Consultancy Services for Four Laning of existing Environmental Impact Goa/Karnataka Border-Panaji Goa Section of NH-4A from Km Assessment & Environmental 84.000 to Km 153.075 in the state of Goa on BOT (Toll) basis Management Plan under NHDP-III (Anmod to Panaji Section) CHAPTER-01 INTRODUCTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION Highway projects are undertaken with a motive to improve the economic status and social welfare of the people. At the same time, they may also create an adverse impact on the surrounding environment. People and property in the direct path of the road works may be affected. The environmental impact of highway projects include damage to sensitive Eco-systems, soil erosion, changes to drainage pattern and thereby affecting groundwater, interference with animal and plant life, loss of productive agricultural lands, resettlement of people, disruption of local economic activities, demographic changes, accelerated urbanization and increase in air pollution and noise levels. Hence there is a greater importance for careful examination of Highway developmental activities and operations should be planned and executed by considering potential environmental impacts. The Public Works Department of Government of Goa represented by the Secretary, Public Works Department is engaged in the development of National highways on behalf of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and as part of this endeavour, the Employer has decided to undertake “Four Laning of existing Goa/Karnataka border- Panaji Goa section of NH4A from Km 84/000 to 153/075(ANMOD TO PANAJI) UNDER NHDP-III”. Public Works Department of Government of Goa engaged M/s Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd as the Technical Consultant for preparation of Feasibility Report for, development of the Project. The project stretch excludes following reaches: • From chainage 118 Km to 125 Km (Kandepar - Safa Maszid) • From chainage 143.400 Km to 153.075 Km (Ella - Panaji). 1.1 Objectives The principle objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan (EMP) are: To ensure the project complies with the National and State regulatory policies and laws. Generation of environmental baseline information related to the proposed 1 Consultancy Services for Four Laning of existing Environmental Impact Goa/Karnataka Border-Panaji Goa Section of NH-4A from Km Assessment & Environmental 84.000 to Km 153.075 in the state of Goa on BOT (Toll) basis Management Plan under NHDP-III (Anmod to Panaji Section) project for various environmental attributes i.e., land, air, water, noise, soil, socio-economic, ecological & bio-diversity of the project. To identify and quantify the significance of impacts of various activities of the proposed project with respect to the various environmental attributes. To evaluate the impacts on an environmental quality scale. To suggest necessary control measures to minimize the adverse affects. To outline additional control measures to be adopted for mitigation of adverse impacts. Integration of EMP to bid / contract documents and BoQ items for an effective implementation. To prepare a post-project monitoring programme for checking and regulating the environmental quality within the limits stipulated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) / Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). To adopt the best environmental safeguards for an effective implementation. 1.2 Scope Of The Work The scope of the environmental report is given below: Review of National and state level environmental regulatory requirements on environmental aspects, including assisting PWD, Goa in getting necessary clearances from MoEF/ GSPCB in the context of proposed Goa/Karnataka Border to Panaji Goa, if applicable. An environmental screening and categorization framework for the proposed project to include the environmental aspects from the planning stage of the project. Location of the project stretch with respect to environmentally sensitive areas, and community concerns apart from the technical aspects. Conduct environmental analysis of alternatives for highway bypasses and provide specific inputs for analysis of alternatives and decision making. Establishing environmental baseline for selected attributes, covering the specific locations along the project alignment – such as major towns, junctions, existing bypasses, proposed bypasses, forest stretches, proposed quarries, borrow areas, sensitive locations (schools, temples, hospitals, archaeological sites etc.). To identify potential environmental aspects and detailed environmental 2 Consultancy Services for Four Laning of existing Environmental Impact Goa/Karnataka Border-Panaji Goa Section of NH-4A from Km Assessment & Environmental 84.000 to Km 153.075 in the state of Goa on BOT (Toll) basis Management Plan under NHDP-III (Anmod to Panaji Section) assessment to be carried out as part of Detailed Project Report. Impact assessment and prediction with respect to various environmental attributes i.e., land, air, water, noise, soil, socio-economic, ecological & bio- diversity aspects of the project. Preparation of Implementable Environmental Management Plan with budgetary provisions and suggesting post project monitoring plan. The objectives of such analysis shall be to minimize environmental impacts and provide specific inputs to the project during construction and maintenance. 