Powergrid Policy For People Hit By Its Projects

The Power Grid Corporation of India has evolved an environmental and social policy to safeguard the interests of people affected by its projects. This is the first policy of its kind by a power organisation in the country.

The key principles of the policy are that the PowerGrid would avoid environmentally and socially sensitive areas while planning its project activities, minimise the impact of project activities in case these have to be taken up in environmentally sensitive areas, and mitigation of any unavoidable negative impacts arising out of its projects. The policy, prepared by PowerGrid and Development Alternatives, will be subject to constant review in tune with its guiding principles.

 

The policy has been outlined under four heads the first which elaborates the environment and social policy of the PowerGrid; the second containing legal enactment, regulations, requirements of multilateral agencies and their implications on transmission projects; the third outlines the environmental and management framework guiding Power Grids projects, while the last section enlists the organisational support required to operationalise the policy.

Power Grid would accord the highest priority and would create and alter organisational structures to absorb and deal with environmental and social concerns.