Final Report tCL oe'

EnvironmentalAssessment of SecondMadras Water Supply Project NewVeeranam Public Disclosure Authorized

Volume I

(17O'.'E,-' FILECCPY.

Sponsor:

Public Disclosure Authorized TamilNadu Water Supply and Drai e (TWAD)Board

4s-g.~ =___ -_ _ _ Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized

NationalEnvironmental Engineering Research Institute Nehru Marg, Nagpur - 440 020 October 1994 5t i('wrseobiE,XeciMAI(". 71T5 I , lIeptione1a 235196*4 4fTTt / X1/ x n,Pr)06cS;C IrN SIi r a T PALX 2352122 w11~I (A,cir,~ c:cNSE,\IlCI I MA1I~AS t~~Iep erAX2351964

NATIONALENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE TF.M 3cT RiqT'IYIITIIMADRAS ZONAL LABORATORY tT. T 31 F RT745IsTfhl ^;: CSIRMADRAS COMPLEX

ftifhq' 7YM U=173T. Er, I TARAMANI P.O.

Scientist & Head q7 I MADRAS - 600 113.

#7: x.q ;ZA. y E . IDi. A Ref: MZLI No. 14.12.1994 To:

The Managing Director Tamil Nadu Water Supply & Drainage Board Chepauk Madras 600 005

Sub: World Bank Mission in Second Madras Water Supply - New Veeranam Project - EA

S i r-,

Keeping with discus-ion had o01 review meeting on the above subject on 7th and 8th December 1994 regarding the significance of possible impacts on farmers during bad and very bad years, the last paragraph of the item No. 5.4.2 of

Environmental Assesment Report (Final Report - Volume I) now stands modified as enclosed. This may be treated as addendum of

Environmental Assessment Report.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

(N. Jothikumar) cc to The ExecuLive Director MMWSSB No.1, Pumping Station Madras 600 002 2352122 Ext.: 114 Gram CONSEARCH, Madras 6 CSIR IN C Fax 2350508

AL ENVIRONMENTALENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (Council of Scientific & Industial Research) MADRASZONAL LABORATORY

CSIR MADRAS COMPLEX TARAMANI, MADRAS 600 113

Date:......

ADDENDUM

Consultants' hydrological findings verify that

rative measures farmers would be adversely affected

f irrigation water in bad and very bad years. In

eglJard the farmers' interests,Government of Tamil

agreed to include source works improvements and

mmand modernization as integral components of the

ii) issued a government order, contingency plan and

les for the operation of the Mettur reservoir and

ank, which provides for additional water release

servoir. Government of Tamil Nadu would consult

ted farmers and reach consensus with them through

ural association or local governments on the

ements and government order before project start-

NEERIFOR SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT Environmental Assessment of Second Madras Water Supply Project - New Veeranam

Volume I

Sponsor Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD)Board

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute Nehru Marg, Nagpur - 440 020 October 1994 FOREWORD

In order to mitigatethe chronic drinking water shortage in Madras city, the Govemmentof TamilNadu is considering, as an urgent and emergencymeasure, an additional source of potable water, viz. Veeranamlake for implementationwith World Bank assistance. The project envisages,after augmentationof Veeranam storage capacity, drawat of 190 mid of raw water from the lake, complete conventionaltreatment and conveyance of treatedwater bypumping overa distance of 230 km to Madras city for distribution.To ensure that the developmentaloptions under consideration in the New Veeranamproject are environmentallysound and sustainable,and that any environmentalconsequences are recognised early, the Tamil Nadu WaterSupply and Drainage (TWAD)Board, in concurrence with the World Bank, retained the National EnvironmentalEngineering Research Institute (NEERI)in January,1994 to prepare the environmentalassessment of the project

The report presents the baseline status of the major environmental components of the project area, and the requirements for environmental assessment of such projects at international,national and state levels. Public meetings were organised to obtain the views of local NGOs and project affected people and to identify any new issues to be addressed in the design and implementation of the project. Significant potential impacts during pre-construction, construction and operationalphases of the project have been identified, predicted and quantified wherever feasible, and evaluated. An environmental management plan (EMP) for mitigating adverse impacts and maximisingbeneficial impacts has also been delineated.

The co-operation and assistance rendered by the officials of TWAD, MMWSSBand PWD in the completion of the study is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to the officials of a number of organisations who readily furnished informationfor the study.

Nagpur (P. Khanna) October, 1994 Director PROJECT PERSONNEL

NEERI

Mr. Aboo, K.M. Dr. Padmanabhan, P. Er. Andey, S.P. Mr. Ratnaparki, D.Y. Dr. Choudhari, P.R. Mr. Rajkumar, B. Mr. Deshpande, P.A. Er. Ravindar Rao, R. Dr. Dharmadhikari, D.M. Dr. Reddy, R.C. Dr. Jayabalu, R. Dr.(Ms.) Sarkar, R. Dr. Jothi Kumar, N. Mr. Sitre, S.R. Dr. Kale, C.K. Mr. Subba Rao, K. Er. Kelkar,P.S. Dr. Subrahmanyam, Y.V. Mr. Kothandaraman, V. Mr. Subramaniam, C. Mr. Manivel, U. Er. Turkhede, J.B. Mr. Nesaraj, T.A. Ms. Vidhya, V. Mr. Natarajan, K.M. Ms. Vyas Smita

REPORT PREPARATION

Er. Andey, S.P. Er. Ravindar Rao, R. Mr. Deshpande, P.A. Dr. Reddy, R.C. Er. Kelkar, P.S. Dr.(Ms.) Sarkar, R. Dr. Paramasivam, R. Er. Turkhede, J.B.

SECRETARIAL ASSISTANCE

Mr. Awasthi, J.O. Mr. Ninan, K.P. Mr. Deshpande, D.R. Mr. Ramesh, S. Mr. Dhawle, A.H. Mr. Sankaran, V.K. Mr. Krishna Kumar, C. Mr. Somkunwar, G.U.

PROJECT LEADER

Dr. Paramasivam, R.

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Dr.P. Khanna RESOURCE PERSONNEL

TWAD BOARD

Mr. Karpoorasundarapandian, R. IAS Managing Director Mr. Subburaj, V.K. IAS Managing Director (till November 29, 1993) Er. Natarajan, M. Engineering Director Er. Narasimhalu, K. Chief Engineer (P & D) Er. Mohideen, S.A.M. Chief Engineer (WB Project) Er. Arumugam, K.P. Superintending Engineer Er. Rangabashiam, R. Deputy Chief Engineer Er. Seetharaman, V. Executive Engineer Er. Thangavelu, V. Executive Engineer Er. Balakumar, N. Asst. Executive Engineer Er. Hariharasubramanyam, B. Asst. Executive Engineer

MMWSSB

Ms. Santha Sheela Nair, IAS Chairperson & Managing Director Mr. Srinivasan, M.S.,IAS Chairman & Managing Director (till August 8, 1994) Er. Srinivasan, S. Engineering Director (till February 28, 1994) Er. Mohan Raj, C.N. Chief Engineer (RP) Er. Gandhi, R.M. Superintending Engineer (WB Cell) Er. Narasimhan, T.M.C. Executive Engineer Er. Karunakaran, M. Executive Engineer

PWD (VEERANAM PROJECT)

Er. Palanisamy, K.O. Chief Engineer (Irrigation) Er. Krishnaswamy, T. Joint Chief Engineer Er. Rajaram Superintending Engineer Er. Chandrasekaran, V. Executive Engineer Er. Panneerselvan, R. Officer on Special Duty Er. Deenadayalan, G. Technical Officer/ EE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

* Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

* Archaeology Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

* Highways Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

* Fisheries Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

* Directorate of Health and Preventive Maintenance, Madras

* Anna University, Madras

* Annamalai University, Chidambaram

* Tata Consulting Engineers, Bombay CONTENTS

VOLUME I

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

List of Figures (i) List of Tables (ii)

List of Acronyms Used (ix)

1. Introduction 1-1 1.1 Preamble 1-1

1.2 objective of the Study 1-2

1.3 Scope of Work 1-3 1.4 The Study Area 1-3

1.5 Methodology 1-4 1.6 Organisation of the Report 1-5 2. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework 2-1 for Environmental Assessment 2.1 General 2-1 2.2 World Bank Guidelines 2-2

2.3 National Policy Guidelines 2-3

2.4 Tamil Nadu State Environmental Committee 2-6 2.5 Madras Metropolitan Groundwater Act 2-6

2.6 Statutory EA Requirements 2-6

3. Description of the Proposed Project 3-1

3.1 Background 3-1 3.2 The Second Water Supply Project 3-2 - New Veeranam CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

3.2.1 Components of New Veeranam 3-3 Project

3.3 Alternatives Evaluated 3-11

3.4 Project Cost 3-16

3.5 Project Implementation 3-16

3.6 Useful Life of the Project 3-17

3.7 Organisational Aspects 3-18

4. Description of the Environme-nt 4-1

4.1 Preamble 4-1

4.2 Study Area 4-1

4.2.1 Madras City 4-1 4.2.2 Veeranam Lake and its Ayacut 4-2

4.2.3 Pipeline ROW 4-4

4.3 Physical Environment 4-4 4.3.1 Geology 4-4

4.3.2 Topography 4-5

4.3.3 Soils 4-6

4.3.4 Climate and Meteorology 4-6

4.3.5 Air Quality 4-7

4.3.6 Noise Levels 4-8 4.3.7 Surface Water Hydrology 4-10

4.3.8 Groundwater Hydrology 4-13 4.3.9 Water Quality 4-14

4.4 Biological Environment 4-19

4.4.1 Terrestrial Ecology 4-19

4.4.2 Aquatic Ecology 4-25 CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

4.4.3 Sensitive Areas 4-33

4.5 Socio Cultural Environment 4-36

4.5.1 Population 4-36

4.5.2 Land Use 4-38

4.5.3 Domestic Water Supply 4-38

4.5.4 Distribution System 4-40

4.5.5 Industrial Water Use 4-40

4.5.6 Water Quality 4-42

4.5.7 Wastewater Management 4-42

4.5.8 Planned Ongoing Development 4-47 Activities

4.5.9 Employment 4-50

4.5.10 Education 4-51

4.5.11 Housing 4-51

4.5.12 Income Distribution in MMA 4-51

4.5.13 Water Based Recreation 4-52

4.5.14 Public Health 4-52

4.5.15 Accidents and Occupational Safety 4-53

4.5.16 Cultural Properties 4-54

4.5.17 Tribal People 4-54

4.5.18 Customs, Aspirations and Attitudes 4-55

5. Identification of Impacts 5-1

5.1 General 5-1

5.2 Impact Networks 5-2

5.3 Major Potential Environmental Impacts 5-8 CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

5.4 Significant Impacts 5-9

5.4.1 Socio-economic Impacts 5-9

5.4.2 Socio-economic Impacts in the 5-13 Veeranam Irrigation Command Area

5.4.3 Potential Risks from Failure of 5-13 Bund and Transmission Main

5.4.4 Potential Impacts of Alternative 5-15 Pipeline Alignments between Kelambakkam and Madras

5.5 Potential Impacts of Alternative Sites for 5-17 Water Treatment Plant

5.6 Other Impacts 5-19

5.7 Issues Identified through Public Meetings 5-22

6. Prediction of Impacts 6-1

6.1 General 6-1

6.2 Air Environment 6-2

6.3 Noise Environment 6-3

6.3.1 Impact on Community 6-4

6.3.2 Impact on Occupational Health 6-5

6.4 Ecology 6-5

6.4.1 Terrestrial 6-5

6.4.2 Aquatic 6-6

6.5 Water Environment 6-7

6.6 Land Environment 6-10

6.7 Socio-Economic Environment 6-11 CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

7. Evaluation of Impacts 7-1

7.1 Battelle Environmental Evaluation System 7-1

7.1.1 Ecology 7-3

7.1.2 Environmental Pollution 7-15

7.1.3 Aesthetics 7-15

7.1.4 Human Interest 7-16

7.2 Overall Impact Evaluation 7-16

7.3 Environmental Impact Statement 7-17

7.3.1 Ecology 7-17

7.3.2 Environmental Pollution 7-19

7.3.3 Aesthetics 7-20

7.3.4 Human Interest 7-20

8. Environmental Management Plan 8-1

8.1 Preamble 8-1

8.2 Pre-construction Phase 8-1

8.3 Construction Phase 8-2

8.3.1 Protection of Vegetation 8-2

8.3.2 Veeranam Catchment Area Treatment 8-3

8.3.3 Runoff and Erosion Control along 8-5 Pipeline ROW

8.3.4 Dust Control 8-5

8.3.5 Air Quality Control 8-6

8.3.6 Noise Abatement Measures 8-6

8.3.7 Visual/ Aesthetics Enhancement 8-7

8.3.8 Traffic Control and Detours 8-7 CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

8.3.9 Disposal of Construction Wastes 8-9

8.3.10 Paving Repair 8-9

8.3.11 Historical and Archaeological 8-9 Protection

8.3.12 Eliminating Safety Hazards 8-9

8.3.13 Completing the Construction Project 8-10

8.4 Operational Phase 8-10

8.4.1 Source Protection 8-10

8.4.2 Land Environment 8-11

8.4.3 Water Treatment 8-12

8.4.4 Water Quality Surveillance 8-13

8.4.5 Leak Detection and Control in 8-14 Water Distribution System

8.5 Environmental Monitoring 8-15

8.6 Training 8-15

8.7 Institutional Strengthening 8-16 LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

3.1 Index Map Showing Vadavar Channel and 3-5 Veeranam Lake

3.2 Schematic Diagram of Veeranam Lake 3-6 Conveyance System

3.3 Map Showing Veeranam Transmission 3-13 Pipeline Alignment Alternatives

3.4 Map Showing The Selected Alignment of 3-14 Veeranam Transmission Pipeline

4.1 Wind Rose for Madras in February, 1994 4-9

4.2 Location of Sampling Stations for Water 4-18 Quality Assessment

4.3 Forest Cover in Chengleput District 4-21

4.4 Forest Cover in South Arcot District 4-22

4.5 Water Distribution Zones of Various 4-41 Headworks in MMA

4.6 Layout Plan Depicting Components of 4-48 Krishna Project for Madras Water Supply

5.1 Environmental Impact Network 5-3

5.2 Environmental Impact Network : 5-4 Desilting and Raising of Lake Bund

5.3 Environmental Impact Network : 5-5 Canals and Lake

5.4 Environmental Impact Network : 5-6 Operation of Pumping/ Booster Stations and Conveying Main

5.5 Environmental Impact Network 5-7 Water Treatment and Clear Water Storage

7.1 Assigned Weights for Environmental 7-3 Parameters

(i) LIST OF TABLES

TABLE TITLE PAGE

2.1 Projects Requiring Environmental 2-4 Clearance as per Schedule-I

3.1 Salient Features of the Veeranam Lake 3-4

3.2 Salient Parameters of Shortlisted 3-15 Alternatives

4.1 (a) Physico-Chemical Characteristics of 4-16 Veeranam Lake Water

(b) Heavy Metal Concentration in Veeranam 4-17 Lake Water

(c) Pesticide Concentration in Veeranam 4-17 Lake Water

4.2 Projected Population by MMDA 4-37

4.3 Statistics on Water Service Type 4-39 Domestic Water Use (Madras City)

4.4 Water Quality in Distribution System 4-43

4.5 Existing Wastewater Treatment Plants at 4-46 Madras

6.1 Nature of Predicted Impacts on 6-12 Socio-economic Environment

7.1 Environmental Quality : Ecology 7-4

7.2 Environmental Quality : Environmental 7-5 Pollution

7.3 Environmental Quality : Aesthetics 7-6

7.4 Environmental Quality : Human Interest 7-7

7.5 Environmental Evaluation Ecology 7-8

7.6 Environmental Evaluation Environmental 7-10 Pollution

(ii) TABLE TITLE PAGE

7.7 Environmental Evaluation : Aesthetics 7-12

7.8 Environmental Evaluation : Human Interest 7-14

7.9 Summary of Environmental Evaluation for 7-18 Second Madras Water Supply Project- New Veeranam

8.1 Recommended Trees for Plantation around 8-4 Veeranam Lake and Pipeline ROW

8.2 Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring 8-17 Measures

(iii) CONTENTS

VOLUME II

NO. TITLE PAGE

Annexures

1.1 Environmental Assessment of Second Madras 1 Water Supply Project, New Veeranam- Terms of Reference

2.1 Acquisition of Land 24

4.1 Development Strategy for Madras 2011 : An 109 Agenda for Action - Actions and Implementing Agencies

4.2 Socio-Economic Survey (Personal Interview) 112

5.1 Status of Water Supply for Enroute Population 120 along ROW - New Veeranam

8.1 Safety Measures and Services for Construction 127 Activities

8.2 Chlorine Safety Measures 135

8.3 Guidelines for Maintenance Activities of 139 Water Treatment Plant

8.4 Frequency of Sampling for Bacteriological 144 Analysis in Water Distribution System

Sources of Information 145

Tables

A.4.1 Normal Crop Yields in Ayacut Area of 33 Veeranam Lake

A.4.2 Crops in the Catchment Area of Veeranam Lake 34

A.4.3 Types and Quantities of Agro Chemicals 35 Used in the Water Sheds Feeding Veeranam Lake

(iv) NO. TITLE PAGE

A.4.4 Stratigraphical Succession of Madras and 36 its Environs A.4.5 Characteristics of Soil Types on Areas 37 in the Immediate Vicinity of Veeranam Lake

A.4.6 Major Soil Types and Groundwater Levels 39 on Areas Along the Alignment of Pipeline

A.4.7 Characteristics of Soil Types 42 on Areas Along the Pipeline

A.4.8 Air Quality Along the Proposed Pipeline 44 Alignment

A.4.9 Background Noise Level at Human Settlements 45 Surrounding the Proposed Pipeline from Madras to Veeranam Lake

A.4.10 Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors 47 in Study Area A.4.11 Noise Levels at Different Industries 48 in the Study Area A.4.12 Day and Night Noise Levels in the Study Area 49 A.4.13 Noise Level due to Vehicular Traffic in 51 the Study Area During Peak Hours A.4.14 Noise Standards (Central Pollution 53 Control Board)

A.4.15 Annual Inflow-Outflow for Poondi, 54 Cholavaram, Redhills and Chembarambakkam Reservoirs

A.4.16 Salient Data of Existing Surface Reservoirs 55

A.4.17 Water Resources Potential and Supply 56 for Madras City A.4.18 Physico-chemical Characteristics of 57 Raw Water at Kilpauk Works (1991-1993) A.4.19 Groundwater Quality in the Minjur, Panjetti 58 and Tamarapakkam Areas

(v) NO. TITLE PAGE

A.4.20 Physico-chemical Characteristics of Borewell 60 Waters Along the Pipeline Corridor in South Arcot District

A.4.21 Water Quality Data of Veeranam Lake 61

A.4.22 Physico-chemical Quality of Veeranam Lake 62 Water (Based on 1968 and 1978 Data)

A.4.23 Pesticides Concentration in Veeranam Lake Water 63

A.4.24 List of Trees, Herbs and Shrubs in 64 the Study Area

A.4.25 List of Birds Observed in the Study Area 66

A.4.26 List of Exotic Species in Arignar Anna 69 Zoological Park, Vandalur

A.4.27 Status of Collection of Animals (Mammals, 70 Birds, Reptiles) as on 31.3.1994 Arignar Anna Zoological Park

A.4.28 List of Endangered Species in the Arignar 75 Anna Zoological Park Vandalur

A.4.29 Phytoplankton Population in Veeranam Lake 76 (September, 1993)

A.4.30 Phytoplankton Population in Veeranam Lake 77 (March, 1994)

A.4.31 Chlorophyll-a Content in the Water Samples 78 from Veeranam Lake and Vadavar Channel

A.4.32 Observations on Phytoplankton Community 79 of Veeranam Lake

A.4.33 Zooplankton Population in Veeranam Lake 80 (September, 1993)

A.4.34 Zooplankton Population in Veeranam Lake 81 (March, 1994)

A.4.35 Diversity, Density and Dominance of 82 Zooplankton in Veeranam Lake

A.4.36 Tilapia Culture Ponds in Madras 83

(vi) NO. TITLE PAGE

A.4.37 List of Marine Fishes around Madras 84

A.4.38 Historical Growth of Population of 85 Madras City/ MMA

A.4.39 Population Break-up in MMA- 1981 86

A.4.40 1991 Census Statistics- Tamil Nadu and 87 Project Area

A.4.41 Distribution of Population (1991)- Urban 88 and Rural- Tamil Nadu and Project Area

A.4.42 Water Supplied to Industrial Sector 89

A.4.43 Water Demand of Major Industries 90

A.4.44 Physico-chemical Characteristics of 91 Treated Water at Kilpauk Water Works (1991 - 1993)

A.4.45 Work Participation Rate (1991) by Sector- 92 Tamil Nadu and Project Area

A.4.46 Employment Share in the Organised Sector 93 in Madras (1989)

A.4.47 Organised Sector Employment in Madras city 94

A.4.48 Estimation of Unorganised Sector in Madras 95

A.4.49 Literacy Level (1991 Census)- Tamil Nadu 96 and Project Area

A.4.50 Households by Durability of Shelter 97

A.4.51 Trends in Housing Stock (Residential Houses) 98 in Madras Metropolitan Area and Tamil Nadu

A.4.52 Annual Requirement of Ownership and 99 Rental Accommodation- Madras

A.4.53 Average Annual Housing Supplies in MUA 100

A.4.54 Structural Composition of Earners (1990) 101

A.4.55 Households by Monthly Income in 102 Madras City, Madras Metropolitan Area and Madras Urban Agglomeration

(vii) NO. TITLE PAGE

A.4.56 Registered Vital Rates in the Project Area 103 and Tamil Nadu (1986-1991)

A.4.57 Acute Diarrhoeal and Cholera Diseases 104 Cases and Deaths in the Project Area and Tamil Nadu (1986-1993)

A.4.58 Incidence of Malaria in the Project Area 105 and Tamil Nadu (1986-1993)

A.4.59 Incidence of Japanese Encephalitis in the 106 Project Area and Tamil Nadu

A.4.60 Filaria Cases in the Project Area and 107 Tamil Nadu (1990-92)

A.4.61 List of Persons Involved in Accidents, 108 Injuries and Fatalities in the Operation of Metrowater for the Past Five Years

A.5.1 Agricultural Crop loss due to Acquisition of 115 land in catchment area for Source Improvement Works

A.5.2 List of Structures along the Pipeline ROW 116 from Veeranam to Porur

A.6.1 Air Quality Criteria (CPCB) Standards 123

A.6.2 Sources of Noise 124

A.6.3 Expected Noise Sources and Noise Levels 125 at Construction Sites

A.6.4 Classification of Inland Surface Water 126 (CPCB Standards)

(viii) LIST OF ACRONYMS USED

AUA Adjacent Urban Area BEES Battelle Environmental Evaluation System BIS Bureau of Indian Standards CFU Colonies Forming Units CPCB Central Pollution Control Board CPHEEO Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organ is at ion DUA Distant Urban Areas EA Environmental Assessment EAC Environmental Appraisal Committee EIS Environmental Impact Statement EIU Environmental Impact Unit EMP Environmental Management Plan EQ Environmental Quality FAR Floor Area Ratio FRL Full Reservoir Level FSI Floor Space Index FTL Full Tank Level GSI Geological Survey of India GST Great Southern Trunk (Road) GTN Government of Tamil Nadu Kmph Kilometer per hour Kw Kilowatts LCA Lower Coleroon Anicut lpd Liters per Day LS Longitudinal Section Mcft Million Cubic Feet Mcum Million Cubic Meter MEF Ministry of Environment & Forests mld Million Litres per Day MMA Madras Metropolitan Area MMC Madras Municipal Corporation MMDA Madras Metropolitan Development Authority MMWSSB Madras Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board MPN Most Probable Number

(ix) LIST OF ACRONYMS USED (Contd...)

MUD Ministry of Urban Development MWL Maximum Water Level NEERI National Environmental Engineering Research Institute NGO Non Governmental Organisation NLC Neyveli Lignite Corporation NTU Nephelometric Turbidity Unit ODA Overseas Development Administration OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration PAFs Project Affected Families PIU Parameter Importance Units PSC Pre Stressed Concrete PWD Public Works Department RCC Reinforced Cement Concrete RL Reduced Level ROW Right of Way SPM Suspended Particulate Matter TCE Tata Consulting Engineers TMC Thousand Million Cubic Feet TNPCB Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board TOR Terms of Reference TRF Times Research Foundation TWAD Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board UNDP United Nations Development Programme UFW Unaccounted for Water WTP Water Treatment Plant

(x) 1. INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Preamble

In order to relieve the chronic drinking water shortage experienced by the city of Madras, the Madras Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (MMWSSB) proposes to develop, as an urgent and emergency measure, an additional source of potable water for the city, viz. Veeranam lake situated at a distance of 220 km from Madras. The project envisages drawal of 190 mld (nominal) of raw water from Veeranam lake, complete conventional treatment and conveyance of treated water by pumping, with intermediate booster stations, to storage reservoirs in the metropolitan area for distribution. The MMWSSB, the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, and the Public Works Department (PWD) of Govt. of Tamil Nadu have been identified as implementing agencies for various water supply components falling within their respective areas of responsibility.

The MMWSSB has approached the World Bank for financial assistance in the implementation of the project. The World Bank policy guidelines stipulate that Environmental Assessment of major developmental projects would form an integral component of the feasibility study so as to fulfill the Bank's requirements for project appraisal. In keeping with this requirement, the TWAD Board, one of the implementing agencies of the project, retained, in concurrence with the World Bank, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to prepare the Environmental Assessment of the proposed New Veeranam project.

The TWAD Board issued the work order to NEERI to undertake the Environmental Assessment of the New Veeranam Project vide their letter No.0107/F.20552/93/AE-5 dated January 5, 1994. An Inception Report presenting the objective and scope of study, the situation analysis, and delineating the approach to environmental assessment and proposed action plan thereof was submitted to TWAD Board in January, 1994. An Interim Report on the progress of environmental assessment was submitted in February, 1994. In keeping with the TOR, the draft final report on EA was submitted to TWAD in April, 1994, under NEERI Letter No. WTD/120/94 dated April 29, 1994. The draft final report, revised in the light of the discussions held by NEERI with the World Bank Mission and the project proponents during May 23-27, 1994 at Madras, the comments on the draft report, and additional information furnished by MMWSSB, TWAD Board and PWD on the project, was submitted to TWAD in June, 1994. This final report has been revised in keeping with the comments of World Bank and the project proponents on the draft report.

1.2 Objective of the Study

The objective of the study is to ensure that the developmental options under consideration in the New Veeranam project are environmentally sound and sustainable, and that any environmental consequences are recognised early and integrated in the project design.

1-2 1.3 Scope of Work

In keeping with the terms of reference (TOR) for Environmental Assessment (Annexure 1.1), the broad scope of work comprised the following

* Assessment of the existing status of major environmental components, viz. water, land, biological, socio-economic, health and cultural

* Organising public meetings in the project area to obtain the views of local NGOs and affected groups on the project and to identify any new issues to be addressed in the project

* Identification of significant impacts of the project on various environmental components during the pre-construction, construction and operational phases of the project including a comparison of the impact without the project.

* Prediction of impacts through identification, calibration and validation of appropriate mathematical/ simulation models, wherever necessary

* Evaluation of the impacts of the project through appropriate evaluation techniques

* Preparation of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) outlining control strategies to be adopted for minimising adverse impacts

* Delineation of post project environmental quality monitoring programme to be pursued by the implementing agencies

1.4 The Study Area

The study area encompasses the area within the Madras Metropolitan Authority (MMA) boundary; areas presently

1-3 irrigated from the Veeranam lake, area surrounding Veeranam lake; the routes of the water supply canals which transport water to the Veeranam lake (to the extent necessary in relation to the proposed dependence on, and rehabilitation of such canals) ; the routes of the water supply conveying main from Veeranam lake to the proposed distribution storage reservoir sites in the city; the site of the existing water treatment facility at Vadakuthu and proposed water treatment plant site, pumping stations/ booster station; the site(s) of proposed distribution reservoirs, or the site of any other component of the project identified by the feasibility study.

