FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN For Construction of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Road (Approx.110 km) (NHAI/BM/21) in the state of Gujarat Project Proponent: NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India) PROJECT CONSULTANT SMEC INDIA PVT. LTD. in association with Design Aid Environmental Consultant: ENVIRO INFRA SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD. (QCI/NABET Certificate No. NABET/EIA/1619/IA 0018) June 2020 Final EIA/EMP Report for Construction of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Road (110 km) (NHAI/BM/21) in the State of Gujarat NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Government of India) Table of Contents Section No. Contents Page No. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i to xiv CHAPTER-1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project Background 1-1 1.2 Identification of Project and Project Proponent 1-1 1.3 Brief Description of the Project and its Importance to the Country 1-1 1.3.1 Salient features of the project 1-4 1.4 Scope of the EIA/EMP Study (As per TOR) 1-6 1.5 Objectives of the Consultancy Services 1-6 1.6 Policies, Legal and Administrative Framework 1-7 1.7 Structure of the Report 1-11 1.8 TOR approved by MoEF&CC and its Compliance 1-13 CHAPTER-2: PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2.1 Introduction 2-1 2.2 Description of the Project & Brief about the Project 2-1 2.2.1 Need of the Project 2-1 2.2.2 Proposed Pavement & Overlay 2-1 2.2.3 Traffic Control, Road Marking, Traffic Signs and Safety 2-2 Measures 2.2.4 Proposal for Truck Lay byes/Parking cum Rest Area 2-2 2.2.5 Toll Plazas and Weighing Stations 2-2 2.2.6 Standards and Specifications Adopted 2-2 2.2.7 Geometric Design Standards for 4-lane Expressway 2-3 2.2.7.1 General 2-3 2.2.7.2 Warrant for 4 Laning 2-3 2.3 Land Requirement for the proposed project 2-3 2.4 Water Requirement for the proposed project 2-4 2.5 Traffic Survey and Analysis 2-4 2.5.1 Introduction 2-4 2.5.2 Traffic Surveys 2-5 2.5.3 Secondary Data 2-5 2.5.4 Analysis of Traffic Surveys 2-6 ENVIRO INFRA SOLUTIONS PVT. 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Page 1 Final EIA/EMP Report for Construction of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Road (110 km) (NHAI/BM/21) in the State of Gujarat NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Government of India) 2.5.4.1 Traffic Volume Count 2-6 2.5.5 Traffic Forecast 2-9 2.5.5.1 Key Growth Drivers 2-9 2.5.5.2 Estimation of Base Elasticity 2-10 2.5.5.3 Estimation of Traffic Forecast 2-11 2.6 Traffic Management Plan 2-12 2.7 Details of the Structures proposed along the Proposed Alignment 2-12 2.7.1 Details of the proposed bridges 2-12 2.7.2 Details of the proposed major/minor Junctions 2-14 2.7.3 Details of the proposed ROBs 2-15 2.7.4 Details of proposed Interchanges 2-15 2.7.5 Details of proposed flyovers 2-17 2.7.6 Details of vehicular, light and pedestrian underpasses 2-18 2.7.7 Details of the Proposed Box Culverts 2-20 2.7.8 Details of the proposed Toll Plazas 2-24 2.7.9 Details of Way side Amenities / Service Areas 2-25 2.8 Details of affected religious structures 2-25 2.9 Cost Estimates 2-26 CHAPTER-3: DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT 3.1 Preparation of Questionnaires for Environmental Parameters 3-1 3.1.1 Field Observation on Questionnaire 3-1 3.1.2 Screening, Testing & Monitoring of Physical Environmental 3-1 Factors 3.1.2.1 Ambient Air Quality 3-2 3.1.2.1.1 Instrument Used for Sampling 3-2 3.1.2.1.2 Techniques for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring 3-3 3.1.2.2 Water Quality 3-3 3.1.2.3 Soil Quality 3-3 3.1.2.3.1 Sampling Frequency and Analysis Methodology 3-3 3.1.2.4 Noise Level 3-4 3.1.2.4.1 Noise Standards 3-5 3.1.3 Secondary Available Data 3-5 3.2 Analyses, Compilation And Preparation of Report 3-6 3.3 Baseline Environmental Conditions 3-6 ENVIRO INFRA SOLUTIONS PVT. 