Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY E1.0 INTRODUCTION E 1.1 Background India occupies a strategic position in Asia, looking across the seas to Arabia and Africa on the west and Burma, Malaysia and the Indonesian Archipelago on the east. Geographically, the Himalayan ranges keep India apart from the rest of Asia. In India Mizoram State is bordering Myanmar in the east & south and Bangladesh in the West. Map 1.1 Map showing position of Mizoram in India Government of India is establishing good ties with the neighbouring countries especially with eastern neighbours, both economically and politically. With the growth of global economic development and Asia in particular the Govt. of India set up a new policy known as “Look East Policy” wherein a sectoral trade link will be established with the far East countries. River Kaladan, after meandering along the Indo Myanmar Boarder at North East India flows through the southern part of Mizoram (India) and finally empties itself at Sittwe, the seaport in Myanmar into Bay of Bengal. This river can be utilized as a Trade Route with the eastern countries by Public Works Department Government of Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Executive Summary Inland waterway up to the navigable point and by road transport where navigation is not feasible. Then the goods to imported can be distributed in other parts of the country especially among north eastern states by road or train .So the means of transport comprises of sea, inland water, roads & railways and land will serve as a Multi-Modal trade route. Recognizing the current inadequate transportation infrastructure facility of the country and the vital role transportation sector plays in the accelerated economic growth of the country; Government of India has placed a high priority in this sector's development to meet the current and future highway transportation needs. An agreement has been reached between Government of India and Govt. of Myanmar to develop a Multi Modal Trade Route between the two countries. The first part of the trade route is through the inland waterway of River Kaladan in Myanmar from its confluence point at Bay of Bengal at Sittwe up to the suitable navigable point at Kaletwa (Setpyitpyin), Myanmar. The second part covers from Kaletwa up to R. Zocha at Indo Myanmar border by road. The portion of the road now being surveyed and investigated covers from Lawngtlai town at NH-54, in Mizoram, India upto R. Zocha at Indo - Myanmar border to form the Indian part of the said Multi Modal Trade Route which is entirely within the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram, India. The length of the road along the surveyed alignment is 99.830 Km. The feasibility study, carried out by RITES Ltd. during 1999-2000 revealed that the R.Kaladan is navigable from its confluence point with the Bay of Bengal near Sittwe upto Kaletwa (Setpyitpin) on the upstream side of the river. Beyond Kaletwa, towards the Indian border, the river is not navigable owing to shallow water and frequent rapids. The transport by road is, therefore, proposed for this stretch ( i.e from Kaletwa in Myanmar to Lawngtlai on NH 54 in Mizoram). The proposed road link from Kaletwa in Myanmar to Lawngtlai on NH – 54 in Mizoram forms a part of the proposed development of multi modal trade route along the river Kaladan between Mizoram (India) and Chin State in Myanmar. The road connectivity between Kaletwa in Myanmar and Lawngtlai on NH-54 within Mizoram India has been divided into two parts: From Lawngtlai on NH-54 in Mizoram upto River Zocha at Indo Myanmar border – 99.830 Km. From R.Zocha i.e. Indo Myanmar border upto Kaletwa in Myanmar - 62 .000 km (approx). Public Works Department Government of Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Executive Summary Map 1.2 Location maps of northeastern states (including Mizoram) E 2.0 Project Road E 2.1 Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Route The proposed Project Road takes off at 76.400km of NH-54 at Lawngtlai Town, running towards South and joins Kaletwa (Myanmar) to River Zocha road sector at Indo Myanmar border road. The Projected length of the road from Lawngtlai to the Indo Myanmar border is 99.830 Km. The Projected road alignment passes through frequently cultivated jhum land. It also crosses Lawngtlai to Diltlang Parva road, which runs towards south west of Lawngtlai town. It also crosses Nalkawn Chamdul Valley road at four points. The road also passes through the villages of Saizawh east and Zochachhuah . The height of the road at