ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT PROJECT,
TING TING HYDROELECTRIC
SIKKIM
REPORT
CONTENTS
Chapter Main Topic Sub-Topics
No.
1 Introduction Background, Project Description,
Legal Framework, Scope of study
2 Methodology Various stages/steps in EIA
3 Environmental Baseline Status – Physiography, Geology, Minerals,
Physio-Chemical Aspects Hydrology, Air, Noise, Traffic
Density
4 Environmental Baseline Status – LULC, Forest Types, Ecozones,
Biodiversity Aspects Vegetation Composition,
Conservation Status, Faunal
Eements, Fisheries
5 Socio-Economic Aspects Profile of Affected Villages, Local
Economy, Dependency on Natural
Resources
6 Prediction of Impacts Impacts on air, land, water, flora
and fauna, human health, socio-
economic environment
 INTRODUCTI
ON

Administrative Divisions in Sikkim Major rivers in Sikkim

• The state of Sikkim has been administratively divided into four districts, i.e. North, South, East
and West Sikkim, using water divides of Teesta river tributaries as criteria.

• Two prominent rivers of Sikkim are Teesta and Rangit, of which Rangit is a tributary of Teesta.

• Almost 2.88% of the hydro-power potential of India is in Sikkim.

PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Location Map of Ting Ting
H.E. Project
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
 The Ting Ting HEP located in West Sikkim
envisages the utilization of the flow of
Rathong Chhu a tributary of Rangit River
for the generation of electric power.

 Rangit river is fed by the Himalayan

melting ice in summer and monsoon.

 The Project envisages utilization of a

design discharge of 46 cumec through a
gross head of 250 m., in order to generate
a maximum of 99 MW of power. It shall
have a 55 m high Dam across 9 km
upstream of Rathong Chhu’s confluence
with Rangit River; a 2.14 km head race
tunnel and a surface power station.

 The Power house site is further connected

to NH-31 by an all weather road. New
Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the nearest railhead of
the Eastern Railway and is 160 km from
Power house site.

 The project has been taken up by TT

Energy Pvt. Ltd. An MoU was signed with
the Sikkim government in 2008. Location of Ting Ting vis-à-vis other HE projects
PROJECT LAYOUT
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
FRAMEWORK
• State Pollution Control Board issues NOCs and “Consent” under Air and Water Act tovarious
projects. Hydroelectric projects are considered as Red Category projects by SPCB.

• Ting Ting HEP is a Category A project (> 50 MW), as per item 1 (c) of Schedule attached to
EIA notification of September 2006 and required environmental appraisal from the Ministry of
Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India. The appraisal process involves three
stages:
- Scoping: An application for scoping was submitted to MoEF in the month of December
2006 for issuance of Terms of Reference (TOR) to undertake EIA study.
- Public Consultation: Public consultation will be conducted through stipulated public
consultation process to be organized by Sikkim State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
- Appraisal: Final report will be prepared, submitted and presented to the Expert Appraisal
Committee at MoEF for final approval.

• The approval for diversion of Forest Land required for the project under Forest Conservation Act
(1980) was obtained from State Forest Department.

• As the proposed falls within 10 km radius of Khangchendzonga National Park, it is mandatory to

obtain NOC from National Board of Wild Life (NBWL).

• No Objection Certificate is required from the State Fisheries Department for the proposed Ting
Ting H.E project.
SCOPING FOR EIA
STUDY
Aspects of Likely Impacts
Environment
Land Environment
Construction phase • Increase in soil erosion
• Pollution by construction spoils
• Acquisition of land for construction works colonies
• Solid waste from construction works colonies
Operation phase • Acquisition of land
• Change of land use
Water Resources and Water Quality
Construction phase • Increase in turbidity of nearby receiving water bodies
• Degradation of water quality due to disposal of wastes from
construction works colony and construction sites
Operation phase • Disruption of hydrologic regime
• Sedimentation and siltation risks
• Impacts on D.O. due to reservoir stratification
• Risk of eutrophication
• Reduced flow impacting downstream users
Aquatic Ecology
Construction phase • Increased pressure on aquatic ecology as a result of fishing.
• Reduced productivity due to increase in turbidity and pollution of the
river body
SCOPING FOR EIA
STUDY
Operation phase • Impacts on migratory fish species
• Impacts on spawning and breeding grounds
• Degradation of riverine ecology
Terrestrial Ecology
Construction phase • Increased pressure from construction works to meet their fuel wood
and timber requirements
• Adverse impacts due to increased accessibility of the area
Operation phase • Impacts on wildlife movement
• Loss of forest area
• Impact on RET species, if any
Socio-Economic Aspects
Construction phase • Improved employment potential during the project
construction phase
• Development of allied sectors leading to greater
employment
• Pressure on existing infrastructure facilities
• Friction between the construction works and the native
population
Operation phase • Loss of lands
• Loss of private properties
• Increased revenue from power generation
SCOPING FOR EIA
STUDY
Public Health
Construction phase • Impacts due to disposal of untreated sewage from
construction works camps
Operation phase • Increased incidence of vector borne disease due to
increase in water spread area.
Air Environment
Construction phase • Emissions due to fuel combustion in construction equipment
• Increased vehicular movement
• Entrainment of fugitive emissions
Noise Environment
Construction phase • Increased noise level due to operation of various equipment
• Increased vehicular movement.
BASELINE STATUS – PHYSIO-CHEMICAL
ASPECTS
DRAINAGE

