ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT GUWAHATI ROPEWAY PROJECT, ASSAM Submitted to: State Pollution Control Board, Assam Submitted by: Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority Government of Assam Prepared by: SENES Consultants India Pvt. Ltd. May 2009 EIA –Ropeway from South to North Guwahati, Assam TABLE OF CONTENTS Particulars Page No. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................E-1 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................1 1.1 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF STUDY.....................................................................2 1.2 EIA METHODOLOGY...........................................................................................2 1.3 STRUCTURE OF THE EIA REPORT ........................................................................2 1.4 ADDRESSAL OF TOR...........................................................................................3 2.0 Project Description ......................................................................................................6 2.1 NEED AND JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT .............................................................7 2.2 TRAFFIC PROJECTION AND SYSTEM CAPACITY ...................................................7 2.3 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA..................................................................................9 2.4 ALTERNATE SITES...............................................................................................9 2.5 PROPOSED ALIGNMENT.....................................................................................10 2.6 SELECTION OF ROPEWAY SYSTEM ....................................................................11 2.7 DESCRIPTION OF ROPEWAY SYSTEM.................................................................12 2.8 FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF PROJECT ...................................................................12 UTI....................................................................................................................13 2.9 LITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES......................................................13 3.0 Baseline Environmental Status of the Area.............................................................14 3.1 METHODOLOGY OF CONDUCTING BASELINE STUDY ..........................................14 3.2 AIR ENVIRONMENT ...........................................................................................15 3.2.1 Climate and Meteorology..................................................................15 3.2.2 Ambient Air Quality in Study area ..................................................18 3.3 NOISE ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................24 3.4 TRAFFIC PATTERN & DENSITY..........................................................................27 3.5 WATER ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................................30 3.5.1 Hydro-geological Settings..................................................................30 3.5.2 Baseline Water Quality & Sampling Locations ..............................31 3.6 LAND ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................36 3.6.1 Geology of the Area ...........................................................................36 3.6.2 Sub Surface Geology..........................................................................36 3.6.3 Geomorphology of the project area..................................................37 3.6.4 Relief and Drainage ...........................................................................38 3.6.5 Seismo-Tectonic Appraisal of the Area............................................39 3.6.6 Soil .......................................................................................................39 3.7 ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................42 3.7.1 Habitat Assessment............................................................................42 3.7.2 Terrestrial Ecology ............................................................................43 3.7.3 Faunal Diversity.................................................................................48 3.7.4 Aquatic Ecology .................................................................................54 3.8 SOCIO ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.....................................................................57 3.8.1 Socio-Economic Profile......................................................................58 3.8.2 Project Location and study area.......................................................58 3.8.3 Demographic structure......................................................................59 SENES/D-200276/May09 ii GMDA EIA –Ropeway from South to North Guwahati, Assam 3.8.4 Economic Activity and Livelihood Pattern......................................60 3.8.5 Education and literacy profile ..........................................................60 3.8.6 Land use..............................................................................................61 3.8.7 Primary Assessment of Proposed Project Area ..............................61 3.8.8 Perception of The Proposed Project by the people.........................62 4.0 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................63 4.1 CONSTRUCTION PHASE .....................................................................................63 4.1.1 Water Environment...........................................................................63 4.1.2 Land Environment.............................................................................64 4.1.3 Ecological Environment ....................................................................66 4.1.4 Socio Economic Environment...........................................................68 4.1.5 Air Environment ................................................................................68 4.1.6 Noise Environment.............................................................................69 4.2 OPERATIONAL PHASE .......................................................................................69 4.2.1 Water Environment...........................................................................69 4.2.2 Land Environment.............................................................................71 4.2.3 Ecological Environment ....................................................................71 4.2.4 Socio Economic Environment...........................................................72 4.2.5 Air Environment ................................................................................73 4.2.6 Noise Environment.............................................................................74 4.3 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS .....................................................................................75 5.0 Environment Management Plan...............................................................................78 5.1 CONSTRUCTION PHASE .....................................................................................79 5.1.1 Water Environment...........................................................................79 5.1.2 Land Environment.............................................................................79 5.1.3 Ecological Environment ....................................................................81 5.1.4 Socio Economic Environment...........................................................82 5.1.5 Air Environment ................................................................................82 5.1.6 Noise Environment.............................................................................83 5.2 OPERATION PHASE............................................................................................83 5.2.1 Water Environment...........................................................................83 5.2.2 Land Environment.............................................................................84 5.2.3 Ecological Environment ....................................................................84 5.2.4 Socio Economic Environment...........................................................85 5.2.5 Air Environment ................................................................................85 5.2.6 Noise Environment.............................................................................86 5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MONITORING PLAN 86 5.3.1 Environmental Management Cell ....................................................86 6.0 Disaster Management Plan .......................................................................................87 6.1 EMERGENCY PREVENTION ................................................................................88 6.1.1 Design Stage........................................................................................88 6.1.2 Erection And Commissioning Stage.................................................88 6.1.3 Operation Stage..................................................................................89 6.2 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN.........................................................................93 6.2.1 Communication..................................................................................94 6.2.2 Wind Speed Indicators ......................................................................94