Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation

Development of Greenfield International Airport

at Bhiwadi,

Tree Cutting and Planting of Trees November 2018

(A Government of Enterprise) Airports Authority of India RITES BHAWAN, 1, SECTOR – 29, (A Miniratna - Category -1 Public Sector Enterprise) Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan – 122 001 Ph: 0124-2818732, Fax: 0124-2571660 Safdarjung, – 110 003 Ph: 011-24632950 E mail: [email protected], [email protected] Web: www.aai.aero Web: www.rites.com

Development of Greenfield International Airport at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan

1 TREE CUTTING AND PLANTING OF TREES

1.1. INTRODCUTION

The proposed Greenfield airport, bordering on the proposed Bhiwadi – Tapookra - (BTK) Industrial Complex has been proposed by DMICDC in relation to the Kushkhera –Bhiwadi – Neemrana Investment Region. An area of 2058 hectare has been earmarked for the Bhiwadi International Airport. The land proposed for the airport is predominantly agricultural. The land has been identified for the airport based on the pre-feasibility study conducted by Airports Authority of India in consideration of the operational requirements.

The airport is proposed to be developed in Phases to handle an ultimate capacity of approx. 80 million passengers in future, with two parallel runways. The runway is planned to accommodate Airbus 380 type aircraft. Besides the runway, the airport will be provided with other facilities such as connecting taxiway, apron, air traffic control tower, fire stations, electrical sub-stations, refueling facilities, hangar and maintenance facilities, flight catering, terminal buildings to handle international and domestic passengers and cargo and other infrastructure facilities. The airport will be equipped with Navigational Aids for all weather operations.

1.2. ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

Ecological systems show complex inter-relationships between biotic and abiotic components including dependence, competition and mutualism. Biotic components comprise of both plant and animal communities, which interact not only within and between themselves but also with the abiotic components viz. physical and chemical components of the environment. An ecological survey of the core zone and buffer zone (10 km radius from periphery of the mining lease) was carried out for flora and fauna.

1.2.1 Natural Vegetation

The Study area follows the agrarian ecosystem. The study area (10km radius) around the project site mainly comprises of terrestrial ecosystem (agricultural land, wasteland and barren land). Study area is surrounded by rain fed double crop agricultural land. The agriculture fields are irrigated by bore wells using sprinklers.

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Development of Greenfield International Airport at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan

1.2.2 Forest

During the field survey and discussion with range forest officer of Kishangarh Range, it is found that there is no forest land found within the proposed Airport site. Forest patches within the 10 km of study area are given in Table 1.1.

TABLE 1.1: FOREST TYPE WITHIN 10 KM OF THE STUDY AREA

S. No Type of forest Distance (m) Direction

1. Bhalaki Protected forest 5400 E

2. Khidarapur Protected forest 5941 E

3. Khidarapur (Open Scrub Protected forest) 6357 ENE

4. Reserve forest 8704 SE

5. Damdama Protected forest 9928 SSE

6. Milakpur Turk Protected forest 9985 SE

7. Jhajawa Reserve forest 8086 W

1.2.3 Flora

The tree survey has been conducted around the 10 km radius from the proposed Airport site. The predominant trees found in the study area are Amla (Embilica officinalis), Siris (Albizzia sp.), Babul (Acacia sp.), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Aam (Mangifera indica), Babool (Acacia niotica), Bakain (Melia azedarach), Papdi (Pongamia pinnata). No endemic, threatened or endangered species are found or sited in the project site. Exotic species like Faras are also observed during field survey. There are 4456 trees found in proposed Airport project site. Out of these trees, about 1659 number of trees to be removed from the project site in Phase I implementation of the BIA and remaining trees need to be removed in Phase II implementation.

Biodiversity around Agro Ecosystem within 10 km radius of the proposed Airport site: The study area having non-urbanized area such as villages, agricultural lands, grazing lands. Plant species exists only near the villages, roadsides and agricultural bunds. The major agricultural crops are wheat, cotton and mustard, the general agriculture crops in the study area. Occasionally rice is grown in the study area.

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Development of Greenfield International Airport at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan

1.2.4 Fauna

Primary faunal studies have been have carried out in and around project site, open area, wasteland and near vegetation in the study area. Due to these agricultural crops the area supports a variety of bird species mainly those feed on grains and fruits. Species of bird such as blue rock pigeon, house sparrow, dove, myna, parakeet and bulbul were generally seen in the area. Agricultural activities like ploughing and digging exposed the underlying insects and earthworms which attract bird species like cattle egret, peacock, drongo and bee-eater. These activities also attract mouse and squirrel to feed growing crops. Due to this the area promotes many snakes such as cobra, rat snake, Russels viper and many species of lizards.

Present conditions of the area do not support higher mammals but jackal and Neelgai are found at some part of the study area. Animals like hare, mouse, fox and squirrel are present in the study area. The faunal elements commonly reported in the study area were categorized as per conservation status of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

1.2.5 Protected Areas

There are no protected areas like National park /Wildlife Sanctuary/Biosphere reserve found in the 10 km radius from the project site.

1.2.6 Rare /Endangered /Endemic/Threatened species

Floristic studies primary survey has been conducted during the study period once in pre monsoon season in the month of January & February 2018, to know the presence of any endangered/ threatened /endemic plant species in plant area and surrounding 10 km radius. The study area did not record the presence of any critically threatened species. The records of Botanical Survey of India and Forest department also did not indicate presence of any endangered and or vulnerable species in this area.

