Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Of
Khopasi Hydropower Project – 2.4 MW, Panauti

Submitted to:
Government of Nepal
Ministry of Forest and Environment
Singhdarbar, Kathmandu
Through
Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation
And
Department of Electricity Development

Submitted by: Prepared

by:

Khopwa hydro Pvt. Ltd.

Bishalnagar, Kathmandu
Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

1 Executive Summary
1.1 Proponent
Khopwa Hydro Pvt. Ltd. is the Proponent of Khopasi Hydropower Project. The detail
name and address of proponent is given below;

The Name and Address of the Proponent

Khopwa Hydro Pvt. Ltd.
Bishalnagar, Kathmandu
Phone number 01-44277, 94815448
Email: Khopwahydro@gmail.com

1.2 Summary of Proposal

The project Khopasi hydropower project is located at Khopasi, Panauti, 35 km east of
Kathmandu. The location coordinate of project is 27°33'41.16" N Latitude and
85°31'58.68" E longitude.

The project is Run-off-River type of project on Roshi Khola river. The powerhouse is
located at Khopasi, Panauti.

2 Main Objective of the Study:

The main objective of the study is to identify the impact on environment and propose
the benefit augmentation measure for beneficial impact and mitigation measure for
the adverse impact.

3 Methods used during the Environmental Study

4 Existing Environmental Condition of the Project Area
5.1. Physical Environment
5.2. Biological Environment
5.3. Socio Economics and Cultural Environment

6. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

6.1. Physical Environment
6.2. Biological Environment
6.3. Socio economic and Cultural Environment
6.4. Environment Enhancement Activities
6.5. Community Support Program (CSP)
7. Alternative Analysis
8. Environmental Management Plan
9. Conclusion

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

Table of Content
s
1 Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER-1.............................................................................................................................................4
1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTION.........................................................4
PREPARING THE REPORT.......................................................................................................................4
1.1. Proponent..............................................................................................................................4
1.2. Institution Responsible for the Preparing Report..................................................................4
1.3. Objectives of EIA Study..........................................................................................................4
1.4. Rationality for conducting EIA................................................................................................5
1.5. Scope of Study.......................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER-2.............................................................................................................................................5
2. INTRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSAL...............................................................................................5
2.1. Background............................................................................................................................5
1.1. Objective of Proposal.............................................................................................................6
1.2. Survey License.......................................................................................................................6
1.3. Project Location.....................................................................................................................6
1.4. Accessibility to the Project Site..............................................................................................6
1.5. Salient Features of the Project...............................................................................................7
1.6. Project Components..............................................................................................................8
1.7. Project Activities....................................................................................................................8
1.8. Construction Planning............................................................................................................8
1.8.1. Land Requirement.............................................................................................................8
1.8.2. Human Resources..............................................................................................................8
2.8.3 Construction Materials Required...........................................................................................8
2.8.4 Construction Schedule..............................................................................................................8
2.8.5 Construction Power Required...................................................................................................8
2.8.6 Camp sites and Bunker house...................................................................................................8
2.8.7 Quarry Sited..............................................................................................................................8
Batching Plant, aggregate crushing and washing facilities.................................................................8
2.8.9 Spoil and Muck disposal Area...................................................................................................8
2.8.10 Stockpiling sites......................................................................................................................8
2.9 River Diversion during Construction................................................................................................9
CHAPTER-3.............................................................................................................................................9

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

3. STUDY METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................9
3.1 Desk Study...................................................................................................................................9
4. References...................................................................................................................................10

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

CHAPTER-1
1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTION
PREPARING THE REPORT
1.1. Proponent
Khopwa Hydro Pvt. Ltd. is the Proponent of Khopasi Hydropower Project. The detail
name and address of proponent is given below;

The Name and Address of the Proponent

Khopwa Hydro Pvt. Ltd.
Bishalnagar, Kathmandu
Phone number 01-44277, 94815448
Email: Khopwahydro@gmail.com

1.2. Institution Responsible for the Preparing Report

Group Four Pvt. Ltd. as a consultant has under taken the Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) study of proposed Khopasi Hydropower Project. The name
and address of the consultant responsible for the preparing of report is given below;

