The mitigation planning stage in EIA is seen as a means to maximize project benefits and minimize undesirable impacts. The process involved a careful consideration of ecosystem characteristics, significance of predicted impacts, choices of available alternatives and corrective, compensatory and preventive measures. Considering the nature of project related impacts that have already been discussed in the preceding sections, the mitigation planning has taken into consideration the following approaches for mitigating the project impacts:

i. Prevent any further degradation of habitats already degraded

ii. Promote restoration of degraded areas

iii. Prevent any project induced impact on habitats and species of conservation importance

5.1 Recommendations
Assuming that feasibility studies have been completed and the proposed route is the finally accepted route for laying the pipeline, no alternative route should now be adopted.

The following are the specific recommendations suggested for the mitigation of the ecological impacts of the project on terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitats and the associated species.

5.1.1 Terrestrial Habitats

1. The laying of pipeline through the forest area should be ensured within the shortest feasible time to prevent additional threats associated with project activities.

2. The pipeline traverses through a substantial stretch which is rocky in nature. Blasting may be inevitable to lay a pipeline through such stretches. It is recommended that controlled blasting should be ensured. This is important to prevent impact of blasting on floral and faunal diversity in the Manpur Reserved Forest and the stretches of forest in the Ghat region that are comparatively better stocked and less degraded.

3. Influx of skilled and unskilled labour during pipeline laying operation should be regulated. The unskilled labour should be contracted from the nearby villages. This would ensure avoidance of locating camping sites in forested areas and would discourage secondary impacts such as illegal exploitation of resources and incidences of fire.

4. All activities must remain confined within the RoW of the proposed pipeline including the development of any additional access road.

5. Compensatory afforestation should be ensured on the sites identified in consultation with State Forest Departments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Selection of species should be ensured with serious consideration to the resource needs of the local people and the ecology of the area. This would reduce the biotic stress on existing tracts of forests and allow restoration of degraded areas.

6. A good strategy would be to help forest department in reducing the dependence of the local people on fuel wood for energy source by motivating people to use alternative fuel sources like the LPG through offer of incentives and subsidies. This should be seen as a corporate effort in improving the socio economic condition of the local people. At the same time this would also ensure the regeneration of the forest stands.

5.1.2 Aquatic Habitats

1. For all seasonal rivers, the schedule of construction should be modified to allow construction to take place only in dry season.

2. For the perennial river like Tapi, efforts should be made to prevent lowering of existing water level at any point of time. This can be ensured by scheduling construction during the summer period. During this period also the advantage should be taken of the period when the regulated supply of water from the dam is optimum to prevent the conditions forcing dry stretches.

3. The conservation value of the riverine and riparian habitat of Narmada are too significant to be risked by threats associated with pipeline laying. It is therefore recommended that Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method be adopted for laying the pipeline across this river.

4. Although Segwal pond is not directly impacted by pipeline route across it, the alignment of the pipeline route parallel to it is likely to have some implications on its habitat potential. Earthwork, movement of man and machinery, establishment of necessary infrastructure and noise are likely to be potential sources of disturbance, increased sediment load and pollution of the wetland. This should be prevented by good environmental practice of ensuring the stability of loose soil, careful management of excavated material and use of sophisticated technology to prevent noise and other disturbances. The pipeline should be layed in the stretch adjoining the pond within the shortest feasible time during the summer season.

5. Under no circumstances the construction schedule of the project in the stretch along Segwal pond should overlap with breeding and nesting season of winter migrants.

6. The Segwal pond should not be seen as a source of water for construction and hydrotesting of pipes. Alternative arrangement for lifting water from other sources will have to be ensured. This condition should not only be incorporated in contractual clause for construction agency but should also be enforced through compliance monitoring.