As many as 7,500 trees will be axed to pave the way for the 775 MW Luhri Hydroelectric Project being constructed by the public sector Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam on the Sutlej near Nirath downstream Rampur. In all, 271 hectares of forest land, including 89 hectares for underground works, will be diverted for the project. Besides, 110 hectares of private land will also be acquired. The state government has already recommended the case of diversion of forest land and the matter is pending with the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests. General Manager of the project SK Sharma said the trees were mostly of “broadleaved species of class IV and class V” and not a single tree of deodar or other important conifer species, except a few pine trees, was involved. The process for obtaining the environment clearance is also under way and a public hearing has already been conducted for the purpose. It will be the first hydroelectric project to introduce the concept of “payment for environment services” (PES) in the country. The PES has been made an integral part of the catchment area treatment (CAT) plan for the project. The project involves the construction of an 86-m-high diversion dam at Nirath, about 100 km from here, which will create a 6.80 km reservoir at the site. It will have the unique distinction of having 38.14-km twin head race tunnels, the longest in the world. Water will be diverted after sedimentation of particles of 0.1 mm and bigger size through twin circular tunnels, each of 9 m diameter, on the right bank of the river. As the twin head race tunnels are very long, engineers have proposed eight adits for carrying out speedy excavations. The twin tunnels with a design discharge of 480 cumecs will carry the water to the underground power house at Marola village on the Sunni-Sainj road, about 60 km from here, creating a net head of 181 m. The project is estimated to cost Rs 6,100 crore at the December 2010 price level and it will generate 3,142 million units of power annually. The generation cost will be Rs 4.90 per unit with 12 per cent free power and the levelised tariff will come to Rs 4.51 per unit. The project will take nine years for completion.