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GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY FOR REPAIRING THE EXISTING GHAT ROAD FROM VALLAKKADAVU TO MULLAI DAM APPROACH ROAD AND PATHWAY TO BABY DAM.

EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PWD, WRD. ENVIRONMENTAL CELL DIVISION, MADURAI

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY FOR REPAIRING THE EXISTING GHAT ROAD FROM VALLAKKADAVU TO MULLAI PERIYAR DAM APPROACH ROAD AND PATHWAY TO BABY DAM.

Report prepared by

Er. J. SAJAN Executive Engineer, PWD, WRD, Madurai

Er.B.RAMASUBRAMANIAN , Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD,WRD, Madurai

Er. M.DHANASEKARA PANDIAN, Assistant Engineer, PWD, WRD, Madurai

Date of field visit on 07.06.2016

Report prepared on June 2016

Report transmitted to the Executive Engineer, Periyar Dam Special Division, Cumbum, on June 2016

Executive Engineer,PWD,WRD. Environmental Cell Division, Madurai,

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Environmental Impact Assessment study for repairing the existing Ghat Road from Vallakkadavu to Mullai Periyar Dam approach road and pathway to Baby dam.

(1) Details of the Project

Repairing the existing Ghat Road from Vallakkadavu to Mullai Periyar Dam:

Mullai Periyar dam constructed, owned, operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu, as per the Lease Deed of 1886 entered into between the Maharaja of – and the Madras State, now the State of and State of Tamil Nadu. The Dam is located in the of Kerala. The land route available to reach Mullai Periyar Dam site is through the existing Vandiperiyar – Vallakadavu – Dam site passing through the forest area of Kerala. A map showing the location of the Dam and the approach road is annexed as Annexure – 1. This approach road is being used since for long to transport men, materials and machineries to the Dam site. When grouting the Dam was done during 1930-35 and in 1961- 65, and when the Dam was strengthened from 1980 to 1994, this road was used to transport heavy machineries also. The officers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala State are also using this road to reach the Dam site as and when required. This is the only road through land to access the Dam site and it forms an important link to the Dam and needs to be strengthened and made an all weather access road so as to reach the Dam during emergency. With regard to the safety of the Dam also this road should be strengthened.

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The existing Water Bound Macadam road was earlier repaired by the Government of Tamil Nadu during the years 1985 - 86, 1989 -1990, 1992-1993, 1997- 98 & 1998 -1999.

However, later when the officials of the State of Kerala obstructed and prevented certain maintenance and repair works including repairing the road from Mullai Periyar to Vallakadavu approach road (Length – 4.75 km & Width – 3.5 m), the State of Tamil Nadu had to file an I.A on 02.03.2012 (I.A. No. 22 of 2012 in Original Suit No. 3 of 2006) before the Hon’ble Supreme Court on this issue among others. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in its Order dated 23.07.2012 directed that subject to grant of clearance by the MoEF and other Statutory Authorities concerned, the State of Tamil Nadu is permitted to repair the road from Mullai Periyar Dam to Vallakadavu approach road.

This road has been severely affected due to rain and frequent usage. There is lot of pot holes in the road. Lorries and dippers etc. are finding it difficult to transport materials through this road.

It is proposed to repair the road by clearing shrubs, filling the pot holes with the locally available material, laying soling stones of 15 cm size, providing two layers of 75 mm stones, consolidating as water bound macadam, and providing ways for draining rain water by fixing 600 mm RCC Hume pipes with RR masonry head walls. The cost of the estimate is worked out as Rs.1.17 crore.

The EIA Study

The Executive Engineer,PWD,WRD., Environmental Cell Division, WRD, PWD, Thallakulam, Madurai took up the Environmental Impact Assessment study as per the standard TOR, made a field visit on 07.06.2016 along with the project officials who

H:\DOWNLOAD FILES\EIA Report 31.08.2016.Doc 5 are in charge of operation and maintenance of the Dam and a study made related to the type of works to be carried out, as per the Details of the project, viz., road repair work mentioned above, and its impact. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) has been prepared and the same is enclosed.