various locations varies from 56 m near River Zocha to 780 m Lawngtlai Town, above mean sea level (MSL). Public Works Department Government of Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Executive Summary The proposed alignment of the project passes through Lawngtlai District in North-South direction. The whole length of the project will be fresh cutting of mountainous as steep terrain with broken contours. The alignment of the project road traverses through frequently cultivated jhoom lands where the cycle of cultivation by cutting and burning of trees and bamboos is 4 – 5 years. At some places the project corridor is within few kilometers of natural forest and virgin land of thick undergrowth of evergreen bushes and creeping plants. Proposed Road Segments The road has been divided into four homogeneous segments I, II, III and IV with respect to physical features as given in following table Table 1: Project road segments Type of Location in chainages Major River crossing Terrain Segmen Length (km) Name of Location From To Hilly Steep River at km Segment Lawngtlai Leichhekawn -I (0.00) (40.980) 40.980 4.098 36.882 Ruankhum 34.634 Segment Leichhekawn R.Ngengpui -II (40.980) (56.500) 15.520 9.1568 6.3632 Ngengpui 56.500 Darnam Segment R.Ngengpui Saddle -III (56.500) (74.300) 17.800 5.874 11.926 - - Bawklawk 79.323 Lunghauka 81.530 Darnam R.Zocha Segment Khawrawp Saddle (Border) 25.530 18.892 6.6378 89.321 -IV (74.300) (99.830) Hmawngbu 94.204 Zochate 96.225 Zocha 99.800 99.830 38.021 61.809 Segment I: Lawngtlai (0.000 km) to – Leichhekawn (40.980km) , 40.98 kms At the project road take off point, the Lairam Isua Krista Baptist Kohhran (LIKBK) Church at chainage 0.00 kmp and Assam Oil Corporation (AOC) filling station will be required to be removed to have adequate area at junction point with NH-54 and also to accommodate bus bays and truck lay-byes at this junction. There are two cemetery locations, viz. Lawngtlai III cemetery at chainage 1.00 – 1.150 km and Chanmari Cemetery chainage 2.800 – 2.900 km. Some portions of this cemetery have to be acquired to have requisite ROW for the project. This segment, from take off point of the project road to Leichhekawn (Ch. 40.980), is mostly steep terrain with about 10% mountainous terrain and the rest being hilly terrain. New earth cutting to obtain the required formation will be required. In this segment the proposed alignment crosses LDP Road at Chainage 4.440 km and NCV Road at Chainage 38.150km. There is no Public Works Department Government of Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Executive Summary crossing of big river or human habitation or settlements in this section. However, there are five villages which are located nearby but outside the project corridor, they will get benefit from the proposed road on its completion. The name of the villages, located nearby the project road corridor, which will be directly influenced by the project road are listed below – Sl.No. Village Name Population 1. Nalkawn 20 2. Saikah ‘U’ 524 3 Paithar 517 4 R.Vanhne 120 5 Rulkual 670 Source: Mizoram PMGSY There is one running stone quarry near Rulkual village which will be one of the main sources of stone material for construction purposes, especially the pavement works. Segment II : Leichhekawn (40.980km) to- R.Ngengpui (56.500 km) 15.520kms In this segment the general topography is that the mountainous terrain is 59% and the steep terrain is 41%. The alignment also passes through Saizawh East village at chainage 47.9KM – 48.45KM The population of this village is 224. RCC double lane bridge will be required to cross the R.Ngengpui at chainage 56.500KM. Segment III: R.Ngengpui (56.5km) to Darnam Saddle (74.300km) 17.800kms In this sector the general topography is 33% of mountainous terrain and the rest may be classified as hilly terrain characterized by several natural drainages and streams perennial and non- perennial. The project road crosses the zigzagging NCV road at three locations, viz. chainage 60.8km, 70.92km and 71.32km, 74.30km, 85km, 91.2 km & 98.28 km. Segment IV: Darnam Saddle (74.300km) to R. Zocha (Indo-Myanmar Border), (99.830km), 25.530km This is the last segment of the project road meeting the Indo Myanmar Border at River Zocha (chainage 99.83 KM). About 74% of this sector is mountainous and steep terrain of 26%. In this sector the alignment crosses six rivers including the river at border The alignment of the project passes through Zochachhuah Village, the last village in Mizoram along the project alignment before reaching the Myanmar side.