4. description of the environment - Gujarat Pollution Control Board

6. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS & MITIGATION MEASURES
This chapter assesses the nature, type and magnitude of the potential impacts likely on the
various physical, biological and cultural environmental components along the project corridor,
methods adopted for assessing impatssuch as use of model; details of mitigation & methods
proposed to reduce adverse impacts.
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Road widening projects have typical potential impacts though these vary in accordance with the
intensity of construction works involved, future scenario envisaged during the operation stage
and the importance attached to the impacted environmental attributes. Since the project involves
widening of the existing NH-8D from existing two lane to four lane, most of the impacts will be
confined to the proposed RoW. Subsequent sections detail out the likely impacts on various
environmental components & the various mitigations suggested.
6.2 LAND ENVIRONMENT
6.2.1 Anticipated Impacts
Physiography & Terrain: The project corridor traverses through plain to rolling terrain. A large
stretch of the road passes through agricultural and barren lands. Widening to 4 lane will involve
large quantities of earthwork as fill materials. Such modifications in the topography may lead to
drainage problems both along the project corridor and at the borrow area sites. The road
widening will involve about 472249 cum of cutting and 4774392 cum of filling.
Soil: The widening of the road to 4 lane would require acquisition of agriculture lands at places
where the presently available RoW is inadequate to accommodate the proposed improvements.
Establishment of labour camps, hot mix plants and movement of construction machinery shall
avoid ecologically sensitive locations and construction and allied activities such as setting up of
construction camps and movement of vehicle along haul roads would result in compaction of soil.
Disposal of oil wastes from vehicle and construction equipment maintenance yards shall also
lead to contamination of productive soil.
Besides, due to widening of the project corridor, adverse impacts on the soil would include: loss
of topsoil, increase in soil erosion, soil instability, tipping of spoils generated from construction
work and contamination of soil.
Borrow Areas: The investigation was aimed at locating the potential borrow areas for sub-grade/
embankment fill and granular sub-base along the project corridors within economic hauling
distance. To obtain this information regarding probable borrow pits along the corridor and to
obtain this objective, the offices of Rajkot Public Works Department and local people were
contacted. Based on the information received and field surveys carried out, the consultants
identified the borrow areas which are new ones /existing ones belonging to the government or
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