environmental impact of highway

8/11/2019 Environmental Impact of Highway

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Road transportation plays a major role inimproving the economic life of the society aswell as the daily lives of the citizens.

People may be indirectly affected by roadsprojects, through the disruption of

livelyhood, loss of accustomed travel pathsand community linkages, increase inrespiratory problems due to air pollution.Roads are agents of change and can beresponsible for both benefits and damage toenvironment. Hence it is necessary tounderstand the various environmentalproblems encountered during and after theconstruction of road projects.


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Air, Water And Noise Pollution

Loss Of Forestry And Vegetation

Geological Disturbances

Loss Of Natural Sources Of Water

Destruction Of Wild Life

Land Degradation Soil Erosion Aesthetic Degradation

Interruption Of Natural Drainage System


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The Ministry of environment and

Forests, government of India have

outlined nvironmental Guidelines

for highway projects. The guide lines

prescribe the following procedures,

which are EIA, EIS and EMP

respectively


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TYPICAL CONTENTS OF AN EIA REPORT

An executive summary of the EIA findings.

The major environmental and natural resources issues that

needed clarification and elaboration.

The projects impact on the environment and how these

impact were identified and predicted.

A discussion of options for mitigating adverse impacts and

shaping the project to suit its proposed environment.

An overview of gaps or uncertainties in the information.

A summary of the EIA for the general public


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General settings of the region, like topography geology, climatic

condition etc.

Objectives of road projects like size of area and population it will

serve.

Technical features is length of the road, width & type of road etc.

State of the environment of the belt through which the road will pass

Impact of road construction on the environment

Measures proposed to mitigate the adverse impacts.

Socio-economic concerns.


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The basic objective of the EIS is to

identify, predict and evaluate the likely

impacts of a given activity and then

prepare necessary action plans to

eliminate or mitigate the adverse

impacts as part of the overall

environment management plan.


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A brief discussion of the project Description of the existing environment

Likely impacts of the proposed project

both adverse and beneficial, short andlong term impacts.

Mitigation, protection & enhancement

measures. Consideration of alternatives.

Effect of non-change alternatives.


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The environment management plan isan implementation plan for carrying

out mitigation protection andenhancement measures as arerecommended by the EIS. EMP gives

details how to operate thesemeasures, the resources required andthe schedule for implementation.


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1. Surface water quality 14.Industries2. Air quality 15.Habitat

3. Seismology / Geology 16.Resettlement

4. Hydrology & Drainage 17.Archeological / Historic

5. Soils Significance sites

6. Erosion

7. Land quality & Land use 18.Public/Private institutionof repute

8. Fisheries & Aquaculture 19.Religious sites / places9. Forests

10.Terrain & Topography 20.Architectural sites

11.Public health 21.Agriculture and farming

12.Noise 22.Socio-economic aspects

13.Aesthetics 23.Terrestrial wild life


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Guidelines for environmental clearance

Name of the project Clearance at state level

1 Tarred roads (Bitumen surfaced)in Himalayas and forest land

Up to 5 Km length

2 National Highways Up to 5 Km length

3 State highways

a. Involving forest land Up to 5 Km length

b. Not involving forest land All lengths


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The roads in hilly regions arealigned in forest and mountainareas. And most these areas are

endowed with gift of nature andenvironmentally and ecologicallyfascinating these area are treasurehouses of flora and fauna.


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Landslides, erosion & sediment discharge Poor drainage resulting in damage loading

to flooding & degradation of water sources.

Formation of new gullies Denuding of forest cover

Increase in the concentration of run offcausing water pollution.

Clearing of road side vegetation forfirewood grazing, cultivation andurbanization


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Increase in traffic litter, noise and dustpollution

Air quality affected by vehiclesexhaust and spills of toxic hazardouschemicals from couriers using road for

transportation such materials. Transfer of vector diseases.

Disturbance to flora and fauna.

Effect on wild life through loss ofhabitat and encroachment.


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Dense forest and heritage areas can beavoided while choosing the alignment

Road in cutting is better as it causesless noise pollution and is less visuallyintensive.

Properly designed noise barriers canreduce the noise pollution significantly.


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In urban areas, the adverse effects can bemitigated by adopting a wide range of policieslike control on land use and hierarchicalnetwork planning, modification andimprovement in vehicle technology and trafficmanagement.Some of the techniques of trafficmanagement are vehicle bans, traffic signalcontrol, speed control in residential areas etc.

Grade separated facilities will improve the

traffic flow and obviate frequent stopping and starting which are some

main factors of air pollution


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environmental impact of highway

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