Draft Initial Environmental Examination (Main Report and Appendixes – Part 2 of 2) Project Number: 54035-001 February 2020 IND: Gujarat Solar Power Project Prepared by AECOM India Private Limited for Electro Solaire Private Limited and the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. ESIA of 200 MW Solar Power Project 4. Environmental and Socio- Economic Baseline This section of the report presents information on the baseline condition of the physical, chemical, biological and social environment within the project area. Primary baseline information was collected on site from project area and area of influence. Existing information sourced from scientific literature (both published and unpublished), engineering studies, technical reports and community socio-economic studies were used wherever available. Activities that facilitated establishment of the baseline data in the report include: site survey, ecological survey, social consultations and interviews, environmental monitoring, processing of satellite imagery and secondary data review from established sources such as Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Census of India amongst others. 4.1 Environmental Baseline Area in the 5-kilometre (km) radius from the project is considered as AoI of the project, for primary data collection. AoI covers project area, area traversed by project transmission line and substation. Nearby villages (sensitive receptors) which fall under AoI are Radhanesda village and Kundaliya village. Primary data was collected for one (01) week duration for the month of January 2020. Environmental monitoring was undertaken for ambient air quality, ground water quality, ambient noise levels, soil quality and traffic survey. Parameters monitored under environmental aspects are given in Table 4-1. One (01) time samples for ground water and soil were collected for analysis. Two (02) times monitoring for air samples was conducted in a week, and 24 hours continuous ambient noise data was collected on site. Table 4-1: Environmental Parameters Monitored for Baseline Data Collection S. No. Aspect Details 1. Micro-Meteorology Available information on meteorology for the area representative of the site was collected from Meteorology Department. Setting up an automatic micro-meteorological station with data logging facility at the site for continuous monitoring for micro-meteorological parameters like ambient temperature, wind direction, wind speed, relative humidity, cloud cover and rainfall for one (12) week was undertaken. 2. Ambient Air Quality Information on ambient air quality was collected through monitoring of ambient air quality for one (01) week per location for parameters such as Particulate Matter (PM-10), PM-2.5, Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), O3, Ammonia, CO, Lead, Benzene, Benzo Alpha Pyrene, Arsenic, Nickel. 3. Water Quality Ground water samples were collected for analyses of following parameters: - Organoleptic and physical parameters: Colour, Odour, pH, Taste, Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC); and - General parameters: Total Hardness, Total Alkalinity, Aluminium (as Al), Ammonia, Anionic detergents (as MBAS), Barium (as Ba), Boron (as B), Calcium (as Ca), Free residual Chlorine (as Cl2), Chloramines, Chloride (as Cl), Copper (as Cu), Fluoride (as F), Iron (as Fe), Magnesium (as Mg), Manganese (as Mn), Nitrate (as NO3), Phosphorus (as 2- P), Selenium (as Se), Silver (as Ag), Sulphate (as SO4), Sulphide (as S ), Zinc (as Zn), Cadmium (as Cd), Cyanide (as CN), Lead (as Pb), Mercury (as Hg), Molybdenum (as Mo), Nickel (as Ni), Pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Total arsenic (as As), Total chromium (as Cr), Phenolic Compounds, Mineral Oil, PAHs. 4. Soil Quality Soil samples were collected and analysed for the following parameters: - Physical Parameters: Particle Size Distribution, Texture, pH, and Permeability, Porosity, Electrical Conductivity, etc.; and - Chemical Parameters: Total Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium, Cation Exchange Capacity. 