A wrap-up meeting for the field visit was held on April 27th 1998 to discuss the various findings of the WII-CEC team and to agree on a course of action for the APRBD. The meeting was held in the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Andhra Pradesh Forest Department (APFD).

The following were present:

• Mr. S.D. Mukherjee, IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, APFD
   

• Mr. Murahari Reddy, Engineer-in-Chief, APRBD
   

• Mr. T. Ramakrishna, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), APFD
   

• Md. Sultan Moiuddin, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) AP
   

• Mr. Sunil Kumar, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Telegu Ganga Project, APFD
   

• Mr. S.K. Mukherjee, WII Consultant
   

• Dr. V.B. Mathur, WII Consultant
   

• Dr. Asha Rajvanshi, WII Consultant
   

• Mr. Mahendra Reddy, Environmental Officer, APRBD
   

• Mr. Vara Prasad, ACF, APFD

The following are the key conclusions reached:

• Mr. Murahari Reddy explained that the Ministry of Environment of Forests (MOEF), Govt. of India, New Delhi had already accorded environmental clearance to the APRBD road project proposals, subject to certain environmental conditions to be followed by the project authorities. He endorsed that the APRBD was committed to adopt appropriate environmental safeguards. The same would be incorporated in the APRBD contract documents and would be implemented during the construction and maintenance phases of the Project. He affirmed that in response to the MOEF’s observations, the APRBD had already excluded the following sections from its consideration (i) Kurnoor-Atmakur-Guntur road, (ii) Atmakur-Nandyal road, (iii) Madanapally-Chandragiri and (iv) Lakshettipet-Gudihatnur road. He also indicated that no report or communication was needed with the MOEF at this time, since this was not specified in their letters of March and September 1997 but the APRBD, through their environmental officer Mr. Mahendra Reddy, would keep on file all documentation related to the actions taken to address the conditions.
   

• Mr. S.K. Mukherjee briefed the meeting about the salient findings and actions of the WII-CEC team during the April 24-26, 1998 site visit.

   

i. a map (1:50,000 scale) showing the location of the NGT road vis-à-vis the boundaries of reserve forests and GBM Sanctuary was prepared. It is evident from this map that a distance of at least 50 km separates the alignment of the NGT road from the nearest boundary of the Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve (RGTR). The alignment also does not skirt the GBM Sanctuary boundary, except in forest compartments 532, 487 and 693.

ii. It was observed during the field visit that between the NGT road section passing through the Chelama Forest Range of the Nandyal Forest Division and the old railway meter-gauge track adjoining the boundary of the GBM Sanctuary, a new linear development in the form of a broad gauge track along with a railway station (New Chelama) was established in the reserve forests in 1996.

iii. From the reconnaissance of the NGT Project area, it could be established that the conservation values of the forest areas falling within the Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve, GBM Sanctuary, and Nandyal and Giddalur Forest Divisions are comparable, although no detailed floral-faunal surveys have been conducted by the Forest Department or scientific organizations.

• The WII-CEC team summarized its observations and comments (Table 1) on the conditions stipulated by the MOEF for improved environmental management planning of the APRBD State Highway Project sites. Discussions took place on the various environmental conditions stipulated by the MOEF and the actions proposed to be undertaken by the APRBD & APFD to fulfill the requirements of the MOEF were agreed to and recorded.

i. It was affirmed in the meeting that since no forest land was being acquired by the APRBD for widening of the existing NGT road, clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 is not warranted.

ii. The PCCF informed that the District Forest Committees would look after all matters connected with the felling of trees falling within the existing Right of Way (RoW), wherever necessary.

iii. The WII consultants stressed the need to review the choice of species for avenue planting which was appended in the project documents, and it was agreed that this list would be reviewed in consultation with the PCCF, AP Forest Dept.

iv. On the MOEF’s condition No. 6.0 (Table 1), pertaining to the transfer of the Atmakur-Kurnool road from the APRBD to the APFD it was pointed out by the PCCF that such a transfer was not warranted as the necessary expertise to maintain and repair this road section, involving a Ghat section, was adequately available with the APRBD. The authorities of the Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Project would continue to provide the necessary coordination for the regulation of traffic on this road segment.

v. On the MOEF’s condition No. 7.0 (Table 1), regarding provisions for vehicles, communication and weapons to the anti-poaching squad of the APFD it was stated by the PCCF & CCF (WL) that since the NGT road project does not include any part of the RGTR area and only marginally skirts the GBM Sanctuary area, no action was required to be taken up on this condition.

vi. Engineer-in-Chief, APRBD informed that a monitoring committee, independent of the Project Coordination Committee (PCC) has been constituted. Mr. Sunil Kumar, CF(TGP) as the representative of the APFD and the Environmental Officer, APRBD is designated the convener of this committee.

vii. It was agreed that the APRBD & APFD would provide the WII-CEC consultants the necessary documentation and cross references relating to the compliance of environmental conditions stipulated by the MOEF.