NEW DELHI, Oct 18 � Setting at rest all apprehensions over the negative environment impact of the 70 MW Lakwa Replacement Power Project (LRPP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has claimed that the project benefits outweigh the negative impact. A number of wildlife sanctuaries, including the world-famous Kaziranga National Park, are within the 200 km radius of the project.
The proposed project is envisaged to replace the obsolete 60 MW gas turbines at the Lakwa Thermal Power Station (LTPS).
The final draft document on �India: Assam Power Sector Investment Programme � Tranche 1� was released on Friday by the ADB. The report was prepared by the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) for the Government of Assam and the Asian Development Bank.
The environment assessment report said that the long-term negative environmental impact is likely to be associated with operation activities at the gas-based power generation plant. The location impact will be comparatively low as there will be no disposal of muck and soil outside the LTPS land.
The ADB, which has endorsed the report, claimed that the development activities do not involve any forest area and are situated away from any wildlife habitats. The nearest wildlife sanctuary is Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary (at least 4.4 km away) and Panidehing Wildlife Sanctuary in Sivasagar district, about 50 km away.
The Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat and Nagaon districts is located at a distance of 200 km towards the west from the LTPS plant site. No endangered or protected species of flora or fauna are reported at any of the sub-project site. Adequate provisions have been made for monitoring of predicted impact along with their associated costs, the report said.
However, the report concedes that since the project involves generation of power using natural gas, the emissions from the stack are inevitable. However, with appropriate emission control and monitoring measures, pollution will be kept to the minimum as per the EMP and EIA approved by the Government of India.
Clearances from the Assam Forest Department will not be required as none of the project components requires construction on any forest land or cutting of forest trees, the report said.