1.5 Methodology

In keeping with the scope of work, the study comprised mainly the following

* Inventory of sources for data acquisition

* Discussion with the officials of agencies/ departments identified for project implementation and monitoring of environmental assessment recommendations, and the consultants entrusted with the feasibility/ source yield sustainability studies

* Reconnaissance visits to the project area and collection of baseline data

* A sample socio-economic survey of the population in the project area

* Organising meetings with the NGOs and the public (beneficiaries as well as adversely affected) in the project area to identify any new issues which need to be addressed during the project implementation

* Desk work involving identification of impacts due to various project activities, prediction and evaluation of these impacts, and preparation of environmental

1-4 management and monitoring plans for eliminating/ mitigating adverse impacts, if any

1.6 Organisation of the Report

This report is presented in two volumes; volume I forms the main report and volume II contains Annexures to the report. Volume I of the report consists of eight chapters including the introductory chapter.

Chapter 2 provides information on policy, legal and administrative framework for environmental assessment at state, national and international level, and requirements for clearance of the project from environmental angle.

Chapter 3 describes the proposed project including the alternatives considered for pipeline alignment and treatment plant sites, the project costs, and organisational aspects for implementation of the project.

Chapter 4 presents the baseline environmental status with respect to the physical, biological and socio-cultural environment of the project area.

Chapter 5 identifies potential impacts during the pre- construction, construction and operational phases of the project. Significant impacts on socio-economic aspects in the Veeranam irrigation command area, environmental aspects of alternatives considered for pipeline ROW and water treatment plant sites, and issues identified through three public meetings have been presented in detail.

Chapter 6 provides an overview of the predicted impacts of the project activities on air, noise, ecology, water, land and socio-economic components of the environment.

Chapter 7 presents, based on the Battelle Environmental Evaluation System (BEES), a quantitative evaluation of impacts of the project on the four categories of environment viz. ecology, environmental pollution, aesthetics and human interest, and the environmental impact statement.

1-5 Chapter 8 describes in detail the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the project activities so as to ensure that the developmental options are sustainable, and that measures for mitigating adverse environmental consequences are integrated in the project design.

In keeping with the World Bank recommendation contained in their fax message dated August 23, 1994, the EMP has also been brought out as a separate document.

1-6 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVEFRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

2.1 General

The purpose of Environmental Assessment (EA) is to ensure that the development options under consideration are environmentally sound and sustainable, and that any environmental consequences are recognised early in the project cycle and taken into account in project design. EAs identify ways of improving projects environmentally, and minimizing, mitigating, or compensating for adverse impacts.

EAs enable project designers, implementing agencies, and borrower and funding agencies to a) address environmental issues in a timely and practical fashion, (b) reduce the need for project conditionality because appropriate steps can be taken in advance or incorporated into project design, and (c) help avoid costs and delays in implementation due to unanticipated environmental problems. EAs also provide a formal mechanism for inter-agency coordination and for addressing the concerns of affected groups and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In addition, they can play a major role in building environmental capability in the country.

2.2 World Bank Guidelines

The World Bank have brought out policy guidelines, notes, operational directives and procedures for environmental assessment of investment programmes and projects which provide a framework for action by both the borrowers and the Bank. Of direct relevance to the context of the project are the following i) World Bank 1991, Operational Directive (O.D.) 4.01 Environmental Assessment' and Annexes A to F thereto ii) World Bank Technical Paper No.139, 1991, Environmental Assessment Sourcebook', Vol I., Policies, Procedures, and Cross-Sectoral Issues, Environment Department iii) World Bank Technical Paper No.140, 1991, Environmental Assessment Sourcebook', Vol II., Sectoral Guidelines, Environment Department iv) World Bank Technical Paper No.154, 1991, Environmental Assessment Sourcebook', Vol III., Guidelines for Environmental Assessment of Energy and Industry Projects, Environment Department

World Bank Guidelines for water supply and sanitation projects are not yet published. However, most of the pertinent environmental issues are covered under the Sectoral Guidelines related to a) Land and Water Resources Management; b) Dams and Reservoirs; c) Wastewater Collection, Treatment, Reuse and Disposal Systems and d) Oil and Gas Pipelines.

2-2 2.3 National Policy Guidelines

At the national level, the environmental clearance to development projects is subject to implementation of stipulated safeguards under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and other rules and regulations in force. The projects in various sectors, which have so far been brought under the purview of such a procedure, include the following

1. Major irrigation projects (covering 10,000 hectares and above) 2. River Valley Projects 3. Hydel Power Projects 4. Thermal Power Projects (using coal, lignite, gas and other feed stock) including atomic power stations 5. Mining Projects 6. Industries 7. Ports and Harbours 8. Human settlements including proposals relating to FSI/ FAR, new towns and cantonments 9. Tourism projects including beach resorts 10. Projects in coastal areas 11. Projects in ecologically fragile areas (e.g. Doon Valley, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands) 12. Communication projects

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF), Govt. of India has brought out the EIA notification, 1994 (as amended on May 4, 1994) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 making environmental clearance mandatory for expansion or modernization of any activity, if pollution load is to exceed the existing one, and also for new projects listed in Schedule-I of the notification (Table 2.1).

The New Veeranam Water Supply Project does not fall under any of the project categories identified in Schedule-I of the aforementioned EIA notification, 1994 and hence does not require environmental clearance of the MEF, Govt. of India.

2-3 TABLE 2.1

PROJECTS REQUIRING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAPANCE AS PER SCHEDULE-I

1. Nuclear power and related projects such as Heavy Water Plants, nuclear fuel complex, rare earths

2. River valley projects including hydel power, major irrigation and their combination including flood control

3. Ports, harbours, airports (except minor ports and harbours)

4. Petroleum refineries including crude and product pipelines

5. Chemical Fertilizers (Nitrogenous and Phosphatic) other than single superphosphate)

6. Pesticides (Technical) 7. Petrochemical complexes (both Olefinic and Aromatic) and Petro-chemical intermediates such as DMT, Caprolactum LAB etc. and production of basic plastics such as LLPDE, HPDE, PP PVC

8. Bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals

9. Exploration for oil and gas and their production, transportation and storage

10. Synthetic rubber

11. Asbestos and asbestos products

12. Hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives 13. Primary metallurgical industries (such as production of iron and steel, aluminium, copper, zinc, lead and ferro alloys) Electric arc furnaces (mini steel plants)

14. Chlor alkali industry 15. Integrated paint complex including manufacture of resins and basic raw materials required in the manufacture of paints

16. Viscose staple fibre and filament yarn

Contd ...

2-4 TABLE 2.1 (Contd ... )

17. Storage batteries integrated with manufacture of oxides of lead and lead antimony alloy 18. All tourism projects between 200m-500m of high water line and at locations with an elevation of more than 1000 m with investment of more than Rs. 5 crores

19. Thermal power plants

20. Mining projects (with leases more than 5 hectares) 21. Highway projects

22. Tarred roads in Himalayas and or Forest areas 23. Distilleries

24. Raw skins and hides 25. Pulp, paper and newsprint 26. Dyes

27. Cement

28. Foundries (individual) 29. Electroplating

2-5 2.4 Tamil Nadu State Environmental Committee

The Tamil Nadu State Environmental Committee is the apex advisory body constituted by the Government (G.O. Ms.No.10 dated December 12, 1983) in the matter of protection of environment in the state. The Hon'ble Chief Minister is the Chairman and the Hon'ble Minister for Health is the Vice Chairman of the Committee. The Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests is the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Environmental Committee. The Committee reviews developmental projects costing over Rs. 50 million from environmental angle (GTN G.O. Ms. No.161 dated September 26, 1988). There are five sub-committees to assist the Environmental Committee. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board processes the proposals on developmental projects and makes assessment of their impact on environment, for placing the projects before the sub- committees and then before the Environmental Committee for review.

2.5 Madras Metropolitan Groundwater Act

In keeping with the recommendations of a UNDP study (1975) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) findings regarding the use of groundwater in the coastal zone between South Madras and Kovalam, the Govt. of Tamil Nadu, passed the Madras Metropolitan Groundwater Act 27 of 1987 in order to regulate and control the extraction, transport and use of ground water in any form and to conserve the same in the City of Madras and certain revenue villages in the Chengleput District.

2.6 Statutory EA Requirements

As per World Bank O.D.4.01-Annex E (October, 1991), developmental projects are classified depending on the type, location, sensitivity, and the scale of the proposed project as well as the nature and magnitude of its potential impacts, into one of the three categories as under

2-6 Category A A Full EA is required Category B Although a full EA is not required, environmental analysis is required

Category C No EA or environmental analysis is required

The World Bank has classified the New Veeranam project under category A requiring full environmental assessment.

Being a developmental project costing over Rs.50 million, the project has to be reviewed from environmental angle and cleared by the Tamil Nadu State Environmental Committee.

In the implementation of the New Veeranam project, acquisition of private lands is involved for construction of some of the project components. Such acquisition of land will be governed by the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 / the Tamil Nadu Requisitioning and Acquisitioning of Immovable Property Act of 1956. A critique of these statutory provisions is at Annexure 2.1.

2-7 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT

3.1 Background

Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, is the largest city in South India with 3.84 million people in the city and 5.31 million people (1991 census) in the Madras Metropolitan Area (MMA). The MMA admeasuring a total area of 1178 sq.km comprises the city of Madras and its outlying urban and rural areas which consist of 5 townships, 4 municipalities, 23 town panchayats and village panchayats. The limits of the city were extended in 1978 by way of adding 12 panchayats, and the total present area is 170 sq.km. The adjacent urban areas (AUA) and distant urban area (DUA) of MMA are of 165 sq.km and 142 sq.km respectively.

The existing water supply to the city is dependent mainly on three interconnected impounded reservoirs, viz. Poondi, Cholavaram and Redhills and on groundwater from the Arani-Kortalaiyar aquifers. Raw water is drawn from the Redhills reservoir and conveyed to treatment plant situated at Kilpauk in the city. Treated water is distributed to the city from three major distribution points. This is supplemented with groundwater from the well fields. These sources meet the requirement of the city only to the extent of 290-350 mld. However, the present water requirement of Madras city and the Metropolitan area is estimated at 1750 mld (Draft Feasibility Report on Source Yield, Tata Consulting Engineers, February, 1994).

The rapid growth of population, industry and commerce in the metropolitan area has placed a severe strain on the meagre water resources of Madras city. As a result, the city has suffered chronic water shortage for several decades, despite substantial efforts on the part of the State and Central Governments to alleviate the situation.

A Master Plan for Water Supply and Wastewater Management for Madras was formulated by Engineering Science, Inc., USA, in 1978. The Master Plan has been updated in 1991 on the basis of current area development plans for MMA and prospective source augmentation under the Krishna Water Supply Project. The First Madras Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which began in December, 1987 and extends to 1993/1994, is aimed at effecting systematic improvements in the existing water supply and wastewater systems in order to meet the long term requirements of the city.

3.2 The Second Water Supply Project - New Veeranam

The present water requirements of Madras city and Metropolitan area (1750 mld) are met only partially to the extent of 460 mld (maximum) from the existing surface and ground water sources. The Krishna water supply project, which is now under implementation, will provide an additional supply of 930 mld for Madras, 400 mld of which will be available in the first phase. Even after this project is completed, there will still be a shortage of water to meet the needs of the MMA. As a major step towards supplementing the city water supply, the Government of Tamil Nadu proposes to develop an additional source of water based on the Veeranam lake.

3-2 A previous project in which 180 mld of water was to be conveyed from the Veeranam lake to Madras, a distance of about 220 km, was partially implemented in the 1970s but was subsequently abandoned. Under that project, it was proposed to pump water from Veeranam lake to a water treatment facility at Vadakuthu, located at about 20 km from Veeranam. After treatment at Vadakuthu, the clear water was to be pumped to a reservoir in the southern area of Madras, from where it would be distributed throughout the city. A raw water pumping station near Veeranam lake, a treatment facility and a treated water pumping station at Vadakuthu were constructed. These facilities remain unused although in a deteriorated condition. Many prestressed concrete pipes, which were proposed for the transmission main, were manufactured and remain unused near the pipeline right of way (ROW).

3.2.1 Components of New Veeranam Project

The major components of the New Veeranam project consist of the following :

i) Source (Veeranam lake) improvements ii) Raw water intake and pumping station at Sethiathope iii) Storage tank and pumping station at Vadakuthu iv) Storage tank and intermediate booster pumping station at Chendur (LS 80.3 km) v) Water treatment plant and pumping station at Mangalam vi) Transmission main from Sethiathope to Porur i) Veeranam Lake

Veeranam lake (Fig.3.1), the raw water source is a shallow lake formed by an earthen embankment, and dates back to the eleventh century. The salient features of the lake are summarised in Table 3.1. Under the proposed project, the lake would act as a balancing reservoir receiving water from the Cauvery River which is supplied primarily by water released from the Mettur Reservoir (Fig.3.2). During the irrigation season water released from the reservoir to the

3-3 TABLE 3.1

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE VEERANAM LAKE

Description Existing After raising FTL by 0.61 m

Catchment area (sq.km) 427.35 427.35 original capacity (M Cu.m) 40.80 41.48

Capacity (1991) (M Cu.m) 27.72 -

F.T.L. of tank (m) 13.86 14.47

M.W.L. of tank (m) 14.63 15.24

T.B.L. of tank (m) 16.46 18.00

Area of water spread (sq.km) 38.85 38.85

Ayacut under the tank (Ha.) 18152 18152 Supplementary ayacut for 15378 15378 Sethiathope anicut system

Length of Foreshore bund (km) 8 + 2.90 35.22

Length of Veeranam bund (km) 15.30 15.30

Source Project Report on Augmenting Madras Metropolitan City Water Supply, Veeranam Tank,PWD, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

3-4 I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

W 'T XA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~T

t %/' ATNNAR <

F ROM ,4FMt U AY BARAM

3-5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~U

/, < -Ayacut Area~~-A

, FROM ~~~~~KUMRIAKONAM

FIG. 3.1: INDEX MAP SHOWING VADAVAR CHANNEL AND VEERANAM LAKE

3-5 CAUVERY RIVER LEGEND METTURDAM K.M. - KUMMUKKUMANNIAR N.R. - NORTH RAJAN

CAUVERY RIVER S.R. - SOUTH RAJAN VNSS - VEERANAM NEW

UPPER ANICUT SUPPLY SLUICE

CAUVERY COLEROON RIVER RIVER GRAND ANICUT CATCHMENT

I ULLAR - COLEROON RIVER INFLOW VENNAR L

0) RIVER~~~RVECAUVERYs LOWERANICUT O

/ _ \ ~~~~~VADAVAR/ \/ 9 K.M. CHANNEL

CHANN CHANNLR.// FLOW CHANNEL f S/ VERAA LAK NNSS COLEROON /s VEERANAM LAKE TO VELLAR (SETHIATHOPE CRIOVLEERROONs, LALPET vff 1 1 1 1 1 < ANICUT SYSTEM) N. R. SURPLUS MADRAS CITY WATER SUPPLY CHANNEL WEIRS 28 SLUICES

FIG. 3.2: SCHEMATIC OF VEERANAM LAKE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM Cauvery River is then diverted to Coleroon River and finally reaches the Veeranam lake through the Vadavar channel, supplementing the lake's own catchment area of 427 sq.km. The ayacut (Tamil word for cultivable command area) of Veeranam lake is 18152 ha. The prime irrigation season commences from third week of June and closes during first week of February.

The capacity of Veeranam lake estimated in 1991 is 27.72 M Cu.m (979 Mcft) and water spread area at its full tank level of 13.86 m (45.5 ft) is about 38.85 sq.km. In the year 1923 its capacity has been reported to be 40.80 M Cu.m (1441 Mcft), which indicates that the lake has silted up considerably over the last 68 years. The lake supplies irrigation water to an adjacent area of 18,152 ha in the South Arcot district. In addition, the operation rules necessitate Veeranam lake to supply to neighbouring Sethiathope Anicut System at times of latter's shortfalls. In the context of approving Veeranam lake as a source for drinking water supply to Madras, the Govt. of Tamil Nadu (vide government order (GO) no. 1430 of October 1993) has stipulated monthly irrigation and water supply demands, and provides that water supply requirement be treated as an additionality during the irrigation season from July to the subsequent February (8 months period) and for the remaining period (4 months) by keeping the lake full, the requirements of Madras city should be met in full. The GO specifically approves raising of full storage level by 0.61 m for augmenting the existing capacity in order to meet the demands during non-irrigation season.

Recent (1993) studies on siltation of Veeranam lake undertaken by the Institute of Hydraulics and Hydrology, Poondi, PWD, Tamil Nadu have shown that the trap efficiency of Veeranam lake in the year 1923 was 90.7% and in the year 1991 it had reduced to 88.4%. The rate of siltation is 0.471% per year. Accordingly, the useful life of the lake has been estimated to be 206-253 years by various methods.

3-7 Historic simulation of LCA - Vadavar - Veeranam lake system performed for the years 1965-1993 by TCE (The Draft Feasibility Report on Veeranam Source Yield - Addendum Note, Sept. 1994) have established the following

Under the present pattern of demand and supply as obtaining in the LCA Veeranam System, spills capturable at LCA make it possible to realize irrigation reliabilities as high as 80% even with the proposed 192 mld draw off for water supply to Madras. Thus, the proposed water supply project would not adversely impact on the first user irrigation rights.

The resulting water supply reliability of 80% can be increased to 95% by harnessing a nominal amount of 11.4 MCM from Mettur storage on an average every year.

The augmented Veeranam lake in conjunction with a lined Vadavar channel is a reliable source of water supply to Madras city.

Source Improvement Works

In order to enable drawal of 190 mld of water from Veeranam lake for augmenting the supply to the city of Madras and to restore the storage capacity of the lake, the project envisages the following works a) Improvements to Vadavar Channel through desilting and lining b) Restoration and raising of bund of Veeranam lake for raising the FTL by 0.61 m c) Removal of a portion of shoal from near the inlet point of Vadavar and widening of the Thotti Voikal inside the lake d) Rehabilitation of/ improvements to the existing surplus arrangements

3-8 e) Construction of cement concrete retaining wall in the upstream side along the bund of Veeranam in deep bed portions. f) Weed clearance inside the Veeranam lake and improvement to all sluices in the lake. g) Straight cut off to Godavari drain and providing relief measures upto infall point into Vellar. h) Strengthening the existing foreshore bunds and forming new fore shore bunds for the raised FTL. i) Improvements to Lower Anicut including repairs to shutters. j) Improvements to channels taking off from sluices. k) Formation of new road on the raised bund of Veeranam lake and construction of retaining wall to avoid submergence of Madras-Kumbakonam road near Sholatharam Village.

The Public Works Department of Govt. of Tamil Nadu will implement the above works which are estimated to cost Rs.600 million. ii) Raw Water Intake and Pumping Station at Sethiathope

Raw water from Veeranam lake will be drawn through an open channel provided with trashracks at the channel mouth and screens in the pump suction chamber to prevent entry of floating debris. The channel will feed into a forebay from where the pumps take suction.

Six numbers of horizontal centrifugal pumps each of 2200 m3 /hr capacity with a head of about 40 m alongwith necessary accessories will be installed adjacent to the forebay.

A chlorination system comprising two vacuum type chlorinators each of 40 kg/hr capacity will be provided for pre-chlorination.

3-9 iii) Storage Tank and Pumping Station at Vadakuthu

* The existing underground storage tank of 8000 m3 capacity will be utilised after rehabilitation.

* A new pumphouse with dry pit will be constructed adjacent to the existing underground clear water reservoir.

* Six numbers of horizontal centrifugal pumps each of 3 2200 m /hr capacity with a total head of about 72 m alongwith accessories will be housed in the existing pumphouse building after rehabilitation.

* Two numbers of vacuum type chlorinators each of 20 kg/hr capacity will be installed for chlorination. iv) Storage Tank and Intermediate Booster Pumping Station

This is proposed to be constructed at Chendur (L.S. 80.3 km.) The raw water pumped from Vadakuthu will be received in an above-ground storage tank of 8000 m3 capacity. A pumphouse with 6 numbers of horizontal centrifugal pumps each of 2200 m3 /hr capacity with a head of about 75 m will be installed in the pumphouse to be located adjacent to the storage tank. v) Treatment Plant and Pumping Station at Mangalam

* The new treatment plant of 190 mld capacity will consist of 4 numbers of clariflocculators, 16-20 numbers of rapid gravity sand filters, chemical house, acid dosing system and clarifier sludge/ filter backwash water recovery/disposal system.

* Underground treated water storage tank of 8000 m3 capacity will be constructed.

* Six numbers of horizontal centrifugal pumps each of 2100 m 3 /hr capacity and a head of about 55 m

3-10 alongwith accessories to be installed in a pumphouse to be constructed adjacent to the storage tank.

* Two numbers of vacuum type chlorinators each of 20 kg/hr capacity will be installed.

* Treated water storage tank at Porur. vi) Transmission Main from Sethiathope to Porur

A single transmission main (with intermediate pumping/ booster stations) 230 km long, 1525 mm ID and made of steel plates of 10 mm thick with 12.5 mm thick internal cement mortar lining and 40 mm thick gunniting for external surface will be laid underground all along except at drainage crossings where the pipe will be on bridges, and in marshy and low lying areas where the pipe will be on saddles. Buried pipes will be provided with RCC jacketing in deep cuts and below minor road crossings.

3.3 Alternatives Evaluated i) Transmission Line ROW

The 230 km long transmission main traverses through four districts viz. South Arcot Vallalar District, Villupuram Ramasamy Padayachiyar District, Chengai- M.G.R. District and Madras District of Tamil Nadu State.

The alignment of Old Veeranam transmission main commences from the existing Veeranam Headworks near Sethiathope, runs cross-country and after crossing Vellar river skirts along Kumbakonam-Madras (Vadalur-Panruti) road upto Vadakuthu. From Vadakuthu, the alignment runs cross- country and along the state Highway over certain reaches, crosses Gadilam river, railway line near Panruti, Penniar river, railways near Kolianur and runs along the highway (Vikravandi-Tindivanam, Thozhupedu).

Near Thozhupedu the alignment detours from National Highway and traverses along Boodur, Vallipuram and Mudaiyur

3-11 and terminates at the proposed treatment plant at Mangalam (about 3 km from Thirukazhukundram). The clear water transmission main from Mangalam traverses cross country and joins the Highway at a distance of 8 km from Thirukazhukundram. The alignment then detours from the Highway to rejoin near Manapathy, traverses along old Mahabalipuram Road viz. Kelambakkam, Navalur, Semmanjeri, Sholinganallur, Khandanchavadi. The alignment traverses cross country and reaches near the rear side of Indian Institute of Technology Campus (Taramani) and passes via Gandhimandapam, Kotturpuram Road, Chamiers Road, Mount Road, Thomas Road, Giriappa Road and Bala Vihar (near Gurunanak Temple) and terminates near the Southern Headworks of Metro Board.

The pipeline ROW for the Old Veeranam Project has been encroached upon in a number of places especially in the stretch along the Old Mahabalipuram road to the Southern Headworks. Keeping in view the difficulties envisaged in clearing these encroachments as also the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected population, the following alternative alignment was considered under the feasibility study.

The alternative corridor considered for the transmission pipeline from Kelambakkam to Porur is via Vandalur upto Pallavaram along the National Highway No.45. Thereafter, two alternatives were considered. i) along the G.S.T. Road upto Nehru Statue, Alandur and then to Porur via Kanchipuram-Bangalore Link Road and ii) from Pallavaram to Porur via Anakaputhur-Kunrattur villages (Fig. 3.3). The transmission pipeline alignment recommended by the feasibility study is shown in Fig.3.4. ii) Transmission, Treatment and Pumping

Three alternative schemes have been short-listed for water transmission, treatment and pumping system. The parameters of these three alternatives are presented in Table 3.2.

3-12 PORUR ~LR MLF CHFEARAKKAM LAKS 7? Y A~~~~SVR NflAVpARNYL

VARA

to 0 M¶JVLAT 1DU VANDALURKiLAMBAKKAN KO-ALA. ROAD CROSS..C N 0

KALAPAKKAM

g . KA~~~~RAKANAH

t X S ~~~~~~ALVU-PANGHAMEDU

X X 0 / G~~~~~~~~~ONNAYA,FALAYAM

t ~~~~~~~~~PONDICHERRr

KOTTAj tl.2l~~~~~~~CUDDALORT LEGEND

ET KADAM /L'Y 9-f> 9 A4g/3X V 1 d Aligiiilietit _ /Alternative Aligitinlenit I (Kelambakkain to Porur)

- Alternative Alignnient II (Kelambakkain to Porur)

4 4 1 , ~~~~~~~~~~~~EICFAKE )AI t

VADAVAR HNE-

FIG. 3.3 MAP SHOWING VEERANAM TRANSMISSION PIPELINE ALIGNMENT ALTERNATIVES

3-13 MADRAS

CHEHIAtAheAJooMLAKE - IWR I

*VAR WAD^' W~ER 10

r A *4 VU

<9 5|gSHOLZGAN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ALLURVAFK)AtUf KILAMllA^hAHVAR

XALAPAKKAM 7~~~~~~~~',

< tONDIt~~~~~~~~~~~HENG L

MAL 7 CUA OR E P r-3K O IAT I *~ E 25

C/Z7 ULU"OUXT MADtULUYS X g 31

FIG34:MAPSHWIG TE ELCTD AIGMETLOLVERNA TRANSMISSIONPIPELINE ONDCERFt .° t / / <= >) ~~~~~~~~~~~~PORTDNOVA

_ ~~~~~VADAVAR2ANLf i

FIG. 3.4: MAP SHOWINGTHE SELECTED ALIGNMENTOF! VEERANAM TRANSMISSIONPIPELINE 3-14 TABLE 3.2

SALIENT PARAMETERS OF S1ORTLISTED ALTERNATIVES

Alter- No.of Type & Location Selected Pipe thick- native pumping of Treatment steel ness (mm) No. stages Plant pipe ID (mm)

I 4 Rehabilitated clari- 1500 10 fication plant at Vadakuthu & new filtration plant at Mangalam

II 4 Completely rehabi- 1500 10 litated treatment plant at Vadakuthu

III 4 New treatment plant 1525 10 at Mangalam

Source Feasibility Report on Water Transmission, Pumping and Treatment, Vol.I, Second Madras Water Supply Project- New Veeranam, MMWSSB, February, 1994

3-15 On the basis of techno-economic considerations, the feasibility study recommends Alternative III. The recommended scheme, consists of one pumping station at Sethiathope, one at Vadakuthu, one boosting station at 80.3 km chainage from the intake and one at Mangalam. The existing treatment plant at Vadakuthu will be completely bypassed and a new treatment plant is proposed to be constructed at Mangalam.

For the transmission main, steel pipe with internal diameter of 1525 mm and 10 mm thickness is recommended as this is the lowest economical size satisfying all design criteria.

3.4 Project Cost

The Veeranam source improvement works are estimated to cost Rs.600 million. This provides for escalation charges at 5% between the two closure periods.

The estimated cost of pumping, treatment and transmission is Rs.6085 million with a production cost of Rs.18 per m 3 . This cost is inclusive of all taxes and duties, but does not include any physical contingency, escalation and interest during construction. Thus, the total estimated project cost is Rs.6685 million.

3.5 Project Implementation

The source improvement works are proposed to be implemented in a period of two closure periods. The minimum estimated time (as per feasibility study) for implementation of pumping, treatment and transmission works is 30 to 32 months subject to the completion of activities related to i) land acquisition, ii) clearing of encroachments along the pipeline, ROW, iii) removal of machinery and other items in the existing pipe fabrication factory, iv) removal and stacking of PSC pipes lying along the route of the transmission main, v) removal of all electrical and mechanical equipment in the existing pump houses at

3-16 Sethiathope and Vadakuthu, and vi) acquiring the ROW for laying transmission main from Kelambakkam to Porur in the early stages of the project.

3.6 Useful Life of the Project

The useful life of Veeranam lake estimated based on a siltation rate of 0.471% per year as determined by the studies in 1993 by the Institute of Hydraulics and Hydrology, Poondi, ranges from a minimum of 206 yrs to a maximum of 253 yrs as obtained by various methods.

