## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 Regarding Pumped Storage Projects
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes an amendment to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006, specifically concerning Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). The core purpose of this amendment is to rationalize the Environmental Clearance (EC) process for PSPs, acknowledging their importance for grid stability and the integration of renewable energy. The key finding is that certain PSPs meeting specific criteria will now be appraised under a B2 category, streamlining the EC process.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an analysis of the notification published by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 11, 2022. The report aims to inform stakeholders about the amendment to the EIA Notification of 2006, focusing on changes related to Environmental Clearance procedures for Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs), based solely on the information provided in the notification.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* **Original Policy:** This notification amends the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification S.O. 1533(E), dated September 14, 2006.
* **Core Objective(s):** The core objectives of *this amendment*, as inferred from the provided text, are to:
* Facilitate the smooth integration of renewable energy into the grid.
* Promote grid safety and stability through energy storage.
* Rationalize the Environmental Clearance process for Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs).
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The amendment addresses the need for streamlined Environmental Clearance (EC) process for Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). The original EIA Notification of 2006 treated PSPs similarly to hydropower projects, requiring a more rigorous EC process. This amendment acknowledges that PSPs have fewer environmental impacts compared to traditional hydro projects and aims to accelerate their development by categorizing specific types of PSPs under a less stringent environmental review process. The rationale is driven by the growing need for energy storage to support the integration of renewable energy sources.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This section details the specific changes introduced by the amendment:
* **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The amendment modifies "item 1c, A. in column 2" and "B. in column 5" of the Schedule in the EIA Notification of 2006.
* **New Rule/Provision:**
* In item 1c, A. in column 2: The words "River Valley projects" shall be substituted with the words "River Valley projects with or without Pump Storage Projects (PSPs)".
* In item 1c, B. in column 5: A new clause "iv" is inserted under the "Note", which defines criteria for PSPs to be appraised as B2 category irrespective of power generation capacity. The criteria are:
* Projects which do not attract FC (Forest Clearance) and/or WL (Wildlife) Clearance.
* Projects wherein no new Reservoir is created.
* Projects wherein the existing reservoir is not expanded and/or structurally modified.
* **Difference/Effect of Change:** This amendment has the following effects:
* It explicitly includes PSPs within the definition of River Valley projects for the purpose of the EIA notification.
* It establishes a simplified Environmental Clearance (EC) pathway (B2 category appraisal) for PSPs that meet the specified criteria of no forest/wildlife implications, no new reservoir creation, and no expansion or structural modification of existing reservoirs. This could significantly reduce the time and resources required for EC for these projects.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by these changes include:
* Developers and investors in Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs).
* Consultants and firms involved in Environmental Impact Assessments.
* Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and its associated agencies.
* State-level environmental appraisal committees.
* Renewable energy sector.
* Agencies responsible for grid stability and energy storage.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the primary responsible agency. The notification also implies the involvement of appraisal committees at both the central and state levels.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification stipulates a 60-day period for public comment on the draft notification. After this period, the notification will be finalized. The amendment implies that PSPs meeting the specified criteria will be subject to a B2 category appraisal, which typically involves a less detailed EIA and a shorter review period.
* **Specific to Changes:** PSP proponents will need to demonstrate that their projects meet the new B2 criteria to benefit from the streamlined appraisal process.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of these specific changes are:
* Increased investment and development of PSPs meeting the B2 criteria.
* Faster deployment of energy storage solutions to support renewable energy integration.
* Reduced administrative burden and timelines for Environmental Clearance of specific PSPs.
* Enhanced grid stability and reliability.
**9. Conclusion:**
The amendment to the EIA Notification of 2006 regarding Pumped Storage Projects represents a significant step towards promoting renewable energy integration and grid stability by rationalizing the Environmental Clearance process for specific types of PSPs. By establishing a B2 category appraisal pathway for projects meeting specific criteria, the amendment aims to accelerate the development of environmentally sound energy storage solutions. This targeted change addresses a critical need for streamlined regulatory processes in the renewable energy sector and is expected to facilitate the increased deployment of PSPs.
Key Entities Referenced
Environment Protection Act, 1986: An act by the Central Government related to environment protection. Mentioned as the legal basis for the notification.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, specifying procedures and guidelines.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The government ministry responsible for the notification and environmental policy.
New Delhi: The location of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and place of publication.
Environment Impact Assessment EIANotification: Notification regarding requirement of prior Environmental Clearance EC for the projects.
Pumped Storage Plants PSPs: Energy storage development projects which are the subject of rationalization of the EC process.
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi: Address of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
River Valley projects: Projects that now include Pump Storage Projects.
Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi: The location where the notification was uploaded for printing.
