Eia for railway project
Download as PPTX, PDF4 likes5,841 views
This document provides an overview of environmental impact assessments for railway projects in India. It discusses how EIAs evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of proposed projects. For railway projects specifically, it identifies potential impacts such as noise and vibration pollution, air pollution from train emissions, soil pollution from heavy metals, and water pollution. It also discusses how railway construction can cause soil erosion and changes to hydrology. The document outlines the key components of an EIA report and the methodology for conducting EIAs in India. It emphasizes the importance of EIAs for ensuring environmentally sound development.
Eia for railway project
- 1. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT By Ravi Kumar GARRE, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, St. Peter’s Engineering College, Hyderabad.
- 2. Contents covered • Environmental Impact Assessment • Railway Project • Check list of EIA • Structure of EIA Document • Methodology for preparing EIA
- 3. Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio- economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse.
- 4. Environmental Impact Assessment UNEP defines Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers.
- 5. Railway Project • Survey, fixing of alignment, and designing Road and Railway. • Embankment and cuttings for Road/Rail. • Bridges (Major/Minor including ROB/RUB) for Rail/Road. • Steel girder fabrication and erection. • Laying of ballast and concrete sleepers and rails i.e. track laying (Manually & Mechanically). • Flash butt welding for long rails at site. • Signalling and electrification of Railway Yards. • General Electrification of Railway works. • Maintenance of railroads and rail infrastructure • Allied services such as service buildings, railway stations and terminals • Urban railways on elevated sections.
- 6. EIA Policies in India • The Indian experience with Environmental Impact Assessment began over few years back. It started in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology to examine the river- valley projects from an environmental angle. • Till 1994, environmental clearance from the Central Government was an administrative decision and lacked legislative support.
- 7. EIA Policies in India • On 27 January 1994, the then Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for expansion or modernisation of any activity or for setting up new projects listed in Schedule 1 of the notification.
- 8. EIA Policies in India • The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) notified new EIA legislation in September 2006. The notification makes it mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports) and industries including very small electroplating or foundry units to get environment clearance. However, unlike the EIA Notification of 1994, the new legislation has put the clearing projects on the state government depending on the size/capacity of the project.
- 9. Environmental effects of Railway projects • The construction and operation of railways implies changes in the surrounded landscape that alter the microclimate, soil, and hydrological dynamics, contributing to the degradation of the natural habitat for many species. • During operation, the main disturbances caused by railways are air, soil and water pollution, as well as noise and vibration, which may alter species richness and species abundance.
- 10. Environmental effects of Railway projects • It is important that to know, the level of disturbance caused by railways due to noise and vibration, air, soil and water pollution, and soil erosion. • Soil and hydrology contamination may affect vegetation and aquatic fauna while noise can affect terrestrial vertebrates. • Noise, light, and vibration due to railways have been observed to reduce the abundance and richness of some insects, amphibians, and birds, and to cause avoidance behaviour on predators.
- 11. Noise and Vibration • The sources of noise – freight wagons, high speed trains, locomotives passing and accelerating, vibrations and vehicle coupling • Noise levels vary, depending on the landscape and weather. • Train noise causes – stress in body, headache, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, etc. • Create problems to birds and reduce their population.
- 12. Air Pollution • The emission of gases from traffic constitutes an important source of environmental pollution all over the world. • The main pollutants emitted from the diesel-powered locomotives are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulphur dioxide (SO2), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), particulate matter (PM) and hydrocarbon (HC). • Can affect human, vegetation, animals, water and soil.
- 13. Soil Pollution • As most products of vehicle emissions are neither biologically nor chemically degraded, they can affect the growth of plants and ecosystems. • In fact, plants and soil organisms are the first recipients of the emission pollutants. • High concentration levels of heavy metals, such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are often found in the vicinity of railways.
- 14. Water Pollution • Infrastructures associated with railways (e.g., leakages of petroleum products from fuel storage tanks) contribute, together with pollutants, to aquatic ecosystems. • high concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals in waterways bisected or bordered by railways. • Affects aquatic eco system and all.
- 15. Soil Erosion and Changes in Hydrology • The abrupt change of soil required to establish the railway embankment leads to vegetation loss, compresses the soil, and compromises water drainage. Thus, soil becomes exposed and subject to an increasing runoff that promotes its erosion. • The erosion of rail embankments can result in a washing out of sediments that cause water pollution. • Railway construction parallel to streams can result in hydrological disconnections that dry the soils. • Such disconnections can have a significant impact on the ecological function of riparian landscapes by negatively affecting floodplain evolution, ecosystemand associated biodiversity.
- 16. There is evidence that disturbance from noise, lights, and vibrations associated with the construction and operation of the railway affect some species, and this can occur at various life cycles. In contrast, other studies suggest that wildlife ignores or adapts to railway disturbances. As observed for roads, the severity of railway disturbance depends on the species’ bio-ecological features and on the degree of the disturbance. However, little is known about their role in species viability. We now review the main findings on wildlife behaviour responses to railway disturbance.
- 17. Check list of EIA 1. Land environment 2. Water environment 3. Vegetation 4. Fauna 5. Air environment 6. Aesthetics 7. Socio-economic aspects 8. Energy conservation 9. Environment management plan
- 18. Structure of EIA document Introduction Project description Description of the environment Anticipated environmental impacts and mitigation measures Analysis of alternatives Environmental monitoring program Additional studies Project benefits Environmental cost benefit analysis Environmental management plan Summery and conclusion Disclosure of consultants engaged
- 19. Methodology for preparing EIA 1. Screening 2. Scoping 3. Public hearing 4. appraisal
- 20. Stakeholders in the EIA Process • Those who propose the project • The environmental consultant who prepare EIA on behalf of project proponent • Pollution Control Board (State or National) • Public has the right to express their opinion • The Impact Assessment Agency • Regional centre of the MoEF
- 21. Importance of EIA • EIA links environment with development for environmentally safe and sustainable development. • EIA provides a cost effective method to eliminate or minimize the adverse impact of developmental projects. • EIA enables the decision makers to analyse the effect of developmental activities on the environment well before the developmental project is implemented. • EIA encourages the adaptation of mitigation strategies in the developmental plan. • EIA makes sure that the developmental plan is environmentally sound and within the limits of the capacity of assimilation and regeneration of the ecosystem.
- 22. Salient features of 2006 Amendments to EIA notification • Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 has decentralized the environmental clearance projects by categorizing the developmental projects in two categories, i.e., Category A (national level appraisal) and Category B (state level appraisal). Category A projects are appraised at national level by Impact Assessment Agency (IAA) and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and Category B projects are apprised at state level. State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) are constituted to provide clearance to Category B process.
- 23. Salient features of 2006 Amendments to EIA notification • After 2006 Amendment the EIA cycle comprises of four stages: Screening Scoping Public hearing Appraisal • Category A projects require mandatory environmental clearance and thus they do not undergo the screening process. Category B projects undergoes screening process and they are classified into two types. Category B1 projects (Mandatorily requires EIA). Category B2 projects (Do not require EIA). • Thus, Category A projects and Category B, projects undergo the complete EIA process whereas Category B2 projects are excluded from complete EIA process.
- 24. THANK YOU