Public Disclosure Authorized Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR Public Disclosure Authorized PILKHANI- SAHNEWAL SECTION OF EASTERN DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized October 2014 Prepared By Engineering and Technological Services, Delhi Pilkhani- Sahnewal Section of EDFC CONTENTS Executive Summary Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Project Background ............................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2. Current Project ................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3. Objective of the study ......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.4. Purpose of the report .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.5. Extent of the EIA Study ...................................................................................................... 1-4 1.6. Environmental assessment report contents ....................................................................... 1-5 1.7. Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 1-5 Chapter 2. Project Description ..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1. Size and Location of the Project Section ........................................................................... 2-1 2.2. Need of the Project ............................................................................................................. 2-3 2.3. Project Components and Activities .................................................................................... 2-5 2.4. Construction Material Source ........................................................................................... 2-20 2.5. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost ..................................................................... 2-20 Chapter 3. Policy, Legal & Administrative Framework .............................................................. 3-1 3.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2. Environmental Clearance Requirements ........................................................................... 3-1 3.3. State Level Clearance Requirements ................................................................................ 3-1 3.4. Social Regulatory Requirements of the Government of India and State ........................... 3-3 3.5. The World Bank Safeguard Policies .................................................................................. 3-3 3.6. Category of the Project ....................................................................................................... 3-4 3.7. Clearance Requirements for the Project ............................................................................ 3-5 3.8. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 3-5 Chapter 4. Environmental Profile of the Project Influenced Area ............................................ 4-1 4.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2. Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.3. Environmental Profile of Project Influence Area ................................................................ 4-1 4.4. Environmental Features within Project RoW ..................................................................... 4-2 Chapter 5. Baseline Environmental Profile ................................................................................. 5-1 5.1. Baseline .............................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.2. Physical Environment ......................................................................................................... 5-3 5.3. Ecology ............................................................................................................................. 5-32 5.4. Social and Cultural Resources ......................................................................................... 5-49 Chapter 6. Analysis of Alternatives ............................................................................................. 6-1 6.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2. Alternatives to the Project .................................................................................................. 6-1 6.3. Alternative Analysis of proposed Detour ............................................................................ 6-2 Chapter 7. Environmental Impact Assessment .......................................................................... 7-1 7.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2. Environmental Impact Assessment Methodology .............................................................. 7-1 7.3. Imapct on Physical Environment ........................................................................................ 7-1 7.4. Impact on Biological Environment .................................................................................... 7-21 7.5. Impact on Socio-Economic Environment ......................................................................... 7-23 7.6. Environmental Matrix ........................................................................................................ 7-24 7.7. Accident Risk and Safety ................................................................................................. 7-28 7.8. Impacts due to Construction Camp .................................................................................. 7-28 7.9. Right-of -Way Maintenance .............................................................................................. 7-28 7.10. Impact due to Electrical, Signalling,Communication facilities. ......................................... 7-28 7.11. Occupational Health and safety ....................................................................................... 7-28 7.12. General Rail Operational Safety ...................................................................................... 7-29 7.13. Transport of Dangerous Goods ........................................................................................ 7-29 7.14. Pedestrian Safety ............................................................................................................. 7-29 7.15. Chance Find ..................................................................................................................... 7-30 7.16. Summary of Impacts ........................................................................................................ 7-30 Chapter 8. Measures for the Mitigation of Environmental Impacts ......................................... 8-1 8.1. Description of Mitigation Measures .................................................................................... 8-1 i Pilkhani- Sahnewal Section of EDFC Chapter 9. Public Consultation & Disclouseres ......................................................................... 9-1 9.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 9-1 9.2. Objectives of Public Consultations ..................................................................................... 9-1 9.3. Methodology of Organising Public Consultations Meetings .............................................. 9-1 9.4. Information Disclosed in Public Consultation Meetings ..................................................... 9-1 9.5. Concerns Raised in Consultations ..................................................................................... 9-2 9.6. Integration of Comments into the EIA ................................................................................ 9-8 Chapter 10. Environmental Management Plan ........................................................................... 10-1 10.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 10-1 10.2. Environmental Management Process .............................................................................. 10-1 10.3. EMP during Construction & Operation ............................................................................. 10-1 10.4. Environmental Management Plan & Responsibilities ...................................................... 10-7 10.5. Environmental Monitoring............................................................................................... 10-12 10.6. Organizational Framework ............................................................................................. 10-12 10.7. EMP Budget ..................................................................................................................