• The geographical area of the proposed Ting

Ting hydroelectric project site falls in West
Sikkim district.

• The West district with an area of 1,166 sq

km has a rectangular shape with North-
South elongation.

• The elevations vary from 350 m at

Jorethang in the south to 7,000 m near
Pandim in the north.

• The district has only one glaciated basin

known as the East Rathong basin located
west of Teesta River.

Drainage map of Rathong Chhu catchment up to

Ting Ting HE project
BASELINE STATUS – PHYSIO-CHEMICAL
ASPECTS SLOPE
• The slope map indicates that the
maximum area in the catchment
is under steep slopes which are
about 46% of the total catchment.
Moderately steep slopes also cover
quite a large extent (31%) of the
catchment whereas area under very
steep slopes covers more than 9%
of the area. Very steep slopes are
characteristic of higher ridges and
their slopes.

• The study area also is

characterized by steep slopes
comprising more than 59% of area
while moderate slopes cover about
27% of area (Figure3.5). Very steep
slopes cover area nearly 9% of
area.

Slope map of Rathong Chhu

catchment up to Ting Ting dam site
BASELINE STATUS – PHYSIO-CHEMICAL
ASPECTS RELIEF
• The catchment has been divided into ten
elevational bands.

• Most of the the catchment lies in the

elevational band of 4000-4800 m covering
nearly 38 % of catchment area. Other
bands of significant coverage are 3600-
4000 m (46.17 sq km, 12.41% ) and 4800-
5200 m (48.76 sq km, 13.11% ).

DEM of Ting Ting HE Project catchment

BASELINE STATUS – PHYSIO-CHEMICAL
ASPECTS SOIL SERIES
1- Maling-Rayong
2- Rubam-Salem
3- Rockoutcrops – Jorpul
4- Hilley-Singrep – Chatten
5- Bhusuk – Hilley
16- Tumin – Phong – Chautare
20- Chakung – Tumin - Sajong
22- Chongrang – Legship - Singgyang
32- Bhusuk – Pirik – Namchi
43- Singgyang – Maniram – Damthang
44- Damthang – Chongrang – Rockoutcrop
48- Martam – Tarnu – Sajong
50- Sajong – Tarnu
60- Lachung – Puchikongma – Byuma
61- Yumthang – Thangu – Kalep
63- Thangu – Rockoutcrop
Soils collected from the adit site belong to the
Singgyang-Maniram-Damthang and Sajong
–Tarnu soils series. These soils are susceptible
to severe erosion. Very fine sand comprises its
major portion. High proportion of very fine sand
and low gravels and pebbles can be coincided
with high moisture contents and bulk density.

Soil Map of Ting Ting HE Project catchment

BASELINE STATUS – PHYSIO-CHEMICAL
ASPECTS
HYDROLOGY
• Hydrological analysis has been carried out to:
- Assess the availability of water for power generation i.e., establish long-term stream flow
series.
- Assess design floods.
- Assess sediment exclusion provisions.

Location Catchment Area

Snowfall Rainfed Total
Ting Ting Dam 51 321 372

• Sikkim lies in the sub-tropical and temperate zone.

• Mean annual precipitation varies from 1250 mm in the snow fed catchment to 2,500mm in
the rainfed catchment with intensity of rain varying from drizzling showers in low altitude areas
to torrential rain at higher altitudes. Rainfall is heavy and well distributed during the months from
May to early October. July is the wettest month in most of the places

• Temperature varies with altitude and slope aspects. The temperature usually varies from a
maximum of 22 to 23 degrees centigrade in July and August to a minimum of 3 to 5 degrees
centigrade in December and January.
BASELINE STATUS – PHYSIO-CHEMICAL
ASPECTS
• The relative humidity is
generally high in the monsoon
season, being over 80%.

• There are six rain gauge

stations in the Project region, at
Yuksom, Gyaling, Rangit Dam
Site, Pelling, Dentam and
Damthong.

Location of Rain Gauge stations in Rangit catchment