A. Physical and Chemical Environmental Geological and Geophysical Aspects and Seismo – Techtonics

The greater part of Periyar Basin is covered by rocks of Archean group representing Pre-Cambrian formations of which the gneisses, schists and charnockites are predominant. Gneisses rock consists of very heterogeneous mixture of different types of granites intruded into schistose rocks after the latter were folded crumpled and metamorphosed.

The various geological investigations so far done in the Mullai Periyar Dam area are listed below:

i) In the History of the Periyar Project by A.T.Mackenzie, April 1898 it has been reported that the rock, both in the river – bed and on the watershed ridge, is a hard sienite, free from fissures, and suitable both as a foundation for the dam and a material for its construction.

ii) The Empowered Committee in 2011 requested the State of Tamil Nadu to get a report from GSI. The officials of the GSI visited the area and carried out field checks to look for any available ground signature of various lineaments and faults identified earlier. The GSI in its Report has concluded as below:

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i. Lineaments studied within a radial distance of 25 km from the dam site have been classified into six sets, based on their orientation. The status, recency and extension of these lineaments were though attempted during the study, no conclusive evidence could be recorded. Limited rock exposures, deep weathering and paucity of good road networks proved to be major constraints, in the quest.

ii. Only 3 prominent faults have been identified in the area, which are quite far from the dam site.

iii. E-W trending lineament at the dam site was studied in greater detail and the existence or otherwise of a fault at the dam site could not be proved. It is quite likely that poor core recovery in BH no. 10, between 46.45 m and 51.10 m depth, at the new dam site could be due to an intersection of a weak zone in the form of jointed and weathered rock.

iv. Prominent fault of seismogenic nature which could affect civil engineering constructions, in the area, has neither been confirmed nor apprehended from the present studies.

v. The region north of the dam has witnessed the occurrence of moderate magnitude earthquakes which have caused no damage. The dam site and the region sough of the dam are free from seismicity as per the available records.

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vi. The dam is located in Zone III of the Seismic Zones, close to its contact with Zone II in the Seismic Zonation Map of (IS 1893 Part I-2002).

iii) Further the Scientists of GSI installed a portable Seismograph at the Mullai Periyar Dam site nearer to the Inspection Bungalow on 10.01.2012 and they also installed similar type of instruments in 6 more locations, viz., Idukki (Pinavu), , Rajapalayam (Vaippar Basin), Uthamapalayam, Nedungandam and Pamba, and made observations, and they were removed by the end of January, 2012.

GSI concluded that the area is characterized by low to moderate level of seismic activity.The proposed work is only to repair the existing road and hence no study is required now on the Geological and Seismo-Techtonics aspects. No quarrying work is going to be done within the forest area.

The environment of existing ghat road is geographically located from latitude 9031,56,,N & longitude 77008,42,,E @ mean sea level of 876 M. at Periyar Dam (maintained by Tamilnadu PWD) to latitude 9031,27,,N & longitude 77006,56,,E @ mean sea level of 872 M. at Vallakkadavu (VandiPeryar- Highway 183A), passing through the forest lands of Kerala state for a length of 4.75 km. and crossing Periyar river at latitude 9031,43,,N & longitude 77007,49,,E @ mean sea level of 844 M. in hilly terrain.

Topography of physical environment will not be changed by the proposed repair-work over the old existing ghat road. No earth soil is excavated.

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In respect of Geology aspects, all building materials, mainly broken stones will be obtained from the approved quarries outside the forest lands.

Water is required for dust settlement, consolidation, and compaction and curing.

Chemically good quality of surface water without any pollution is available in Periyar River/ Dam. No ground water is required for the works.

Meteorology, Air and Noise:

This work is not going to change any Meteorology aspects. During the working period, which is likely to take about 30 working days, the lorry and road rollers to be used are common type vehicles, used for village roads.

