Under the provisions of MOU signed in 1990 between Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) on behalf of the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun in 1990 for conducting floral and faunal carrying capacity studies of Narmada Sagar Project and Omkareshwar Project, the Wildlife Institute of India was also required to provide a forest scheduling plan for Omkareshwar Project (Annexure - I).

After careful consideration of the scope of work to be undertaken by WII under the consultancy offer of NVDA, it was felt that the key technical output of consultancy assignment awarded to WII at that point of time should be a comprehensive assessment of ecological and biodiversity impacts of Narmada Sagar and Omkareshwar projects. The study should also include an analysis of the likely changes in socio-economic profiles of the two project areas that may have a bearing on the ecological profile of the area in the event of the implementation of these projects.

Additionally, it was also felt necessary that the EIA report of WII should incorporate an effective mitigation plan for addressing project related ecological impacts. Accordingly, based on four years of extensive and intensive studies, in the two project sites, WII prepared the report entitled ‘Impact assessment studies of Narmadasagar and Omkareshwar Projects on Flora and Fauna with Attendant Human Aspects’ as a key component of the EIA documentation submitted to MOE&F for environmental decision making. The decision to prepare the forest scheduling plan was deferred until it would become a requirement in the event of the project implementation subsequent to its approval from the environmental angle.

The proposal for Omkareshwar Multipurpose Project, Madhya Pradesh was considered by MoE&F from the environmental angle. Environmental Clearance was accorded to the project vide the MoE&F letter no.J11016/5/84-IA-I dated 13th October 1993 subject to implementation of the conditions specified in the letter for enforcing mitigation measure pari-pasu with the project construction (Annexure - II). The approval for diversion of forest was also subsequently granted.