PROJECT PROPONENT: Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) , GOI Environmental Assessment of BMH at eight Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands under CANI Submarine Cable System APPENDIX I FORM 1 (I) Basic information: Name of the Project: - Chennai-Andaman Nicobar Islands Submarine Cable System Cable landing and construction of Beach Man Hole at eight islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Port Blair, Little Andaman (Hut bay), Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar (Campbell bay), Havelock, Long and Rangat Islands. Location or site alternatives under consideration: - Eight islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Port Blair, Little Andaman (Hut bay), Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar (Campbell bay), Havelock, Long and Rangat Islands. Size of the project (in terms of total area):- 100 (Gbps) Gigabit per second will connect Chennai and eight islands at Andaman and Nicobar Island. Total length of the cable and route is 2245.96 km and 2199.66 km respectively. CRZ classification of the area:- As mentioned below: SI.No. BMH Location ICRZ Classification 1. Port Blair ICRZ-II 2. Havelock Island ICRZ-III 3. Hut Bay, Little Andaman ICRZ-III 4. Car Nicobar ICRZ-III 5. Kamorta ICRZ-III 6. Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar ICRZ-II 7. Rangat Island ICRZ-III 8. Long Island ICRZ-III S. No. CLS Location ICRZ Classification 1 Campbell Bay ICRZ-III 2 Kamorta ICRZ-III 3 Long Island ICRZ-III Expected cost of the project:- 71.28 Crore Contact Information:- Mrs. Shivalini Sinha, Group General Manager (TC), Room No. 505, TCIL Bhawan, G.K.-1, New Delhi-110048 Phone No. 011-26202020; On behalf of Project Proponent- Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001, Tel.-23372144 (II) Activity 1. Construction, operation or decommissioning of the Project involving actions, which will cause physical changes in the locality (topography, land use, changes in water bodies, and the like) 1 Environmental Assessment for Chennai-Andaman Nicobar Island Submarine Cable System Details thereof (with approximate Information/Checklist S. No. Yes/No quantities /rates, wherever possible) with confirmation source of information data 1.1 Permanent or temporary change in Cable landing and BMH construction are land use, land cover or topography underground operation. No change in land- including increase in intensity of No use will occur due to project development land use (with respect to local as no above ground structure will be land use plan) constructed. 1.2 Details of CRZ classification as per The proposed 8 BMH locations at all the the approved Coastal Zone eight islands and 3 CLS locations at 3 sites Management Plan? are mentioned below as per IPZ notifications, 2011 and further amendment. SI. BMH Location ICRZ No. Classific ation 1. Port Blair (2 landing ICRZ-II points i.e 2 BMH) 2. Havelock Island (2 ICRZ-III landing points i.e 2 BMH) 3. Hut Bay, Little Andaman ICRZ-III (2 landing points i.e 2 Yes BMH) 4. Car Nicobar (2 landing ICRZ-III points i.e 2 BMH) 5. Kamorta (2 landing ICRZ-III points i.e 2 BMH) 6. Campbell Bay, Great ICRZ-II Nicobar (1 landing point i.e 1 BMH) 7. Rangat Island (1 landing ICRZ-III point i.e 1 BMH) 8. Long Island (2 landing ICRZ-III points i.e 2 BMH) SI. CLS Location ICRZ No. Classific ation 1 Campbell Bay ICRZ-III 2 Kamorta ICRZ-III 3 Long Island ICRZ-III 1.3 Whether located in CRZ-I area? Cable laying activity from Sea edge to BMH in eight islands will take place in ICRZ – II and ICRZ III zone as mentioned in section No 1.2. CLS at 3 sites, i.e. Campbell bay, Kamorta and Long island lies in ICRZ-III areas 1.4 The distance from CRZ-I areas? ICRZ areas are varying in 8 islands as Yes mentioned in section 1.2. Shortest distance 2 Environmental Assessment for Chennai-Andaman Nicobar Island Submarine Cable System between inner side (seaward side) of proposed BMH and the boundary of sea for all the islands are mentioned below: SI. BMH Location Distance from No. Sea edge 1. Port Blair (2 25 m landing points i.e 2 BMH) 2. Havelock Island (2 44 m landing points i.e 2 BMH) 3. Hut Bay, Little 70 m Andaman (2 landing points i.e 2 BMH) 4. Car Nicobar (2 21 m landing points i.e 2 BMH) 5. Kamorta (2 60 m landing points i.e 2 BMH) 6. Campbell Bay, 20 m Great Nicobar (1 landing point i.e 1 BMH) 7. Rangat Island (1 30 m landing point i.e 1 BMH) 8. Long Island (2 16 m landing points i.e 2 BMH) 1.5 Whether located within the hazard Yes, as per NDMA, coastal areas of zone as mapped by Ministry of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are prone to Yes Environment and Forest/National cyclones and tsunami and have a very high Disaster Management Authority? damage risk. 1.6 Whether the area is