Controller of Publications, Delhi: Publisher of the gazette.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-11102022-239562
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-11102022-239562
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 4605] नई दिल्ली, मगं लवार, अक्त बू र 11, 2022/आजश्व न 19, 1944
No. 4605] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022/ASVINA 19, 1944
पर्ाावरण, वन और िलवार् ु पररवतना मत्रं ालर्
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल् ली, 11 अक्त ूबर, 2022
का.आ. 4815(अ).—केंद्र सरकार जनम्न जलजखत प्रारूप अजधसूचना को पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986
(1986 का 29) की धारा 3 की उप-धारा (1) और उप-धारा (2) के खडं (v) द्वारा प्रित् त िजिर्ों का प्रर्ोग करते हुए,
एतद्द्वारा पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) जनर्म, 1986 के जनर्म 5 के उप-जनर्म (3) के तहत र्थापेजक्षत ढंग स,े उससे संभाजवत तौर
पर प्रभाजवत होने वाल े लोगों के सूचनाथा िारी करने का प्रस्ट्त ाव करती ह;ै और इसके द्वारा र्ह नोरिस दिर्ा िाता ह ै दक
उक्त प्रारूप अजधसूचना पर इस अजधसूचना को समाजवष्ि करने वाले रािपत्र की प्रजतर्ां िनता को उपलब्ध कराए िान े
की तारीख स े साठ दिन की अवजध समाप् त होने पर र्ा उसके पश् चात् जवचार दकर्ा िाएगा;
प्रारूप अजधसूचना में जनजहत प्रस्ट्त ावों पर कोई आपजि र्ा सुझाव केंद्र सरकार के जवचाराथ ा प्रस्ट्त ुत करने का इच् छुक
कोई व् र्जि इस प्रकार जवजनर्िष्ा ि अवजध के भीतर जलजखत रूप म ें सजचव, पर्ाावरण, वन और िलवार् ु पररवतान मंत्रालर्,
इंदिरा पर्ाावरण भवन, िोर बाग रोड, अलीगंि, नई दिल्ल ी-110003 को र्ा ई-मेल पते: sujit.baju@gov.in और
diriapolicy-moefcc@gov.in पर इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन के पश् चात् 60 दिनों के भीतर प्रेजित कर सकता ह।ै
प्रारूप अजधसचू ना
तत्क ालीन पर्ाावरण और वन मंत्रालर् म ें भारत सरकार की पर्ाावरण प्रभाव आकलन (ईआईए) अजधसूचना
दिनांक 14 जसतंबर, 2006 को भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उप-खंड (ii) म ें अजधसूचना संख् र्ा का.आ.
1533(अ) द्वारा प्रकाजित की गई थी, िो उसकी अनुसूची (इसम ें इसके पश् चात ् उक्त अजधसचू ना के रूप म ें उजल्लजखत) म ें
िाजमल पररर्ोिनाओं के जलए पूवा पर्ाावरणीर् स्ट् वीकृजत (ईसी) की आवश् र्कता के संबंध म ेंथी;
6865 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
और, कम काबान उत् सिान के माध् र्म स े जवकास करने की भारत की प्रजत बद्धता को ध् र्ान म ें रखत े हुए, जिड म ें
नवीकरणीर् ऊिाा का जनबााध एकीकरण करना तथा बेहतर जिड सुरक्षा और स्ट्थ ाजर्त् व प्राप् त करना आवश् र्क ह।ै इस संिभ ा
म,ें ऊिाा भण् डारण की आवश् र्कता बढ़ रही ह ै और इसके द्वारा पपं र्ुक् त भण्ड ारण संर्ंत्रों (पीएसपी) का जवकास महत् वपूणा
ह।ै
और, पर्ाावरणीर् स्ट् वीकृजत की िजृ ि स,े पीएसपी को िल जवद्युत पररर्ोिनाओं की श्रणे ी म ें ही माना िाता ह ै और
इसजलए पर्ाावरणीर् स्ट् वीकृजत प्राप् त करन े हते ु उन पर ईआईए अजधसूचना, 2006 के उपबंध लाग ू होते ह।ैं
और, परंपरागत िलजवद्युत पररर्ोिनाओं तथा ससंचाई और िलापूर्त ा पररर्ोिनाओं की तलु ना म ें ऐसी
पररर्ोिनाओं के पर्ाावरणीर् प्रभाव कम होते ह ैं और इसजलए इन पररर्ोिनाओं हते ु पर्ाावरणीर् स्ट् वीकृजत की प्रदिर्ा को
र्ुजिसंगत बनाना आवश् र्क ह।ै
अत: अब, पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) जनर्म, 1986 के जनर्म 5 के उप-जनर्म (3) के खडं (घ) के साथ परठत उक्त पर्ाावरण
(संरक्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986 (1986 का 29) की धारा 3 की उप-धारा (1) और उप-धारा (2) के खंड (v) द्वारा प्रित्त
िजिर्ों का प्रर्ोग करते हुए, केन्द द्रीर् सरकार एतद्द्वारा उक्त अजधसूचना म ेंआग ेऔर जनम्न जलजखत संिोधन करती ह ै:-
उक्त अजधसूचना म,ें अनुसूची म ें :-
मि स.ं 1(ग) म,ें
क. कॉलम (2) म ें:-
‘‘(i) निी घािी पररर्ोिनाओं’’ िब् िों को ‘‘पंप भण्ड ारण पररर्ोिनाओं/पपं भण् डारण पररर्ोिनाओं (पीएसपी) से र्ुक्त
अथवा उसके जबना संचाजलत निी घािी पररर्ोिनाओं’’ िब् िों स े प्रजतस्ट् थाजपत दकर्ा िाएगा
ख. कॉलम (5) म ें :-
अधोरिप् पणी : मौिूिा अनच्ु छेिों के पश् चात ्जनम्न जलजखत को अंतर्वाष्ि दकर्ा िाएगा :-
‘‘(iv) पीएसपी का मूल् र्ांकन पीएसपी के जलए मंत्रालर् द्वारा िारी जविेि ितों (िीओआर) के आधार पर दकर्ा
िाएगा। िो पीएसपी नीच े दिए गए सभी मानिण् डों को परू ा करते ह ैं उनका मल्ू र्ांकन जवद्युत उत् पािन क्षमता पर जवचार
दकए जबना बी 2 श्रेणी के रूप म ें दकर्ा िाएगा: (क) जिन पररर्ोिनाओं के जलए वन स्ट् वीकृजत और / र्ा वन्द र्िीव स्ट् वीकृजत
अपेजक्षत नहीं ह,ै (ख) वे पररिनाएं जिनम ें दकसी नए िलािर् का जनमााण नहीं दकर्ा िाता ह ै (ग) व े पररर्ोिनाए ं जिनम ें
मौिूिा िलािर् को जवस्ट्त ाररत और / र्ा सरं चनात् मक रूप स ेपररवर्तात नहीं दकर्ा िाता ह।ै ’’
