Conservation Status of the Project Site

Primary forests have very restricted distribution in Mizoram and are therefore almost non existent in the project area. The secondary forests, scrublands and plantation together constitute the community forests in the project site. Visual interpretation of the remotely sensed data indicates that `Jhuming’ (shifting cultivation) is the dominant landuse in the project area. The reserved forests restricted to ½ mile of the riverine zone on either side of the rivers fall outside the project area.

The project area represents the remnants of tropical evergreen forests. During the course of field work, 41 species of plants were recorded through randomly laid plots. None of the species reported from the project area are rare or endangered. A few species like Dipterocarpus macrocarpus, Parkia roxburghii, Rhus javanica and Lophopetalum fimbriatum have high conservation significance on account of their fairly restricted distribution.

Large scale destruction of habitats due to jhumming, urbanisation and exploitation of resources for forest based industries and the traditional hunting/gathering life style of the Mizo people have probably left very few surviving individuals of wildlife species (wildboar, jackal, common fox, barking deer and jungle cat ) in the project area. There are no national park or sanctuaries located near the project area. The nearest one is Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 80 km away.

Potential Threats of Airport Location at Proposed Site

• Landtake both by the project and induced development would bring about reduction in the quantities of available community forest area and the natural resources that would lead to aggravation of the already unsustainable exploitation of sources from the nearby areas.
   

• Diversion of land (that was earlier under jhum) for project related construction would place greater demands on alternative land area for jhumming.
   

• The combined negative impacts of earthwork for site preparation would manifest in the form of increased erosion, disruption of hydrological cycle, compaction of soil, loss of top soil and nutrients and decline in fertility.
   

• The project involves re-routing of small streams and channels by the construction of box culverts to divert the flow away from runway. This would lead to reduction in the flow of water in the major water courses traversing the area.
   

• Possible deterioration in the quality of streams and rivulets may result from the pollutant loads received from the airport.
   

• Broadening of existing roads, conversion of foot paths and cart track to jeepable roads and construction of a 8 km long new road between Sairang and proposed airport location are likely to create an enlarged market for marketable resources like timber, orchids, medicinal plants and bamboo.

  Mitigation Measures
   

• Afforestation to be geared up with strong administration and technical support to arrest the impacts of earthwork in the project area.
   

• Prevention of down slope transportation of road rubble by planting of the shoulders (both sides) with short grasses.
   

• Green belts conforming to the regulations of Civil Aviation Authorities to be raised to serve as buffer for air and noise pollution.
   

• Development of efficient garbage and sewage treatment and solid waste disposal system for reduction of pollutant load in water sources.

  Project Analysis

The project of this nature can not take off without associated impacts on environmental resources. What really matters is the significance of impacts on the existing ecological profile of the area. Most of the impacts are associated with construction phase of the project and can be mitigated by ameliorative approaches and preventive mitigation strategies suggested above.