E1126 VOL. 4 Environiment and ,,S'ci'a Ass;-ssment for Construction of Tlc.nemierits at Okkiyam Public Disclosure Authorized Thora:iipakkam Public Disclosure Authorized Final Report Public Disclosure Authorized IL&FS Ecotsmat Linmited F Public Disclosure Authorized Chennai - (60 035 IL&JS EC 0lMA1T December, 2006 Table of Contents Section Title Page No I Executive Summary i- vi Chapter - 1 Introduction 1-1 1.1 Background 1-1 1.2 Objective 1-1 1.3 Scope 1-1 1.4 Methodology 1-2 1.4.1 Familiarizaton with the Project 1-2 1.4.2 Identification of Impacts 1-2 1.4.3 EMP and Environmental Monitoring 1-2 1.5 Structure of the Report 1-3 Chapter - 2 Environmental Legislations and Institutional 2-1 Framework 2.1 Introduction 2-1 2.2 Statutes Related to Environment 2-1 2.2.1 The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 2-1 2.2.2 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 2-1 1974 2.2.3 The Forest (Conservation) Act, as amended in 2-1 1980 2.2.4 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) 2-1 Act, 1981 2.2.5 The Noise Polluution (Regulation and Control) 2-2 Rules, 2000 2.2.6 Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 2-2 2.2.7 Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 2-2 2.3 Institutional Framework 2-2 2.3.1 Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board 2-3 2.3.2 Local Body Administration 2-3 2.4 Environment and Social Management 2-3 Framework Requirements 2.5 Responsibilities of the Project Promoter 2-4 Chapter - 3 Project Description 3-1 3.1 Criteria for Selection of Site 3-1 3.2 Site Location 3-1 3.3 Site Description 3-2 3.4 Coastal Regulation Zone 3-6 3.5 Site Suitability 3-6 3.6 Proposed Master plan of Project Site 3-6 3.7 Estimation of Quantities of Materials for 3-8 Construction of Tenements 3.7.1 Foundation 3-8 3.7.2 Brick Work in CM 1:5 and CM 1:6 3-8 3.7.3 RCC works in 1: 11/2:3 3-8 3.7.4 Flooring Concrete in 1:5:10 3-8 3.7.5 Plastering Works in 1:5 3-8 3.7.6 Steel 3-9 3.7.7 Earth 3-9 3.7.8 Water for Construction 3-9 3.7.9 Drinking Water 3-9 3.7.10 Construction Schedule 3-10 Chapter - 4 Environment Setting 4-1 4.1 Introduction 4-1 4.2 Topography 4-1 4.3 Geology 4-1 4.4 Seismic Zone 4-1 4.5 Climate 4-1 4.5.1 Micro Meteorology of the Project area 4-1 4.5.2 Ambient Air Quality in the Project Area 4-3 4.5.3 Ambient Noise Level 4-6 4.6 Drainage System 4-8 4.6.1 Water Quality 4-9 4.7 Ground Water 4-11 4.7.1 Geology 4-11 4.7.2 Earth Resistivity Test 4-11 4.7.3 Exploratory Drilling 4-11 4.7.4 Yield Test 4-11 4.7.5 Water quality 4-12 4.8 Soil type 4-12 4.8.1 Soil Quality 4-12 4.9 Ecological Resources 4-15 4.9.1 Terrestrial Flora 4-15 4.9.2 Aquatic Flora 4-17 4.9.3 Terrestrial Fauna 4-19 4.9.4 Aquatic Fauna 4-19 4.10 Land use 4-20 4.11 Economic Profile of the Corridor 4-20 Chapter - 5 Impact Assessment 5-1 5.1 Introduction 5-1 5.2 Impact on Physical Resources 5-1 5.2.1 Impact on Topography 5-1 5.3 Impact on Climate 5-2 5.4 Impact on Environmental Resources 5-9 5.4.1 Impact on Geology, Soils and Mineral Resources 5-2 5.4.2 Impact on Air Quality 5-2 5.4.3 Impact on Noise Levels 5-4 5.4.4 Impact on Water Resources 5-5 5.4.5 Impact on Water Quality 5-6 5.5 Impact on Ecological Resources 5-6 5.6 Socio-Economic Environment 5-6 5.6.1 Impact due to Land Acquisition 5-6 5.6.2 Impact on Archeologically Important Structures/ 5-6 Monuments 5.6.3 Impact on Religious Structures and Cultural 5-6 Properties 5.6.4 Health, Safety and Hygiene of Construction 5-7 Workers 5.7 Other Impacts 5-7 5.7.1 Need to Address Pedestrian Safety along the 5-7 Internal Approach Roads 5.7.2 Provision for Solid Waste Management 5-7 Chapter - 6 Public Consultations 6-1 6.1 Background 6-1 6.2 Consultation at the Project Site (Host 6-1 Community and Residents along the Approach Roads) 6.3 Salient findings 6-2 6.3.1 Air Quality 6-2 6.3.2 Water Quality 6-3 6.3.3 Noise levels 6-3 6.3.4 Solid waste Management 6-3 6.3.5 Clogging of Surface Drains 6-3 6.3.6 Improvement of Internal Roads 6-4 6.3.7 Transportation to the Place of Work 6-4 6.3.8 Public Amenities 6-4 6.3.9 Socio-cultural Integration 6-4 6.3.10 Impacts of Proposed Project 6-4 6.4 Consultations with Project