Both the foundation and the embankment structure of Veeranam lake are strong and have withstood floods for several centuries proving their safety, and the bund has a negligible permeability of 10-6 cm/sec. Further, the geotechnical studies undertaken by TCE have confirmed the adequacy of safe bearing capacity of embankment foundation. The increase in the water head by 0.61 M is not likely to cause any increase in seepage through embankment. The check on stability of embankment in existing condition and with a maximum water level of 16.8 M have shown that the embankment is safe under all conditions. Even excessive floods can be discharged safely through the age old surplus arrangement structure which have withstood the test of time. There are sufficient flood carriers to conduct the flood safely from the Veeranam lake to sea even in the case of extraordinary floods without causing damage to life and property downstream.

The proposed transmission main of MS pipe 1525 mm dia has been designed based on the latest available knowledge on the subject as laid down in National /International codes of practices. In order to minimise corrosion, the pipe will be coated inside and outside with cement mortar lining and thus, the life of the transmission main is expected to be 50 to 100 yrs. Large diameter Ms pipe lines laid above ground have been in use in Bombay Water Supply Project for over 50 yrs now. All the associated civil structures of the project including the treatment works are expected to have a life

3-17 span of 50 - 100 yrs excepting mechanical equipments, which may have a life span of 25-50 yrs. However, the life of pumping machinery may range from 15-20 yrs.

3.7 organisational Aspects

The Madras Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) is the agency responsible for planning and overall development of the MMA. The main organisations responsible for maintaining water supply and wastewater systems in the MMA are

a) Madras Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (MMWSSB) b) Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board c) Irrigation Branch of Public Works Department (PWD), Government of Tamilnadu

The MMWSSB constituted in 1978 has the statutory responsibility for planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of water supply and wastewater systems in the city as also the development of groundwater sources in the MMA.

The TWAD is responsible for the design and construction of water supply and wastewater systems outside the city of Madras. The water supply system in the MMA outside the city is currently operated and maintained by local authorities with technical assistance from TWAD.

The PWD is incharge of maintenance of source water reservoirs and associated works.

3-18 4. DESCRIPTIONOF THE ENVIRONMENT 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONCENT

4.1 Preamble

Madras is the capital city of Tamil Nadu State and is located at the hub of an extensive network of land, sea and air transportation facilities serving South India. It is the fourth largest city in India and its relatively high (81.6 %) literacy rate, extensive cultural and educational facilities, mark it as a major centre of Indian culture. It is the largest commercial, administrative and industrial centre of the state. Industries in and around the city have been a major factor for the growth of the city.

The baseline environmental status of the study area is presented in this chapter with emphasis on parameters which are likely to be affected by the project activities.

4.2 Study Area

4.2.1 Madras City

Madras, one of the major metropolitan cities in India, is situated on the East coast of India at latitude 130 041N and longitude 80015'E adjacent to the Bay of Bengal. The city covered an area of 128 sq.km until 1978 when the limits were extended to include 12 panchayats in the periphery of the city and the area increased to about 170 sq.km. The city is now divided into 150 corporation divisions which include the erstwhile panchayats.

The Tamil Nadu Government constituted the Madras Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA), a regional entity with powers to control land use and implement development programmes for the metropolitan area covering 1178 sq.km. The MMDA has developed a master land-use plan for the metropolitan area, together with zoning plans and regulations.

4.2.2 Veeranan Lake and its Ayacut

The Veeranam sub-basin falls in Kattumannarkoil, Keerapalayam and Kumaratchi blocks of Kattumannarkoil taluk of South Arcot district. It is bounded in the North by the Vellar river basin, in the South by the Coleroon sub- basin I, in the East by Vellar river basin and Coleroon sub-basin I and in the West by the Vellar river basin and Udayarpalayam taluk of Trichy district. The total geographical area of the sub-basin is 15849 ha. The Veeranam lake is located in the South East corner of South Arcot district and lies between 79025 E and 79 0 50 E longitude and 11 015'N and 11025'N latitude.

The Veeranam lake forms part of the Cauvery system in Tamil Nadu. It functions as a balancing reservoir, receiving flows from Lower Coleroon Anicut (LCA) through Vadavar channel and supplementing irrigation of a part of Sethiathope anicut command in addition to its own.

The Veeranam lake is a major irrigation source in Chidambaram taluk of South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu constructed during Chola's regime in the 11th century and renovated in the first decade of 19th century. The lake receives water from the Cauvery river and from its own

4-2 catchment area. The surplus water in the Cauvery river flows into the Coleroon river at Upper Anicut. The Lower Anicut near Chidambaram is the last Anicut in the Coleroon Irrigation System. From the Lower Anicut, a channel called the Vadavar Channel takes off to feed the Veeranam lake. The Vadavar channel is 22.5 km long and has a carrying capacity of 56.63 cu.m/sec. (2000 cusecs).

The Veeranam lake with a catchment area of 427 sq.km (165 sq.miles) has a water spread area of 25.9 sq.km and a maximum width of 5.64 km. The closure period of the lake is from mid May to mid June each year. The lake has an ayacut of 18152 ha. 54 villages of Chidambaram and 74 villages of Kattumannarkoil taluk of South Arcot district are benefited by the irrigation system of Veeranam lake covering an area of 8625 ha and 9497 ha respectively. The total population benefited is 1,64,387.

In the ayacut and non-ayacut areas of Veeranam lake, two crops of paddy are raised. A third crop is also raised in some areas using groundwater tapped through borewells and dug-cum-bore wells. The first crop (mainly paddy) period is September to December (N-E monsoon period). During the second crop season, paddy is accompanied by groundnut. The third crop is a dry crop, usually pulses and millets. The normal crop yields in the ayacut area are presented in Table A.4.1.

In the non-ayacut areas, dry crops are mainly raised during rainy season. Casuarina groups are often seen on these areas. Paddy, kuruvai, thaladi (double crop), samba (single crop); blackgram, greengram, sugarcane, banana are the major crops on the ayacut areas. The crop yields are 2- 3 tons/ha for paddy, 0.3 tons/ha for pulses, about 50 tons/ha for sugarcane.

The major crops grown in the catchment area of Veeranam lake are groundnut, paddy, gingelly', 'cumbu', sugarcane and cashew (Table A.4.2). Agricultural chemicals are used in the catchment area for raising crops. The

4-3 fertilizers and pesticides are not applied to the crops during rainy season and the quantities for pesticides range from about 300-1000 ml/ha and 0.12-30 kg/ha depending upon the type and concentration of the active ingredient (Table A.4.3). The residues from these chemicals and fertilizers are readily retained in the soils.

4.2.3 Pipeline ROW

The 230 km long transmission main from Veeranam lake to Madras city traverses through four districts viz. South Arcot Vellalar district, Villupuram Ramasamy Padayachiyar district, Chengai- M.G.R. district and Madras district of Tamil Nadu State.

The alignment of Veeranam transmission main commences from the existing offtake point near Sethiathope, crosses Vellar river, and skirts along Kumbakonam- Madras road upto Vadakuthu. From Vadakuthu, the alignment runs cross-country and along the State Highway over certain reaches, crosses Gadilam river, railway line near Panturi, Penniar river, railway line near Kilianur, runs along the Highway and terminates at the proposed treatment plant at Mangalam. The clear water transmission main from Mangalam traverses cross country and along the Highway to Kelambakkam and then to Porur via Vandalur upto Pallavaram along the National Highway No.45, Nehru-Statue, Alandur and Kanchipuram- Bangalore link road.

4.3 Physical Environment

4.3.1 Geology

The city of Madras is, by and large, located on the micro-alluvium. However, the area in its neighbourhood encompasses varieties of rocks from the Archeans to the Recent, with the stratigraphical succession given in Table A.4.4.

The Veeranam sub-basin has the following general geological succession :