The Name and Address of the Consultant

Group Four Pvt. Ltd.
Koteshwor-32, Kathmandu
Phone: 01-5149111
Email: info.groupfour@gmail.com

1.3. Objectives of EIA Study

The objectives of the EIA study are to identify the potential environmental impacts of
the proposed hydropower project and to formulate strategies to avoid and minimize
adverse impact and enhance the beneficial impacts.
The main objectives of this EIA study are to:
 To collect and document the baseline data on physical, biological, socioeconomic and
cultural environment.
 To identify beneficial and adverse environmental impacts associated to the
proposed project
 To analyze the data and determine the potential adverse and beneficial impacts
in terms of magnitude, extent and duration.
 To assess the alternative analysis and give input on project alternatives on design,
location, technology, time schedule, raw materials etc.
 To prepare mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts and enhance
beneficial impacts
 To develop Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and Environmental
auditing Plan for project construction and operation phase
 To provide platform for public to raise their issues about the implementation of

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

the project.
 To inform decision makers and interested parties about the environmental
implications of the project

1.4. Rationality for conducting EIA

According to the statutory requirement of the Government of Nepal (GoN) defined by

Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1997 in Article 3, and Environment Protection
Rules (EPR), 1997 with all the subsequent amendments the hydropower project with
installed capacity between 1-50 MW requires IEE. The installed capacity of the
proposed project is 2.4 MW which is in between mentioned threshold value and
requires only Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) study. But if the project lies in
and around any protected area, fragile area, buffer zone and sensitive areas as
mentioned in Schedule 2L (3) of EPR 1997, it is mandatory to conduct Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) study and should approve the report from the Ministry of
Forest and Environment.

1.5. Scope of Study

The EIA study that is being carried out is explicitly for the power generation rather
than for the transmission line. A separate EIA study shall be carried out for the
transmission line.

CHAPTER-2

2. INTRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSAL

2.1. Background
Water resources are the major natural resources of Nepal. Hydropower is the one of
the major potential water resources which can boost economy of the country. Nepal
has 83,000 MW theoretical potential, among which 43,000 MW are economically
viable potential (Shrestha, 1966). It has been realized that hydropower can play
dominant role in Nepalese economy, both by providing cost effective environment
friendly power supply to improve energy services and as well as by contributing to
GDP growth by exporting power. In line with the Hydropower Development Policy,
2001 and Water Resources Strategy, 2002, the government of Nepal emphasis to
increase the private sector involvement in the hydropower development for large,
medium and small hydropower projects.

Government of Nepal (GoN) has adopted liberal policy to attract private investors for

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

the development of small hydropower projects. The NEA solely manages the
hydropower industry in Nepal.

Due to the typical hydrological nature of Nepalese rivers having considerably low
discharge during four months in winter season, present power supply is in acute
scarcity leading to severe load-shedding hours during the dry months. Even with the
thermal plants generating the deficit portion of power and some portion being
imported from India, load-shedding during the four winter months is inevitable, for
few years to come, till sufficient hydropower is generated in the country to meet the
growing demand.

To attract private investors towards the development of small hydropower projects,

Government of Nepal has adopted a liberal policy since 1990. Nepal Electricity
Authority (NEA) has also announced its policy to purchase power generated by the
private developers up to 25 MW capacity and two distinct prices for electricity is
fixed for both dry and wet seasons. Banks and financial institutions have also shown
their interest to invest in hydropower projects as priority sector investment. This
scenario has encouraged the private investors to promote small hydropower projects
in Nepal.

Khopwa Hydro Pvt. Ltd. has proposed to develop 2.48 MW installed capacity
hydropower along the Roshi River at Khopasi, Panauti.

1.1. Objective of Proposal

The main objective of the proposal is to develop 2.4 MW Hydropower project along
the Roshi River at Khopasi, Panauti. The project lies within the coordinate
27°33'41.16" N Latitude and 85°31'58.68" E longitude.

The other objectives of the proposal are to construct project facilities during
construction phase of Hydropower project. The proponent shall construct labor
camps, construction yards, stockpiling sites for store the construction materials, muck
disposal sites, quarrying of construction materials, stone crusher and batching plants.