1.3 Need For Environmental Impact Assessment Highway developmental activities should be planned and executed after considering the potential environmental impacts. To minimize these adverse impacts that may be created by highway development projects, the techniques of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) become necessary. Identification and assessment of potential environmental impacts should be an integral part of the project life cycle. It should commence early in the planning process of the project to enable a full consideration of alternatives and to avoid later delays and complications. This EIA report is prepared for Goa/Karnataka Border to Panaji, Goa project stretch for an existing length of 69.075 Kms (on NH-4A). 1.4 Approach and Methodology The approach for the preparation of EIA involves the following steps: Reconnaissance survey is undertaken in order to identify the environmental attributes in and along the project activity. The environmental baseline data in the project impact area was generated from both primary and secondary sources. During the site visits, due importance is given to identify the impacts of the project taking into account the contours of the project passing areas and other surrounding activities. Then, prediction and evaluation of the impacts is based on available mathematical models, empirical assessment and past experience in view of the net cost – benefit. Preparation of an environmental management plan is to reduce the adverse impacts of the project to the barest minimum. Conclusively, quantification of the financial cost of mitigation measures and preparation of a monitoring plan for the implementation of mitigation measures is undertaken. The methodology adopted is presented in the form of a Flow chart given in Figure -1.1. 3 Consultancy Services for Four Laning of existing Environmental Impact Goa/Karnataka Border-Panaji Goa Section of NH-4A from Km Assessment & Environmental 84.000 to Km 153.075 in the state of Goa on BOT (Toll) basis Management Plan under NHDP-III (Anmod to Panaji Section) 1.5 Project Proponent The Public Works Department plays a major role in the economic, Commercial and tourist development of the State of Goa. Being a service Department, it is entrusted with all the developmental activities like Planning, Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of all types of construction works in this State of Goa. The Public Works Department of Government of Goa represented by the Secretary, Public Works Department is engaged in the development of National highways on behalf of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and as part of this endeavour, the Employer has decided to undertake “Four Laning of existing Goa/Karnataka border- Panaji Goa section of NH4A from Km 84/000 to 153/070 (ANMOD TO PANAJI) UNDER NHDP-III”. 4 Consultancy Services for Four Laning of existing Environmental Impact Goa/Karnataka Border-Panaji Goa Section of NH-4A from Km Assessment & Environmental 84.000 to Km 153.075 in the state of Goa on BOT (Toll) basis Management Plan under NHDP-III (Anmod to Panaji Section) Preliminary Field Visit Data from Screening & Scoping of the available Project sources Adoption of approved ToR from MoEF Manual for EIA & EMP Study Assessment of Alternatives Secondary Assessment of baseline of Data environmental conditions and Collection suggestion on preferred alignment Impacts identification, prediction and suggesting suitable measures and Additional Studies (DMP) Preparation of Draft EIA & EMP Report and submission of the report to PWD (Goa) Public Consultation Preparation of Final EIA & EMP Report after incorporation of all the suggestions Figure -1.1: Flow Chart Showing the EIA Methodology 5 Consultancy Services for Four Laning of existing Environmental Impact Goa/Karnataka Border-Panaji Goa Section of NH-4A from Km Assessment & Environmental 84.000 to Km 153.075 in the state of Goa on BOT (Toll) basis Management Plan under NHDP-III (Anmod to Panaji Section) 1.6 Generic Structure Of Environmental Impact Assessment Document In terms of the EIA notification of the MOEF dated 14th September 2006, the generic structure