4-4 * - -- - ~~e--

Bridge Across Palar River for Pipeline Crossing

~~~~~~~~~~~

Road Tankers Hauling Water from Neyveli to Madras, 200 km Away Recent and sub-recent : Top soil, sand, clay, clayey sand and river Alluvium

Tertiary : Lateritic sandstone, clay, sand, pebbles etc.

The Alluvium consisting of black cotton clay occupies a small portion of the sub-basin in its Western part, whereas the major portion of the sub-basin is occupied by Cuddalore sandstone tertiary formations. Minor lineaments are noticed having North East-South West and North West- South East trend.

The geological formation of the taluks along the proposed pipeline corridor is tertiary/ alluvium (Kattumannarkoil), alluvium (Chidambaram), sedimentary/ tertiary (Cuddalore), alluvium/ tertiary (Panruti), alluvium/ crystalline hardrock (Villupuram), crystalline rock (Tindivanam) and Alluvium (Saidapet).

4.3.2 Topography

The MMA is extremely flat with almost no hills. The average slope within the city of Madras is less than one metre per 1,500 metres, a factor which presents numerous difficulties in providing wastewater drainage facilities. The city is traversed by three major rivers, the Cooum, the Adyar, and the Kortalaiyar. In addition, the Buckingham canal, a navigable body of water, passes through the city parallel to the coast. Numerous small streams traverse the area, and these, together with a series of swampy areas located primarily north and south of the city limits, serve as the receiving waters for overflows from the existing sewerage system and flows from unsewered areas. The urbanised portions of the MMA and surrounding rural areas are dotted by dozens of small shallow tanks which store water from the monsoonal runoff for use in crop irrigation, primarily rice paddy. The four major tanks of significance to the Madras water supply system are Poondi, Cholavaram, Redhills, and Chembarambakkam.

4-5 The area irrigated by Veeranam lake is a flat terrain which extends to Bay of Bengal and weakens 32 km East to West and 40 Km North to South along sea coast.

The topography along the proposed alignment of water supply pipeline (ROW) is undulating with RL ranging from a low of 4.4 m to a high of 82.09 m and is crossed by rivers, drainage channels, railways and State/ National Highway.

4.3.3 Soils

The major soil types encountered in MMA are fine loamy to coarse loamy with a wide range in colours : pale yellow, brown strong brown; in depth-shallow to very deep. The soils are gradually well drained with level to slightly sloping land surfaces. These soils are suitable for crops such as paddy, pulses, millets, groundnut, coconut, and tree species.

Major soil types and characteristics in the region covered by Veeranam lake are presented in Table A.4.5. Data on major soil types, geology and depth of water table encountered along the pipeline corridor is presented in Table A.4.6. Information on classification of soils along the pipeline corridor is presented in Table A.4.7. Information available from PWD on soil characteristics indicates that the soil along the corridor is noncorrosive except a 10 km stretch from Sethiathope towards Vadakuthu, and at chainage 101.7 km.

Many villages in the Veeranam sub-basin also have non-ayacut areas and are cultivated dry or rainfed or using the groundwater supply.

4.3.4 Climate and Meteorology

The Madras urban area enjoys a tropical climate with a mean annual temperature averaging above 300C. The weather patterns are dominated by the North-West monsoons, which normally occur during October through December and the South

4-6 West monsoons, which occur between June and September. The average annual rainfall is 130 cm. Almost all the rainfall normally occurs during the monsoonal periods, with the North-East monsoon contributing the larger share. The hottest and driest part of the year occurs during April and May, during which time temperatures range up to 450C, and humidity is usually between 65 to 80 percent. The impact of the high temperatures and humidity which prevail throughout most of the year is softened considerably by the cooling sea-breezes during every day of the year.

Generally, like Tamil Nadu, Veeranam lake area and its watershed are situated in the rain shadow region for South West monsoon. It has got sub-tropical climate. Veeranam lake is situated nearer to the seashore i.e. about 30 km from Bay of Bengal. Hot weather prevails in the months of March to June, and the maximum temperature varies from 300 c to 380c. Because of its proximity to the sea-shore, cyclones hit the sea shore during North East monsoon, resulting in heavy rains. Two rainfall stations are situated in Veeranam lake; one at its right flank i.e. Kattumannar Koil and another at the left flank i.e. Sethiathope. The 50 year average rainfall in these stations is 1010 mm and 1198 mm which is more than the state average of 950 mm. The months of October to December account for nearly 57 % of annual total rainfall. But, due to the vagaries of North East monsoon, Veeranam lake has to depend on water from Mettur dam often. The 'potential evapotranspiration (PET) values for Veeranam catchment is about 810-1100 mm with air temperature ranging from 240 to 310C.

4.3.5 Air Quality

Ambient air quality survey was carried out along the pipeline ROW at Tindivanam, Mangalam and Madras to determine the background air pollutant concentrations, viz. SPM, SO2, NOX in the pre-project environment. Air sampling was carried out at Mangalam to assess the baseline air quality at proposed water treatment site as also at a site away from the National Highway. The results are summarised in

4-7 Table A.4.8 alongwith air quality data generated by M/s. Neyveli Lignite Corporation for Vadakuthu and air quality data of Neyveli (which is in the vicinity of the pipeline ROW) generated by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board at NLC Complex where Thermal Power Plants and Fertilizer Plants are running round the clock. The pollution levels are very much below the CPCB standards. The SO2' NOX and SPM concentrations at Madras will not alter much during the project activity. The SPM concentration of 169 Ag/m3 is less than the standard for commercial zone.

The predominant wind directions of NLC were East and South and the mean wind velocity was 3.5 km/hr. The dominant wind directions at Vadakuthu were South West and North East. Most of the time the wind velocities were in the range of 0.5-5.4 kmph. The wind rose at Tindivanam shows 60.3% calm condition, the dominant direction was North East, other directions being East, South East, North East and West in the frequency range of 2.1 to 4.2%. Typically at Tindivanam the wind velocities never increased beyond 2.9 kmph. Therefore, the carry over of the SPM during project activity will also be minimum. The wind rose at Madras is depicted in Fig.4.1. The proposed pipeline laying activity may not appreciably disturb the existing air environment.

4.3.6 Noise Levels

A survey of noise pollution in the project area was undertaken to measure background noise levels and to assess the impact of noise that will be generated during construction of pipeline, proposed intake at Veeranam, pumping/ booster station(s) and, water treatment plant. The results are presented in Table A.4.9 through A.4.13

The noise arising from the construction of large diameter pipe line from Veeranam to Madras will be complex in nature as it will be from multiple sources. This noise will be of a temporary nature. The post construction activity will generate continuous noise from the pumping stations, booster station(s) and at water treatment plant.

4-8 11.2%~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

7. 4 /e 1 1 .2%

% 6.2 7 19.5

4.6 %

10.1%

8.9Z ~~~~~~~~6-10 Km/hT 0<= 9 1 1--20 1 Cm = 2 7

FIG. 4.1: WIND ROSES FOR MADRAS IN FEBRUARY, 1994 The main sources of noise will be water pumps of capacity 700-1000 HP.

The general noise pollution status due to traffic, industrial and commercial activities was monitored along the pipeline ROW from Madras to Lalpet at locations in human settlements adjoining the pipeline, roads, railway crossings and river crossings.

In the villages surveyed, the noise levels were in the range 38-46 dBA. However, in urban localities noise levels were in the range of 46-52 dBA except at Thiruvanmiyur. Noise levels in the sensitive areas were in the range of 42-52 dBA. The noise levels in the vicinity of various industries within the study area varied from 50 to 58 dBA.

The traffic activity on road from Madras to Veeranam lake adjoining the route of the proposed pipe line is high. Noise levels due to vehicular traffic on roads, river crossings and railway crossings in the study area are in the range of 52-76 dBA (Leq for one hour). The other source of traffic is the network of meter gauge railway tracks from Madras to Vridhachalam.

In general, the results show that day and night noise levels measured at these locations are well within the standards (Table A.4.14) prescribed by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India notification 1986 except at sensitive receptors monitored in the study area.

4.3.7 Surface Water Hydrology

The important rivers in the vicinity of MMA, starting from the North are Araniyar, Kortalaiyar, Cooum, Adyar and Palar, all discharging into the Bay of Bengal.

Araniyar river is the northernmost river of Tamil Nadu State, and naturally of Chengleput district as well.

4-10 After originating in Andhra Pradesh the river meets the sea near Ponneri. In Andhra Pradesh a reservoir of 53 Mcum capacity has been constructed near Pichattoorin to support irrigation of about 2000 ha. Surattapalle anicut diverts water to fill in a chain of tanks in Tamil Nadu. Two more smaller anicuts have been added to this downstream at Annappanaichenkuppam and Lakshmipuram. Of the total catchment of 1450 sq. km, 700 sq. km lie in Andhra Pradesh where it is fully utilised, while surplus water to the extent of about 50 MCum flows down annually in heavy floods to be utilised through several small tanks for irrigation in Tamil Nadu.

Kortalaiyar river is the next easterly flowing river. An anicut was constructed on the river at Tamarapakkam much before independence to link the storages in the existing irrigation tanks of Cholavaram and Redhills, formed originally by the Cholas and the Pallavas, with both upper and lower supply channels. From the Redhills reservoir an open channel was dug up to the City limits, with timely improvement and strengthening of the reservoirs in 1912. In 1914, the system was qualitatively improved by installing a proper intake (Jones Tower) in the Redhills lake and conveying the same to the Kilpauk Water Works, where water was treated before distribution. All this was planned to meet the water supply of 32000 m3 /d for a population of just 4.7 lakhs.

With rising demand of water supply to the City in the forties another anicut was created by constructing the Poondi Regulator and a reservoir of that name on the river, 30 km upstream of Tamarapakkam of capacity 77.2 M Cu.m, thereby raising the potential by almost 5 times to 159000 m3 /d. Later, when the scarcity was felt in the sixties, the full tank levels of Cholavaram and Redhills were raised by 1.22 and 0.61 m respectively along with the exclusive irrigation rights of their command area totaling to 3000 ha. In 1973, a separate head sluice was provided in the Poondi reservoir with a lined channel to draw 100 cusecs of water for direct flow of the Tamarapakkam anicut by

4-11 avoiding river losses. Presently, the river has no irrigation commitment, except down below under the Vallur anicut, close to its confluence with Bay of Bengal. Now Tamarapakkam is the last point of utilisation on the river for water supply diversions with Red Hills Lake serving as the terminal tank. This arrangement has stood for the whole of seventies and for the major part of eighties through floods, surplus years and as well for non-surplus and acute scarcity years. It is now proposed to raise the full supply level at the Redhills Lake permanently by another 0.6 m to receive the water of the Telugu Ganga for water supply to the Madras Metropolitan Area.

The water balance for Poondi, Cholavaram, Redhills and Chembarambakkam reconciled from the water balances based on 20 year records (1963-83) are presented in Table A.4.15. The salient data of existing reservoirs is summarised in Table A.4.16.

The easterly flowing Cooum river is 65 km long with a catchment area of 290 sq. km and meets the sea south of the Madras harbour. Adyar river is still another easterly flowing stream further south, 42 km long with a catchment area of 860 sq. km, of which 300 sq. km lie in the Chembarambakkam sub-basin. However, both these rivers are presently not being tapped for City water supply, and the former is, in fact, serving as the sewage drain of the Metropolitan City.

In addition to the above, there are 2877 shallow tubewell hand pumps and 5304 India Mark II hand pumps within the city area installed by MMWSSB. Also, individual households have open wells and borewells in their premises to supplement water requirements. The water resources potential from these areas for Madras city is presented in Table A.4.17.

The hydrologic studies of the Arani, Kortalaiyar and Palar rivers revealed that the surplus flow to the sea averages 94 M Cu.m and 398 M Cu.m respectively. The surplus

4-12 flow in the Arani river can easily be diverted through a canal to the Kortalaiyar and thus into the Madras city water supply system. The average annual ground water recharge of the Arani-Kortalaiyar basin is about 450 M Cu.m. This includes recharge from rain, infiltration in river beds and irrigation return. Average pumping from this basin (mostly for irrigation) during 1980-1984 was approximately 350 M Cu.m. In years of normal or above normal rainfall, recharge exceeds discharge.

4.3.8 Groundwater Hydrology

In Veeranam sub-basins, both Alluvium and Tertiary formations have good aquifer zones which are present in deeper levels. These zones are under hydrostatic stress. Based on dugwell pump test conducted in Kurungudi and Palayamkottai villages, transmissivity of Kurungudi is computed as 1118 gpd/ft. The seepage study conducted in an irrigated paddy field at Nangudi village, gave a daily seepage rate of 5.90 mm/day. The tank seepage study conducted in the Kanur and Vattathur villages yielded a seepage rate for the two locations as 2.73 mm/day and 0.92 mm/day respectively.

Based on topography and land use the sub-basin has been classified into Ayacut and non-Ayacut areas. In the Ayacut area, there are 221 borewells, filter points and dugwells of which dugwells are very limited. The depth of filter points ranges between 6 m and 14 m with Alluvium in the top and lateritic formation at the bottom. The filter points generally give copious supply of water, irrigating 1-2 hectares. The depth of dug wells varies between 8 m and 10 m. The water level reaches ground level in winter and in normal rainfall years. During summer, water level ranges from 7 m to 9 m below ground level. Recharge is mainly from rainfall infiltration, seepage from surface water bodies and seepage from applied water both surface and sub-surface. The quality of water is generally good.

4-13 In the Non-ayacut area, there are 825 wells which include borewells, filter points and a limited number of dugwells. Generally, the depth of wells varies from 10 m to 19 m. The water level reaches ground level during winter and normal rainfall years. During summer, the water level ranges from 8 m to 13 m below ground level.

Groundwater balance in the sub basin of Veeranam lake is given below

Ayacut Area Non-Ayacut Area (ha.m.) (ha.m.)

Net recharge 2442 1943 Total extraction 670 1720 Balance available 1772 223

Geophysical depth probe at a few sites resulted in low resistivity indicating presence of alluvial formation extending to 80 m at places. A borewell drilled at Lalpet to a depth of 412 meters yielded 1936 1/m. The formations encountered in the borehole were sandstone and shale (0- 150 m) and fine to coarse sand including lignite (150- 412 m).

Studies using aerial photography (without field checks) have shown a number of lineaments trending North- East to South-West and North-West to South-East in the Veeranam Kumavachi and Chidambaram areas. Existance of geological facets/ seismic conditions is not reported.

4.3.9 Water Quality

The major water supply to Madras city is from Kilpauk water works. Raw water quality at Kilpuak water works for the years 1991, 1992 and 1993 is presented in Table A.4.18. Groundwater quality (Table A.4.19) in MMA indicates high electrical conductivity, hardness and chlorides. Treated water quality at Kilpauk pumping station shows that the

4-14 water is soft with negative Langelier Index. Groundwater quality data for years 1992 and 1993 from a number of borewells in the villages along the proposed pipeline ROW in South Arcot district is presented in Table A.4.20.

The Veeranam lake is traditionally being used as an irrigation water source. Since water from this lake will be used for Madras city water supply, detailed analysis of water samples including for heavy metals and pesticides was undertaken by NEERI and the results are presented in Table 4.1. The sampling locations are depicted in Fig.4.2. Data on water quality assessment of Veeranam lake carried out by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Guindy, Madras is presented in Table A.4.21. A summary of the physico-chemical water quality of Veeranam lake for the period 1968 - 1978 is presented in Table A.4.22. A perusal of the above data indicates no significant variation in quality over the years. TNPCB has monitored the Veeranam lake water quality for pesticide concentration and the summary data is presented in Table A.4.23. The results indicate that pesticide concentration is below detectable limits and that the presence of heavy metals is also below permissible limits as per BIS 10500. Thus, the quality of Veeranam Lake water indicates that the water source falls under class C as per BIS 2296 (1982) Tolerance Limits for Inland Surface Waters' and that the source can be considered for public water supply after complete conventional treatment followed by disinfection.

4-15 TABLE 4.1 (a)

PHYSICO-CENMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VE3RAKAK LAKE WATER

S1. Parameters Sampling Locations No. ------Tail end Radha Vadavar Radha Sluice Sluice Channel Sluice

Sept.1993 Feb.1994

1. pH 8.8 8.8 8.6 8.4

2. Turbidity (NTU) 1.5 1.5 3.9 7.0

3. Conductivity (As/cm) 325 325 390 450

4. Alkalinity as CaCO 3 108 116 132 128

5. Total Solids 195 205 294 242

6. Total Dissolved Solids 185 195 245 194

7. Total Suspended Solids 10 10 49 48

8. Hardness as CaCO 3

- Total 94 100 121 124 - Calcium 42 52 75 90 - Magnesium 52 48 46 34

9. Chlorides (C1 ) 21 22 26 41

10. Sulphate (SO4 -) 12 10 15 15

11. Total Phosphate (PO4 ) Nil 0.1 0.03 N.D

12. Total Nitrogen (N) 1.1 0.8 1.5 1.1

13. Nitrate (N0 3 ) *2 2 2 -

14. Sodium (Na+) 22 22 24 36

15. Potassium (K+) 3 4 3 2

16. Langelier index +0.63 +0.75 +0.76 +0.63

All values are expressed as mg/l except pH

4-16 TABLE 4.1 (b)

HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION IN VEERANAM LAKE WATER

Parameters September, 1993 February, 1994

I II III I II III

Zinc 4.32 0.09 0.55 - 0.07 - Cadmium 0.01 N.D N.D - N.D -

Lead 0.07 0.04 0.08 - N.D -

Iron 1.24 0.72 8.22 - 0.25 -

Chromium 0.02 0.01 0.01 - N.D - Nickel 0.01 0.01 0.03 - 0.07 -

Copper 0.25 0.08 0.10 - 0.06 -

Manganese 0.05 0.05 0.22 - 0.05 -

All values are expressed as mg/l

I. Tail end point at Veeranam lake near supply sluice II. Radha sluice III Vadavar channel

TABLE 4.1 (c)

PESTICIDE CONCENTRATION IN VEERANAN LAKE WATER

Sl. Sampling Locations September, 1993 February, 1994 No. ------rHCH pp DDE pp DDT rHCH pp DDE pp DDT

1. Tail end point at 0.43 0.34 Nil - - - Veeranam lake (I)

2. Radha Sluice (II) 0.04 0.07 0.4 0.003 0.074 0.135

3. Vadavar channel 0.16 0.07 0.4 - - - (III)

All values are expressed as Ag/l HCH - V - Hexachlorocyclohexane; Tpp DDE - 2,2, BIS (P-Chlorophenyl)-1,2 Dichloroethylene pp DDT - 2,2 BIS (P-Chlorophenyl)-1,1,1 Trichloroethane

4-17 l

,' , A

LOWER ANICUT

> v X ~~~~~I:Near Offtake Point §>eTRIJPPANANOtz- II: Near Radha Sluice (,/ \ s¢J IIB: 10 Km Upstream of R ,< ~~~~~~~~~~Offtake Point

_ FRoM KUMBAKONAM ~~~III Vadavar Channel

FIG. 4.2: LOCATION OF SAMPLING STATIONS FOR WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT

4-18 4.4 Biological Envirorunent

The properties of plant and animal communities can be utilised to assess the impact of the project on flora and fauna of the region which are important components of land and aquatic ecology. Conservation strategies can be followed if the baseline condition of the area is studied and understood.

The Veeranam pipeline alignment skirts the national/ state Highway and also runs cross country through natural vegetation and agricultural fields. The sensitive ecosystems in the nearby areas are Arignar Anna Zoological park, Vedanthangal Wild Life Sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary and Guindy National Park. Observations on the flora and fauna of the region were made by dividing the entire area into the following sectors :

Identification of Sectors for Biological Environment

S.No. Name of Sector Sector Number 1. Madras District 1 2. Chengleput District

- Kelambakkam to Thirukkalikundram 2 - Thirukkalikundram to Acharpakkam 3 - Ahcarpakkam to GST Road Crossing 4

3. South Arcot District

- GST Road Crossing to Booster Station 5 - Booster Station to Ponniar River Crossing 6 - Ponniar River Crossing to Vellar River 7 crossing near Veeranam lake - Veeranam Lake site 8

4.4.1 Terrestrial Ecology

Natural Flora

The nature and extent of forest vegetation in this area is determined by dry weather and interference of man through clearing of forest, grazing, shifting cultivation,

4-19 and increasing population. The flora consists of drier, harsher and deciduous species. The percentages of forest area to land in Chengleput and South Arcot districts are 6% and 11% respectively. However, very less natural vegetation cover is present around the alignment (Figs 4.3 and 4.4). Rest of the area is occupied by agricultural fields, plantations and open scrub forests. The list of trees, shrubs recorded from the various sectors of study area is given in Table A.4.24.

Avenue plantation along the alignment is dominated by Tamarindus indica. Prosopis sp.. Acacia sp., Palm trees, Eucalvytus sp. etc. The nearby areas and the road sides are occupied by open thorn forests of Prosopis and Acacias, agricultural fields of crops and sugarcane, plantations of Casuarina. Palmyra. Eucalyvtus and cashew nut. Cashew nut plantations are very common in South Arcot district. Many aquatic weeds have been recorded from the area around Veeranam lake.

Natural Fauna

Major portion of the study area along the alignment consists of inhabited land or agricultural land. There are, however, patches of natural forest, reserve forest and agroforest. The fauna is, therefore, limited to grazers viz. cow, goat and sheep which are domesticated. Larger mammals and reptiles are present only in the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. In the open terrestrial area, amongst the natural vegetation the avifauna constitutes a significant portion of the terrestrial fauna.

Birds

The common bird species recorded from visual observations made in the study area are the little cormorant, kingfisher, blue jay, crow pheasant, koels, doves, rabins, quails, little egret, red wattled lapwing, munias, grey patridges, parrots, cattle egrett, purple sunbird, drongo, darters, pond herons, golden oriole, bee

4-20 X 1~~~~~~~~X

~'|

-4-00Z-

ServiceRoad and UnusedPSC Pipes ANDHRA PRADESH

- X ;98 M A~~~~MDRAS

NORTH ARCOT / BAY

OF

|N < t J BENGAL

0 ~CHENGLEPr

LEGEND*-

DENSE FORESTS

SPARSE FORESTS

STONE e ROCK SITE

1DENSE SCRUB SPARSE SCRUB S ARC/ RESERVE FOREST

PLANTATIONS ROAD

FIG. 4.3 FOREST COVER IN CIIENGLPUT DIS'lTlC'I'

4-21 CHENGLEPUT

NO RTH ARCOT \- -

s > u ~~~~~~~~~~PUA

SALEM ALLA R(

DEGRADED FORESTSw CUDDALORE \ 2 VR~~~iDDHACHALAM | BAY OF

TIRUCH

LEGEND -

_ DENSE FORESTS THNAU E SPARSE FORESTS I IDEGRADED FORESTS STONE a ROCK SITE r77 DENSE SCRUB SPARSE SCRUB I I RESERVE FOREST PLANTATIONS ROAD

FIG. 4.4: FOREST COVER IN SOUTII ARCOT DISTRICT

4-22 eater, mynahs, babblers, white wagtail, redvented bulbul, jungle crow and weaver bird. The list of birds present in the area is given in Table A.4.25.

The indigenous birds can be categorised broadly as cormorants, dartors, egrets, herons, ibises and other birds. Depending on their migratory and nesting habits the birds of the area may be classified as

i. Migrants and other birds visiting the area for feed. These are ducks, teals, pintail, pelicans, coots, ring plovers, herons, river terns and spoonbills. This category is mainly present in the water bird sanctuaries viz. the Vedanthangal, Karikili and Arignar Anna Zoological Park.

ii. Birds noticed on trees and tank bunds e.g. parakeet, myna, king crow, king fisher, blue jay, cuckoos.

iii. Scavengers and predatory birds: e.g. Kites, eagles, falcons, house crow, Harrier & Scavenger vultures.

Kamials

Only domestic animals were observed in the study area other than the zoological parks and sanctuaries. These include cows, goats, sheep, pigs, horses and buffaloes. However, a variety of common, rare and endangered mammals which include Indian antelope, spotted deer, white buck, bonnet monkey, small civet cat, jungle cat, jackal, porcupine, will ass, zebra, gaur, red sheep, hippopotamus, camel, elephants are present in the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur. List of exotic species in Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur is given in Table A.4.26. The status of collection of mammals in this park is given in Table A.4.27 and the list of animals including the endangered species in the park is given in Table A.4.28.

4-23 Reptiles

Reptiles in the study area were not observed excepting the garden lizard Calotes versicolor. The Guindy National Park has within it the Madras Snake Park with a reptile research centre and the Arignar Anna Zoological Park has a collection of reptiles as indicated below.

No. of species Total Nos. Madras snake park 30 400 Arignar Anna Zoo 22 397

The important reptile species present in these parks are snakes viz. Cobra, Krait, Russels viper, sand boa, pythan; the Indian crocodile, sharial, tortoises, chamaleons, Alligator and monitor lizard.

Veeranaz Lake

Many permanent weeds are growing in the shallow basin of the lake. Water spread area of the lake was reduced due to growth of weeds. About 20-30 percent of the lake is covered with aquatic weeds. The upstream portion was also occupied by aquatic weeds and a large number of trees. The dominant weeds in the lake were Potamoceton sp. and Iponoea SD Apart from these weeds other weeds are Hydrilla and Vallisnaria. The bird population in Veeranam area is represented by little grebe, Indian pond heron, Indian moorhen, kingfisher, open billed stork and white breasted kingfisher.

Vadavar Channel

The Vadavar channel which feeds water to Veeranam lake is infested at places by dense growth of aquatic weeds such as Ipomoea SD., Hydrilla sF., Ipomoea aauatica etc. on its banks.

4-24 , ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'5

A_IwofVeanmLk

__~~~~~K

WeeGrowt inVeeranam Lake Forests

Chengleput district shows some patches of natural vegetation in the nearby areas around the alignment. These patches are of dense forests, sparse forests, dense scrub, sparse scrub and plantations. In dry evergreen forests, a complete canopy consisting mostly of small evergreen trees with coriacous leaves was formed. The climbers were numerous. Bamboos were rare. Grasses were not conspicuous. Chief tree species in these forests were Manilkara hexandra, Mimusops elengi, Diospyros elsenum, Strychnos nux-vomica, Eugenia sp., Drypetes sepiaria and Memecylon edule.

The thorn forests in Chengleput and South Arcot- districts were degraded type of forests. The species found in these forests were varieties of Acacia, chief Zizvphus and fleshy Euphorbia and other useful species such as Chloroxvlon swietenia, Albizzia amara, Acacia chundra. Acacia ferruginea. Azadirachta indica. Canthium diocum. ErvthroXvlon monogynum. Zizvphus mauritiana. Zizvphus zyropyrus. Atlantia monophylla.

4.4.2 Aquatic Ecology

Mostly the upstream and downstream portion of the Veeranam lake is infested by aquatic weeds and marshy terrestrial vegetation. The siltation is very high and water spread area is very small.

Aquatic Weeds

Veeranam lake is extensively infested by Ipomoea sp. and Vallisnaria sp. The Ipomoea has formed a permanent vegetation along the banks. Once these plants are established, they can grow well and tolerate partial submergence of water. Again the water level is fluctuating and the lake becomes dry in surmier season. So the plants get suitable environment to grow and spread in the lake basin. Other weed species are Ipomea palmata, Hydrilla. Potamoceton ap. etc. In the upstream portion of the lake a dense

4-25 vegetation of phreatophytes or marshy plant is observed which has been described in terrestrial vegetation.

Planxkton

Composite water samples were collected from four stations in Veeranam lake : I Near offtake point, II A Near Radha Sluice, II B 10 km upstream of intake point, and III Vadavar channel.

Phytoplankton

The results of phytoplankton analysis are shown in Tables A.4.29 and A.4.30. The total algal count varied from 2.4 x 103 to 4.4 x 104 (September 1993) and 8.5x10 3 to 3.8x104 (February 1994) algae/100 ml in Veeranam lake and 7 X 1034 (September 1993) and 3.6x104 (February 1994) algae per 100 ml in Vadavar channel. The count is not very high and is comparable to the rivers with optimum nutrient enrichment.

The algal count is less in the samples collected from upstream portion (station No.II) while the algal count shows increasing trend in the downstream portion with dense macrophytic growth. These downstream samples showed release of nutrients from organically enriched sediment due to death and decay of these macrophytes in summer season. Vadavar channel also showed higher algal count on account of release of nutrients from organically enriched sediments.

The composition of phytoplankton population showed that the bacillariophyceae is more at upstream sampling point in Veeranam lake with 40% green algae and 20% blue green algae. Bacillariophyceae being the indicator of clean water quality, the water quality of Veeranam lake at upstream point is good but shows optimum enrichment of nutrients in the river. However, in the downstream portion of Veeranam lake the bacillariophyceae decrease in its quantity and greens and blue greens show more or less equal dominance showing higher level of nutrient enrichment, the water quality is good. Euglenophyceaen member is also

4-26 recorded at downstream water intake point showing slight organic pollution in water.

The above observations are supported by the values of Palmer's Pollution Index. The Palmer's Pollution Index values are low in upstream area and more in downstream area showing higher enrichment at downstream stations. However, these values are less than 15 showing absence of organic pollution in the lake water.

Chlorophyll-a values (mg/l) are shown in Table A.4.31. These values are less in upstream area and more in downstream area showing higher productivity of algal biomass due to increase in nutrients released from enriched sediments. Vadavar channel also showed higher chlorophyll-a content indicative of nutrient enrichment. Observations on phytoplankton community of Veeranam lake are presented in Table A.4.32.

Zooplankton

Results of zooplankton analysis are presented in Tables A.4.33 through A.4.35. The total zooplankton count varies from 700-1340/m 3 of water in Veeranam lake. In Vadavar channel, the count was lower i.e. 180-600/m3 . The higher count of 1340/m3 near Radha sluice can be attributed to increase in nutrient level due to human activity at this point. The zooplankton species recorded in the Veeranam lake and Vadavar Channel represented by species of Protozoa, Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda and Ostracpda which are components of normal lake plankton in India. Presence of ciliated protozoa Prorodon sp. and early life stages of Chironomus tendipediformis indicate eutrophic condition of the lake at station No.II and III. Shannon Weaver Index of community diversity calculated from zooplankton data indicate higher values i.e. 2.5 and 2.81 at station I both in September as well as March, 1994 samples indicating comparatively better water quality. At stations II, IIB and III on the other hand the diversity is reduced as is evident

4-27 from TableA.4.34 which indicates eutrophic condition of the lake at these sites.

Fishery of Veeranan Lake

Veeranam lake is traditionally used for irrigation and fishery activity is secondary. Major variety of fish that are autostocked are Cirrhina reba, Labeo kalbasu. The varieties of fish stocked in the adjoining Lalpet hatchery are Catla catla, Cirrhina mriqala and Labeo rohita.

Fishing activity is undertaken only for 4-5 months. Fish seed is given to the fishermen (a society formed by 1000 fishermen) free of cost. Main type of fishing is by use of gill net and cast net for which a nominal sum is levied by the state fishery department. A hatchery at Lalpet undertakes induced spawning of carps.

The record of fish landing during 1989-90 and 1990-91 is as follows

Year No.of seeds stocked Fish landing (kgs)

1989-90 15,00,054 13,705 1990-91 5,71,297 15,104

* Fry of 1-2 cm size approximately.

Coxnercial Fisheries of Madras Region

Information on the fisheries of the region can be broadly divided into inland fisheries and marine fisheries. The inland fisheries and fresh water fisheries include riverine fisheries, reservoirs, ponds, and tank culture. The marine fishery includes coastal fishery, and estuarine fishery.

A) Inland Fishery i) Poondi Reservoir : The indigenous fishery of this reservoir comprises mainly of the catfish Wallago attu Notopterus sp. The introduced fishes like Cirrhina mrigala,

4-28 Labeo rohita Labeo calbasu and Tilapia mossambica show good growth. Etroplus suratensis and Cirrhina reba are also present in this reservoir. ii) Chetput Swamp : This is located in Chetput division of Madras City. The swamp has a water spread area of about 4 hectares and its depth ranges from 0.5 to 3.0 m. It has overgrowth of vegetation like Hydrilla and Vallisnaria. Frogs, water snakes, tortoises and predatory fishes viz. Anabus testudienes Ophiocephalus punctatus, Sacchotoranchus fossils, Notoplerus notoplerius etc are common. The major fish species of this swamp include Tilapia mossambica (82%), Catla Catla, Ophicoephalus striatus, Cirrhina reba, Labeo striatus, Labeo rohita, Cyprinus carpio, Electorplus suratensis, Chanos Chanos etc. iii) Fishes of some Madras ponds Almost all the ponds maintained by the state fisheries department have been stocked with Tilapia mossambica along with carps and Chanos chomos Tilapia a fish with high growth rate, large reproductive capabilities and palatable enough for human consumption. However, they compete with finer carp varieties and restrict their growth. The general yield of Tilapia is reported to be 500-1000 kg/ha. Some of the ponds yielding Tilapia in the project area are listed in Table A.4.36. iv) Cooun River : The river is heavily polluted and possibility of fish existing in the river is remote. However, presence of some variety of fish is indicated from occasional catches made by local fishermen. The fishes and macro crustaceans reported from the Cooum river are Ambassis nama, Anabus scanders, Chanos chanos, Etroplus maculatus, Megalops cyprenoides, Mugil sp., Ophiocephalus striatus, Penaeus indicus, Therapon jarbua, and Sillage sihama. Tilapia was unable to establish itself in Cooum river.

4-29 B) Marine Fishery

i) Coastal Fishery : Between Madras harbour and Covelong, about 29 km of the coastline is shallow and sandy and is exposed to heavy surf throughout the year. The city of Madras extends northwards along the coast for about 16 km from the mouth of the Adyar river. The Cooum, a small and sluggish river, flows through the city and joins the sea about 3.5 km north of the Adyar river mouth. The Cooum river mouth is closed by sandbar throughout the year except for a few days during rainy season. The inshore waters within the 20 fathoms contour is rich in prawns. The catch effort is on an average 34 kg/hr during the peak season. Prawn trawelling and processing is therefore an important industry in the coastal areas of Madras and Chengleput districts.

Marine fishery is divided into Pelagic variety (caught by netting) and Demersal variety (caught by trawellers). The important varieties from commercial point of view are :

Pelagic : Oil sardines, Lesser sardires, Hilsa, Caranx, Mackerel, Seer, Tunnies, Mugil, Anchoviella

Deuersal : Sharks, Skates and Rays, Perches, Red Mullets, Sciaenids, Pomfrets, Lactarius, Penaeid Prawns, Non Penaeid Prawns, Crabs, Cephalopods, and Leignathus. The list of common marine fishes, is given in Table A.4.37. A study undertaken by Zoological Survey of India, marine biological station, Santhome, Madras in the coastal waters of the region during 1980-87 has indicated heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) contamination of both shellfish and finfish exceeding the permissible limits. ii) Estuarine Fisheries : Chengleput district in Madras state with an area of about 7500 sq. km. has a sea coast of about 115 km. The district has the following estuaries that are important from fisheries point of view