beneficiaries 6-5 6.4.1 Lack of Clarity about the Resettlement 6-6 6.4.2 Concern about the size of housing and quality of 6-7 infrastructure 6.4.4 Concerns about schooling of children 6-7 Over All Assessment of Consultations with 6-7 Beneficiary Population 6.5 Public Hearing 6-8 Chapter - 7 Mitigation Plan 7-1 7.1 Introduction 7-1 7.2 Construction Phase 7-1 7.2.1 Borrow Pit Management 7-1 7.2.2 Impact on Air Quality 7-1 7.2.3 Impact on Noise Levels 7-2 7.2.4 Impact on Access Roads and Pedestrian Safety 7-2 along the internal roads 7.2.5 Impact on Community Water Resources 7-3 7.2.6 Impact on Micro Climate 7-3 7.2.7 Improvement of Water Resource 7-4 7.2.8 Storm Water Drainage 7-4 7.2.9 Health, Safety and Sanitation at Workers Camp 7-7 7.3 Operation Phase 7-13 7.3.1 Provision for Solid Waste Management 7-13 7.3.2 Maintenance of Quality of Life 7-14 7.4 Budgetary Requirements 7-17 Chapter - 8 Environmental Monitoring and Institutional 8-1 Arrangement 8.1 Introduction 8-1 8.2 Construction Phase Monitoring 8-1 8.3 Operation Phase Monitoring 8-1 8.4 Institutional Arrangement 8-3 8.5 Budget for Environmental Monitoring 8-3 8.6 Terms of reference for Environmental 8-3 Monitoring EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Table of Contents Section Title Page No 1.0 Preamble i 2.0 Location i 3.0 Proposed Master Plan of Project Site i 4.0 CRZ Considerations i 5.0 Environmental Setting 11 6.0 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation iv 7.0 Public Consultations v 8.0 Environmental Monitoring vi 9.0 Budgetary Provision for EMP and vi Environmental Monitoring Executive Summary 1.0 Preamble Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) has taken a major initiative for construction of 5166 multi storeyed tenements at Okkiyum Thoraipakkam for the Tsunami affected slum dwellers under the World Bank Assistance. Such a development, with an expected cost of about Rs. 89.13 Crores is a major housing project and as per the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), EIA Notification of 1994 (amended in 2004) requires Environmental Clearance based on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study. Since the proposed site for the construction is close to the Buckingham Canal, a tidally influenced water body, an investigation with respect to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification has also been undertaken. Further, as the project is being funded through the World Bank, it has also been assessed for its compliance with the environmental and social safeguards requirement of the Bank. This executive summary highlights the finding of detailed study of impact of the proposed project on environmental setting and mitigation measure. 2.0 Location The site, located at Okkiyum Thuraipakkam, Tambaram Taluk in Kanchipuram District, is surrounded by various private lands and D.B Jain College in the North, Private land in the south, Buckingham canal in the East and by Private lands abutting Old Mahabalipuram Road (now under development as the IT Corridor) in the west. The proposed site with an area of about 17.81 ha is adjacent to the relocation site for slum dwellers developed earlier by the TNSCB. The site is a barren land with no cultivation or habitations. The site is a low-lying land about 3 m lower than the ground level at the existing tenement structures. The proximity of the site to the Buckingham Canal makes it prone to floods at times of heavy rains. The resettlement colony therefore is planned to be constructed by raising the site, above the Maximum Flood Level (MFL) 'I. 3.0 Proposed Master Plan of Project Site The Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board has proposed 5166 tenements in an area of 17.81 hectares. The site is organized in to 9 clusters with each cluster provided with a central open space surrounded by tenement blocks. The clusters are connected to the primary access road by road of 7.2 m wide road. Public facilities at each cluster level are provided as a part of the central open space. Two 9.15 m wide secondary road running in the east-west direction divides the entire length of the site in to three halves.