Experts are of the view that hydro power is more reliable and efficient and a less expensive energy source than geothermal, biomass, wind, and solar energy. It is a clean source of power as it produces no carbon dioxide, sulphurdioxide, nitrous oxides, or any other air emissions. In addition, it produces no solid or liquid waste. Hydropower is also one of the least expensive sources of electricity.
Mr. S. K. Garg, Chairman & Managing Director, NHPC Ltd, also adds that while developing hydropower projects, NHPC is very sensitive and concerned about R&R and environmental issues and adopts a very balanced approach.
He says NHPC obtains site, environment and forest clearances as per the statutory requirements and also tries to utilize minimum forest area.
Environment impact assessment is conducted and based on that, an environment management plan (EMP) is framed to properly address the environmental issues. Close monitoring is done to ensure effective implementation of EMPs. Post-construction EIA to evaluate pre- and post-construction scenario to ascertain the efficacy of environment management plan is also undertaken.
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What is left of our Children?
According to him, NHPC has formulated detailed compensation packages based on various approved relief and rehabilitation guidelines. Compensation package includes various allowances for shifting, subsistence allowances until a family member finds employment, special grants for SC/ST families, and rehabilitation sites for affected families with adequate infrastructure, sanitation, educational and other amenities. NHPC also ensures a public hearing process and tribunals for redressing public grievances on these issues.
But it is also a fact that most hydroelectric projects have dams whereby a river habitat is often replaced by a lake habitat. Thus, habitats for wildlife on land and for organisms in the water are destroyed or altered by impoundments of rivers. Examples in Tennessee are the Little Tennessee River and Tellico Lake. The biggest issue in the Northwest has been blocking upstream and downstream movement of fish.
Salmon must be able to migrate upstream from the ocean to reproduce in fresh water. Even with the use of fish ladders to help salmon go up over dams and enter upstream spawning areas, the presence of hydroelectric dams essentially has changed the migration pattern of fish.
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The coho, Chinook, and sockeye salmon populations of the Northwest, which once were abundant, are either on or will soon be on the endangered species list. They are headed for extinction, in part, because of hydropower. However, federal dams, not nonfederal dams, are primarily responsible for the reduction of the Pacific Northwest salmon population from about 16 million to 300,000 wild fish each year.
The bottom line is that hydropower production is decreasing as new environmental protection is enforced. Another big problem now is getting the young fish back downstream and into the ocean. On the way they can be killed as they pass through the turbines.
Development of hydroelectric dams can have adverse effects on water quality in several different ways. Tree clearing can result in soil erosion and landslides, causing a buildup of sediments that can clog up streams.
Spilling of water over spillways can result in super saturation of the water with gases from the air. The gas bubbles, which are absorbed into fish tissue, may cause damage and ultimately kill the fish.