Already inspection vehicles like jeeps are plying on the existing road for many years and the environment is familiar the existing road. Hence the climate will not be changed. Month wise rainfall and temperature are also furnished.

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Typical Noise Levels in dBA of the following activities: Grading and Clearing 84, Roller 73-75, Dump trucks 83-94, Concrete mixer 74-88 Noise impact during construction phase is low. Moreover smooth surface formed by the proposed repair work will reduce the sound of the vehicular traffic.

Soil Characteristics:

Forest area

This is not an irrigation project to study the changes to be made in the command area for making suitable changes in the soil type for the proposed crop. This is only a road repair work. This work will not change the existing soil characteristics in the area.

Remote Sensing and GIS Studies

The existing road is to be repaired. There is no change in alignment of the road. There is no proposal to change the configuration of the area. Hence, Remote Sensing and GIS Studies are not required.

Water Quality

The road repair work is not going to change the water quality. Hence, no study done on the water quality. However, it is for information that the quality of this Periyar reservoir is being monitored periodically and the quality of the water is good.

B. Water Environment & Hydrology

This road repair work is not going to change either water environment or hydrology of the area where the 4.75 km road

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exists and there will be no impact to environment & hydrology by carrying out the repairs to this existing road.

C. Biological Environment

By repairing this road which is being used, there will be not any biological environmental impact.

Ecology of both flora and fauna on either side of the road will not be affected. Weeds growth is seen on the road, which is not properly maintained. Animals on either side of the road are familiar with the sound and emissions of vehicles plying for inspection of Periyar dam.

D. Aquatic Ecology

Aquatic ecology will not be affected by repairing this existing road.

E. Irrigation and Cropping Pattern

Not applicable. This is only a repair work of an existing Road.

F. Socio-Economic

The road repair work will improve the mobility of transportation

of materials and thereby reduce the maintenance cost of the

vehicle used for transportation of materials.

No people are allowed to live on either side of the road in the

forest area, protected by Kerala Govt.

7 Impact Prediction and Mitigation Measures

Air Environment

The working period is from 9.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. of about 30 days to repair this road.

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In this period the repair work will be done in a controlled manner. There will be only a very minimal air environmental change and the repair activities will be controlled by watering, since the repair work itself is Water Bound Macadam (WBM) road work.

Based on the mitigations suggested by Ministry of Environment & Forests, the speed of the vehicles will be controlled to 20 kmph to reduce the emissions by a large extent and care should be taken to keep all material storages adequately covered so that they are not exposed to situations where winds on site could lead to dust/ particulate emissions. Watering will be done in construction phase for reducing dust.

Water Environment

This work will not change the water environment.

Land Environment

There will not be any change in the land use and hence in its environment, since the existing road is going to be repaired.

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Biological Environment

Very minimal shrub jungle grown in the sides of the existing road is to be removed, which have come up recently.

Socio-economic Aspects

This will help in transportation of materials and will help to commute from Vandi Periyar to Dam site on land for the , Forest Department officials & Irrigation Department officials of the State of Tamil Nadu to travel and the commutation by road is necessary at times of emergencies and flood management.

8. Environment Impact Analysis

Guidelines issued by the Forest Department will be followed. There will not be any measurable environmental impact by this road repair work.

9. Environment Management Plan (EMP)

Not required for repairing the existing road.

Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan

Sedimentation Survey was done in 2011 by Central Water Power Research Station (CWPRS), using Integrated Bathymetry System (IBS) to assess the rate of siltation. Since, the catchment of Mullai Periyar Reservoir is a thick dense forest, siltation is found to be very less.

However, this has no influence for the road repair and hence not required for this road repair work.

The proposed rain water pipes newly across the road at steep- slope locations will cause positive impact for easy drainage of catchment area.

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Command Area Development (CAD) Plan

Not applicable for this road repair work.

Compensatory Afforestation

Not required, since it is only repairing the existing road and it is not going to be widened.