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Page 2 Final EIA/EMP Report for Construction of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Road (110 km) (NHAI/BM/21) in the State of Gujarat NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Government of India) 3.3.1 Physical/Natural Environment 3-6 3.3.2 Geographical Location of the project expressway 3-6 3.3.3 Land Use and Terrain 3-7 3.3.3.1 Land Use within 500 m buffer 3-7 3.3.4 Climate and Micro-Meteorological Parameters 3-27 3.3.4.1 Climate and Rainfall 3-27 3.3.4.2 Humidity 3-27 3.3.4.3 Temperature 3-27 3.3.4.4 Cloud Cover 3-27 3.3.4.5 Wind Speed/Direction 3-27 3.3.5 Natural Hazards and Vulnerability of the sub project area 3-32 3.3.5.1 Seismic profile of the area 3-32 3.4 Geology of the study area 3-33 3.4.1 Field study and Sampling locations 3-34 3.4.1.1 Soil Quality along the study area 3-36 3.5 Air Environment 3-38 3.5.1 Ambient Air monitoring locations 3-38 3.5.2 Analysis of Ambient Air Quality along the study area 3-40 3.6 Noise Environment 3-43 3.6.1 Noise Monitoring locations 3-44 3.6.2 Analysis of Noise monitoring along the study area 3-46 3.7 Water Environment 3-47 3.7.1 Streams/Canals/Nalas and Bridges Crossings the proposed 3-47 alignment 3.7.2 Water bodies crossing the proposed project 3-49 3.7.3 Hydrology for the study area 3-50 3.7.4 Water quality along the project 3-52 3.7.4.1 Water Sampling Locations 3-52 3.7.4.2 Ground Water Quality along the Study Area 3-54 3.7.4.3 Surface Water Quality along the study area 3-56 3.8 Biological environment 3-57 3.8.1 Methodology for the study 3-58 3.8.2 Forest and Grassland Types in the Project Area 3-62 3.8.3 Wetlands along the study area 3-63 ENVIRO INFRA SOLUTIONS PVT. 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Page 3 Final EIA/EMP Report for Construction of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Road (110 km) (NHAI/BM/21) in the State of Gujarat NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Government of India) 3.8.4 Taxonomic Diversity: Flora 3-63 3.8.4.1 Economically-Important Plant Species 3-67 3.8.5 Taxonomic Diversity: Fauna 3-69 3.8.5.1 Aquatic Ecology 3-72 3.8.5.1.1 Fish diversity 3-73 3.8.6 Tree cutting 3-74 3.9 National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary/Eco Sensitive Zone 3-74 3.9.1 Brief about Velavadar Black Buck National Park 3-75 3.10 Socio-Economic profile of the project areas 3-75 3.10.1 Introduction 3-75 3.10.2 Project Influence Districts 3-75 3.10.3 Demographic and Socio Economic Characteristics 3-77 3.10.3.1 Population 3-77 3.10.3.2 Socio-economic characteristics of the population area 3-77 3.10.3.3 Population Growth and Urbanization 3-77 3.10.4 State’s Economy 3-78 3.10.4.1 Sectoral Composition of State Income 3-79 3.10.4.2 The Per Capita Income 3-79 3.10.4.3 Growth Trends-State Income 3-79 3.10.4.4 Work Participation Ratio 3-80 3.10.4.5 Economic Classification of Workers 3-80 3.10.5 Agriculture and Allied Activities 3-80 3.10.5.1 Agricultural Production 3-81 3.10.6 Industry 3-82 3.10.6.1 Large Industries 3-83 CHAPTER-4: ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION MEASURES 4.1 Introduction 4-1 4.2 Potential Impacts on Soil 4-1 4.2.1 Loss of Productive Soil 4-1 4.2.2 Erosion 4-1 4.2.3 Contamination of Soil 4-2 4.3 Impacts on Water Resources 4-2 4.3.1 Modification of the Surface Water Flow 4-3 ENVIRO INFRA SOLUTIONS PVT. 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Page 4 Final EIA/EMP Report for Construction of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Road (110 km) (NHAI/BM/21) in the State of Gujarat NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Government of India) 4.3.2 Modification of the Groundwater Flow 4-3 4.3.3 Rainwater Harvesting 4-3 4.3.4 Use of Local Water Supply 4-4 4.3.5 Water Quality Degradation 4-4 4.4 Impact on Ambient Air Quality 4-4 4.4.1 Impacts During Construction Phase 4-5 4.4.1.1 Use of Fly Ash 4-5 4.4.1.2 Borrow Area Soil 4-5 4.4.1.3 Coarse aggregates (stone) 4-7 4.4.1.4 Fine Aggregate (Sand) Materials 4-8 4.4.1.5 Change in Ambient air and GLC 4-9 4.4.2 Impacts During Operation Phase 4-12 4.4.2.1 Prediction of Impact on Ambient Air Quality 4-12 4.5 Impact On Noise Levels 4-15 4.5.1 Prediction of Noise Impact on Noise Level 4-16 4.5.1.1 Outcome of the Noise level Modelling 4-17 4.5.2 Mitigation measures to reduce Noise levels 4-20 4.6 Impact on Flora, Fauna and Ecosystem 4-20 4.6.1 Cumulative Impact of Proposed Project on Blackbuck, Harrier, 4-20 Lesser Florican and Sarus Crane 4.6.2 Removal of trees 4-21 4.6.3 Removal of Herbal Cover 4-22 4.6.4 Conservation and Mitigation Measures 4-22 4.6.4.1 Integrated Eco-friendly designs 4-24 4.6.4.2 Impact of Noise, Light and Power lines on Wild animals 4-27 4.6.4.2.1 Mitigation Measures 4-27 4.6.5 Impacts on Velavadar Black Buck National Park 4-28 4.7 Impact on Protected Monuments and Cultural Heritage Sites 4-29 4.8 Impacts on Social Environment 4-29 4.9 Impacts on Road Safety and Public Health 4-30 4.10 Mitigation Measures 4-30 4.10.1 Soil 4-30 4.10.2 Water Resources 4-31 4.10.3 Ambient Air Quality 4-31 ENVIRO INFRA SOLUTIONS PVT.