Pulicat Lake 40 km to the north of Madras city Ennore Estuary 16 km to north of Madras city Cooum Estuary situated in Madras city and enters the sea adjacent to the Madras Fort St. George

4-30 Adyar Estuary situated in the Madras city is 5 km to the south of Cooum Estuary.

Pulicat Lake

It is the second longest stretch of backwaters in the east coast of India forming an important source of fish and prawn supply to the markets of Madras city. The lake extends for a distance of 59 km with a total water spread area of 178 sq. km. About 1/3 of the total area of Pulicat lake, rich in fisheries, lies in the Chengleput district of Tamil Nadu. The rest 2/3 area lies in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

The major species of commercial importance in Pulicat lake are prawns and mullets. The fishery of Pulicat lake largely depends on the Bay of Bengal for enough supply of larvae and juveniles of fish, prawns, crabs and edible molluscs. The commercially important fish species in Pulicat lake are Mugil cephalus, Mugil macrolepis, Mugil parsia, Mugil cunnesius, Nematalosa nasus, Sillago sihama, Penaeus indicus, Penaues monodom, Metapenaeus monoceros, Metapenaeus dobsoni, Neptunus pelagicus, and Scylla serrata.

Ennore Estuary

This estuary 16 km north of Madras city is 3 km long, one km wide; and the depth varies from 1.5-2.5 m. Kortalaiyar river forms the main channel for this estuary, besides Buckingham canal and Redhills surplus channel. The estuary is having a number of oyster beds and mussel beds. Prior to the dredging, the estuary was undisturbed and regular fishing operations were carried out. Now, due to the establishment of thermal power station, huge quantity of water is drawn from the estuary for cooling purposes. For this, the mouth of the estuary is kept open by dredging operation.

4-31 In Ennore estuary the fish landings were mainly represented by mullets and prawns. Commercially important species are Mugil cephalus, Mugil cunnesius, Mugil macrolepis, Mugil tada, Acentogobius cannius, A. Globiceps, Ctenogobius criniger, and Glossogobius biocelatus and the prawn sp. viz. penaeus indicus, panaeus monodom, Metapenaeus monoceros, M. doboni. Oyster beds are also exposed during the low tides, and the main species is crassostrea madrasensis. Oyster shells are used for preparing lime and poultry feed. Other important molluscs are Mytilus viridix and Meretrix casta.

Pest Species and Disease Vectors

Species of mosquitoes viz. Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles culcifacies causing malaria, and Culex ciuinauefasciatus causing filaria have been reported in the city of Madras. In Chengleput and South Arcot districts, having paddy fields, the presence of mosquitoes has been reported to be more. The rice fields and fresh water bodies are the breeding places for mosquitoes viz. Culex vishnui and Culex tritieniorhyncus which cause brain fever.

In the Veeranam lake, snails belonging to genus LYmnaea sp. and Indoplanorbis sp. are observed. These gastropodes are reported vectors of Schistosomiasis (helminth infection) which cause allergy and kidney infection by helminth Schistosoma sp. and Schistosoma haematobium. Stagnation of water bodies promotes mosquito breeding which will not occur at Veeranam lake if the depth is increased by desilting and deweeding. Deweeding will help in controlling the gastropod vectors of Schistosomiasis which have been reported sporadically in some areas of Tamil Nadu.

4-3 2 4.4.3 Sensitive Areas

Arignar Anna Zoological Park

This park is developed in Vandalur Reserve Forest area. It was opened for the public in 1985. This is one of the biggest zoos in South East Asia extending over an area of 510 ha. A special feature of the park is that it has been entrusted with the specific task of breeding and rearing of the endangered lion-tailed macaques Macaca silenus in an endeavour to preserve and conserve this endangered mammal. This park is also the black buck breeding centre. The fawns are specially hand reared to add to their growing population.

The park has the distinction of housing animals in their natural habitat. This is achieved by providing open moated enclosures enriched with suitable vegetation that give the animals a feel of their natural wild environment. The zoo is also provided with Quarantine Veterinary facility and a fodder bank. Important species worth mentioning are Indian antelope, black buck, white buck, spotted deer, bonnet monkey, porcupine wild ass, red sheep, elephants, white ass, red sheep, zebra, camel, tigers, slender loris, black bean, otters, an aviary with 86 species of birds and a Reptile section which has gharials, tortoises and turtles. Endangered species of mammals (17) birds (4) and reptiles (4) are protected and conserved in the park.

Most important and dominant flora of this park are as follows:

PonQamia pinnata. Azadirachta indica. Bauhinia sp.. Delonix regia, Albizia lebbeck. Dalberaia s., Tamarindus indica, Bamboos, Tectona crandis, Cassia sp., Acacia sp.. Kiaelia pinnata. Hardwickia binata. Ficus sp.. Thespesia populnea, Palm trees, Ailanthus sp.. Butea sp.. Zizvphus sp.. Emblica officinalis. Leucina leucocephala. Adina cardifolia. Feronia limomia. Manilkara sp.. Capparis sp. Casuarina sp., Jatropha s and Prosopis .

4-33 Vedanthangal Water Bird Sanctuary

Vedanthangal water bird sanctuary is situated 80 km from Madras off National Highway No.45. It is one of the oldest water bird sanctuaries in India. The sanctuary has been declared as a reserved land. The government of Tamil Nadu has prohibited the shooting of birds within 20 km radius of the sanctuary under the Wildlife & Animal Protection Act. The mixed "Heronayzy" is said to be the most spectacular of its kind in India and several birds visit Vedanthangal for nesting and breeding. The number of birds vary from year to year depending on the rainfall. The birds include the following major categories:

Regular nesting birds e.g. little cormorant, darter, shag, egrets, pond heron, grey heron, open billed stork, spoonbill, white ibis and little grebe ii. Non-breeding indigenous birds eg. pelicans, coots and black winged stilt iii. Distant migrants eg. sandpiper, grey wagtail and garganey teal iv. Brilliantly plumaged song birds eg. golden oriole, kingfisher, weaver bird, blue jay, cuckoos and robins

Though the nesting period and duration are dependent on the rainfall, normally November to January is the period when birds abound the area.

Many trees and plants similar to that found in Guindy National parks are recorded here. To improve these resources, the Forest Department has been earnestly implementing several schemes. In Vedanthangal and nearby Karikili tanks, new saplings of Barrinctonia acutancula. Acacia nilotica and bamboo bushes are planted to replace dead wood and to augment the breeding homes of birds. A grove is being raised with such species of thorny trees like Carissa carandas. Zizyphus mauritiana and Acacia leucophloea

4-34 whose twigs the birds use to build the nests. For the food supply of the peripheral fruit eating birds, a garden of various species of fruit bearing trees is being raised.

Karikili Bird Sanctuary

This sanctuary is located in Chengai Anna district and was established in 1989. Situated to the west of National Highway 45 it is close to the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary. Karikili has a tank of 61 ha and a belt of 5 km width around. The forest type is dry evergreen scrub. This sanctuary is famous for its breeding "Heronary". Many migratory and resident birds are present in the area. Other features are similar to that described under Vedanthangal water bird sanctuary.

Guindy National Park

The year of formation of this park is 1959 and it was established as national park in 1978. It has 270.5 ha. area. Most common plants in this park are Polyathia lonaifolia. Capparis SD., Flacourtia sepiaria, Ferronia elephantum. Citrus sp., Azadirachta indica, Zizvphus sp.. Manaifera indica. Sapindus emarainatus. Butea frondosa, Caesalpinia coriaria, Delonix regia. Cassia sp.. Tamarindus indica. Acacias, Albizzia lebbeck, Eugenia sp.. Svzigium cumini. Carissa sp.. Lantana sp Ficus sp., Palm trees etc.

The Guindy National Park has the Madras Snake Park situated within it which houses around 400 reptiles belonging to 30 species. This park houses some important mammals viz. cheetal, black buck, bonnet monkey, jungle cat, civet cat and mongoose. As many as 130 bird species are supported in this park amongst the lush vegetation and diverse habitat provided by two tanks situated inside.

4-35 4.5 Socio Cultural Environnent

4.5.1 Population

The population of Madras city has grown from 0.55 million (5.53 lakhs) in 1901 to 5.5 million (55 lakhs) in 1991. The population in MMA (excluding the city) has grown from about 0.44 million (4.42 lakhs) in 1951 to about 1.29 million (12.9 lakhs) in 1981. The trend in population growth of the city is presented in Table A.4.38. The overall decadal growth in population for the city was found to be the highest (42.87%) during 1961-71. The highest decadal growth (about 90%) for 1971 population in individual parts are observed in Perambur and Nungambakkam.

The population breakup in MMA for the year 1981 is presented in Table A.4.39. The population densities in MMA are observed to be low with the maximum being less than 100 persons per hectare. The growth has been particularly high for the main urban centers. The population projection made by MMDA is presented in Table 4.2. The population of MMA is expected to reach 9.5 million in 2011 and 11.5 million in 2021.

The census statistics for the districts which fall within the study area along with that of Tamil Nadu state is given in Table A.4.40. The distribution of population between urban and rural for the project area is presented in Table A.4.41. The density of population of the three districts is comparable to that of the state (429 per sq.km) while that for Madras city is 22077 per sq.km. The decadal (1981-1991) growth rate for Chengleput-MGR district has been highest at 28.68% when compared to that of the state (15- 39%), Madras city (17.24%) and South Arcot district (16.10%). The percentage of urban population to total population is also maximum at 44.87%, next only to Madras city (100%).

4-36 TABLE 4. 2

PROJECTED POPULATION BY MKDA (1996-2021)

Area Population (in lakhs) ------1996 2001 2006 2011 2021

MMA 66.76 75.22 84.64 95.09 115

Madras City 44.69 49.47 54.72 60.46 70

MMA excluding 22.07 25.75 29.92 34.63 45 Madras City

Source : Madras Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Master Plan for Water Supply (Vol.I) MMWSSB, (September, 1991)

4-37 4.5.2 Land Use

The MMDA is the sole agency for planning and promotion of the land development in the MMA. The city has been divided into 16 planning divisions and the remaining MMA into 14 planning divisions for the purpose of land use planning. The land use maps prepared during the detailed land survey of 1974 have been updated from time to time by MMDA. Land use categories include primary residential, mixed residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, open spaces & recreational, non-urban and agricultural. The built-up area within Madras city limits is very dense in Tondiarpet-Kilpauk-George Town triangle, Triplicane- Royapettah belt and around Mylapore. Industrial areas are distributed around Kodungaiyur- Manali- Ennore belt in the North and Avadi- Ambattur belt in the West. Major green patches within MMA are plantations on Redhills and East of Tambaram-Vandalur, the reserve forests of Guindy National Parks and the thick vegetation in the catchment area of Chembarambakkam lake.

The corridor for the New Veeranam-Madras pipeline ROW comprises essentially agricultural and forest land already acquired by the Government. The area around Veeranam lake is primarily agricultural, and the residential area constitutes a very small fraction.

4.5.3 Domestic Water Supply

The city of Madras is supplied with 293 mld of water during the years of normal rainfall from the existing surface and ground water sources to meet the city's domestic and industrial needs. Information on domestic water supply service for Madras city is given in Table 4.3. During normal years when the rainfall is satisfactory, the per capita water supply is about 70 lpd which is hardly 1/3 of the supplies made at Delhi or Calcutta. The supply is further reduced drastically (<45 lpcd) during drought years. Particularly during the last few years, the city had to resort to transport and supply of water through tankers. In

4-38 TABLE 4.3

STATISTICS ON WATER SERVICE TYPE DOMESTIC WATER USE (MADRAS CITY) - 1990

Total number of Water House connections : 1,50,000

Total number of Metered Connections 42,000

Number of Public Fountains (Street Taps): 6,893

Number of T.W.P's (Tube Well Pumps) 2,937

Number of India Mark II Pumps 5,503

Number of Public Tankers 193

Source : METROWATER, Madras

4-39 addition, the industrial water supply which is around 50 mld also gets disrupted. Consequently, the industrial, commercial establishments, hotels etc. are forced to buy water through private agencies by tanks. A tanker load of 10000 liters of water costs Rs.280. Due to unprecedented drought during the summer of 1993, water supply to the city had to be arranged from Neyveli, a distance of over 200 km through tankers by road.

4.5.4 Distribution System

The city water distribution network commissioned in 1912 was extended from time to time, and eventually led to the establishment of zonal system of distribution in 1954. A map showing the supply areas as served from various headworks within Madras city and outside Madras, and the zones proposed for strengthening of distribution system, trunk mains and feeder mains is given in Fig. 4.5. The overall length of distribution mains as per the layout drawings available from MMWSSB works out to about 1440 km. The total number of house service connections (as of 1989) is about 1,46,000 of which 39,750 connections are metered.

Though the city limits were extended in 1978 to include 12 Panchayat areas, nearly half of these panchayats have their local sources for supplying water through public stand posts with no provision for house service connections. The house service connections generally fall into two categories. In the first category, the service line terminates in a sump constructed within the premises of the property which is pumped to the rooftop cistern for internal distribution. In the second category, the service connection is extended to one or two taps in the premises. On account of low pressures, hand pumps are used extensively by the consumers in an attempt to draw more water.

4.5.5 Industrial Water Use

Most of the major water consuming industries in Madras are located North of the city and include Madras

4-40 M4ANALI

HEA WOR KS

ER9 \ ,- 'I / * Existing Water Distribution Station CHOOLVLACHERY / Proposed Water DistributionStation v*;Rv-VAN9IYURJ I j Boundarytof Distribution Zone V .Roads/

FIG. 4.5: WATER DISTRIBUTION ZONES OF VARIOUS HEADWORKS IN MMA

4-41 Fertilizers Ltd., Madras Refineries Ltd., Ennore Thermal Power Station, Ashok Leyland, Indian Organic Chemicals etc. About 46 mld of water is being supplied to the industry during the last few years against the requirement of about 108 mld. The water supply to industrial sector during 1987 to 1991 and the water demand of major industries are presented in Table A.4.42 and Table A.4.43 respectively. With the anticipated industrial growth, the shortfall in water supply to the industries is expected to go up.

4.5.6 Water Quality

The raw water drawn from the network of lakes/ reservoirs in and around Madras is provided with conventional treatment including post chlorination at the Kilpauk water works before supply to the city. The treated water quality as it leaves the water works is presented in Table A.4.44 for the years 1991-93. The results indicate that 100% of the samples collected from the treatment works are bacteriologically safe. Information on quality of water in the distribution system based on the results of analysis carried out by Tata Consulting Engineers during the year 1990 is presented in Table 4.4. The results indicate that contamination of water in the distribution is taking place. The quality of water supply from the well fields at Panjetti and Minjur and Tamarapakkam (Table A.4.19) shows high electrical conductivity, hardness and chlorides. A survey of groundwater quality in MMA undertaken by Tata Consulting Engineers. (February, 1991) has indicated gross bacteriological contamination of the shallow groundwater aquifer which serves as a source of individual household water supply.

4.5.7 Wastewater Kanagenent

For wastewater collection, the city has been divided into five drainage zones with independent collection, transmission, treatment and disposal systems. The wastewater collection system (WWCS) consists of about 1425 km of sewers of 150 mm to 1200 mm diameter. Because of high groundwater

4-42 TABLE 4.4

WATER QUALITY IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Si. District/Sampling Coliforms Odour Turbi- Tidy's Iron as Residual No. Location (MPN/100 ml) dity Test Fe (mg/i) Chlorine (NTU) 4 hrs (mg/')

SET-I Date : 1990 July 13-14

1. Test Tap at KPS None Chlor 9 0.94 0.1 1.6

2. (CHINTADRIPET) HP at None Sr. Chlor 9 1.72 0.3 0.6 No.45 V. Gramani St.

3. (TRIPLICANE) HP at 16 St. Chlor 9 1.48 0.4 0.1 No.37 Venkarachala St.

4. (MYLAPORE) HP at 16 St. earthy 22 1.60 0.8 0.1 No.37 Babiah Ave.

5. (T. NAGAR) HP No.4 16 St. earthy 20 1.62 0.8 0.1 Corpn. Colony, 1st

SET-II Date : 1990 July 18

1. Test Tap at KPS 0 Chlor 12 0.94 0.2 <1.0

2. (KILPAUK) HP at 0 Chlor 34 1.58 0.4 <1.0 Thyagappa Mudali St.

3. (BOAT CLUB) at HP No.3 0 Chlor 56 0.80 0.40 <1.0 4th St. Nandanam

Contd TABLE 4.4 (Contd ---

Si. District/Sampling Coliforms Odour Turbi- Tidy's Iron as Residual No. Location (MPN/loo ml) dity Test Fe (mg/i) Chlorine (NTU) 4 hrs (mg/l)

4. (SAIDAPET) HP at No.36 0 Chlor 32 1.04 0.8 <1.0 Sadyappa Mudali St.

5. (RAJA ANNAMALAIPURAM) 16 Nil 20 1.51 0.8 0.1 HP at No.8 Thiruven- gadam St. Mandavelli

6. (PERAMBUR) HP at No.65 0 Chlor 16 1.55 0.4 0.4 Patel Road

SET-III Date : 1990 July 24

1. Test Tap at KPS None Chlor 7 2.05 0.15 <1.0

2. (W. MAMBALAM) HP at 16 Nil 10 1.4 0.8 0.1 No.4 Bakthavatchalam St.

KPS - Kilpauk Pumping Station; HP - Hand Pump (Pitcher pump) fixed on distribution main; Chlor - Chlorinous; Si - Slightly

Source Tata Consulting Engineers table, the sewers cannot be laid at depths exceeding 6-7 metres. This has necessitated installation of large number of intermediate pumping stations to convey sewage to various treatment works by a relay system of pumping. Presently there are 83 sewage pumping stations in the city.

There are five major wastewater treatment plants, one for each of the wastewater zones, serving Madras city presently (Table 4.5). In addition, there is a small aerated lagoon and stabilization pond system at Villivakkam treating the wastewater from part of zone II. All the plants are operated and maintained by the MMWSSB.

The alternate day water supply to the city for several years in the past resulted in reduced wastewater flows and consequent low self cleansing velocities in the collection system causing siltation and non- transport of accumulated silt. This also increased the septicity of the wastewater. The total length of stormwater drains is only 400 km as against 1425 km length of sewers. This has resulted in numerous interconnections between the surface drains and sewers causing considerable ingress of grit into the system. Thus, the existing WWCS, though designed as a separate system, often functions as a combined system.

New sewer systems for the added areas viz. Virugambakkam, Kolathur and Velachery are at various stages of construction. Similarly, new sewer systems for the added areas to the city viz. Taramani, Kodungaiyur, Erukkanchery have been proposed. All the components are designed to meet the needs in the year 2002. The wastewater flows from the collection systems of the added areas will also be discharged into the nearby existing treatment works. Hence, no new treatment facility has been planned under this project except to increase the capacities of existing plants suitably. The remaining areas in the MMA will be covered later on in stages based on growth rate and techno-economic feasibility.

4-45 TABLE 4.5

EXISTING WASTEWATERTREATMENT PLANTS AT MADRAS

Zone Name/Location Design Flows of Treatment ------Plant Ave. Peak (mld) (mld)

I Kodungaiyur I 80 213.60

II Kodungaiyur II 80 213.60

III Koyambedu 34 90.78

IV Nesapakkam 23 60.08

V Perungudi 45 120.15

Source Madras Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Master Plan for Wastewater Management, MMWSSB, Sept. 1991

4-46 Improvements to existing sewage collection system, pumping stations and force mains in old city; augmentation of sewage treatment facilities at Kodungaiyur (I & II), Koyambedu, Nesapakkam and Perungudi; and extension to added areas (pumping stations, force mains and collection system) are contemplated under this project.

Under short term improvements programme, works aimed at cleaning of masonary gravity arch sewers and pipe sewers, procurement of sewer cleaning equipment, improvements to priming and grit removal system in pumping stations, and treatment plants, improving working environment in sewage pumping stations, and conversion of one trickling filter to activated sludge at the Koyambedu sewage treatment plant have been implemented. These have resulted in considerable improvement in the functionality of the wastewater collection and treatment system.

4.5.8 Planned Ongoing Development Activities

The Third Madras Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Project The project is aimed at expanding and strengthening the water supply and sewerage system of Madras to utilize new flows available upon completion of the Krishna Project; improving access of the poor to water supply and human waste excreta disposal; increasing the cleanliness of the city and its waterways; and strengthening the relevant environmental sanitation, and water supply institutions.

The Krishna Project

The Krishna Water Supply Project envisages the delivery of 12 TMC (930 mld) of water excluding the transmission losses of 3 TMC at the Tamil Nadu border over a period of 8 months in a year. Krishna water would be conveyed through an open canal from the Tamil Nadu border to the Poondi Reservoir. From the Poondi Reservoir water would be delivered to the Chembarambakkam Tank through a link canal and to Redhills Lake through a feeder canal for storage purposes. The general layout of various water supply components of Krishna project is depicted in Fig.4.6.

4-47 RKANDALERU- POONDI

THPJKNDALM REERVOIR t

) ~~~~~~TA>FLRAIPAKKAM'ANICUT< PESUPPLYFE CHANNEL /|

RAMANJER$RESERVOIR LAVARAMLAKE ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~LEGEND MADRAS CITY LIMIT

AK = REOHILLS TREATMET TTTYR AOJACTL URBANISED AREA

ANAL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~M.M,A. BOUNOARY

RIVER NAGARI RIVER POONOI RESERVOIR

o RAW VATER DRAWAL, TREATMENT, WATER TRANSMISSON AND) AL tO AA_~~~EAI.EH MA 1 HEAD WOR CLEAR

AGA I - ___SCHOREAGEA.SCHEME AREA FORO IMPEOVEMENTYMROEET // ,/ CHEME^R^98AKK~~~~AN LINK CAN -ATER MAJ MORKSI. dAo H W ~ -~ SITAGE -T1C CHEMBARA CHP.BARAKAMKAMI TOW R WATER SLUPPLY / CHeM8ARAM8AKKS \~~~~~~~~~~L~TCWER' o EXTENSION OF K ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SCHEMEAREA FOR IMPROVEMENT SEWERAGE SYSTEM A/ Ah xt = 2M-AND EXTENSION OF KESAVARAM AIC OUT A TADEY ffRiVER

FIG. 4. 6; LAYOUT PLAN DEPICTING COMPONENTS OF KRLSHINAPROJECT FOR IMADRAS WATER SUPPLY To receive and store the Krishna water, the full reservoir level (FRL) of the Poondi Reservoir, Redhills Lake and Chembarambakkam Tank would be raised by 0.61 m each. Later, two more new reservoirs across Kortalaiyar, one at Ramanjeri upstream of Poondi and another at Thirukandalam downstream of Poondi, would be constructed to provide additional storage capacity.

A total quantity of 600 mld of water (200 mld of existing potential and 400 mld of Krishna water in the first stage) will be drawn from Redhills reservoir. The raw water (300 mld) drawn through Jones tower will be conveyed through the existing roughing filters to a treatment plant of 300 mld capacity to be located near the foreshore of Redhills reservoir. Treated water will then be pumped and conveyed through a transmission main to Porur Headworks for underground storage. The balance quantity of 300 mld of raw water drawn through the new intake tower will be conveyed to Kilpauk Water Works through the existing masonry conduits. This supply will be treated at Kilpauk utilising the existing facilities.

Treated supply of 600 mld received at the four Headworks as well as 50 mld of ground water received (through existing transmission main) at Anna Poonga Headworks will be pumped into the Ring Main grid for distribution. The ring mains will be laid along the periphery of the Madras city. Eight numbers of elevated reservoirs with a total capacity of 72.2 million litres will be provided on these ring mains to serve as balancing reservoirs.

The development of the wastewater system in the old city will be in general consonance with the existing system. Wastewater management will be improved in the old city and sewerage system will be provided afresh in the added areas. All the components are designed to meet the demand in the year 2002. The wastewater flows from the collection system of the added areas will also be discharged into the nearby existing treatment works. Hence, no new treatment facility

4-49 has been planned under this project except to increase the capacities of existing plants suitably.

The environmental sanitation component of the project would -provide for a long term programme to improve sanitation generally in the MMA with focus on the low income groups whose health is most endangered by sanitation problems. This component envisages low cost sanitation; solid waste collection and disposal; storm water drainage; and dredging of waterways.

The project also envisages strengthening of institutional infrastructure for improving the effectiveness and monitoring of the programmes.

To comply with the statutory requirements, the MMDA is currently engaged in the preparation of a proposal for the Second Master Plan for the MMA for which 2011 has been fixed as the horizon year. The MMDA commissioned the Times Research Foundation (TRF) to organise a time-bound research programme on Madras 2011. This programme commenced on October 1, 1989 and climaxed with a seminar during November, 1991. In keeping with the imperatives for immediate action for managing the future urban growth of MMA, an agenda for action addressing metropolitan economy, infrastructural development, housing and land, development strategy, and management has been prepared (Annexure 4.1). This plan is expected to have a far reaching impact on the future development on the MMA.

4.5.9 Employment

Relevant data on employment in MMA is presented in Tables A.4.45 through A.4.48. The present participation rate i.e. the proportion of main workers to the population in MMA is 295 and is low. Even at this rate, 44000 new jobs will have to be created every year. In the absence of this, more households will be added to the urban poor, with unemployment level shooting up. At present, the organised sector annually adds on an average 4000 new jobs in MMA. In

4-50 order to achieve an improvement in income levels, it is necessary to increase organised sector job generation to atleast 13000 new jobs every year. Such an increase in organised sector job generation could be through industries, trade and commerce, banking, services sector, exports and tourism (Ref : Policy Imperatives, An Agenda for Action, Madras- 2011, MMDA, October, 1991).

4.5.10 Education

Madras city, apart from its being an important centre of economic activity for the state, is also a major centre for education from primary to the most advanced professional courses including engineering, medical and management. The literacy level for Madras city is 81.6% while that for Chengleput- MGR district is 66.38% and that for South Arcot is 52.86%. The literacy level for Tamil Nadu state as a whole is 62.66% (Table A.4.49).

4.5.11 Housing

Housing conditions in Madras are reflected in the increase in its slum population, inadequacy of urban services, over crowded living conditions and other such facets. Relevant statistics are presented in Tables A.4.50 through A.4.53. The trend in housing stock in Madras Urban Agglomeration (MUA) has shown a tremendous increase in the number of residential census houses from about 0.2 million in 1981 to about 0.8 million in 1991. The annual requirement of houses for all economic categories of population is about 18,800, nearly equally divided between ownership and rental accommodation. As against this, the average annual housing supplies in MUA is only 14,000.

4.5.12 Income Distribution in lKA

A recent market survey of incomes in the metropolitan cities in India, undertaken by Operations Research Group, shows that Madras is the poorest of the four large metropolitan cities. The proportion of low income households

4-51 is higher in Madras than even some of the smaller metropolitan cities like Pune, Bangalore and Jaipur. The structural composition of earners and information on households by monthly income are presented in Tables A.4.54 and A.4.55 respectively. The structural composition of earners shows that the majority of the non-slum households (over 70%) in Madras city and MUA are engaged in tertiary sector followed by secondary sector (24-27%). The population of earners engaged in primary sector constitutes less than 1%. As for household monthly income, nearly 60% of the population is in the income group of Rs.801 to 3000.

A research study based on a primary survey of 15000 sample households has shown that in non-slum areas, about 79% of the unemployed in the working age group have less than higher secondary level of education. The survey also indicated that for these households, food, fuel, and lighting account for 61% of the total consumption expenditure. The situation among slum households is more acute, with 94% of unemployed having low education level and 74% of consumption expenditure being on food and fuel (Ref.Policy Imperatives, An Agenda for Action, Madras- 2011, Seminar Theme Paper, MMDA, October, 1991).

4.5.13 Water Based Recreation

Not much information is available to highlight the water based recreational activities in Adyar river. The only recreational activity in the waterways is rowing by the members of the boat club. As such, no major fishing activity goes on in the waterways of Madras city in an organised manner. However, there are three important Inland Fishing and Training Centres in the city.

4.5.14 Public Health

Information on registered vital rates, incidence of diarrhoeal and cholera diseases, malaria, Japanese encephalitis and filaria cases in the project area and state of Tamil Nadu is presented in Tables A.4.56 through A.4.60

4-52 respectively. The registered infant mortality rate for Madras district has been consistently higher (41.83-51.35) than for the other two project districts viz. Chengai-MGR (17.37-21.12) and South Arcot (30.95-40.18). The birth rate (26) is higher in Madras district than in the other two districts which are comparable with a value of around 15. The death rate, however, ranges from 5 to 10 in all the project districts. It could be seen that there is a general increase in incidence of diarrhoeal, cholera and malaria in the project area especially in the last 2-3 years. The incidence of Japanese encephalitis has been maximum in Villupuram Ramasamy Padayatchiyar district. There is a general declining trend in the incidence of filaria cases in the project area.

4.5.15 Accidents and Occupational Safety

For purposes of water and sewerage operations, the entire metropolitan area is divided into 6 areas and 99 depots. The area engineers are responsible for all the works under their jurisdiction as also the occupational safety of the Metrowater employees under them.

In Madras city sewer cleaning operations, during the year 1975 within a period of 6 months, two fatal accidents occurred resulting in the death of 3 persons in Circle IX and another one in Circle V. An enquiry committee constituted to go into the cause of the death of the sewer workers indicated that the deaths occurred due to asphyxiation and that the workers did not use any safety rope while at work.

Similar fatal accidents have been reported in (i) Fakir-Sahib street, Division-88, (ii) Pumping Station at Lock Nagar, (iii) Purasawalkkam Pumping Station and (iv) Greams Road Pumping Station resulting in the death of 3,4, 1, and 2 workers respectively. The deaths were caused due to sewer gas or drowning of the workers while removing obstructions.

4-53 During 1986-1990, eight fatal cases of accidents have been reported (Table A.4.61). on enquiry, the field officers ascertained that all the workers were engaged in the sewer cleaning operations and that the deaths were caused due to asphyxiation.

4.5.16 Cultural Properties

The Mylapore Tank area, can be called a Heritage zone so also the Triplicane temple area. The Triplicane area includes the houses where the poet Subramania Bharathi and the mathematical genius Ramanujam lived. There are, in all, 16 protected monuments in the Fort St. George. The other important cultural/ Heritage properties, include San Thome, Governor's house, Rajaji Hall, George Town, Pantheon, etc. However, none of these historically/ architecturally significant monuments and any Heritage area is likely to be affected by the proposed project activities.

4.5.17 Tribal People

The study area does not have any distinct tribal community. The tribal population in Madras and adjacent area constitutes less than 2% of the total population as given in Table below. As such, determining the impact of the project on the tribal community in particular does not merit special consideration.

TRIBAL POPILATION IN NADRAS AND ADJACENT AREA

S1. Area Total SC % ST No. Population (1981 Census)

1. Madras 3,276,622 437,916 13.36 5,373 1.63

2. Chengleput 3,616,508 947,789 26.20 46,050 1.27

4-54 4.5.18 Customs, Aspirations and Attitudes

As part of the EA study, a sample survey of the population in the project area was undertaken in order to assess their educational and economic status, their awareness and attitude towards the New Veeranam Project and their aspirations. Data on the socio-economic profile of the sample population was collected through a questionnaire (Annexure 4.2). The study area included 64 villages in 5 taluks of South Arcot district and 52 villages in Chengleput district. The sample consisted of 120 people selected at random from 7 villages in 6 taluks in the project districts.

Of the sample surveyed, 21% were illiterate, 66.5% had education upto secondary school level, and only 12.5% had college education. The salient findings of the survey are i) Each village has a primary school, if not so within 3 km distance; ii) Medical facilities are available within 2 km distance through primary health centers and private medical practioners. All the villages are provided with potable water supply, communication, transport and other infrastructural services.

The major occupation of the population is agriculture, 26% of the people were engaged in business while 25% were in services and 21% were labourers. More than 90% of the population live in their own houses, 55% had cattle usually kept in the backyard. 55% of the sample had their income below Rs. 500 p.m. Only 30% of the population had latrines/septic tanks while the rest resorted to open field defecation. Dysentery, malaria, infectious hepatitis worm infestations and scabies are the main diseases/ailments reported from the villages. The villages are provided with electricity. More than 90% of the population was aware of the new project, partly due to the eviction of the encroachments and through media. More than 90% of the population were in favour of the project and expected to get more job opportunities, increase in local business leading to improvement in their economic status.

4-55 5. IDENTIFICATION OF IMPACTS 5. IDENTIFICATION OF IMPACTS

5.1 General

The major step involved in the process of environmental assessment is the identification of impacts as it leads to other steps such as quantification and evaluation of impacts. In order to identify and evaluate the impacts associated with the project, it is necessary to establish a general checklist and describe the existing environmental quality in the area under development, and the activities of the project which may cause environmental impacts. Although the impacts have been identified in general while describing the existing environmental status, it is necessary, at this stage, to identify for the various environmental components the significant impacts that are likely to arise due to the New Veeranam Project.

