Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report - Meghalaya State ...

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 Meghalaya, 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.Draft Environmental Impact Assessment3 - 8