Biodiversity and Wild Life Conservation & Management Plan

Not required for this road repair work.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Plan

Repairing the existing road does not involve displacement of any person and family and hence no resettlement and rehabilitation is required for this road repair work.

Plan for Green Belt Development

Not required since this is repairing the existing road in the forest area.

Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance Manual for HIGHWAYS by Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, NEW DELHI suggested that Development of green belt on either side of the highway consisting of a variety of trees would help to enrich ecology of the area and add to aesthetics. Hence, it is suggested to provide newly bio-fencing by Agave plantation on either side of the existing road with gaps for crossing animals safely (Details are enclosed in Annexure)

Reservoir Rim Treatment Plan

Since this is only a road repair work, no Reservoir Rim Treatment plan is required.

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Plan for Land Restoration and landscaping

No plan for Land Restoration and landscaping is required for this road repair work. Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance Manual for HIGHWAYS suggested that engineering measures for slope protection and erosion prevention should be considered. Rain water pipes are proposed. Agave plantation is planned for reducing the speed of rain water flow during the crossing of the road. It is suggested, further, that bed pitching with gravel packing on the road, instead of WBM @ steep locations.

Fisheries Conservation & Management Plan

Does not arise for this road repair work.

Plan for Restoration of quarry sites

Not required. Since the material required for the repair work is planned to be conveyed from the State of Tamil Nadu far away from the existing road which is to be repaired.

Study of Design Earthquake Parameters

Not required for repairing the existing road. However, the area falls under Zone – III as per I.S Code: 1893-2002, Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures. The Expert Committee which made a study on seismic safety in the dam area has reported that the recent earthquake activity in the dam area is found to be of no consequence to the seismic safety.

Dam Break Analysis and Disaster Management Not required Plans for this Water and Air Quality & Noise Management Plans road repair work. Ground Water Management Plan &

Public Health Delivery Plan

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Labour Management Plan A Labour Management plan will be prepared according to minimum requirement. Since the labours are engaged on contract basis, the relevant contract conditions are enclosed separately in Annexure.

Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Plan Facilities required for the workers during road repair work will be provided by mobile toilets. The related contract conditions are enclosed separately in Annexure. All materials conveyed to the site will fully be utilized by the contractor and any waste, if generated, will taken by the contractor.

Local Area Development Plan Not required for this road repair work. Energy Conservation Measures Does not arise. Environmental Monitoring Programme

Not required.

However, the Project Authorities have to follow the following conditions prescribed by the Wild Life Board during the execution of the road repair work.

(i) Instruments/machinery that cause noise shall be avoided so as not to disturb the wildlife. (ii) The work should remain suspended between 5.00 PM and 8.00 AM on all days and workers should leave the place before 6.00 PM every day after work. (iii) Camping of the workers shall not be permitted inside the Protected Area/work site and it shall be illegal to cook

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ANNEXURE - Agave Plantation

Agaves are succulent plants with no stems and thick leaves for water preservation having big and strong thrones, which prevent animals to cross the existing road. They require no maintenance as they are drought resistant and can survive without any water or rains. In addition to it, we are one of the most dominant huge agave plants suppliers in India. Agave leaves are useful to manufacture of ropes. One more great advantage is soil erosion control, once the Agave planted no worry about soil erosion.

Agave syrup has been marketed as a "healthful" sweetener.

The right time for Agave (sisal) planting is 20-30 days ahead of the rainy season. Agave plantation can be done either in single row or in double row. Where spacing of plant to plant is 1m and row to row is 2m. The plant generally grows up to 100 leaves, indicating its time of harvest. Leaves are generally ready for harvest after 2 ½ -3 years from planting. The sisal plant yields productive fibre- bearing leaves for about 8-10 years in its life span of 10-12 years. Cost of one Agave plant including all charges without transportation charges is about Rs.4.00 only.

