taken note ofincreasing instances of landslides and floods in thedistricts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and if so, thedetails thereof; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Governmenttowards disaster mitigation andmanagement in theregion?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) This Ministry has not received any report of unusual fish mortality from river Teesta and  tributaries  in  Darjeeling,  Kalimpong,  Sikkim  region.  The  Central  Inland  Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore also undertook a study during 2019-21 and found no unusual fish mortality in the region.

(b) to (d)The Ministry has delineated a detailed procedure for comprehensive assessment of environmental  and  social  impacts  of  the  project/activity  including  hydro-power  and  other infrastructure projects in the Environment  Impact  Assessment  Notification, 2006, as amended;  which inter-alia provides  for  preparation  of  Environment  Impact  Assessment (EIA) Report, Environmental Management Plan (EMP), Disaster Management Plan (DMP) and Public Consultation.

The  Expert  Appraisal  Committee  (EAC),  comprising  domain  area  experts,  after  detailed examination and deliberation on environmental concerns viz. protection and conservation of natural environment and biodiversity in the region, occurrence of other natural disasters like flood,  landslide  etc.,  recommend  the  project  for  grant  of  Environmental  Clearance  (EC). Suitable mitigation measures are incorporated, like identification of vulnerable Zones/landslide zones, monitoring of e-flow and preparation and implementation of Fisheries

Management Plan, Catchment Area Treatment plan (CAT), Reservoir Rim Treatment Plan (RRT),  Disaster  Management  Plan  (DMP)  comprising  installation of Early  Warning Telemetric  System    (EWTS)  in  the  upper  catchment  area,  Muck  Management  Plan,  Green belt  development etc. to minimize the impacts of such natural hazards. Apart from the above, new/innovative materials and soil nailing technologies are also used for development of all National  Highways,  including  the  National  Highways  in  hilly  terrain  for  reducing  the landslide events.

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