Physical Construction WorkÂ
Tunneling
Excavation of the headrace tunnel
downstream of the Kasholi adit |
The excavation of the various tunnels that comprise the Project has been slower than anticipated due to the poor quality of rocks encountered. Work on all the adits has been completed and some 9.6 km (or 64% of total length) of the 15 km-headrace tunnel (the tunnel that carries the water from the river to the powerhouse) has been excavated.
The most critical stretch is a 2.6 km-length of the headrace tunnel between Goshai and Kasholi adits where poor rock conditions have slowed down progress considerably. On the Bank’s recommendation, the company had in September 2009 retained the services of a Tunneling Advisory Board -- comprising international tunneling and rock mechanic experts -- to help improve progress. In consultation with this Board and the World Bank, SJVNL and the civil works contractors have started implementing these acceleration measures, including modifications to the excavation cycle and mobilization of additional equipment, to speed up the progress.
Powerhouse and surge-shaft works
The work at the powerhouse has also proved challenging because of weak rock conditions which affect the stability of the structures. SJVNL and the contractor have developed remedial measures in consultation with the Advisory Board members and are implementing the same.
Surge-shaft Surge shaft excavation is progressing satisfactorily and the shaft has been widened to its full diameter of 40 m for 138 m of a total depth of 149.4 m.
Electro-mechanical worksTurbine model tests have been completed in August 2009. But the delay in tunnel excavation will also impact progress on the electro-mechanical works. SJVNL and its contractors are updating the overall Project completion schedule with a likely delay of a year.
Environment Management
 Â
The re-vegetation and remediation of
muck-dumping sites has started |
The implementation of the environment management plan, aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of the project has gained momentum.
Muck Dumping
Visits to all construction sites and facilities, as well as to the various sites designated official muck-dumping areas, have shown that works to reclaim and re-vegetate the muck-dumping site that has been filled to capacity (the site across the river from the Rampur bus-stand) are going very well. Based on the successful experience, SJVNL will seek to reclaim the other the muck-dumping sites as well.
SJVNL has also started maintaining a muck-disposal register to ensure that the muck removed from the construction sites is disposed in the designated dumping sites. In order to allow local communities and other stakeholders to monitor the muck-dumping and to report if they find any unauthorized dumping of project debris in either the river or at non-designated sites, SJVNL has also displayed contact details of key project officials at public spots and all the four dumping sites. SJVNL has also initiated steps to repair breaches found in some retaining walls of the muck-dumping sites.
Catchment Area TreatmentÂ
(CAT) PlanSJVNL has commenced soil and moisture conservation activities in three of the five streams identified (Bayal Nala, Shaluri Nala, Galeda Nala) by the Forest Department. SJVNL is also in regular contact with the state forest department to expedite other activities of CAT Plan.
Onsite Safety 
An on-site HIV/AIDS awareness cam
organized for the construction workers on the Project |
The construction of tunnels is difficult and requires careful attention to safety rules and guidelines. In addition to equipping workers with standard safety gear, SJVNL is putting stringent safety systems in place that include emergency response training; controlling and monitoring blasting for excavating tunnels; and technical measures for preventing accidental rock-falls. SJVNL has retained the services of an International-level Safety Advisor, who periodically visits the site and advises on preventive and corrective measures following any safety incident.
Other construction-related environmental management measures such as pollution control; solid waste disposal; health, safety and sanitation awareness are being implemented satisfactorily.
Land Acquisition and Resettlement and RehabilitationThe 29.86 hectares of private land needed for the Project has been acquired and compensation paid to all 208 land-owners. Of these, the 37 families who will be left with less than five bighas of land after the Project acquires their land have also received from SJVNL the additional rehabilitation grants they were entitled to.
Govind Ram outside his old house in Averi village (left) that was acquired by the Project. With the house reconstruction grant he received, he has built himself a larger house (right) in the same village. |
The implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) is thus substantially completed, except the following: (a) providing an alternative resettlement site for four families (in Shimla district) from whom the land is to be acquired for township, construction of which will be taken up in future ; (b) second installment of the house construction grant to seven relocated families who have not shown progress in utilising the first installment for the construction/upgrading of their houses; and (iii) the extension of street-lighting in two resettlement sites at Bayal and Averi.
Local Area Development and Benefits to the Communities in the Project Area
As part of its attempt to improve the quality of lives of the people living in the Rampur project’s vicinity, SJVNL had launched an intensive local area development scheme. Small community infrastructure facilities -- like footbridges and footpaths, street lighting and drinking water supply -- have been completed in various villages. In addition, Rs. 100 million has been provided for the construction of a bus-station and a senior secondary school in the area. SJVNL has also opened a medical dispensary in village Bayal, the site of the proposed powerhouse. The company has also financed a health van that does the rounds of the eight project-affected villages, taking basic healthcare to the people’s doorstep.
In line with the State’s Hydropower Policy, the government of Himachal Pradesh has now decided to implement these local area development plans through the district administration and SJVNL is providing the funds to Local Area Development Authority (LADA) for various works in the project area, based on the work identified by the communities. The first installment has been deposited more than a year ago, but the utilization of funds has been slow. Of Rs. 25 million deposited by SJVNL with the LADA of Kullu District, only 57 percent funds have been committed so far. SJVNL is in constant touch with district authorities to speed up these works. There are also delays in energizing the four tube wells and installing two hand pumps by the Irrigation and Public Health Department despite SJVNL transferring the funds as required.
Footpath in Koyal village |
To further help local people acquire skill-sets that will allow them to improve their incomes, SJVNL has sponsored 140 candidates from the project affected area for receiving technical education at the state Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). SJVNL has also provided scholarships to more than 50 meritorious students.
The Project has also ensured that local contractors also get a share of the work being done, and small community development works worth Rs. 142 million have been awarded to project-affected people and others in the local communities. In addition, 214 people from the affected villages have also found employment with the civil works ’ contractors. The Project has helped create more than 8,76,400 man-days of work for people from the state of Himachal Pradesh; of this 17 percent of the employment generated has gone to villagers from the project-affected panchayats.
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