[फा. स.ं आईए-3 -22/33/2022-आईए.III]
डॉ. सुिीत कुमार बािपेर्ी, संर्ुक् त सजचव
रिप्प ण : मूल अजधसूचना का.आ. 1533 (अ), तारीख 14 जसतम्ब र, 2006 द्वारा भारत के रािपत्र म ें प्रकाजित की गई थी
और इस े का.आ. 3194 (अ), तारीख 14, िुलाई 2022 को अंजतम बार संिोजधत दकर्ा गर्ा था।
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 11th October, 2022
S.O. 4815(E).—Whereas, the Central Government proposes to issue following draft notification in
exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), and clause (v) of subsection (2) of section 3 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) is hereby published, as required under sub-rule (3) of rule
5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, for the information of the public likely to be affected
thereby; and notice is hereby given that the said draft notification shall be taken into consideration on or
after the expiry of a period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing this
notification are made available to the Public;[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
Any person interested in making any objections or suggestions on the proposal contained in the draft
notification may forward the same in writing for consideration of the Central Government within the period
so specified to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran
Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi110 003, or send it to the e-mail address at sujit.baju@gov.in
and diriapolicy-moefcc@gov.in on or before 60 days after the publication of this Notification.
Draft Notification
Whereas, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)Notification of the Government of India in the
erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forest vide number S.O. 1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006
was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), regarding
requirement of prior Environmental Clearance (EC) for the projects covered in its schedule (hereinafter
referred to as the said notification);
And whereas, in view of India’s commitment for low-carbon path of development, it is necessary to
have smooth integration of renewable energy into the grid and to have greater grid safety and stability. In
this context there is a growing need for energy storage and thereby the development of Pumped Storage
Plants (PSPs) is critical.
And whereas, from the environmental clearance angle, PSPs are considered in the same category as
hydropower projects and as such attract the provisions of EIA notification 2006 for getting Environmental
Clearance.
And whereas, the environmental impacts of such projects are less as compared to classical hydro
projects as well as irrigation and water supply projects and therefore there is a need to rationalise the EC
process for these projects.
Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2)
of section 3 of the said Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with clause (d) of sub-rule
(3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes the
following further amendment in the said notification: -
In the said notification, in the Schedule: -
In item 1(c),
A. in column (2):-
The words “(i) River Valley projects” shall be substituted with the words “(i) River Valley projects
with or without Pump Storage Projects / Pump Storage Projects (PSPs)”
B. in column (5):-
Under Note: after the existing paras, the following shall be inserted.
“(iv) PSPs shall be appraised based on specific ToRs issued by the Ministry for PSPs. The PSPs
which meet all the criteria given below shall be appraised as B2 category irrespective of power
generation capacity: (a) Projects which do not attract FC and/or WL Clearance, (b) Projects
wherein no new Reservoir is created (c) Projects wherein the existing reservoir is not expanded
and/or structurally modified.”
[F. No. IA3-22/33/2022-IA.III ]
Dr. SUJIT KUMAR BAJPAYEE, Jt. Secy.
Note : The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, vide number S.O. 1533(E), dated
the 14th September, 2006 and was last amended vide the notification number S.O. 3194(E), dated
the 14th July, 2022.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.