Description of the Environmenthas been done (Annexure 3.3) to locate the ecologically fragile and landslideprone areas so as to propose slope protection, minimum removal of vegetationform the hilly forest areas and other relevant mitigation measures.Fig. 3.11: Landuse Map ofJaintia hills districtFig. 3.12 Land Use Pattern of the Project AreaSurface Water Resources in the Project AreaThe Central Pollution Control Board has conducted studies on the waterresources in the project area. The same are presented here.River Lubah Upstream, SonapurSonapur is located on the Shillong -Jowai-Badarpur-Silchar Road on National Highway-44. Sonapur is located almost midwaybetween Jowai and Silchar. River Lubah(Refer Table below) flows within a kilometerdistance from Sonapur (See Fig. 3.13). Lubahfish is very popularly served in the houseslocated on either side of NH-44 atSonapur. All inter-state traffic breaksjourney for refreshment at Sonapur. Asingle span pre-stressed concrete bridgeover the turbulent Lubah River, serves ascritical link between the Brahmaputra valleyof Lower Assam and the Barak Valley ofCachar. It also serves as a virtual gateway for the states of Mizoram andTripura on their overland routes through <strong>Meghalaya</strong>, Assam and beyond. Thehilly terrain on either side of the Lubah Bridge is covered by reserve forests -Narpuh Reserve Forest. The Funnel shaped valley of the Lubah River broadensout soon after crossing the bridge. The monitoring was undertaken at upstreamof Lubah Bridge. Cement manufacturing company is located at a distance of 1km at Lumshnong. The coal storage, quarrying, mining and transport area ofJaintia Hills starts from Latumbai at upstream of this location.River Lubah Downstream, SonapurFig. 3.13: View of Lubha river nearSonapur villageThe sampling location is situated at downstream of Lubah Bridge at Sonapurvillage on the Shillong-Jowai-Badarpur-Silchar Road at National Highway-44.<strong>Draft</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong>3 - 8
Rehabilitation and Up gradation of existing 2 lane to 2 lane with paved shoulder from Jowai (km 69.2) to<strong>Meghalaya</strong>/ Assam Border (km 173.20) Section of NH-44 in the <strong>State</strong> of <strong>Meghalaya</strong> under NHDP Phase-IIIProgramme (Package No. NN/DL2/4)River Lubah towards downstream reaches has totally rocky terrain. Another RiverUmnysong passes through at Tongseng at a distance of 7 km from Sonapur.River Malidor, New Malidor, JalalpurThe sampling site of River Malidor (Refer Table 3.4) is located on Jaintia hillborder road of NH - 44 passing through the Assam - <strong>Meghalaya</strong> Border near Shivtemple. Kalain is located at a distance of 18 km from this location. River Malidorflows through Jaintia Hills of <strong>Meghalaya</strong> and Karbi Anglong Tea Estate of Assam.The trees are cut to make way through the hilltop for sliding wood from the hill toroad side. The tea gardens and Barak valley start from this area. From RatacheraAssam border is 10 km and Badarpur is 44 km on National Highway - 44.Streams from the surrounding hills join the river. The entire hill area is covered bybeetle nut plantation and harvesting is done on the roadside. Rhododendrongrows all along the road side near Umkiang in <strong>Meghalaya</strong> at a distance of 3km. River Lubah is located at a distance of 48 km at Sonapur and Shillong is 145km from this location of New Malidor.S. No.Table 3.4: <strong>Environmental</strong> Problems related to various activitiesRivers /Water bodies1. River Lubahupstream2. River Lubahdownstream3. River LubahNovember,20034. River MalidorNovember,20035. ThadlaskeinLakeLocation ofstretchSonapur, onthe Shillong-Jowai-Badarpur-Silchar RoadNH-44, JaintiaHills DistrictSonapur,downstreamof Lubahbridge, JaintiaHills District.Sonapur 1 kmd/s of Lubahbridge JaintiaHills district.New Malidor,Jalalpur,Assam-<strong>Meghalaya</strong>Border, JaintiaHill BoarderRoad, NH-44.Mukhla atNationalActivitiesLubah fish is a popularfood at Sonapur being aninter-state traffic onNH-44. Lubah is close tointernational Indo-Banglafrontier, land sliding,construction of road,washing and bathingwere common activities.Cement manufacturingcompany at Lumshnong.Domestic activities atSonapur village, landsliding, forest cover.Cement manufacturingcompany at Lumshnong,coal storage andtransport from Latumbaion NH-44 quarrying andmining.Deforestation, stonecrusher, dredging, sandrecovery, stone collectionfrom river bed.Tourist activity, forestry,Sajar Nangli Memorial<strong>Environmental</strong>problemsSolid waste dumpingon river side due totraffic break journeyfor refreshment,vehicular emission,habitat destructions,silting in water body.Surface runoff,silting in waterbody, habitatdestruction.Silting in water body.Habitat destruction,silting in water body.Silting in water bodydue to profuse<strong>Draft</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong>3 - 9