While a number of techniques are available for identification of impacts, in the present case, the "Network Method" which involves understanding of the cause- condition- effect relationship between an activity and environmental parameters, has been adopted. This method has been basically advantageous in recognizing the impacts that would be triggered by the proposed activities and provides a "road map" type of approach for the identification of second and third order effects. The purpose is to account for the project activities and identify the type of impacts which would initially occur. The next step is to select each impact and identify the secondary and tertiary impacts which will be induced as a result. This process is repeated until all possible impacts are identified. The major advantage of this type of approach is that it allows identification of the impacts by selecting and tracing out the events as they are expected to occur.

5.2 Impact Networks

In the backdrop of data collected during the site visits, information provided by the concerned authorities and the list of project activities described earlier in this report, the cause-condition-effect' networks have been generated for the various components of the project and presented in Figs. 5.1 through 5.5. In these illustrations, the lines are to be read as "has an effect on".

Pre-construction activities are those taken up prior to start up of the actual construction of the project and include land acquisition, and rehabilitation and resettlement. They may not have any direct impact on environment as such but may lead to socio-economic impacts from the local inhabitants who are likely to be displaced and relocated.

Construction activities cause land alterations in accordance with the project design and a variety of physical- chemical, ecological, aesthetic and socio-economic impacts of varying duration and magnitude. Physico-chemical changes occur during construction mainly due to clearing of vegetative cover at the site thereby causing soil erosion resulting in turbidity in surface runoffs. Ecological impacts occur due to removal of forests and field habitat which result in destruction of terrestrial organisms. Socio-economic impacts that occur during construction relate

5-2 Project SecondMadras Water Supply Project - NewVeeranam

Components Raw Water Source Improvements Conveyanceof Water Water Treatment ear Water Storage

Sub- Feeder Canal (s)/ RawWater |ntakeand Conveying Penovatortl Ce Water Components C L m Constructon of

Activities Land Clearingof Site Manufacture, Ea ok Pipe Laying, Rehabilitationf Desitting/ Dein of Flow Oeaino

tion ments tion and Stacking Ermbankmet) Uning of Structure Feeder Raising erf in Canal/ in Lake Boaster Stbn Treat- Water of Pipes es Canal Bund Channels and Conveying meet Storage

Primary Disp4aoement/ Comipen-I Chane Aietc LSs of Losaof Loss of ~ r Tafc oie Aestheltic Change Barriers to EmpkymentFnae ImpactsRehabilitation sation ln 1*11(1 Impa r -o Floraest Standing Pollution Conges Pollution Impair- In Land Normal Generation Burden onij

Secondary S eat Ocuainl Disruption of Soi sta to ange Migration of slum Impacts Tensions Ha2ards Hazards Natural Pathways and Erosion Normal Human In Ue Workers

FIG. 5.1 ENVIRONMENTALIMPChangeinETOR , * 0 ~~~~~Economy

FIG. 5.1: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NETWORK Desilingad Linng of Desiltingof Lake Feeder Canal Bund

PrimaryImpacts Reductionin ImprovedWater ChangeIn Bottom Changein Water ReductionIn Rooted s o u |Seepage | Ctarynyg/Storage Flr/an Qulk AquaticWeeds Brahn

4- SecondaryImpacts Increased Increased PotentialFor Aesthetic Reductionin Breedingof Riskto HumanLife Availability Fish RcetoImpvmnt DiseaseVectors adPoet of Water Productionl

Net Enhanced Health Economic Output Improvement

FIG. 5.2: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NETWORK - DESILTING AND RAISING OF LAKE BUND Flow Regulationin Storagein Canal(s)/ Channels Lake

(D--

Primary Impacts terat in IncreasedWater Aquatic Weeds Groth/ Siltingof

7 < | In~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~lifestation th Lak

Secondary Imp Changein Change Chancesof cro- teratn Rise in raton Impediments Br ng Nesting in Aquatic Structural cimatic in Land Ground Quality to Water of in Water Sitesfor Floral Failureof Changes Use Water Changes Flow Disease Storage Birds Fauna Embankment/ Table Due Vectors Capacity Dam= Spillway to Seepage

Risk to Human IncreaseIn Chng inft Life and Property Groundwater SoilSalinity Water Logging Risk Availability

I IncreaseWInCAALNet EnhancedLAKE Crop | a. EconomicOutput| Production l ll

FIG. 5.3: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NETWORK - CANALS AND LAKE Operationof Pumping/ BoosterStations and ConveyingMain

Primary Impacts Nose HighVoltage Increasein Ene Bursting Of E Generation Hazard Consumption Pipeline

SecondaryImpacts o ng Lossof Riskof Water l ~~~~~~~~~~~Water contamination|

-4!at R1is Risk to Human| I~~ LHfe~~~and Property|

FIG. 5.4: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NETWORK - OPERATION OF PUMPING/ BOOSTER STATIONS AND CONVEYING MAIN WaterTreatment ClearWater Storage

- F

Primary Impa Safe Potable Sludge Generation/ Noise Increased eIncrease F Water l Disposal Generation Supply Wastewater Burdenon Flow Communfty

Secondary Health Consumer GroundWater Impairments Increased SavingsIn Enhanced Improved Impacts Improvements Satisfactio Contamination of Land/ Industrial Public Water Functionality FIG. 5.5:AeachOR E R EI es WaterR ProductivftyA C ndRWater QualStyOin of Sewerage t ] ~~~~~~~~~~~Qualnty| Waterways

|euced Morbidity/ Soia Wel BenIHath Risk| ll |Mortality| llr l

FIG. 5.5: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NEIWORK - WATER TREATMENT AND CLEAR WATER STORAGE to generation of employment, displacement of families, removal of natural resources of the site etc.

Operation involves various activities and includes reservoir filling, spillage operation, flood control and other functions such as pumping, conveyance and treatment of water, all of which can cause impacts on water quality, ecology, aesthetics, socio-economics and health.

5.3 Major Potential Environmental Impacts

The main components of the New Veeranam Project are works related to source improvement; construction of transmission main including associated drainage, river, road and railway crossings; construction of. pumping and booster stations, water treatment plant, clear water storage reservoirs; and creation of necessary infrastructure such as housing and other facilities for 0 & M personnel.

The major environmental impacts due to the proposed project activities are broadly identified as under :

Impact due to land acquisition, compensation thereof, resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected persons Impact on ecology of Veeranam lake and its surrounding areas due to source improvement works Impact on surface water quality due to improved Veeranam feeder system and soil erosion Impact on terrestrial flora and fauna due to site clearance, laying of transmission main, construction of water treatment plant and pumping stations Impact on air quality due to construction activities and traffic Impact on community noise levels due to traffic congestion and infrastructural services Impact on occupational noise levels due to operation of pumping stations

5-8 * Impact arising from disruption of normal flow of traffic, commercial activities, and community life, due to transmission main laying * Impact on landuse pattern and land availability * Impact on community due to increased water supply, employment generation, housing etc. * Impact on waterways due to increased wastewater flows * Impact on archaeological sites, cultural properties and sensitive areas

5.4 Significant Impacts

5.4.1 Socio-economic Impacts

For source improvement works, at the infall points of Sengal Odai and Papakudi drain 24.65 ha of land (22.56 ha of private land and 2.09 Government land) has to be acquired from the following four villages in the catchment area of Veeranam lake.

Village Extent of Land (ha)

Patta Govt.Porombokku

Agaraputhur 17.39.0 0.90.0 Vanamadevi 0.25.5 -- Palanjanallur 1.51.0 0.29.5 Karnagaranallur 3.40.5 0.89.5

Total 22.56.0 2.09.0

Source : Project affected families of the New Veeranam Scheme - A Study by Economic Perspectives, Madras, June, 1994

Sixty eight families would be affected due to land acquisition. The average size of the family is 4.5. When the acquisition takes place, about 85% of the project affected families (PAFs) will lose part of their land, and

5-9 15% will lose all their land. As for their preference for compensation, except two individuals, everybody opts for only cash compensation. Of the other two, one wants land and the other a job.

Part of the land to be acquired (about 5 ha) is fallow land (not cultivated) while in the rest of the area crops such as paddy, sugarcane, groundnut, kambu (pearl millet) and saesamum are grown. An estimate of the agricultural crop (single crop in a year) loss due to the acquisition of land based on the assumptions summarised in Table A.5.1 is of the order of Rs. 76,000/- per annum. This will constitute an irreversible impact due to the project. No rehabilitation and resettlement of people is involved due to land acquisition. The annual income from crops of PAFs ranges from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 20,000/-.

The work for raising of the bund level of Veeranam lake by 0.61 m would result in eviction of 91 families who have constructed huts/houses on the slope of the bund. Most of the families work as agricultural labour and are uneducated. All of them except two have indicated their preference for compensation. In addition, a portion of the house sites of three families living in the Paripurananatham village will have to be acquired.

All along the 165 km stretch of pipeline ROW from Sethiathope to Kelambakkam, a total of 202 ha of land has been acquired by the Govt. during 1969-70 under the old Veeranam Project. A major part of this is agricultural land. However, this stretch of ROW has been encroached upon in a number of places as the land was unused. There are 641 cases of encroachments - 465 houses, 145 shops, and 31 agricultural land. Out of 465 losing their houses, 42 live inside the abandoned pipes of old Veeranam project. The average size of the family is 4.5.

5-10 Information on the nature of encroachments is presented in Table below. Most of these encroachments are reported to have since been cleared leaving only a few to be cleared. Land and cash are reported to be the most preferred forms of compensation by the PAFs.

Encroachments along pipeline ROW From Veeranan to Kelambakkau

Nature of encroachment No. of PAFs

House alone 426 House and shop 39 Petty shop 48 Tea shop 29 other shops and bunks 68 Fence and agricultural land 31

Total 641

Source : Project affected families of the New Veeranam Scheme - A Study by Economic Perspectives, Madras, June, 1994

Along the ROW for the transmission main from Kelambakkam to Porur, there are 64 families which require eviction, and two families from whom agricultural land has to be acquired, if their claim of ownership is confirmed. All of them have encroached the land belonging to highway department/TWAD Board. The nature of encroachments is summarised in the following Table.

5-11 Encroachments along pipeline ROW froa Kelambakkam to Porur

Nature of encroachment No. of PAFs

House alone 43 House and shop 1 Petty shop 3 Tea shop 8 Other shops and bunks 8 Fence and agricultural land 1

Total 64

Source : Project affected families of the New Veeranam Scheme - A Study by Economic Perspectives, Madras, June, 1994

For the proposed booster pumping station at Chendur (Ch.80.3 km) an area of 2.70.5 ha of dry land is proposed to be acquired. The land is owned by three persons who are willing to give the land for the construction of the booster station. They own other lands also for their livelihood and hence the land acquisition does not involve any rehabilitation and resettlement. Details regarding the extent of land required and the availability of land for location of clear water reservoirs at Porur are yet to be firmed up.

There are other structures which may have to be removed during the laying of transmission main from Veeranam to Porur as listed in Table A.5.2.

5-12 5.4.2 Socio-economic Impacts in the Veeranam Irrigation Command Area caused by allocation of 85 M cu.m/yr. (3000 MCft/yr.) to Madras for public water supply

Historic simulation of LCA - Vadavar - Veeranam lake system performed for the years 1965-1993 by TCE (The Draft Feasibility Report on Veeranam Source Yield - Addendum Note, Sept. 1994) have established the following

* Under the present pattern of demand and supply as obtaining in the LCA Veeranam System, spills capturable at LCA make it possible to realize irrigation reliabilities as high as 80% even with the proposed 192 mld draw off for water supply to Madras. Thus, the proposed water supply project would not adversely impact on the first user irrigation rights.

* The resulting water supply reliability of 80% can be increased to 95% by harnessing a nominal amount of 11.4 MCM from Mettur storage on an average every year.

* On the basis of the above, the reliability of Veeranam lake for supplying 192 mld to water supply stands confirmed.

From the above findings, it may be concluded that the proposed allocation of 85 M Cu.m/yr of Veeranam water to Madras city would not have any adverse socio-economic impact on the irrigation command area.

5.4.3 Potential risks from failure of bund and transmission main

A geo-technical study undertaken by M/s Tata Consulting Engineers in Veeranam lake has shown that (i) the tank bund, as it exists, is in a stable condition and could be taken up for. increasing its height as proposed under the project; (ii) the tank bed material is of a quality suited for raising of the existing main embankment and foreshore bund construction; (iii) the stability of embankment with a maximum water level of 16.8 m is safe; and (iv) raising the

5-13 bund level upto 17.4 m could be undertaken with 2:1 upstream slope / downstream slope with assured stability.

The Veeranam area falls under Zone-I of seismic activity which is lowest as per IS-1893. Further, the embankment is so low that the effect of earthquake will not be felt and therefore, the seismic factor does not warrant a detailed consideration.

The transmission pipeline has been designed in accordance with relevant standards/codes of practices. In addition, a corrosion allowance of 2 mm has been provided. Necessary corrosion protection measures through gunniting of the pipe surfaces have been proposed as also anode type cathodic protection as a backup measure. Also necessary provision has been made in the design for incorporation of surge tanks and air release valves at appropriate locations along the transmission main. In view of the above, the probability of transmission main failure and the associated hazards such as flooding etc. are expected to be negligible.

All through the transmission pipeline, manually actuated butterfly valves will be provided at intervals of 2 km. In the event of a burst or failure of pipeline, the pump operator will inform on wire less /telephone (upstream /down stream) operators to isolate the pipeline by operating the butterfly valves. This would minimise the extent of flooding and possible damage to property particularly along the stretches passing through built up areas. Simultaneously, the scour valves provided at all low points along the pipeline will be operated to drain off the water into the natural drainage courses.

During times of normal repairs, the section under repair will be isolated with the help of isolation valves and the water in the pipeline could be drained off using the nearest scour valves provided in the pipeline.

5-14 5.4.4 Potential impacts of alternative pipeline alignments between Kelambakkam and Madras

The 230 km long transmission main traverses through four districts viz. South Arcot Vallalar district, Villupuram Ramasamy Padayachiyar district, Chengai- M.G.R. district and Madras district of Tamil Nadu State. For pipeline ROW, from Kelambakkam to Porur, three alternatives were considered as under

i) Old Mahabalipuram road via Taramani- Gandhimandapam- Mount Road to Southern Headworks of Metro Board ii) Kelambakkam to Vandalur along the State Highway (21km), Vandalur - Pallavaram - Nehru statue near Alandur along GST road and then to Porur via Kanchipuram - Bangalore link road iii) Kelambakkam to Vandalur along the State Highway (21 km), Vandalur- Pallavaram along GST road, Pallavaram to Porur via Anakaputhur- Kunrattur villages

In evaluating the alternatives for selection of pipeline ROW, the following criteria were considered.

Shortest distance with minimum number of bends Avoidance of ecological and otherwise sensitive areas Land use pattern Avoidance of forest / agriculture land Avoidance of water bodies and wet lands Minimum rail, road and river crossings Avoidance of populated areas / encroachments Avoidance of disruptions to infrastructure services like telephone, electricity etc.

The pipeline ROW along the old Mahabalipuram road upto Adyar has been encroached upon in a number of places with shops, pucca buildings, fencing, walls etc. These encroachments are difficult to remove, and the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected people could

5-15 be a difficult task. This area has also developed industrially and the road is narrow with heavy traffic. Keeping in view the difficulties envisaged in clearing the encroachments as also the heavy traffic on the road, this alternative is not recommended.

The 21 km stretch of the pipeline alignment from Kelambakkam to National Highway No. 45 (GST road) near Vandalur zoo passes through a lot of vegetated area on either side of the road. In some stretches of the road, acquisition of agricultural land may be necessary. The width of the existing corridor along the road in possession of Highway Department, and the location of private properties with respect to road would decide the exact location of pipeline alignment. This stretch is straight with minimum bends and undulations. A number of trees and bushes will have to be cleared during construction activity. In this stretch, a HT line also crosses the alignment at three places. The pipeline alignment near Vandalur railway crossing passes very close to the Anna Zoological Park.

From Vandalur to Pallavaram, the pipeline is along the NH 45 and has to cross one drainage, a Highway and a railway. The nearest culvert available for the rail / road crossing is approximately 2 km from Vandalur. From Pallavaram, which is a very busy area, the two alternatives considered are indicated in red and green along with the old alignment shown in blue. (Fig.3.3).

The alignment (marked red) along the NH 45 will have to pass through a lot of built up areas especially in places like Meenambakkam. The need for land acquisition for laying the pipeline has to be ascertained. The Pallavaram - Chrompet - Tambaram stretch of the alignment will be in a busy area with heavy traffic as also public activity. It may also involve cutting of trees along the Highway and relocation of electric/telephone poles to facilitate laying of the pipeline.

5-16 The other alignment (marked green) proposed along the Anakaputhur-Kunrattur road is tortuous with numerous bends. The portion of the alignment passing through Muthtamil Nagar, Pammal, etc. the road is very narrow with densely built up areas on either side which may involve land acquisition. In this area traffic diversion may also be extremely difficult. In order to accommodate the pipeline, it may be necessary to go in for considerable land acquisition resulting in possible displacement of people as also requiring acquisition of built up properties and agricultural lands. The extent of acquisition of land/ built-up property would also depend upon as to on which side of the road, the alignment is proposed. This alignment also involves crossing of the river Adyar as also another waterway. Ecological disturbances may be much more compared to the alignment along the NH 45.

In keeping with the above environmental considerations, the pipeline alignment from Kelambakkam to Porur via Vandalur, Pallavaram and Alandur (Fig. 3.4) would be a better choice than the other two alternatives.

5.5 Potential impacts of alternative sites for Water Treatment Plant (WTP)

The feasibility report on water transmission, pumping and treatment considered three alternatives as under for location of the water treatment plant:

Alternative - I : Rehabilitation of only a part of the existing treatment plant (only the clariflocculator) at Vadakuthu to get partially treated water (turbidity < 20 NTU) and providing the final treatment plant at Mangalam. This final treatment plant will consist of only gravity filters to give the required treated water quality (turbidity < 2 NTU) and quantity (180 Mld).

Alternative - II : Complete rehabilitation of the existing treatment plant at Vadakuthu to get the required treated water quality (Turbidity < 2 NTU) and quantity (180 Mld).

5-17 Busy National Highway 45 - Running Along Pipeline ROW

Nrro Roa adArcluaLadAogRWNaAnkptr ao l There will be no further treatment downstream except chlorination.

Alternative - III : Providing a completely new treatment plant consisting of clariflocculators and gravity filters at Mangalam to get the required quantity and quality of treated water. In this alternative, the existing treatment plant at Vadakuthu will not be used.

At both Vadakuthu and Mangalam, land has already been acquired by the Tamil Nadu Government in 1969. At Vadakuthu the conventional water treatment plant of 180 mld constructed under the previous Veeranam project is in disuse for the past 20 years. Refurbishment of Vadakuthu treatment plant will involve less construction activity. The cost of rehabilitation, however, has not been estimated. If the Mangalam site is decided, the existing factory for PSC pipe manufacture has to be dismantled and the buildings and temporary sheds have to be removed before the construction of the WTP, which is estimated to cost Rs. 177.8 million.

It is generally considered good engineering practice to treat raw water at a place as close to the source as possible and then pump it to the demand centres for distribution. This would minimise the quantity of raw water to be pumped over long distance with attendant savings in energy cost. This would also help in the better maintenance of the interior of the rising main. However, when long distance pumping of treated water is involved, as in the instant case, there could be a slight impairment in water quality and may require booster chlorination in order to ensure microbiological safety of the delivered water with attendant increase in cost of treatment.

From treatment considerations, the location of the treatment site will not make any difference, as the Veeranam water will require complete conventional treatment followed by post chlorination to give the required treated water quality. The waste (filter backwash and clarifier sludge) generated from the WTP will be low in quantity due to low

5-18 suspended solids in raw water all through the year and as such will not pose any serious problem for disposal.

The major source of supply of chemicals required in water treatment such as, alum, acids, alkalies and chlorine is Madras. If the treatment plant site is at Vadakuthu, the distance of transporting these chemicals either by road or by rail will be longer by about 130 km with attendant higher (3-4 %) cost than if the treatment plant is located at Mangalam. Bulk transport of these chemicals by rail should be preferred to transport by road since the potential risks of accidents with associated hazards could be much less.

Necessary infrastructure, such as, residential accommodation, water supply, etc. for 0 & M staff has already been created at Vadakuthu, while these have to be provided afresh if Mangalam site is decided. Further, the pipeline alignment for the transmission main has to detour a distance of 700 m (additional length) if the treatment plant is located at Mangalam and retrace the distance before joining the original alignment. This may also involve land acquisition, the details of which are not known. Thus, from environmental considerations either of the sites may be considered suitable. However, economic considerations, details of which are not fully available, will govern the final choice of treatment site.

5.6 Other impacts

Approximately 82 MCM of silt is required for raising of foreshore bund of Veeranam lake to augment its storage capacity. To this extent silt/sediment will be removed from within the lake. Neither additional quantity of material is required to be brought from outside nor extra silt is to be deposited on the land. Thus, the sediments dredged from the lake will not have any impact on the land environment around the lake.

The water spread area at FTL of the existing veeranam lake is 38.85 sq. km. Due to the proposed increase in the

5-19 FTL by 0.61 m with a bund slope of 1:2, the increase in water spread area will be approximately 5% only. To that extent the increased area will contribute to increased evaporation losses. On the other hand, the increase in area will add to the aesthetics of the environment and also provide a larger habitat for water fowls.

A task force constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, after a careful examination of various alternative pipe materials, such as, mild steel (with cement mortar lining inside and outside), pre-stressed concrete, ductile iron pipe and the status of available technology for pipe manufacture, laying and jointing, and cost aspects decided in favour of mild steel pipeline with welded joints and cement mortar lining inside and outside for the transmission main. The chemical characteristics of the Veeranam water indicate that the Langelier Index is positive (+0.63 to +0.76). Hence, the mild steel pipe with cement mortar lining could be used safely for transmission of water. External corrosion of the pipeline is not of any serious concern as the characteristics of the soil along practically the entire stretch of the pipeline ROW is non-corrosive.

The laying of the 1525 mm transmission main from Veeranam to Porur would involve considerable earthwork excavation. After the installation of the pipe, the disposal of surplus earth will not pose any serious problem over a large stretch of the alignment except in the built up areas of the city. For this purpose, appropriate sites/ low lying areas have to be identified and proper scheduling of construction activities ensured to minimise disruption to normal flow of traffic and movement of public and business.

Due to inadequate sources, water supply in the Madras Metropolitan Area has been intermittent with supplies even on alternate days during severe drought years. A significant aspect of intermittent water supply, which is common in many developing countries, relates to the potential public health risks. During non-supply hours when the system is not under pressure or under negative pressure, extraneous

5-20 contamination of sewage origin through leaky joints and corroded pipelines is a common phenomenon. Such contamination of water supply poses a serious hazard to public health.

The water quality control department of Metrowater has a regular programme of water quality monitoring by collecting samples at the sources, treatment works and from distribution system. The samples are analysed for physico- chemical and bacteriological quality of water supply. A review of available reports indicates that the water quality in the distribution system does not always satisfy the prescribed bacteriological standards.

With the inflow of Veeranam water to the Madras city, the available water supply will be increased by 180 mld. With this additional flow, the per-capita water supply for the various categories of consumers is also expected to increase. With the increased availability of water, the duration of supply will increase and the distribution network will remain charged with water under pressure for a longer duration. This would reduce the chances of contamination in the water mains and associated public health risks leading to reduced incidence of diseases, improved health and productivity and economic well-being of the community. Another significant impact intrinsic in keeping the system charged for a longer duration is the reduction in the potential for internal corrosion of distribution pipe lines.

A recent survey, by Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), of unaccounted for water in ten percent of Madras city water distribution system, has shown that with only six hours of supply at 5 m of water pressure, over 30 % of the supply will be lost through leakages from the distribution system. In view of this, it would not be feasible to keep the system under pressure to facilitate 24 hr water supply, possibly even for a part of the service area.

5-21 5.7 Issues Identified through Public Meetings

In order to identify any new issues in the implementation of the project, three public meetings were organised by the project proponents with the assistance of NEERI. One meeting was held at Lalpet to cover the area presently irrigated by the Veeranam lake and a stretch of the pipeline ROW. The second meeting was held at Tindivanam to cover the area along the pipeline ROW between Vadakuthu and Mangalam. The third meeting was organised at Porur to cover the rest of the project area including MMA. Meeting notices were sent to NGOs, agriculturists associations, local self government (Panchayat) officials, the press and the general public in the project areas. The objective and the scope of New Veeranam project and the details of the proposed activities were presented by the project proponents. The likely environmental consequences of the project were also brought out at the meeting. From the interaction that followed, the main issues that emerged are as under

* In all the three meetings there was no objection to the New Veeranam project aimed at augmenting the water supply to Madras city provided the withdrawal of 190 mld of water from Veeranam does not affect the existing irrigation rights.

* The need was brought out for a formal agreement between the government and the agriculturists associations to safeguard their existing agricultural rights and to formulate operational procedures for withdrawal of water from Veeranam lake for water supply to Madras city.

* The need for priority to complete all works related to source improvement before commencing drawal of water to Madras was stressed.

5-22 * Concern was expressed regarding inadequate compensation, and rehabilitation and resettlement of the project affected persons in some cases. * The participants wanted that employment opportunities must be provided to the extent possible to the local people. * An appeal was made by the participant public to the project proponents to consider the possibility of providing water supply from the New Veeranam project to the needy habitations enroute.

The project proponents furnished clarifications on the points raised by the participants and assured them that the issues brought forth by the public in the meetings would receive due attention by the Govt. for action. With regard to the public demand for water supply to villages enroute, it was clarified that the Govt. has specific plans / proposals to meet the requirements. Information on the water supply facilities available for enroute towns/villages, and proposed measures for improvement/augmentation are given in Annexure 5.1. In view of the above, the New Veeranam Project has been specifically formulated only to meet the shortfall in water supply to the public of Madras city and no intermediate tapping has been proposed from the Veeranam - Madras transmission main.

5-23 .\~~~~~~~~~~~~, -' *

-!b - I)~EWIvEERApA VE"ERA R) 76 WATERSUPPLY FROJECI MAPIV'I;K4- I PUBLIC MEETINGe LALPET

Public Meeting at Lalpet - March 19,1994 METRoWATER -TWAD - P l

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PublicMeeting at Tindivanam- March 26, 1994 kt,~Ik

Public Meetingat Porur - April 6, 1994 6. PREDICTION OF IMPACTS 6. Prediction of Impacts

6.1 General

Prediction of impacts is the most important component in environmental assessment studies. Many scientific techniques and methodologies are available to predict impact on physico-ecological and socio-economic environment. Such predictions are superimposed over the baseline (pre-project) status of environmental quality to derive the future (post- project) scenario of environmental conditions. The prediction of impacts helps to identify and implement Environmental Management Plan (EMP) during and after the implementation of the project to minimise the deterioration of environmental quality.

Mathematical models attempt to describe quantitatively the cause and effect relationships between the sources of pollution and different components of the environment viz. air, noise, water, land and socio-economic. There are also various scientific techniques/ methodologies available to predict the environmental impacts quantitatively as well as qualitatively, wherever mathematical models are not yet available. The New Veeranam water supply project aims at augmenting the existing water supply to the city of Madras by 180 mld to mitigate the chronic water shortage experienced by the city. The project envisages improvements in carrying capacity of the Vadavar feeder channel, desilting part of the lake to raise the bund level for increasing the storage capacity, pumping, treatment and conveyance of treated water through a 1525 mm diameter pipeline over a distance of 235 km to the ground level storage reservoirs at Porur for distribution. In this section, the most probable impacts on various components of the environment due to the proposed activities are predicted based on available information and using scientific knowledge and techniques.

6.2 Air Environment

During the construction phase of the project, the major activities will involve earth work excavation, embankment formation, transport of materials of construction, handling, laying and jointing of pipelines, building of structures such as pumping stations, treatment plant, bridges, culverts and ground level reservoirs. These activities would cause a general increase in the concentration of dust and suspended particulate matter in the ambient air. However, this increase in concentration would be of temporary nature and localised. Due to the plying of trucks and other transport vehicles, and use of construction machinery, marginal increase in the levels of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur is likely to occur, which again will be of a temporary nature.

The air pollution impact will be more appreciable in urban and industrial areas in comparison to other areas. The background air pollution levels near the Highway have been assessed and are found within acceptable limits. In the absence of any information on the type of vehicles/ machinery to be employed for the work, it is not possible to predict the resultant pollutant levels during the project

6-2 activities. However, in view of the fact that the pipeline passes through urban areas over short distances only, the resultant air quality would not be in violation of the prescribed ambient air quality standards (Table A.6.1).

Due to the raising of bund level of Veeranam lake and the consequent increase in water surface area and associated vegetation, micro-climatic changes would occur especially in and around the reservoir site.

6.3 Noise Environment

Noise levels were measured in and around the sites of proposed project activities and in the human settlements around such activities. Noise levels were also measured at several locations in Madras city, and at the existing water pumping stations and treatment facilities.

The noise levels measured at the existing water treatment plant and sewage pumping stations in metropolitan area are presented in Table A.6.2. For prediction of noise levels due to the proposed plants, the noise sources in these plants are assumed to be similar.

The noise level outside the premises of the water treatment plant, predicted based on hemispherical sound wave propogation model, varied from 52 dBA to 60 dBA. While at the sewage pumping stations, it varied from 50 dBA to 75 dBA, the variations being mostly due to difference in background noise levels. Noise levels inside and outside the pumping stations depend upon their layout. Any change in their structure can change the noise levels.

The equivalent noise pressure level due to transportation activities on a typical road at a distance 10 m from the road has been estimated using Federal Highway Administration model and was found to vary from 50 dBA to 70 dBA depending on the time and location. Due to congestion of traffic, the noise levels are estimated to increase by

6-3 upto 5 dBA. The expected noise sources and noise levels at construction sites are presented in Table A.6.3.

6.3.1 Impact on Community

Equivalent sound levels averaged over 24 hours, Leq(24 hrs),and day-night sound levels, (Ldn), are used to describe community noise exposures. WHO recommends day time outdoor equivalent noise pressure levels upto 55 dBA and night time equivalent noise pressure levels upto 45 dBA to avoid community annoyance and sleep disturbance. The Indian Standard (IS :54-1968) recommends acceptable outdoor noise levels of 25-35 dBA in rural residential areas, 30-40 dBA in suburban and 35-45 dBA in urban residential areas. For industrial and business areas, noise pressure levels upto 60 dBA can be acceptable. Corrections of -10 dBA to -15 dBA are recommended for night time noise pressure levels.

