The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) proposes to transport petroleum products from a refinery at Vishakapatnam to Vijayawada through a 363 km long cross country pipeline. The implementation of this Vishakapatnam - Vijayawada (VV) Pipeline Project has been entrusted to Engineers India Limited (EIL) after comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Risk Assessment.

In the absence of a single agency with the skills to address all aspects of environmental attributes generally encompassed in an EIA study, the EIL offered the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) a consultancy to undertake the EIA of the proposed VV pipeline on forest, wildlife and wildlife habitats. The scope of work under this consultancy was defined and agreed upon through a memorandum of understanding jointly signed by EIL and WII.

Since the VV Pipeline passes along the foothills of Eastern Ghats hill ranges, it was important to examine the impact it would have on the forest and wildlife habitats. This report identifies the status of forest and wildlife along the VV Pipeline route and suggests precautions and mitigation to be adopted during construction and post construction phase for an environmental friendly industrial development.

The report is structured into five separate sections. The introductory section, defines the problem and sets the tone for the overall approach for this study. In section - 2, the EIA methodologies for evaluating impacts on wildlife impacts on wildlife values have been laid. Sections 3 and 4 of the report presents facts on existing status of biological values and the evaluation of the impacts on these. Section- 5 highlights the significant finding of the impact analysis and offers recommendation for sound project implementation.

The assistance provided by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department (APFD) and the logistic support provided by HPCL and EIL is thankfully acknowledged. Shri C.N. Rao, CCF and Shri M. Kamal Naidu, CCF, APFD are specially thanked.

Shri K. Tulsi Rao, ACF, APFD and Shri Samuel of HPCL, Vishakapatnam have been the resource persons for this study and their unfailing support is appreciated.

Shir S.K. Mukherjee, Additional Director, WII and Dr. G.S. Rawat, Scientist, WII are specially thanked for their help. Assistance rendered by Miss Nima Manjrekar, Miss Prachi Mehta, Miss Asha and Mr. Narinder Singh Bist in giving this report its present form is gratefully appreciated.

H. S. Panwar
Director

Wildlife Institute of India.