1.2. Survey License

1.3. Project Location
Khopasi Hydropower Project is located on the Roshi River at Panauti municipality in
Kavre district. The project lies within the coordinate 27°33'41.16" N Latitude and
85°31'58.68" E longitude.
1.4. Accessibility to the Project Site
The project site is 35 km far in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, towards East
direction. There is 35 km blacktopped road from Kathmandu to project site along the.

S.N. From To Distance (km) Description

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

1 Kathmandu Banepa 25 Arniko Highway

2 Banepa Khopasi Blacktopped
Total

Fig: Different Components of Hydropower

1.5. Salient Features of the Project

The Khopasi hydropower is a Runoff river scheme. The project was commissioned in
1965 AD and developed jointly by Soviet Union Government and Government of
Nepal.

Table 2: Salient Features of Khopasi Hydropower Project

Type Run off river
Location Panauti Municipality-12, Khopasi
Installed capacity 2.4 MW
Annual average energy 6.75 GWh
Maximum Net head 66m/60m
Average annual Flow 3.2 m^3/s
Live Storage Volume 50,000 m^3
Total Length of waterways 3.721 km
Penstock 1 No., 370m long, 1.4m diameter
Turbine
Number and Type 3, Horizontal Francis
Rated discharge 1.61 m^3/s
Rated Output 0.85 MW
Rated Speed 1000 rpm
Generator

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

Rated output 1000 kVA

Rated Voltage 6.3 kVA
Rated Frequency 50 Hz
Power factor 0.8
Power transformer 1550 kVA, 6.3 kV/33 kV, 3 phase, 2
Nos.
Transmission Line 33 kV, 20 km, single circuit

1.6. Project Components

1.6.1. Reservoir
1.6.2. Intake and Settling Basin
1.6.3. Penstock
1.6.4. Turbine

1.7. Project Activities

The main project activities are given below;
Pre-Construction Work:
This includes feasibility study, environmental study, approval procedures, necessary
agreements, land acquisition/procurement and other necessary procurements, preparing land
for camp facilities, etc.
Construction Work:
The construction work consists of civil construction, hydromechanical works,
electromechanical works and electrical works.
Post Construction Work:
The post construction work includes dismantling of temporary facilities, rehabilitation of land
covered by temporary facilities, termination of land lease contract and handover of the land
back as well as the operation of the project.
1.8. Construction Planning
Following is the requirement of the project in terms of human resources, construction and
generation materials, land and investment.

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

1.8.1. Land Requirement

1.8.2. Human Resources
2.8.3 Construction Materials Required
2.8.4 Construction Schedule
2.8.5 Construction Power Required
2.8.6 Camp sites and Bunker house
2.8.7 Quarry Sited
Batching Plant, aggregate crushing and washing facilities
2.8.9 Spoil and Muck disposal Area
2.8.10 Stockpiling sites

2.9 River Diversion during Construction

2.10 Construction and operation Strategy
2.10.1 Overall Project Implementation Strategy
2.10.2 Construction Methods

CHAPTER-3

3. STUDY METHODOLOGY

The EIA process of proposed 2.4 MW Khopasi Hydropower Project has followed EPR
(1997), EPA (1997), National EIA guidelines (1993) and other sector wise policy of the
government which are attracted by the project. The adopted methods for this EIA study is
based on approved Scoping and ToR document approved by Ministry of Forests and
Environment. The following methods are adopted for data collection and prediction and
evaluation of possible impact from implementation of the project.
3.1 Desk Study
Review of the approved Scoping document and ToR, Project Feasibility Report, District/
Village Profile, Topographical Maps (1:25000 and 1: 50,000) /Google Earth maps of the
project area, meteorological records of the nearest station were done before field

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Khopasi Hydropower Project (2.4MW)

investigation. Cadastral map was also used to collect the information about land and land
owners. Significant environmental issues and missing data were then identified and primary
data were collected to verify the secondary data and to fill the information gaps. The data
collection aimed primarily at describing the initial state of the area, as precisely as possible,
before the project is implemented.
3.2 Delineation of Impact Area
3.2.1 Direct Impact Area (DIA)
3.2.2 Indirect Impact Area

4. References
 https://www.nea.org.np/generation/index.php?page=powerhouse&pid=9

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