There will not be significant direct impact on the communities due to the proposed activities since the pipe laying and other construction works are one time activities and treatment plant and pumping stations are isolated, and noise outside the premises is not more than background levels elsewhere in the city. The impact will be temporary and for a short period only, at any location. The increments in the noise levels are expected to be marginal.

The noise level due to peak traffic close to the roads (65 dBA to 75 dBA) is already higher at a few places than that recommended for urban settlements, particularly at peak traffic hours. However, the increment due to the proposed activities will be negligible, except during pipe laying activities. With expected improved piped water supply, the large number of water tankers transporting water to the city could perhaps be reduced, with consequent marginal reduction in traffic noise.

6-4 6.3.2 Impact on Occupational Health

Equivalent sound pressure level averaged over 8 hrs, Leq (8 hrs), is used to describe exposure to noise in workplaces. The damage risk criteria for hearing ,as enforced by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, USA) and other organisations, to reduce hearing loss, stipulate that noise levels upto 90 dBA are acceptable for eight hour exposure [Leq(8 hrs)] per day. The Ministry of Labour, Government of India also have recommended similar criteria vide Factories Act, Schedule No.XXIV (Government Notification FAC/1086/CR-9/Lab-4,Dated 8-2-1988).

Pumps of 400-600 KW will be the main sources of noise. However, recent models of pumps do not generate high intensity noise. Unprotected staff members maintainino, operating and supervising pumps can get exposures above 90 dBA near these machines. However, operators do not have to work close to these machines for long hours.

6.4 Ecology

Baseline data has shown that the ecology of the project area has been affected by human activity since long time. The small pockets of forests in the area are nothing but the biotic forests i.e. forests degraded due to man's activity all through the years. Likely impacts, favourable and adverse, on the aquatic and terrestrial ecology of the project are briefly discussed hereunder

6.4.1 Terrestrial

As a result of construction activity, the vegetation cover i.e. forest, avenue trees, and agricultural land are likely to be reduced. Human activity and transport will increase the noise level which will adversely affect the birds in the region and wild life in the adjoining Arignar Anna Zoological Park. However, this impact will be of temporary nature.

6-5 Natural drainage in the area may be affected due to earthwork excavation and construction activity. Due to movement of heavy machinery for the pipe laying activity, a narrow strip of agricultural land all along the pipeline ROW will become uncultivable temporarily and also be subjected to compaction, thereby altering its natural properties. This will marginally reduce the agricultural produce.

Considerable quantity of earth excavated for pipelaying will become surplus after installation of the pipeline and has to be disposed of as spoil dumps. This may adversely affect the aesthetics of the pipeline ROW and cause soil erosion.

During the post construction phase the ground water table surrounding the lake will increase which will be beneficial to large and medium sized trees/shrubs which depend upon water table for their water requirement. This will have beneficial effect on vegetation. Social plantations will be successful to a large extent. Diversity of plant species will increase showing healthier environment. The grazing fields will also increase due to availability of more ground water. Increase in plantation of trees, around Veeranam lake and ROW will provide nesting, food and shelter to the indigenous and migratory birds that abound the project area. Improvement of lake water quality will be an added advantage to aquatic birds and resident fish species in the lake.

6.4.2 Aquatic

Reservoir zooplankton is now dominated by Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda and the phytoplankton by blue-green algae and green algae. Some pollution indictor species are found in small numbers. The year round availability of water due to storage in the lake may help to increase the number of clean water flora and fauna such as diatoms. The potential for fisheries would also increase with the availability of water in the reservoir throughout the year.

6-6 Deweeding activity and increase in water level would bring about change in the aquatic weed growth. Aquatic weeds growing in shallow water will be eliminated. Clearance of weed will reduce the breeding of mosquitoes, if any, which are disease vectors of malaria, filaria, dengue fever and certain types of encephalites. Possibility of spread of schistosomiasis through the vectors like Lvmnaea and Indoplanorbis would be reduced due to destruction of their breeding places in weeds.

The proposed source improvement works include removal of part of the shoal and silt from the lead channels within the lake. This will reduce the existing weeds and the nutrients available in the silt/sediment. Loss of water through transpiration is many times more than from weed-free water surface. This loss of water will be reduced by the reduction in aquatic weeds. The water quality may also improve.

The trees in the lake basin generally stimulate the growth of aquatic weeds. Their removal will also be helpful in reducing the weed problem.

Bird migration to the Veeranam lake may take place due to availability of water throughout the year with possible increase in nesting sites/habitats. This will result in improving the diversity of animal species in the project area. Water fowl is already present in appreciable numbers in the lake. Therefore, only marginal improvement is expected since surface area of lake will increase only by about 5 percent. Increase in depth of water, year round availability of water, improvement in water quality will be beneficial to the aquatic birds.

6.5 Water Environment

The average per capita water supply to the city is of the order of 70 lpd during normal monsoon years, and 45 lpd or less during water scarcity period. With the augmentation

6-7 of water supply by 180 mld from Veeranam lake, the per capita water supply for the various categories of consumers would increase.

With the increase in water supply, and consequent increase in wastewater flow, the functionality of the existing sewerage system would be improved. There would also be a change in the quality of sewage. With the proposed augmentation of sewerage, sewage pumping stations and sewage treatment facilities there will be a significant improvement in the quality and quantity of effluent reaching the waterways and points of reuse for non-domestic purposes. The increased flow would also have a very favourable impact on the waterways water quality, with reduced odour nuisance and associated public health risks.

With the improved availability of piped water supply, the need for augmenting individual household supplies through private wells or commercial vendors will be reduced with attendant savings in time, labour and money.

The important water quality parameters of the existing surface and ground water sources for Madras city and that of Veeranam lake are within the limits prescribed by CPCB Standards (Table A.6.4) for use as raw water sources for public water supply. The lake water will be further treated in the proposed water treatment plant and hence, further improvement would occur in the quality of water put into the distribution system.

The present agricultural practices of deep ploughing and cultivation of dry crops in the catchment area of the lake can cause soil erosion and consequent increase in turbidity of runoff. Use of fertilizers and insecticides in catchment would not have any significant effect on quality of runoff and subsequent lake water quality because of the very meagre quantities used and the residue retention in soils.

6-8 The waste generated from the proposed water treatment plant will consist of impurities removed from raw water through various treatment units. It includes the chemical sludge from the under flow of sedimentation units, and backwash water produced during the cleaning of filter beds. The turbidity of raw water reaching the proposed treatment plant is not likely to be high even during monsoon season due to storage in Veeranam lake. Considering an average raw water turbidity of 50 NTU, the estimated alum dose based on the treatability studies is-about 40 mg/l. Accordingly, the total quantity of sludge with 0.5% suspended solids concentration from the proposed treatment plant of 190 mld capacity is estimated at 3.2 mld. The project provides for clarifier sludge/ filter back wash water recovery/ disposal system and the disposal of final residue is not expected to pose any serious environmental problem. The residue can be used as a land fill for which low lying areas are available both at Mangalam and Vadakuthu.

With the increased availability of water, the duration of water supply will increase and the distribution network will remain charged with water under pressure for a longer duration. This would reduce the chances of contamination in the water mains and associated public health risks leading to reduced incidence of diseases, improved health and productivity and economic well-being of the community. Another significant impact intrinsic in keeping the system charged for a longer duration is the reduction in the potential for internal corrosion of distribution pipe lines.

With the augmentation of water supply from Veeranam, the extent of ground water (which has been shown to be heavily contaminated) use in the ptoject area, would decrease leading to a decrease in the incidence of water related diseases. This will also reduce the chances of saline water intrusion in the groundwater aquifers.

6-9 6.6 Land Environment

Improvement works at the infall points of Sengal Odai and Papakudi drain of Veeranam lake, and construction of booster station at Chendur entail acquisition of 24.65 and 2.70.5 ha. of land respectively. This will have a permanent impact in loss of agricultural produce and a change in the land use pattern, landscape and aesthetics of the area.

Physico-chemical changes in soil quality may occur during construction mainly due to clearing of vegetative cover at the site thereby causing soil erosion resulting in turbidity in surface runoff. The clearing of forests and field habitats would result in destruction of terrestrial organisms.

The proposed activity of raising the Veeranam bund to increase the FTL by 0.61 m will entail the closing down / diversion of Madras- Kumbakonam road temporarily. This would cause considerable disruption to normal flow of traffic and commercial activities. For the increased MWL of Veeranam lake, the Madras-Kumbakonam road in the ridge near Solatharam will be affected, requiring the construction of a retaining wall for a length of 400 m.

The seepage rates for water in the lake are in the range of 0.9-2.7 mm/d. This, however, will not cause water logging in the neighbouring areas. Water logging is set in the peripheral villages away from lake edge on the eastern side only during periods of heavy rains.

The trap efficiency of Veeranam lake is 88% in presence of Kattamani' (Ipoemia species) vegetation. When this vegetation is submerged, the trap efficiency will reduce resulting in decreased silt load.

Construction of the proposed straight cut to Godavari drain will significantly improve the drainage of the surrounding area which is now affected due to water logging with consequent reduction in crop yield.

6-10 The augmentation of water supply through New Veeranam Project will lead to a spurt in the overall developmental activities such as increased housing, transportation, commercial, industrial etc. which will have a significant impact on the land use pattern in the project area.

6.7 Socio-Economic Environment

As for the people in the area irrigated by Veeranam lake, no significant socio-economic impact is expected as there will be no reduction in their traditional irrigation water rights. On the other hand, due to storage of water in Veeranam lake all through the year, the groundwater potential in the surrounding area is likely to increase. This may even improve the prospects of raising additional crops in the area.

Due to storage of water in the Veeranam lake allround the year, the potential for development of lake fisheries would increase.

The proposed project activities do not involve loss or disturbance of sensitive areas and cultural properties to any significant level. The project area does not have any distinct tribal community and hence the problem of impact on tribal community does not exist.

Due to the project activities there is a great potential for employment both during construction stage (short term) and during the post construction/ operation stage (long term). While the employment potential for the construction activity can not be estimated readily, the requirement of permanent staff of various categories for operation of water treatment plant and pumping stations is estimated at 200. This is in addition to potential indirect employment due to the project. This in turn will have a positive impact on the economy of the population, both local and regional as summarised in Table 6.1.

6-11 TABLE 6.1

NATURE OF PREDICTED IHPACTS ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

Parameter Nature of Impacts

ST LT L R

Employment + + + +

Economy + + +

Community Health + +

Housing + + +

Water Supply + +

Sanitation + +

Loss of Agricultural land

Education + +

Traffic

Life Style + +

Cultural Value + +

Rehabilitation and resettlement

ST : Short term R : Regional LT : Long term + : Beneficial L : Local - : Adverse

6-12 The proposed construction of a terrace along the foreshore bund in Suthamalli village with lawn facilities using a part of the soil to be taken out from within the lake is expected to improve the aesthetics of the area with the potential for tourism promotion.

With increased water supply from the New Veeranam project, the general health status and well being of the people in the Metropolitan area will be enhanced to a considerable extent. The incidences of diseases and epidemics caused by acute water shortages will be substantially reduced. The drudgery and time saved due to the improved availability of piped water will release a large number of men and women for productive work. A sense of security and well-being leading to the increased productivity are all important benefits due to the improved water supply.

The augmentation of water supply in the project area will trigger an all round increase in developmental activity such as housing, transportation, education and cultural which would have a significant impact on the life style of the population. In sum, the overall impact of the project on the socio-economic environment is expected to be highly beneficial and positive.

6-13 7. EVALUATIONOF IMPACTS 7. EVALUATION OF IMPACTS

7.1 Battelle Environmental Evaluation System (BEES)

The environmental impacts, as a result of the New Veeranam Project was evaluated based on Battelle Environmental Evaluation System (BEES). Relevant parameters were identified under the four environmental categories viz. ecology, environmental pollution, aesthetics and human interest. Each parameter was assigned a weight depending upon its relative importance by an interdisciplinary team of specialists using ranked pairwise comparison technique. The resultant weight points (parameter important units) i.e. PIU are presented in Fig.7.1 by numbers indicated adjacent to the parameters in parenthesis. The higher the number, the greater is the relative importance.

The Environmental Quality (EQ) of each parameter is defined by a value function which has a value between 0 and 1 based on a scale 1 for good quality and 0 for poor quality. The functional relationships refer to graphical means for transforming factor measurements (baseline or predicted values) into subjective evaluations. Using value function graphs, the environmental quality values for all the relevant parameters were worked out for the present (baseline) and future scenarios i) without the project, ii) with the project but without EMP, and iii) with the project incorporating EMP and the same are presented in Tables 7.1 through 7.4.

An index is obtained in Environmental Impact Unit (EIU), by calculations as shown below, of parameters with and without the project.

n EIU = (EQ)ij (PIU)i i=1

in which

EIUj = Environmental Impact Quality for jth alternative

EQi- = Environmental Quality scale for ith factor and jth alternative

PIUi = Parameter Importance Unit for ith factor

The difference in Environmental Impact Units between the two conditions constitutes either an adverse (less in EIUs) or beneficial (greater in EIUs) impact. The environmental impact units have been computed and presented in Tables 7.5 through 7.8. The resultant numerical evaluation has been described hereunder.

7.1.1 Ecology

The baseline data has shown that the ecology (both terrestrial and aquatic) in the project area is already degraded to some extent and may further deteriorate in future, even without the project, due to increasing human activities. With the implementation of the project, the aquatic ecosystem will improve significantly compared to the terrestrial ecosystem. However, with the implementation of the EMP, the terrestrial ecosystem can be restored to some extent with further improvement in aquatic ecosystem.

7-2 Environmental Impact (1000)

Ecology (190) Environmental (270) Aesthetics (130) Human Interest(410)| ,_ l ~~~Pollution

Terrestrial (70) Water (125) Aesthetics (130) Socio Economic (410) Natural Vegetation (20) Environment Topography (5) Employment (50) Crops (25) Reservoir Water (30) Landscape (10) Quality Economy (40) Species Diversity (15) Waterways Water (15) Geologic Surface (10) Community (40) Pest Species (10) Quality Material Aquatic (120) Groundwater (20) Visual Quality of Air (5) Housing (15) Quality Visual Quality of (20) Water Supply (100) Lake Surface Water (35) Water Sanitation/ (30) Hydrology Width and Alignment (15) Personal Hygiene (weeds) Groundwater (25) Odour in Air (10) Education (20) Hydrology Species Diversity (15) . Sound (10) Traffic (25) Air Environment (20) Pest Species (10) Microclimate (10) Water Surface Area (15) Life Style (20) Commercial (20) Harmony of (10) Cultural Value (10) Fisheries Air Quality (10) Manmade Structure Rehabilitation (50) Waterways (15) Noise Environment (50) Sensitive Areas (10) and Resettlement Ecosystem Community Noise (20) Wooded and Geologic (10) Archaeology (10) Water Fowl (10) Occupational Noise (30) Shoreline Food Web Index (10) Land Environment (75)

Land Use (30) Soil Erosion (20) Soil Quality (25)

FIG. 7.1: ASSIGNED WEIGHTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS

7-3 TABLE 7.1

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY : ECOLOGY

Environmental Baseline Without Project Project Component/Parameter Project Without with EMP EMP

Terrestrial

Natural Vegetation 0.7 0.50 0.4 0.60

Crops 0.8 0.70 0.7 0.80

Species Diversity 0.9 0.70 0.5 0.90

Pest species 0.9 0.80 0.7 0.90

Aquatic

Eutrophication in lakes 0.5 0.40 0.6 0.65

Natural vegetation 0.6 0.50 0.7 0.75 (weeds)

Species diversity 0.8 0.70 0.6 0.80

Pest species 0.5 0.40 0.7 0.70

Commercial fisheries 0.2 0.15 0.4 0.50

Waterways ecosystem 0.2 0.15 0.6 0.75

Water fowl 0.6 0.60 0.6 0.70

Food web index 0.4 0.40 0.5 0.50

7-4 TABLE 7.2

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY : ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Environmental Baseline Without Project Project Component/Parameter Project Without with EMP EMP

Water Environment

Reservoir water quality 0.70 0.70 0.75 0.90

Waterways water 0.10 0.05 0.40 0.50 quality

Groundwater quality 0.50 0.40 0.65 0.75

Surface water hydrology 0.60 0.50 0.75 0.90

Groundwater hydrology 0.40 0.30 0.50 0.50

Air Environment

Microclimate 0.70 0.70 0.75 0.75

Air quality 0.65 0.65 0.60 0.65

Noise Environment

Community noise 0.60 0.55 0.40 0.50

Occupational noise 0.80 0.80 0.60 0.80

Land Environment

Landuse pattern 0.80 0.80 0.65 0.70

Soil erosion 0.85 0.85 0.70 0.90

Soil quality 0.70 0.70 0.65 0.70

7-5 TABLE 7.3

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY : AESTHETICS

Environmental Baseline Without Project Project Component/Parameter Project Without with EMP EMP

Aesthetics

Topography 0.70 0.70 0.60 0.70

Landscape 0.75 0.75 0.85 0.90

Geological surface 0.75 0.75 0.65 0.75 material

Visual quality of air 0.70 0.65 0.50 0.65

Visual quality of water 0.60 0.50 0.50 0.70

Width and alignment 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.60

Odour in air 0.25 0.20 0.50 0.65

Sound 0.50 0.45 0.45 0.50

Water surface area 0.60 0.60 0.65 0.65

Harmony of manmade 0.65 0.60 0.50 0.60 structure

Sensitive areas 1.00 1.00 0.70 0.90

Wooded and geologic 0.80 0.80 0.70 0.85 shore line

7-6 TABLE 7.4

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HUMAN INTEREST

Environmental Baseline Without Project Project Component/Parameter Project Without with EMP EMP

Socio economic

Employment 0.60 0.60 0.75 0.80

Economy 0.65 0.65 0.75 0.85

Community health 0.55 0.50 0.70 0.75

Housing 0.55 0.65 0.65 0.70

Water supply 0.30 0.25 0.55 0.65

Sanitation/personal 0.50 0.40 0.60 0.65 hygiene

Education 0.80 0.80 0.85 0.90

Traffic 0.70 0.65 0.60 0.75

Life style 0.70 0.70 0.80 0.80

Cultural value 0.80 0.80 0.85 0.85

Rehabilitation and 0.95 0.95 0.50 0.90 Resettlement

Archaeology 1.00 1.00 0.85 0.95

7-7 TABLE 7.5

ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION : ECOLOGY (190)

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Component/ (PIU) ------Parameter Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Terrestrial

Natural 20 14.00 10.00 8.00 12.00 -2.00 +2.00 +4.00 vegetation

Crops 25 20.00 17.50 17.50 20.00 0.00 +2.50 +2.50

Species diver- 15 13.50 10.50 7.50 13.50 -3.00 +3.00 +6.00 sity (plants)

Pest species 10 9.00 8.00 7.00 9.00 -1.00 +1.00 +2.00

Aquatic

Eutrophication 20 10.00 8.00 12.00 13.00 4-4.00 +5.00 +1.00 in water

Natural 20 12.00 10.00 14.00 15.00 +4.00 +5.00 +1.00 vegetation (weeds)

Contd TABLE 7.5 (Contd ... )

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Component/ (PIU) ------Parameter Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Species 15 12.00 10.50 9.00 12.00 -1.50 +1.50 +3.00 diversity

Pest species 10 5.00 4.00 7.00 7.00 +3.00 +3.00 0.00

Commercial 20 4.00 3.00 8.00 10.00 +5.00 +7.00 +2.00 fisheries

Waterways 15 3.00 2.25 9.00 11.25 +6.75 +9.00 +2.25 ecosystem

Water fowl 10 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 0.00 +1.00 +1.00

Food web index 10 4.00 4.00 5.00 5.00 +1.00 +1.00 0.00

TOTAL 190 112.50 93.75 110.00 134.75 +16.25 +41.00 +24.75 TABLE 7.6

ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION : ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (270)

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Component/ (PIU) Parameter Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Water Environment

Reservoir water 30 21.00 21.00 22.50 27.00 +1.50 +6.00 +4.50 quality

Waterways water 15 1.50 0.75 6.00 7.50 +5.25 +6.75 +1.50 quality

Ground water 20 10.00 8.00 13.00 15.00 +5.00 +7.00 +2.00 quality

Surface Water 35 21.00 17.50 26.25 31.50 +8.75 +14.00 +5.25 Hydrology

Ground Water 25 10.00 7.50 12.50 12.50 +5.00 +5.00 0.00 Hydrology

Air Environment

Microclimate 10 7.00 7.00 7.50 7.50 +0.50 +0.50 0.00

Air Quality 10 6.50 6.50 6.00 6.50 -0.50 0.00 +0.50

Contd TABLE 7.6 (Contd ... )

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Component/ (PIU) ------Parameter Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Noise

Community noise 20 12.00 11.00 8.00 10.00 -3.00 -1.00 +2.00

Occupational 30 24.00 24.00 18.00 24.00 -6.00 0.00 +6.00 noise

Land

Land use pattern 30 24.00 24.00 19.50 21.00 -4.50 -3.00 +1.50

Soil erosion 20 17.00 17.00 14.00 18.00 -3.00 +1.00 +4.00

Soil quality 25 17.50 17.50 16.25 17.50 -1.25 0.00 +1.25

TOTAL 270 171.50 161.75 169.50 198.00 -7.75 +36.25 +28.50 TABLE 7.7

ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION : AESTHETICS (130)

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Component/ (PIU) ------Parameter Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Aesthetics

Topography 5 3.50 3.50 3.00 3.50 -0.50 0.00 +0.5

Landscape 10 7.50 7.50 8.50 9.00 +1.00 +1.50 +0.50

Geologic surface 10 7.50 7.50 6.50 7.50 -1.00 0.00 +1.00 material

Visual quality 5 3.50 3.25 2.50 3.25 -0.75 0.00 +0.75 of air

Visual quality 20 12.00 10.00 10.00 14.00 0.00 +4.00 +4.00 of water

Width and 15 7.50 7.50 7.50 9.00 0.00 +1.50 +1.50 Alignment

Odour in air 10 2.50 2.00 5.00 6.50 +3.00 +4.50 +1.50

Sound 10 5.00 4.50 4.50 5.00 0.00 +0.50 +0.50

Water surface 15 9.00 9.00 9.75 9.75 +0.75 +0.75 +0.00 area

Contd TABLE 7.7 (Contd ... )

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Component/ (PIU) ------_____ Parameter Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Harmony of 10 6.50 6.00 5.00 6.00 -1.00 0.00 +1.00 made structure

Sensitive 10 10.00 10.00 7.00 9.00 -3.00 -1.00 +2.00 Areas

Wooded and 10 8.00 8.00 7.00 8.50 -1.00 +0.50 +1.50 Geologic shoreline

TOTAL 130 82.50 78.75 76.25 91.00 -2.50 +12.25 +14.75 TABLE 7.8

ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION : HUMAN INTEREST (410)

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Component/ (PIU) ------Parameter Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Human Interest

Employment 50 30.00 30.00 37.50 40.00 +7.50 +10.00 +2.50

Economy 40 26.00 26.00 30.00 34.00 +4.00 +8.00 +4.00

Community health 40 22.00 20.00 28.00 30.00 +8.00 +10.00 +2.00

Housing 15 8.25 9.75 9.75 10.5 0.00 +0.75 +0.75

Water supply 100 30.00 25.00 55.00 65.00 +30.00 +40.00 +10.00

Sanitation/ 30 15.00 12.00 18.00 19.50 +6.00 +7.50 +1.50 personal hygiene

Education 20 16.00 16.00 17.00 18.00 +1.00 +2.00 +1.00

Traftic 25 17.50 16.25 15.00 18.75 -1.25 +2.50 +3.75

Life style 20 14.00 14.00 16.00 16.00 +2.00 +2.00 0.00

Cultural value 10 8.00 8.00 8.50 8.50 +0.50 +0.50 0.00

Rehabilitation 50 47.50 47.50 25.00 45.00 -22.50 -2.50 +20.00 and resettlement

Archaeology 10 10.00 10.00 8.50 9.50 -1.50 -0.50 +1.00

TOTAL 410 244.25 234.50 268.25 314.75 +33.75 +80.25 +46.50 7.1.2 Environmental Pollution

The present status of water environment in the Veeranam lake is satisfactory; while the same is far from satisfactory in the MMA. Urbanisation and industrialisation in the MMA would further lead to a depletion in the quantity and quality of both surface and ground water resources, resulting in poor environmental quality.

With the increase in anticipated water supply (180 mld) from Veeranam lake and the consequent increase in wastewater flow, the functionality of the existing sewerage system is expected to improve. Augmented with other measures such as dredging and removal of sand bars at the river mouths, the quality of waterways and their potential for recreation and navigation would improve.

The air quality in the project area will not change significantly with or without the project. However, marginal microclimatic changes may occur in and around Veeranam lake due to storage of water all through the year. The microclimate created by the lake will be characterised by lower air temperature, high wind velocities and increase in relative humidity in the area. These meteorological conditions will be localised and would not influence the environment surrounding the lake significantly.

The likely change in community noise environment, althoug': temporarily negative, is insignificant. However, impact due to occupational noise level, though significant, can be mitigated by proper EMP. The change in the land environment due to the change in land use pattern is negative.

7.1.3 Aesthetics

The topographic features of the project area will be marginally affected, in and around the veeranam lake, pipeline alignment, pumping/ booster stations and water

7-15 treatment plant. However, this can be mitigated by proper EMP. Availability of water throughout the year due to storage in the Veeranam lake may enhance the aesthetics of the area and attract tourism. However, due to the project activities, there will be a slight impairment in lake water quality, visual air quality and noise level which can be mitigated by proper EMP. The project will not affect the environmentally sensitive areas and archaeological sites to any significant level.

7.1.4 Human Interest

Due to improved availability of protected water supply coupled with improved sanitation/ personal hygiene, the health status of the community will be significantly enhanced. The project will also contribute to employment generation during construction and operational phases, increased economic output, income levels and social well being. In general, the impact on parameters of human interest will be positive.

7.2 Overall Impact Evaluation

The net environmental impact of the New Veeranam project on ecology is positive. The positive impacts are mainly due to increased vegetation, species diversity and availability of water in the reservoir throughout the year, reduced eutrophication, and commercial fisheries.

The net environmental impact of the project with respect to environmental pollution is positive. This positive impact is mainly reflected through reservoir water quality, surface water hydrology, city waterways water quality and ground water quality. The positive impact can be enhanced by proper EMP.

Aesthetic environment shows positive impact due to landscape, improved visual water quality and a favourable cumulative effect arising from other components.

7-16 The human interest parameters exhibit significant positive impact mainly due to increased water supply, improved sanitation, community health, enhanced economic output and job opportunities leading to better quality of life.

A summary of the evaluation of the environment "with" and "without" project scenarios, gives an overall project index of 624 and 568.75 respectively (Table 7.9). With the effective implementation of the recommended EMP, a further improvement in the quality of environment to the extent of 114.5 units can be achieved.

7.3 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The impact statement focuses on the project area viz., the Madras Metropolitan Area (MMA), Veeranam lake and its ayacut, intake arrangements, transmission main corridor from Sethiathope to Porur, pumping/ booster stations and water treatment plant sites and clear water storage reservoir at Porur. The four basic environmental categories to be affected ar Ecology, Environmental Pollution, Aesthetics and Human Interest.

The above environmental categories consist of 48 parameters in the instant case. For each of the above categories, significant impacts have been identified, predicted and evaluated through Battelle Environmental Evaluation System (BEES) using environmental value function graphs to classify the beneficial and adverse impacts.

7.3.1 Ecology

Baseline data has shown that the ecology of the region has been affected by human activity since a long time. About 202 ha. of land was acquired in 1969-72 for the project thereby disturbing the terrestrial ecology mainly along the ROW for transmission main. After the transmission main is laid, the land can be brought to the original condition, thereby terrestrial ecology can be made up by adequate compensatory replantption.

7-17 TABLE 7.9

SUMMARY OF ENVIRON!IENTAL EVALUATION FOR SECOND MADRAS WATER SUPPLY PROJECT -NEW VEERANAH

Environmental Weight Environmental Impact Units (EIU) Change in EIU Category (PIU) ------Baseline Without Project Project (C-B) (D-B) (D-C) Project Without With EMP EMP A B C D

Ecology 190 112.50 93.75 110.00 134.75 +16.25 +41.00 +24.75

Environmental 270 171.50 161.75 169.50 198.00 +7.75 +36.25 +28.50 Pollution

Aesthetics 130 82.50 78.75 76.25 91.00 -2.50 +12.25 +14.75

X0 Human Interest 410 244.25 234.50 268.25 314.75 +33.75 +80.25 +46.50

TOTAL 1000 610.75 568.75 624.00 738.50 +55.25 +169.75 +114.50

* Improvement in ecological quality due to increased natural vegetation, aquatic species diversity, reduced eutrophication, commercial fisheries and waterways ecosystem.

* Improvements in the Environmental quality is due to reservoir water quality, city waterways water quality, ground water quality and ground water hydrology.

* Positive impact in aesthetics due to landscape, visual water quality and reduced odour in air

* Significant positive impact on human interest category due to increased water supply, employment, economy, community health and sanitation.

* Prediction baseline for the year 1996 when the project will be operational. The plankton in the reservoirs is now dominated by blue green algae or green algae and rotifers, cladocera and copepoda. The desilting, raising of bund and storage of water in the lake throughout the year may not only help in maintaining the above plankton species but also increase the diatoms and thereby the biological diversity. The desilting of lake will reduce eutrophication.

In the Veeranam lake, fishing activity, though not very important, is a source of revenue and food to a sizeable population. The project would enhance the fishing activities and the revenue therefrom.

Increased availability of ground water throughout the year in and around Veeranam lake can promote agricultural activities, and will be beneficial to the large and medium sized trees and shrubs which depend on shallow water table for their water requirements. This will have beneficial effects on the forest and open lands which will be covered by shrubbing vegetation. Diversity of plant species will increase leading to healthier environment. Consequently, diversity of birds will also improve. The grazing field will also increase due to availability of more ground water.

7.3.2 Environmental Pollution

The construction activities associated with the pipe laying, pumping/ booster station, treatment plant will temporarily increase the dust concentration and ambient noise levels. These activities will also cause traffic congestion/ diversion and disruption of normal life and business. With the implementation of the project, the per capita water supply for all the categories of consumers in the metropolitan area will increase with consequent increase in treated wastewater flows. This will result in improved water quality in the city waterways. As a result of the improved water supply, the present level of ground water extraction will be reduced in the MMA which will help mitigate the problem of saline water intrusion.

7-19 7.3.3 Aesthetics

The MMA is extremely flat with almost no hills. The average slope within Madras city is less than 1 meter per 1500 m, a factor which presents numerous difficulties in providing storm water and wastewater drainage facilities. Flooding during rainy season in the city is a common scene which often is compounded by overflow from surcharged sewers. The topography along the proposed alignment of water supply pipeline from Veeranam to Madras is undulating and intercepted by rivers, several drainage channels and national and state Highway.

The year round availability of water in Veeranam lake due to the project may result in marginal changes in the microclimate of the area. The water spread area of the lake will also increase the scenic beauty of the area. The visual water quality will improve with the implementation of the project.

The main sensitive areas in and around the project area are Guindy National Park, Vedanthangal Water Bird Sanctuary, the Madras Snake Park, Adyar Estuary, Karikil Bird Sanctuary, Temples and Forests. The project will not have any significant adverse impact on these sensitive areas.

7.3.4 Human Interest

The present per capita water supply to Madras city is grossly inadequate (45-70 lpd). A few of the urbanised areas in MMA outside the city have independent water supply schemes with lesser per capita supply. The project will improve the water supply situation considerably by making available an additional quantity of 180 mld to the Madras city, added areas and adjacent urbanised area. Employment opportunities would increase during construction and operational phases of the project.

Necessary action has been taken to rehabilitate and resettle the affected people by allotting alternative sites and, to pay monetary compensation for the property/ land

7-20 acquired from them for the project. When viewed in the context of the benefits likely to accrue to the people in the MMA by the implementation of the project, the impact on the displaced people would be marginal. The people in the project area are aware of the proposed project and are in favour of its speedy implementation.

In sum, the additional water supply from the New Veeranam project will improve the health and productivity of the people leading to an improvement in their economic status and quality of life.

7-21 8. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 8- ENVIRONKENTAL MANAGENENT PLAN

8.1 Preamble

The New Veeranam project, when implemented, will provide significant environmental and health benefits to the residents of Madras Metropolitan Area by mitigating the chronic water shortage experienced by the city. The project also has the potential of causing some negative environmental impacts due to large scale construction activities associated with the project and change in land use pattern. These adverse impacts could be mitigated or eliminated by implementing a well organised appropriate Environmental Management Plan (EMP) during the pre- construction, construction and operational phases of the project as described below.