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ANNEXURE – Road Works Reference: Extracts of Tamil Nadu PWD Building Practice Volume II (contract conditions) Page no: 137 chapter10.0 Water Bound macadam Road 10.1 Surface water bound macadam Well tempered clay bound (or)fillets about 15cm wide and to the required height shall be formed if the road road side steeps do not confirm the spread metal. 10.2 Preparation of Sub grade, Sub base (or) base: In case of existing roads the surface shall be carried and reshaped to the required camber, grade and shape. 10.3 Spreading Coarse aggregate: The coarse aggregate shall be spread uniformly and evenly upon the prepared in required quantities from stack piles along the side of the road way. 10.4 Dry Rolling: Immediately following the spreading of the coarse aggregates rolling shall be started with 3 wheeled power rollers of 6 to 10 tonne capacity (or) tandem roller(or) equivalent vibratory roller. The weight of the roller shall be depending upon the type of the aggregate and be indicated by the Executive Engineer. 10.4.1 Except on super elevated portions where the rolling shall be proceed from inner edge to outer rolling shall be begin from the edges to the centre. 10.4.2 During rolling slightly sprinkling of water may be done if necessary. 10.4.3 The rolled surface shall be checked transversely and longitudinally with templates. 10.5 The screenings shall be spread uniformly in successive thin layers in three (or) more operations to fill all voids. 10.6 After the screening have been applied the surface shall be copiously sprinkled with water ,swept and rolled .care shall be taken to see that the base (or) sub grade does not get damaged due to addition of excessive quantities of water during construction . 10.7 Application of binding material The binding material shall be applied successively in two (or) more thin layers at as low and uniform rate. 10.8 Setting and drying After the final compaction of WBM course, the road shall be allowed to dry over night. No traffic shall be allowed on the road until the macadam has set.

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11.0 Unsurfaced Water bound macadam 11.1 Application of screenings The rest of the voids other than screening shall be filled with filter material. 11.2 Wet Rolling After the application of screening and dry rolling, filter material shall be applied at a uniform and slow rate in two (or) more successive thin layer. 11.2.1 After the final compaction of the course, the road shall be allowed to dry overnight and the surface is still damp, a layer of sand (or) quarry dust, grit etc. about 6mm thick shall be spread on the surface, lightly sprinkled with water ,if necessary and rolled.

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ANNEXURE

Reference: Extracts of PWD Building Practice Volume II (contract conditions) Page no: 344, 350 to Page 351

Model Rules for the Provision of Health and Sanitary Arrangements for Workers Employed by the PWD and Highways and Rural Works Department and their Contractor

1. Application: The rules shall apply to all building and construction works incharge of PWD. 2. Definition: Work place means average of 50 (or) more workers employed. Large work place means average of 500 or more workers employed. 3. First Aid: At the work site there shall be maintained in a readily accessible place first aid appliances and medicines including on adequate supply of sterilized dressing and sterilized cotton wool. 4. Drinking water: Water of good quality fit for drinking purposes shall be provided for the work people on a scale of not less than 15 litre per head per day. Every water supply storage shall be at a distance of not less than 15 m from any lateral, dry (or) any other source of Pollution. 5. Washing and Bathing Places: Adequate washing and bathing places shall be provided separately for men and women. 6. Latrines and Urinals: Where the number of persons employed within 50-2 seats, 50 to 100 – 3 seats, every additional 100 range of separate latrines for men and women shall be provided with adequate water supply. The contractor shall also employ adequate number of scavengers and conservancy staff to keep the latrines and Urinals in clean condition. 7. Shelters: Two shift able sheds, one for meals and the other for rest separately for men and women for the use of labourers shall be provided. 8. Crèeches: Two huts for children under the age of 6 years with sufficient light and ventilation shall be provided. 9. Canteen: If necessary, a cooked food canteen on a moderate scale shall be provided. 10. Sheds for Workmen: The shed for work man to a standard size should be provided by the contractor with his own cost. 11. Accidents to labours: In the event of an accident in respect of which compensation may become payable under the workmen’s compensation act VIII of 1923. 12. The contractor has to submit the monthly return to the Executive Engineer with all details of number of employees, total wages paid etc.

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