PANAJI
In line with its sustainable approach to development, Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited (GTTPL) highlighted that it has proactively conducted a Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) and developed a corresponding Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for its transmission line project in Goa.
Biodiversity Impact Assessment is a decision-support tool that enables biodiversity-inclusive development, planning, and implementation. As per the MoEF CC guideline F.No. 6-10/2011WL dated 19th Dec 2012, there is no statutory requirement to conduct BIA if the area of diversion is below 50 Ha in protected areas. Although GTTPL’s proposed diversion in protected area is only 27.092 Ha, the company, during the conceptualization stage of the project in 2018, voluntarily conducted the study and developed the Biodiversity Management Plan to guide its planning and execution. The resulting BMP, published in 2020, outlines a comprehensive strategy to minimize the project’s impact on Goa’s rich biodiversity.
As per the recent NBWL Standing committee
The BIA/BMP highlights that the construction process will cause no permanent damage to the environment, and any disruption will be recoverable over the medium term. Some of the adopted mitigation measures as proposed in the report are as below:
Safe Passage for Wildlife: The transmission line is an overhead project and does not fragment the forest. For free movement of wildlife through the entire transmission line corridor while maintaining adequate ground clearance, the installation of canopy bridge for safe passage of arboreal animals shall be implemented.
Minimising Bird Collisions: Bird diverters on the conductor and perch rejecters on the transmission tower would be installed along the transmission line corridor in protected areas.
Unhindered Ground Movement: The project allows for free movement of animals on the ground, further minimizing the impact on the movement of birds due to tower height of 45-54 meters.
Minimized Construction Footprint: To limit the temporary impact on forest areas during construction, the construction practices adopted will ensure that there is no movement of vehicles beyond the last motorable road point. Tower parts will be transported to the location by head loading.
Reduced Operational Impact: No heavy machinery will be used for construction, no campsites will be placed inside the forest area, and drones would be used to enable stringing to further mitigate any likely damages.
The BIA/BMP report is readily available to the public, on the project’s website for public consumption.
GTTPL is committed to play its role as partners in Goa’s sustainable infrastructure development and has taken utmost caution and care in the project planning to protect the biodiversity of the region.
The project will provide the residents and industries in Goa with a highly reliable power feed by opening access to both Western and Southern grids, thereby reducing the dependence of this region on expensive and polluting diesel-based power.
This project serves as a commendable example of how infrastructure development can be balanced with environmental responsibility. By prioritising sustainability and proactively addressing potential environmental concerns, GTTPL paves the way for a more sustainable future for Goa.
Any recommendations put forth by the committee to be constituted by the MoEF will be followed.