1.3. MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR PROTECTION OF ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

The core zone of the Airport is the area of the airport which is 2058 ha, and the core zone will be well protected with fencing along all sides of the Airport. In core zone there is no endangered species of flora observed during primary field survey, hence no potential significant impact on flora. Fauna is not stationary as they always move from one place to another. Peacock, Jackal, cows, buffalos and goats are observed in the buffer zone of the Airport during field visits. The proposed site does not include any migratory route of animals.

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Development of Greenfield International Airport at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan

1.3.1 Conservation Plan for Flora

A. Compensatory Afforestation

Total 4456 trees need to be cut/ removed for the proposed development, out of which 1659 trees need to be cut/ removed in phase I. Three samplings need to be planted for each tree cut as per Forest department of Rajasthan; hence 13,368 samplings need to be planted in an area of 12.15 ha (Phase I: 4977 saplings in an area of 4.52 ha; and Ultimate Phase: 8391 saplings in an area of 7.63 ha). The total cost for tree compensation in both the phases will be Rs. 179.37 Lakh (Rs. 66.78 Lakh for Phase I and Rs. 112.59 Lakh for Ultimate Phase). The proposed civil structures within the Airport will be designed in such a way that the number of trees to be cut during the construction will be minimized. Compensatory plantation will be carried out as per the State Government regulations.

B. Green Belt Development:

Apart from compensatory plantation, additional plantation has been proposed in the form of greenbelt development. The Greenbelt/landscaping at the Airport area will result in harmonising and amalgamating the physical structures of proposed buildings with surrounding environment but also acts as pollution sink/noise barrier. The plants not only serve various direct environmental facilities, but also have indirect positive environmental impacts such as reduction in overall energy use in the buildings.

Greenbelt will check soil erosion, make the ecosystem more diversified and functionally more stable, make the climate more conducive and restore balance. The entire land sites subject to use of construction related activities should be restored to the original setting by restoration and landscaping of the sites. Landscaping of the areas within the premises of Airport shall be taken up during construction period. Overall project area shall be restored to the natural setting in an environmentally sound manner.

The area reserved for green belt development for the proposed BIA is 1165.10 ha for all phases which are 56.61% of total project area. Out of which, 237.98 ha green belt will be developed in Phase I which is 11.56% of total area. The remaining green area will be developed in other phases. In Phase I, Airside green area development will be 95.57 ha and city side green area development will be 142.41 ha. It is proposed to plant trees at commercial area development at BIA. An area of 15 ha is considered for tree plantation in the phase I development. In this area 16500 plants will be planted and total funds allotted for plantation is Rs. 247.50 Lakh including 5 years maintenance. The suggested species for Green belt / landscaping at airport are given in Table 1.2.

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Development of Greenfield International Airport at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan

TABLE 1.2: SUGGESTED SPECIES FOR LANDSCAPE AT AIRPORT

S. NO COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME GREEN BELT TREES 1 Devils tree Alstonia scholaris 2 Suru Casuarinas equsetifolia ORNAMENTAL TREES 3 Kaniar Bauhinia purpurea 4 Golenchi/Golachin Plumeria alba 5 Cheel Callistemon lanceolatus 6 king Sago Palm Cycas revoluata 7 Date sugar palm Phonix sylvestris 8 Asoka Polyalthia longifolia SHRUBS 9 Kuppi Acalypha hispida 10 jhinti Barleria cristata 11 Yellow orchid plant Bauhinia tomentosa, 12 chhoti-ari, sankuppi Clerodendron inerme 13 Nilkanta Duranta plumieri 14 Thalkamal Hamelia patens 15 Gurhal Hibiscus rosasinensis 16 bedina Mussaenda erthyrophylla 17 Kaner Nerium oleander 18 Lalpata Poinsettia pulcherrima 19 Piliya Tecoma stans 20 Peeli kaner Thevetia nereifolia 21 garden croton Codioeum sp 22 Lettuce plant Pisonia alba CLIMBERS 23 Pilaghanti Allamanda cathartica 24 Shtawar Asparagus densiflorus 25 Baganvilas Bougainvillea sp 26 Koyala Clitorea ternatea 27 Kamlata Ipomoea palmate 28 Madhu Malati Quisqualis indica FOWERING PLANTS 29 Gul-mehndi Impatiens balsamina 30 Lalmurga Celosia sp 31 Chandramallika Chrysanthemum sp 32 Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus

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Development of Greenfield International Airport at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan

S. NO COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME 33 Gul-e-makhmal Gomphrena globosa 34 Jhenduphool Tagetus erecta 35 Petunia Petunia hybrida 36 Khursa Portulaca grandiflora 37 Sefakuss Salvia splendens 38 Pinja phool Solidago Canadensis 39 Sadabahar Vinca rosea 40 Jhinia Zinnia elegans

The species recommended for turfing are given in Table 1.3. The site for grass turf to be selected as follows: 1. Open sunny places and preferably with little quantity of shade.

2. Free from hazards like grazing and use of pathways

3. Site should not be under the tree canopy as the litter affects the quality of turf grass

TABLE 1.3: SPECIES FOR LAWN (TURF) GRASSES

S. NO COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME TEXTURE SITUTATION 1. Cynodon dactylon Hariyali (or) Arugu Medium Suitable for open sunny location; (or) Doob grass drought tolerant 2. Stenotaphrum St. Augustine grass Coarse Suitable for shady situation with secundatum frequent irrigations 3. Zoysia japonica Japan grass Coarse Can grow well in poor sandy soil and suited for open sunny situation 4. Paspalum Paspalum grass Medium Suitable for open sunny situation, vaginatum highly drought tolerant

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