prone to Yes, as per NDMA, coastal areas of cyclone, tsunami, tidal surge, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are prone to subduction, earthquake etc.? cyclones and tsunami. As per NDMA Earthquake hazard map, Andaman and Nicobar Islands falls in seismic zone V which is Very high risk Damage Zone (MSK IX or more). Yes CANI cable system does not cross any area of significant volcanic activity. Closest known volcano to the cable route is barren island, NE of Havelock Island at approx 135 km from the cable route. There is no significant risk from the known volcanoes along the Andaman-Nicobar volcanic arc as 3 Environmental Assessment for Chennai-Andaman Nicobar Island Submarine Cable System these are widely spaced and not highly active. 1.7 Whether the area is prone for All the BMH sites are located close to the saltwater ingress? sea. No surface water bodies present close No to the BMH hence area is not prone to saltwater ingress. 1.8 Clearance of existing land, Construction of BMH and cable laying is vegetation and buildings? proposed near sea beach. No vegetation or No buildings is needed to be cleared for construction of BMH or CLS except some bushes. 1.9 Creation of new land uses? Cable landing and BMH construction are underground operation. No new land-use No will be created due to project development as no above ground structure will be constructed. 1.10 Pre-construction investigations e.g. The pre-construction investigations at the bore houses, soil testing? BMH site involved earthing system for cable. Yes Drilling of bore holes is not necessary for the project nor is testing of soil for its content and strength. But, soil quality of the all the BMH locations is examined. 1.11 Construction works? An underground BMH of dimensions 4m x 3m x 4m will be constructed at all the eight Yes islands. It will be a concrete chamber situated below ground and above the high water level. 1.12 Demolition works? No No demolition works will be carried out. 1.13 Temporary sites used for Cable termination operation at beach will construction works or housing of take few days and in total 7-8 men will be construction workers? No required to carry out the cable termination operation. Thus, no temporary housing for workers is required to be provided. 1.14 Above ground buildings, structures Construction of BMH and cable route at or earthworks including linear beach: structures, cut and fill or An underground structure (BMH) of excavations dimensions 4m x 3m x 4m will be Yes constructed. A cable route of respective length of all the islands as mentioned in section 1.4 and depth 2 meter deep for cable to reach from 4 Environmental Assessment for Chennai-Andaman Nicobar Island Submarine Cable System sea edge to respective BMH locations will be constructed. Cable route will be re-filled after laying cable. Cable Landing Station New cable landing station building will be constructed for distribution. CLS sites at 3 islands will be located in ICRZ areas (ICRZ III) (Campbell Bay, Long island and Kamorta island) 1.15 Underground works including No mining or tunneling will be undertaken mining or tunneling? but. An underground structure (BMH) of dimensions 4m x 3m x 4m will be constructed. A cable route of respective length of all the No islands as mentioned in section 1.4 and depth 2 meter for cable to reach from sea edge to respective BMH locations will be constructed. Foundations will be constructed for CLS buildings 1.16 Reclamation works? No reclamation work is associated with the No Project. 1.17 Dredging/reclamation/land Beach is sandy in nature; most of the filling/disposal of dredged material excavated sand will be re-filled. Remaining etc.? sand will be spread on the beach. There may be generation of small quantity No of construction debris which will be used for filling the land. The debris will be disposed off as per the per Municipal Corporation regulations of 8 islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 1.18 Offshore structures? No offshore above-ground structure will be No constructed. 1.19 Production and manufacturing The project involves laying of a submarine processes? cable system - installation of the optical fiber No cable under sea. Hence, no production and manufacturing processes are involved. 1.20 Facilities for storage of goods or No goods, raw material, waste etc. storage No materials? is involved in the project. 5 Environmental Assessment for Chennai-Andaman Nicobar Island Submarine Cable System 1.21 Facilities for treatment or disposal of During the installation phase, Cable laying solid waste or liquid effluents? vessel will comply with all International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements, including (but not limited to) marine environment (i.e.