Biodiversity impact assessment for transmission system project was carried out in 2019: GTTPL

Panaji, Mar 3 (FN Representative) Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited (GTTPL), an Inter State Transmission System project envisaged by the Ministry of Power in 2015 to address Goa’s growing power demand, on Wednesday said that it had proactively initiated the Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) study in 2018 and subsequently published the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP)in 2019 for its transmission line corridor in the protected area of Goa. A statement from the company said Biodiversity Impact Assessment is a decision-support tool that enables biodiversity inclusive development, planning and implementation. As per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, 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 11.54 Ha, the company, during the conceptualization stage of the project in 2018, voluntarily conducted the study anddeveloped the Biodiversity Management Plan to guide its planning and execution.

The BIA/BMPhighlights that the construction process will cause no permanent damage to the environment, and any disruption will be recoverable over the medium term. ”GTTPL is committed to 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 small businessesin 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,” the statement added. Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited (GTTPL) is an inter-state transmission system project envisaged by the Ministry of Power in 2015. The project is made up of five related but functionally independent power elements, as conceptualized by the Ministry of Power. The projects are 400kV D/C Xeldem – Mapusa Transmission Line, 400/220kV Substation at Village Sangod, 220kV Xeldem – Sangod Transmission Line, 400kV D/C Xeldem – Narendra Transmission LILO Line, and 765kV D/CDharamjaigarh – Tamnar Transmission line. On completion, it will form a complete ring – Mapusa – Kolhapur – Narendra – Sangod – Mapusa ensuring reliable power for both North and South Goa districts.