Inside Pages9Final.indd - Ministry of Power

Management and 18001 for Occupational Health & Safety.
Independent and internationally accredited external
agency audits these systems regularly.
POWERGRID’s developmental activities have negligible
environmental and social impact owing to very nature of
its activities and proactive approach. In the year 2004,
POWERGRID has upgraded its Environmental and Social
Policy and Procedures (ESPP) evolved initially in the
year 1998, through an open and transparent process of
National Level Workshop in association with multilateral
funding agencies, concerned Ministries of Govt. of India,
NGOs and public consultation with wider section of
people in the Regions to ensure that its activities has least
impacts on environment and socio-economic fabric of the
communities.
The ESPP describes POWERGRID’s approach and
commitment to deal with environmental and social issues
relating to its transmission projects, lays its management
procedures and protocol to mitigate the same. The ESPP
includes framework for identification, assessment, and
management of environmental and social concerns at
both organizational and project levels.
The ESPP outlines POWERGRID’s commitment to the
goal of sustainable development through conservation of
natural resources, continually improving its management
system, accessing specialist knowledge of management of
significant environmental and social issues and introducing
State-of-the-Art and internationally proven technologies
while strictly following the basic principles of Avoidance,
Minimization and Mitigation. POWERGRID is meticulously
following ESPP in every step of project implementation
to tackle environmental and social issues effectively.
Rehabilitation Action Plans (RAP) & Environmental
Assessment Management Plan (EAMP) are prepared,
implemented within first 12 months of construction period
for all projects. Besides, implementation is monitored by
the highest level of the hierarchy and feedback is obtained
for continuous improvement.
POWERGRID maintains highest standards of corporate
responsibility not only towards its employees but also
to the consumers, society and the entire environment
in which it operates, also shouldering community
responsibility through various community development
MINISTRY OF POWER
activities in areas around its establishments. It promotes
socio-economic development and enriches the quality
of life of the community through initiatives taken towards
community empowerment by way of providing basic
infrastructure facilities, relief and restoration work during
natural calamities, in-house social clubs, social and cultural
activities in the vicinity of its establishments by providing
education to poor children, organizing health awareness/
check-up camp, sponsoring local religious/sports activity
etc. most importantly through people’s participation.
Initiatives like adoption of innovative tower structure
designs and multi-circuit towers for reduction in Right of
Way, installation of tall towers (75 mt.) to minimise impact
on flora & fauna in ecologically sensitive areas, land
management, massive plantation, provision for rain water
collection and harvesting, Institutional development of its
staff, Contractors and others associated with its operations
and activities to maintain high level of care consistent with
national regulations and international norms, etc. are
continuous endeavors of POWERGRID.
Emergency Restoration
POWERGRID, consciously endeavours to discharge its
broader social responsibilities. It has taken many steps
which include faster restoration of transmission system
belonging to State Power Utilities, which are damaged
during Natural calamities like flood, earthquake, cyclones,
etc. POWERGRID demonstrated its competence in
restoring power in emergency through deployment of
Emergency Restoration System (ERS) during the Gujarat
cyclone in 1998, Orissa super cyclone in 1999, Gujarat
earthquake in 2001 and Tsunami in 2004, snow avalanche
in J & K in 2005. The efforts were applauded by one and
all and the Hon’ble Prime Minister appreciated the efforts
of POWERGRID while dedicating the reconstructed substations
to the people of Gujarat.
Transparency in operation
In POWERGRID, System & Procedure Manuals have
been developed for most of the functional areas like
Construction, O&M, Human Resource, Quality, etc. and
well defined “Works & Procurement Policy and Procedure”
(WPP).
POWERGRID is the first utility in Indian power sector to
develop Environmental and Social Policy & Procedures
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