|
NISCAIR ONLINE PERIODICALS REPOSITORY (NOPR) >
NISCAIR PUBLICATIONS >
Research Journals >
Bharatiya Vaigyanik evam Audyogik Anusandhan Patrika (BVAAP) >
BVAAP Vol.17 [2009] >
BVAAP Vol.17(2) [December 2009] >
| Title: | Environmental impact assessment of roads and highway projects |
| Authors: | Sharma, Niraj
Dev, Pankaj Dutt
Dhyani, Rajni
Gangopadhyay, S |
| Issue Date: | Dec-2009 |
| Publisher: | CSIR |
| Abstract: | The roads and highway projects are lifeline of any
country. They are also important for the building the nation and are mirror of country’s
development. However, most of these road and highway projects on account of
their location, route alignment and associated activities are invariably
accompanied by significant environmental and social impacts during different
phases (viz., Pre-construction, Construction and Operational phase) of the
project. The nature of these impacts could be either positive or negative depending upon their potential to favourably or
adversely affect the surrounding environment and also the resident community.
While favourably viewing the positive impacts on the environment and community,
it is also imperative to develop an appropriate and sound Environmental
Management Plan (EMP) and execute it on the field/impacted area of the project
to minimise and mitigate various adverse environmental and social impacts. In
view of their significant environmental implications,roads and highway projects have been brought under the purview of the EIA Notification dated Sept. 14th, 2006 requiring “Environmental Clearance”
(EC) either from Central Government (i.e., Ministry of Environment and Forests
(MoEF) (Category ‘A’ Project) or at State Level from State Environmental Impact
Assessment Authority (SEIAA) (Category ‘B’ Project) if they meet certain
conditions specified under the EIA Notification. As per the requirement of EIA,
the project has to follow specified
procedures which amongst other requirements also include
conducting “Public Consultation” including “Public Hearing” to include and
incorporate views of various stakeholders into decision making process. The EIA
ensures that various Acts, Rules and Regulations for preservation, conservation
and management of the environment along with R & R (Resettlement &
Rehabilitation) issue are appropriately taken care of in the suggested EMP.
Recently, the role of EIA of Roads and Highways have become more
important as Central Government is undertaking widening
and upgrading of various National Highways throughout the country under the
different phases of National Highway Development Programme (NHDP). The present
paper briefly describes provisions and procedure for carrying out EIA for the
Roads and highways along with the EMP for mitigating various negative environmental
impacts during different phases of the project. |
| Page(s): | 108-116 |
| ISSN: | 0975-2412 (Online); 0771-7706 (Print) |
| Source: | BVAAP Vol.17(2) [December 2009]
|
|
