The fundamental objective of an environmental impact assessment exercise is to provide sound project planning and implementation. This is accomplished by -

• Maximising the information value of assessment for decision makers and planners.
   

• Minimising the risk of threats to environmental components.
   

• Recommending the ameliorative measures.

In the national interest, projects like the proposed CCKT Pipeline Project is a welcome step in promoting economic development in the energy sector and in preventing the environmental hazards associated with the transportation of petroleum products through traditional routes. At the same time there is an urgent need to consider environmental appraisal of such projects as an integral part of project planning.

This section of report highlights the preventive and corrective ameliorative measures that are required to conserve and restore the wilderness values of natural habitats within the CCKT Pipeline corridor.

The following are the specific recommendations for reducing the impacts on wetland and terrestrial ecosystems en route the proposed project.

5.1 WETLANDS

1. The pipeline stretches that are proposed across the rivers like Kaniyampuzha, Periyar and Chalakudi should be laid with utmost care to prevent any disturbance to otter population.

2. Minimum diversion in the river flow would be the only strategy to prevent the otters from abandoning their habitats. It is recommended that the pipeline in the stretches of the above mentioned rivers is laid during the time when the level of water in these rivers is minimum. This will only ensure least disturbance that would be associated with the diversion of water.

3. Under no circumstances the schedule for construction related activities should coincide with the breeding season of otters which is likely to be a period between August to February.

4. It is recommended to lay the pipeline across the rivers during March to June to ensure both avoidance of breeding season of otters and utilisation of the period of minimum water level in the rivers.

5. It is recommended to support all efforts offering protection to Walayar - the only reservoir in the pipeline corridor that has high ecological significance. Conservation of waterfowls in general and more specifically of the threatened species like Black stork, Adjutant stork, Black bellied tern and Bar headed goose would only be made possible, if this wetland is managed as a bird habitat.

6. Efforts by the local naturalists are already on to encourage the protection of Walayar. It is visualised that this would gain a status of protected wetland in the years to come. To prevent any impact on the ecology of Walayar and to the migratory bird species, minimal disturbance should occur within the distance of 100 - 150 m from the edge of the reservoir.

7. It needs to be ensured that the construction related activities involving transport of manpower and material should be minimal on the southern edge of reservoir.

8. Alteration in the water level is a major threat to any wetland ecosystem. Withdrawal of water for laying of pipeline and subsequent hydrotesting is not recommended.

9. As most of the migratory birds arrive at the Walayar reservoir between November and February, no project associated activity is recommended between October to February.

10. Sincere efforts on BPCL's part should be made to ensure the long term protection of the marshland areas in and around the landfilled areas on the southern side of the BPCL complex.

5.2 FORESTS
No major recommendations are being made to alter the schedule of activities related to the project in the Attur Reserved Forest area (RF IV). As has been confirmed by the project authorities, the pipeline would be aligned within the existing RoWs, no additional forest area require diversion for RoW. This must be ensured prior to construction phase. The state forest department should be informed and involved in setting the limits of RoW in the event if it becomes extremely unavoidable.