5. Ambient Noise Ambient noise quality was monitored to determine hourly equivalent noise levels. The noise Quality sampling will be done once during the study period continuously for 24 hours, selected on the basis of the site sensitivities within the study area. The results of the findings were analysed to work out Leq hourly, Leq day and Leq night. Environmental monitoring locations have been represented in Table 4-2 and Figure 4-1. Electro Solaire Private Limited AECOM ESIA of 200 MW Solar Power Project Figure 4-1: Map showing Environment and Traffic Monitoring Locations Electro Solaire Private Limited AECOM ESIA of 200 MW Solar Power Project Table 4-2: Environmental Monitoring Locations S. Aspect Monitoring Latitude/Longitude Monitoring Direction from the Rationale No. Location/ Location project site Code 1. Ambient Air AAQ 1 24° 30.803'N Site Boundary South west boundary Baseline air quality 71° 15.404'E of site at project site (Downwind of site) AAQ 2 24°32'19.4"N Habitation near East of the project Nearest Sensitive 71°16'55.7"E project site (3-4 receptor (Upwind of households) site) AAQ 3 24° 32.161'N Empty land North of project site Crosswind to project 71° 18.221'E parcels near site site 2. Ground Water GW 1 24° 30.803'N Project site Project site Monitoring of ground 71° 15.404'E water quality in the project area 3. Ambient Noise NQ 1 24° 30.803'N Site Boundary South west boundary Noise level at project 71° 15.404'E of site site NQ 2 24°32'19.4"N Habitation near East of the project Nearest Sensitive 71°16'55.7"E project site receptor NQ 3 24° 32.161'N Empty land North of project site Noise level near 71° 18.221'E parcels near site project area 4. Soil Quality SQ 1 24° 30.803'N Within project Project Area Soil quality of Project 71° 15.404'E boundary Area SQ 2 24° 32.427'N Near east East of the project Baseline Soil Quality 71° 17.717'E boundary of site site of Surrounding Area. 5. Traffic Survey TM 1 24° 32.895'N Intersection of East of the project Access road to be 71° 22.620'E State Highway site used for carrying (SH) 132 and construction village road equipment and material 4.1.1 Physiography The district can be divided in three (3) main parts – the hilly- mountainous region having high relief and rugged topography covering parts of Dhanera, Palanpur, Vadgaon and entire Danta taluka in the east, the piedmont zone all along the periphery of hilly area, and west and southwest of River Banas the area is flat plain with occasional undulations given rise to by sand dunes and mounds in the west. The western extension of this plain merges into the marshy area of Rann of Kutch. Geomorphologically the district can be divided into six sub micro regions on the basis of physiography, climate, geology, soils and natural vegetation. a) Vav Sandy Plain: It is mostly sandy plain with an altitude of 100 m above mean sea level. There are a few small channels, which merge into little Rann of Kutch. Geologically, area is composed of Alluvium, blown sand etc. b) Sandy Plain: The region mainly extends over the north and north western parts of the district bounded by the state of Rajasthan in the north, Banas valley in the east and south and Vav sandy plain in west. The region has the sloppy gradient, towards the west in which the river Sukal flows. Geologically area is composed of Alluvium, blown sand etc. c) Banas Valley: This region extends over the central and south-western part of the district, it is mainly formed by the Banas River which flows in south-westerly direction and ultimately merges into Rann of Kutch. Northern part of this region is high in elevation than the south and western portions. Geologically area is composed predominantly of Alluvium, blown sand etc. d) Banskantha Aravalli Range: The region spreads over the eastern part of Banaskantha district, occupying Danta and part of Palanpur and small area of Vadgaon talukas. It is bounded by the state of Rajasthan from Electro Solaire Private Limited AECOM ESIA of 200 MW Solar Power Project north, Banas Valley from west, Mehsana district from south and Sabarkantha district from east. This region is highly elevated ranging between 100 and 300 m above mean sea level. Saraswati River is the main river of the region. Geologically area is composed Alluvium, blown sand etc. e) Jasor Chhotila Hills: The region lies in Dhanera and Palanpur taluks and is enclosed by the state of Rajasthan from three sides while Banaskantha Aravalli range makes its limit in the south. It is actually disrupted part of Aravalli range by the Banas valley. It is an undulating terrain with an elevation of 300 m above mean sea level and is covered by forest. Geologically this region is mainly composed of Eranpura granite formation. f) Umardasi – Sarawati Plain: This region mainly extends over the south –eastern part of Banskantha district covering the taluks of Palanpur and Vadgaon. It is bounded by Banas valley in the west and north, Banaskantha Aravalli range in the east and Mehsana district in the south. This region is formed by the Umardasi and Saraswati River and having an elevation of 100 m above mean sea level. Geologically, area is composed of alluvium, blown sand etc. 4.1.2 Geology Geologically, the area consists chiefly of representatives of the Aravalli system, Delhi system (Ajabgadh series), Intrusive in the Delhi system and the recent deposits.