8.2 Pre-construction Phase

The pre-construction activities of the project comprise mainly acquisition of land for Veeranam source improvement works, pipeline ROW, booster station at Chendur, and clear water storage reservoir(s) at Porur. Along the existing Veeranam bund, and the transmission pipeline ROW there are encroachments which have to be cleared requiring, in many cases, rehabilitation and resettlement of PAFs. Also, many PSC pipes manufactured for the old Veeranam project lying unused along the ROW have to be transported and stacked in identified places by the contractor under the direction and supervision of MMWSSB/TWAD Board engineers. If a final decision is taken to locate the proposed WTP at Mangalam, the existing structures/unused pipes on the site have also to be cleared.

At the time of site clearance for pipeline ROW, care must be taken to minimise the need for cutting of trees, damage to the native vegetation, disruption of existing services such as electricity, telephones, etc., and to minimise disturbance to the normal life and traffic.

8.3 Construction Phase

All construction activities by their very nature are disruptions to the existing environment. The following environmental protection and enhancement measures should be incorporated as part of the terms and conditions of contract for implementation by the contractor or the Authority as appropriate.

8.3.1 Protection of Vegetation

Clearing of sites and grubbing operations should be carried out in a manner that will not reduce slope stability and that will minimize future surface water runoff and erosion. As much of the removed materials as possible should be used or reclaimed while the rest should be used for landscaping and levelling activities.

Existing topsoil which must be removed during construction should be neatly and temporarily stockpiled for later use when required.

Precautions should be taken to minimize damage to native plant communities on the periphery of the construction area, particularly those that may support wildlife. The trees, shrubs, and sod that should be

8-2 retained after construction should be protected from permanent damage.

All disturbed construction areas on the periphery of the construction site should be replanted with native plant growth to minimize visual impact and future erosion. Erosion damage should be got repaired during the first spring following the completion of construction.

In residential and rural areas, care must be exercised to avoid damaging the root systems of trees so much that they cannot survive, need to be removed, or severely trimmed. Whenever possible, damage to root systems should be minimized either by routing the trench or excavation far away from the trees.

8.3.2 Veeranama Catchment Area Treatment

Dry crops are cultivated in the Veeranam catchment area with deep ploughing. Such cultivated fields, usually produce a runoff of 15-25 % of a moderate rainfall. Against this practice of clean cultivation, row crops like cotton, cultivated legumes, cow pea, moong, urad, groundnut, and soyabean with close planting result only in a runoff of about 1-2 %. The catchment area of the Veeranam lake drains an annual runoff of about 71.9 M Cu.m laden with 0.6 to 0.8% of suspended particulate matter. The eroded soil and sediment should be confined to each individual farming unit by raising a suitable border of shrubs and grasses around the farm. Rain drop intensity can be reduced, in the first instance, by resorting to an agroforestry system, wherein certain tree species are raised suitably on and around the farms. A list of some of the recommended fodder and ornamental trees is given in Table 8.1.

The catchment area should be divided into a number of blocks and each block properly surveyed for physiography and farm orientation with regard to natural slopes. Shrub barriers should be raised across barren slopes. In each block, any barren patch should be seeded with the grass Cynodon dactylon. Two or three rows of small trees and

8-3 TABLE 8.1

RECONMENDED TREES FOR PLANTATION AROUND VEERANAM LAKE AND PIPELINE ROW

Fodder tree Ornamental tree Ornamental shrub

Anacardium occidentalis Gliricidia maculata Cestrum sp. Anogeissus latifolia Gravillea robusta Nyctanthes sp. Albizia lebbeck Casuarina equisetifolia Ixora Dalbergia Sissoo Saraca indica Hibiscus Leucaena leucocephala Jacarranda sp. Lawsonia Parkinsonia aculeata Terminalia catappa Tecoma Prosopis juliflora Bauhinia variegata Sesbania grandiflora Cassia fistula Saraca indica Cocos nucifera Mimusops elengi Thuba orianjalis Terminalia arjuna Pongamia glabra Azadirachta indica Couroupita guianaensis Acacia auriculiformis Cassia siamea Peltophorum ferruginum Acacia catechu Azadirachta indica

8-4 shrubs should be planted along both sides of the two major drains in the catchment area along with seeding or slip placing of a few local grass species. This will check the bank erosion during high flow periods and also serve as an additional barrier to trap runoff suspended matter entering these drains from sides. No patch in the catchment area, outside individual farm boundary and housing, should be left barren. Some trees, ornamental shrubs and grass should cover every such patch. During the initial stages, on sites that are highly fragile and conducive to formation of deep gullies, rubble check dams of appropriate size and dimension should be constructed. Horticultural crops have special value in that leaf litter from most of them forms a valuable barrier for fine soil particles. Plants of guava, jamun (black berry), custard apple, sapota, mango are useful for this purpose. These should be planted on vacant areas, outside the farms.

8.3.3 Runoff and erosion control along pipeline ROW

When facilities are constructed in other than paved areas, precautions should be taken to minimize erosion. Temporary drainage channels and structures should be provided to minimize erosion and to prevent ponding of surface water on the construction site and on adjacent property. Precautions should be taken to divert the water used in washing down construction areas and flushing pipelines into storm sewers or natural drainage channels.

Exposure of soils susceptible to wind and water erosion and sediment buildup in natural drainage courses should be minimized by adoption of erosion control measures such as raising of shrubs and grasses.

8.3.4 Dust Control

Dust should be controlled by sweeping, sprinkling or washing, depending on the circumstances. Sprinkling will be used on unimproved roads and rights of way. Surfaced streets should be washed down only after all possible dirt has been removed by mechanical means. Mud should be washed

8-5 from all construction equipment and vehicles prior to travel on surfaced streets; any large amounts of mud deposited on surfaced streets should be removed before the end of the working day.

Trucks hauling dirt, rock or other granular or particulate material to and from the construction project should have their loads limited, trimmed, or wetted and covered to prevent material from being spilled/ scattered or wind blown over public streets.

8.3.5 Air quality control

Although relatively minor and temporary, construction activities add to the air pollution in the region. Necessary measures should be taken to meet the emission standards for all construction equipment and vehicles, to keep construction equipment well-tuned and serviced to reduce emissions

8_ 3._6 Noise abatement measures

Construction operations in residential areas should be restricted to the hours after 7:30 A.M. and before 6 P.M. (except for equipment warm-up), unless emergency repairs or special non-recurring construction operations are necessary and are approved. Near schools, potentially disturbing operations should be confined to the hours before and after school, whenever practical. In hospital zones, every effort should be made to minimize noise levels at all times.

Noise levels should be reduced by use of adequate mufflers on all motorized equipment. Modern "quiet-running" equipment should be specified whenever available. Noise suppression equipment and baffling should be employed on ventilating machinery, compressors, and generators, especially when they are operated in residential, school, or hospital areas. Blasting should not be permitted unless absolutely necessary, and then only when the blasting plan is approved in advance by the Authority.

8-6 8.3.7 Visual/aesthetic enhancement

All construction equipment and material should be stored in a neat and orderly manner. When appropriate, the specifications for a job should provide that the project site and staging area is to be screened with an esthetically pleasing temporary fence.

Any excess excavated material should be removed from the project site as soon as possible after the completion of excavation operations. After final site grading is completed, all remaining excavated material should be removed from the project site or used for leveling and landscaping

Temporary sanitary facilities should be provided for workmen by locating the facilities in as inconspicuous a place as possible. When this is not possible, they should be screened with temporary fencing or plantings, or painted, so they tend to blend in with their surroundings. These facilities should be maintained in a clean, odour-free condition at all times taking care to avoid soil and groundwater contamination.

Designs should include aesthetic treatment, such as rounding the tops and bottoms of excavations and embankments to create a natural-appearing surface.

8.3.8 Traffic controls and detours

The Authority should make a determination of the safe, legal load limits of all bridges and surface streets that may be traversed by heavy equipment used at the project site. A decision on allowable traffic patterns in the affected area throughout the work week will be made; this should include a consideration of the large turning requirements of certain equipment that might increase congestion and traffic hazards at heavily used intersections.

8-7 Deliveries of materials to the project site should be consolidated whenever feasible to minimize the flow of traffic.

As much movement of large equipment as possible should be carried out at times other than morning and evening rush hours. Before construction begins, necessary cooperation should be sought from the local police and public works authorities to select the most suitable route for delivery and haul equipment with due consideration of load limits, traffic patterns, and the character of neighbourhoods traversed, and to establish traffic controls and detours that are marked with signs, lights, and other means to minimize motorist confusion and to maximize public and worker safety.

Access for emergency vehicles should be provided at all times with essentially no delay. Police and fire departments should be notified before any street or other emergency access route is closed, and routes will not be closed until an approved alternate is opened.

Interruption of access to individual properties, and other public agency-operated facilities will be avoided or very limited in duration. Notice should be given to individuals, businesses, utilities, and public agencies when their access will be blocked, even temporarily. No equipment or materials should be allowed to block streets longer than absolutely necessary. All streets should be returned to a passable condition before the end of each working day.

Pedestrian bridges with splinte--free handrails should be provided at all intersections when trenches must remain open. When trenches should remain open past the end of the working day, steel plates over trenches should be provided at driveways and intersections. Wooden bridging should not generally be permitted for vehicular traffic.

8-8 8.3.9 Disposal of construction vastes

Any solid waste generated by the demolition of existing structures or facilities at construction sites should be hauled to an approved disposal site.

8.3.10 Paving repair

Cutting recently built or resurfaced roads should be avoided except when this is essential for emergency repair. To facilitate this practice, the Authority should maintain close co-ordination with the agencies regarding their street resurfacing programs. This coordination makes it possible to renew any water mains and other services that are inadequate or may require reconstruction in the near future before resurfacing so as to avoid unnecessary road cuts in newly surfaced streets.

To avoid possible subsidence in trenches and excavations, and paving failure, it is necessary to use granular soil or approved material for backfilling. All backfill must be consolidated.

8.3.11 Historical and Archaeological Protection

If the construction activity uncovers subsurface evidence of archaeological significance, the construction activity in the vicinity of the find should be delayed until the find is evaluated by the archaeological department.

8.3.12 Eliminating safety hazards

In developed areas, when pipe or other subsurface facilities should be laid out above ground prior to burial, these materials should be strung no earlier than three days before actual installation. During installation, the amount of open trench should be kept to a minimum, with backfilling operations proceeding as close behind installation as practical. Pipe storage should not block the line of vision at intersections or other areas. Where installations are in surfaced streets, temporary paving should be applied as soon

8-9 as possible after backfilling and should remain in place until just before final paving operations.

Where it is necessary to leave an open end of pipe exposed overnight, the pipe should be closed or plugged securely to prevent entry.

More details on safety measures and services for construction activities are given in Annexure 8.1.

8.3.13 Completing the construction project

Before the activity is considered as complete by the Authority, appropriate measures should be taken to restore the project and surrounding areas as near as possible to pre-construction condition or to conformance with project landscaping plans, and to remove all temporary structures, equipment, surplus material, refuse, and construction fencing from the project site. All temporary drainage facilities should be graded or removed and all cut and fill areas should be graded, planted and fertilized so they blend in with native trees, shrubs so that the project's visual impact is lessened.

8.4 Operational Phase

8.4.1 Source Protection

The very first step in assuring a safe and acceptable public water supply is protecting the source from pollution so as to minimise the future liability to the health and well-being of the water consumer and the economic burden to the water supply agency. Any deterioration in the quality of raw water supplies could be mitigated by judicious management and oversight of land use and human activities within the watersheds involved.

A routine programme of water quality monitoring and treatability studies should be instituted at the plant laboratory to facilitate the control of unit operations and processes involved. This activity has to be undertaken more

8-10 frequently, especially during the first 2 to 3 years following the Veeranam water supply. In addition, effective operation and control of treatment plant should be ensured through qualified and adequately trained operating staff to produce a final water which will meet the prescribed standards.

8.4.2 Land Environment

Land environment related management plan in this project aims at creating an aesthetically pleasing and functionally efficient landscape. It is suggested that the road side away from the lake edge should be subjected to massive plantation programme with emphasis on ornamental tree species in the first row, trees used for fodder and wind breaks in the second row, with shrubs and small trees placed in between. The spacing should be 10 m in the first row and 5 m in the second row. Along the road side close to the lake edge, only one row of trees of foliage significance such as Saraca indica, Minusops elengi, Terminalia arjuna, Azadirachta indica, Casurina equisetifolia should be planted at 10 m from plant to plant. The first row of trees should be placed atleast 2 m away from the road edge.

All along the pipeline alignment, trees should be planted in one or two rows on either side, the first row being always for ornamental and aesthetic purposes. Small trees and shrubs should find place in the second row. Spathodia companulata, Kyjelia pimmata, Tabebuia argunta and Couroupita guianaensis are a few species suggested for plantation.

Water treatment pumping stations and staff colonies should also be subjected to plantation programme. Treatment plant sites should be identified by plant species such as Royal Palm, drooping Ashoka, Gul Mohar', Pride of India etc. Colonies should have some plant species of ornament and fragrance values, such as Cestruns, Jasmules, Parijatak', Hibiscus, Ixoras. Lausonia, Casuarina, Tecomas can be used and trained as hedges around gardens and treatment units.

8-11 The services of a horticulturist from the Department and a taxonomist from the Forest Department should be availed for species identification and procurement. Departmental nurseries should be developed somewhere near the lake, one at Tindivanam and one at Madras to cater to the needs of initial and replacement plantations.

Weed growth in channel and the lake could be a nuisance. Therefore, regular monitoring and control of weed growth is necessary. The weed control should be carried out only mechanically. The harvested or dying weeds should be removed and destroyed promptly.

8.4.3 Water Treatment

The proposed treatment plant at Mangalam/ Vadakuthu will generate around 3.2 mld of alum sludge with 0.5 % solids. Thickening of sludge will further reduce the quantity of sludge to be handled and the cost of sludge treatment and disposal. The thickened sludge may be disposed of as land fill without causing any significant impact as the waste quantity would be very small. Being essentially insoluble in nature, the alum sludge may not pose a serious problem due to leaching of the metal. In order to minimise the possible adverse impact, the feasibility of reusing the sludge, after dewatering to reduce bulk and facilitate handling, as a raw material for manufacturing alum may be explored.

Use of alum sludge has also been tried as a plasticizer in ceramic industry, a constituent of high alumina refractory bricks, a part of the mixture with fly- ash for road stabilization, an ingredient for the preparation of building bricks, filler for rubber goods, a soil-conditioner for heavy clays, and for other horticultural purposes.

Pre-chlorination and disinfection by post chlorination are proposed in treatment of veeranam water. In addition, booster chlorination may be required. This

8-12 involves handling and use of considerable quantity of chlorine. Chlorine safety measures as detailed at Annexure 8.2 should, therefore, be strictly followed to minimise hazards associated with chlorine handling and use.

Preventive maintenance activities for WTP should be carried out regularly as per the guidelines at Annexure 8.3. The frequency recommended for an activity be initially adopted on an adhoc basis and the same be modified based on experience gained from time to time. Good housekeeping, preventive and corrective maintenance, record keeping, daily work schedule and stock inventory are essential for an effective operation of WTP/ pumping station.

8.4.4 Water Quality Surveillance

The Metrowater has a fairly well established infrastructure (Water Quality Control Department) with competent staff for routine monitoring and control of water quality at the source(s), treatment plant and distribution system. In the light of augmentation of water supply to the city from New Veeranam project and the likely increase in population to be served, the number and frequency of sample collection from the distribution system will have to be suitably increased to meet the CPHEEO recommendations (Annexure 8.4).

Regular monitoring of the lake water quality should be ensured to facilitate appropriate preventive and corrective measures at the source. This would zlso help to develop a data base on water quality and establish its trend which could form the basis for future water quality management programmes.

From logistic consideration, when Veeranam project is commissioned, it would be essential to have a full fledged laboratory with competent staff established at Vadakuthu/ Mangalam for routine water quality analysis and treatment control under the supervision of TWAD/ MMWSSB as the case may be.

8-13 The existing level of laboratory facilities, and operation and maintenance personnel for effective management of the sewage treatment plants under MMWSSB is inadequate. In the context of the proposed treatment capacity augmentation under the ongoing project, and the anticipated generation of additional sewage flows, the laboratory facilities have to be strengthened and additional personnel have to be recruited to ensure production of effluent of prescribed standards.

Presently the waterways water quality in Madras is monitored by the TNPCB which is well equipped with advanced and sophisticated instrumentation and trained staff for water and wastewater analysis. The TNPCB should continue to monitor the waterways so as to assess the impact of increased wastewater generation/ improved wastewater quality due to Veeranam supply.

8.4.5 Leak Detection and Control in Water Distribution System

In order to obtain maximum benefit of the increased water supply expected to be available from Veeranam project, it is absolutely essential that the unaccounted for water (UFW) in the distribution system is kept within acceptable levels. This would call for a well-organised, scientific study to assess the leak levels and implementation of appropriate corrective measures including phased replacement of badly leaking, corroded water mains, house connections, valves and other appurtenances. The process of waste assessment, leak detection and control initiated under the World Bank project should be continued.

Presently, in MMWSSB, a core of twenty trained staff (including field labour staff) equipped with a complete set of necessary instruments/ equipment is engaged in leak detection and control programme. Considering the large area to be serviced, this is very inadequate and therefore, the existing infrastructure has to be further strengthened. As an immediate measure, at least one more team fully equipped with necessary instruments should be identified, trained and deployed in the field work.

8-14 8.5 Environmental Monitoring

A comprehensive environmental monitoring programme before the construction phase, during construction, and operation of the project as detailed in Table 8.2 is essential for effective mitigation of negative impacts of the project. The monitoring for each project phase, to begin with, shall cover all environmental aspects related to the project. As factual information on the environmental impacts due to construction and operation phases of the project becomes available through the proposed monitoring, the monitoring programme may be suitably modified, if necessary.

For effective implementation of the recommended environmental monitoring, it will be necessary to develop adequate facilities for sampling and analysis. It will be desirable to operate an environmental monitoring cell at MMWSSB/ TWAD Board with adequate training and instrumentation support. Alternatively, the available infrastructure with the TNPCB and or private laboratories with adequate infrastructural facilities and expertise may also be identified to assist in these activities.

The implementation of the mitigation plan should be regularly reviewed by a high level committee consisting of members drawn from MMWSSB, TWAD, PWD, TNPCB and MMDA to ensure compliance with the recommendations.

8.6 Training

With assistance from the World Bank and the British Overseas Development Administration (ODA) the Metrbwater Training Centre has been established at Kilpauk in 1979. The Training Centre has all modern facilities for conducting off the job' training. The centre consists of an administration section, class rooms, audio visual workshop, mains and services laying workshop, electrical /mechanical workshop, a fairly well equipped laboratory, a curriculum development room, and a library.

8-15 The Training Centre conducts training courses for the MMWSSB staff based on an yearly training programme. Courses of 1 day to 5 days duration are conducted, and a maximum of ten trainees are included in each course. About 60 courses have been developed covering management aspects, maintenance of water supply systems, sewerage systems, sewage treatment plants, mains and service laying, electrical/mechanical equipment maintenance etc. Field workers, technicians, operators, J.E./A.E.s, A.S.E.s and E.E.s participate in the training courses. The Training Centre has plans for strengthening the infrastructure under the World Bank Project.

The TWAD Board, also has a fairly equipped training centre of its own and conducts training programmes of various types to its own personnel and on behalf of Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India.

The personnel responsible for water supply and sanitation planning, design, implementation, and O&M comprise three major categories of employees viz. qualified engineers, supervisors and skilled artisans. Appropriate training of staff at each level is essential. Training should not be a one time activity; periodic training in order to acquire latest knowledge and skill is essential in the effective management of WTP, distribution system and pumping stations and wastewater management systems.

8.7 Institutional Strengthening

The ongoing Projects and programmes of MMWSSB envisage strengthening of institutional infrastructure for improving the effectiveness and monitoring of the programmes through reinforcing/ strengthening of the existing infrastructure, capability development through orientation programmes, training and refresher courses, and strengthening the management and public relation skills of staff at senior level, and increasing the proficiency of the skilled cadre of the field staff. Hence, the need for further strengthening of the staff may not be necessary.

8-16 TABLE 8.2

ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND MONITORING PLAN

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

A. Pre-Construction Phase

Route Selection * The pipeline ROW has been selected from three TWAD /MMWSSB alternatives to minimise land acquisition, rehabilitation & resettlement, damage to cultural properties and to avoid unfavourable geological formations

Stability of Veeranam Bund * Adequacy of safe bearing capacity of embankment PWD ensured in the design

00 Flooding * Surplusing structures adequate to handle even PWD extraordinary floods

Transmission Pipeline * Avoidance of corrosive soils and provision of TWAD /MMWSSB Corrosion cement mortar lining and supplemental cathodic protection

Transmission Pipeline Safety * Relevant codes of practices followed in design TWAD /MMWSSB

Social Disruptions * Monetary compensation, and/or rehabilitation PWD/ TWAD/ MMWSSB and resettlement of PAFs Revenue department

B. Construction Phase

Site Clearance * Minimum damage to existing structures, flora & PC fauna, electricity and telephone lines and other infrastructural services

* Identify sites for stacking of PSC pipes and PWD /TWAD /MMWSSB disposal of debris /refuse

PC : Prospective Contractor Contd ... TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

Earth Work Excavation * Ensure unobstructed natural drainage PC

* Dispose surplus excavated earth at identified PC sites

* Ensure minimum hindrance to normal local PC activities and business

* Avoid damage to permanent structures as far PC as possible

* Programme the work to avoid loss of standing PC crops along the ROW

0 Loss of Natural * Replantation on areas/ on the periphery of MMWSSB/ Vegetation construction sites to minimise visual impact TWAD/ PWD/ 00 and soil erosion PC

Soil Erosion /Water Quality * Veeranam catchment area treatment Agricultural Department /PWD

* Ensure steps to prevent earth and stone from PC silting up the existing irrigation and drainage systems

* Reasonable measures to prevent direct discharge PC of polluted waters from construction activities into lake, rivers and irrigation channels

* Minimise exposure of soil types susceptible to PC wind and water erosion

* Runoff and erosion control through proper PC drainage channels and structures

Contd TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

Soil Compaction * Restrict traffic movements and use low ground PC pressure machines I

* Preserve top soil to be replaced after completion PC of construction activity

* Avoid wet soils PC-

Social Disruptions * Minimise interruptions to utility services PWD /TWAD /MMWSSB through proper planning and scheduling of PC /Traffic Dept. activities and inter-departmental co-ordination * Construction of temporary road and diversion PWD /Highway Dept. of traffic on Madras - Kumbakonam road during /PC raising of Veeranam bund along the ridge near Sholatharam village

* Preference to local labour /skilled persons PWD /TWAD /MMWSSB during construction, operation & maintenance PC

Dust /Air Pollution * Dust control through sprinkling/ washing of PC construction sites and access roads particularly in places near towns

* Stock piles and storage areas shall be covered PC or watered to prevent dust pollution

* Trucks to transport construction materials shall PC be covered to minimise spills

* Preventive maintenance of construction equipment PC and vehicles to meet emission standards

Contd ... TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

Noise Pollution * Where residences are located within 200 m from PC construction sites and in sensitive areas like hospitals, schools, zoological parks etc. noisy construction work shall be undertaken during day time only (0730 Hrs - 1800 Hrs)

* Maintenance of machines and trucks shall be PC strengthened so as to keep them with low noise

* Sound barriers shall be installed and trees PC shall be planted as appropriate, during the construction phase

Construction Camps * Adequate measures, such as provision of septic PC 00 tanks /sanitary pit latrines shall be taken at the construction camp sites

* Provision of creches for working women labour PC

* Drinking water shall meet the national (CPHEEO) PC potable water standards

* Garbage shall be collected in garbage cans at PC fixed places & disposed of regularly

Aesthetic Impairment * Aesthetic enhancement through proper house PC keeping of construction sites

* Disposal of construction wastes at the approved PC disposal site(s)

* Repair pavements immediately following PC construction of pipeline and appurtenant structures

Contd ... TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

* Completing the construction activity by removing PC all temporary structures, restoring the project and surrounding areas as near as possible to the pre-construction condition

Conservation of Ecological * Farmland and forest belts shall not be used PC Resources, etc. for material borrow sites

* Arable land shall not be selected as material PC borrow sites as much as possible. If excavation has to be done in arable land, top soil layer (30 cm) shall be saved and returned after construction work is completed, so as to minimize impacts on ecosystem, agriculture and animal husbandry

* Education of construction workers shall be PC strengthened to protect natural resources, wild plants and animals

Risk of Accidents * In order to guarantee construction safety, PC efficient contractor lighting equipment and safety signs shall be installed on temporary roads during construction, and adequate traffic regulations shall be adopted & implemented for temporary roads

* During construction, effective safety & warning PC measures shall be adopted to reduce accidents

* Provide temporary crossings /bridges to PC facilitate normal life and business

Contd ... TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

Cultural Relics * If fossils, coins, artifacts of value or PC antiquity, structures and other remains of geological or archaeological interest are found, the local government shall be immediately informed of such discovery, and excavation shall be stopped until identification of cultural relics by the authorized institution of preservation is completed

* Protection of historical monuments and Archaeology Dept. archaeological sites against possible damage TWAD /MMWSSB /PC

Traffic and Transportation * Use major roads to avoid traffic congestion Traffic Police and insist on compliance by contractor /PC

* Local construction materials shall be used as PC much as possible to avoid long distance transportation of construction materials, especially earth and stones

* Adequate actions to direct traffic shall be PC taken in consultation with highway and police departments when roads are jammed during the construction period

* Where sections of existing roads are used for PC transportation of construction materials, subsidiary roads shall be constructed as appropriate, so that the existing roads are not significantly congested

* Plan for transportation of construction PC materials shall be developed to avoid transport activities during hours of peak traffic especially for existing roads

Contd TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility C. Operational Phase

Source Water Contamination * Regular lake water quality monitoring to TWAD /MMWSSB facilitate treatment control /PWD

* Judicious management of land use and human PWD activities within the watersheds to minimise pollution

* Ensure adequate treatment to meet the CPHEEO/ TWAD /MMWSSB BIS water quality standards

* Protection of canal and bund slopes through PWD 00 appropriate measures such as stone /concrete pitching, turfing and planting goat foot creepers to minimise erosion

* Control weed growth in canals and lake by PWD mechanical harvesting

* Patrol water sources and transmission pipeline PWD /TWAD /MMWSSB to prevent unauthorised human activities

* Strengthen 0 & M infrastructure to cope with PWD /TWAD /MMWSSB increased work load due to augmentation of facilities

Resource conservation * Conservation of water through application of PWD /MMWSSB evaporation retardation chemicals in source water lakes

* Leak detection and control in water transmission TWAD /MMWSSB mains and distribution systems Contd TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

* Organise consumer education and public awareness TWAD /MMWSSB programmes through audio visual aids and mass media

Environmental Pollution * Explore the possibility of reuse of WTP residues TWAD /MMWSSB

* Prevent loss of chlorine and other chemicals TWAD /MMWSSB and ensure prescribed safety measures for their storage, handling and application

* Plantation programme along the lake edge Agricultural dept. and pipeline ROW PWD /TWAD /MMWSSB co Others * Implement a well planned programme of human PWD /TWAD /MMWSSB t'la resource development aimed at increasing the competence and capabilities of technical and administrative personnel at all levels

D. Environmental Monitoring

Air Quality Monitoring Construction period TWAD /TNPCB (1) Monitoring item : SPM, NO , CO, SO2 /MMWSSB (2) Monitoring frequency : 3 times a year (January, May, & October) (3) Monitoring points : Near the construction sites and residential areas

(4) Monitoring technical criteria TNPCB /MEF Standards /Guidelines

Contd ... TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

Noise Monitoring (1) Monitoring frequency : TWAD /TNPCB /PC (a) Construction period : 12 times a year, each time including day and night (b) Operation period : 4 times a year adhoc monitoring will be undertaken as appropriate

(2) Monitoring points : (a) Construction period : Near construction sites and sensitive areas (b) Operation period : At pumping stations, and treatment plants

(3) Monitoring technical criteria : TNPCB /MEF Standards /Guidelines ul Water Quality Monitoring (1) Source Water Quality (Construction and Operation (a) Monitoring items : Turbidity, pH, TWAD /MMWSSB Phase) alkalinity and chlorine demand (b) Monitoring frequency : Once in a month (c) Monitoring points : Vadavar channel, offtake point to WTP (d) Monitoring technical criteria CPCB / BIS Standards (2) Treated Water Quality TWAD /MMWSSB Monitoring Items : * All physico-chemical & bacteriological parameters as per CPHEEO /BIS Standards Monitoring frequency : Once in a month Monitoring point : CWR at WTP

Contd TABLE 8.2 (Contd ... )

Environmental Issues Action Taken / To be Taken Responsibility

* Turbidity, pH, alkalinity & Residual chlorine Monitoring Frequency : Daily Monitoring point : CWR at WTP

* Bacteriological quality Monitoring frequency : Weekly Monitoring point : CWR at WTP & GLR at Porur

* Bacteriological quality & residual chlorine Monitoring frequency : As per CPHEEO norms Monitoring point : Distribution system

Water Conservation Routine leak detection and control MMWSSB (1) Monitoring Item : UFW (2) Monitoring points : Wastewater meter districts (3) Monitoring frequency : Continuous activity (4) Monitoring technical criteria CPHEEO norms

)