Worldwide pipeline mileage under construction is now 86,000 miles and it is expected to maintain the same pace throughout the 1990s to meet the ever increasing demand for clean burning fuel (Ives, 1993). Likewise, India's rapid industrialisation and the resultant demand for crude and petroleum products to meet the power and energy demand has led to unprecedented expansion for pipeline network in the country (WII, 1994). As a result, India, with 7,800 km of existing pipeline network will have proposed expansion by additional 7865 km of pipelines by the three major oil companies of India, viz., Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), Gas Authority of India (GAIL) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). This includes the GAIL's proposal for a national gas grid linking north, west, south and east regions which would require 18,300 km length of pipelines (Ives, 1993).

Pipelines, are by far the most superior mode of transport as they involve lower cost of production, conservation of fossil fuels, minimum product loss during transit and reduce pressure on rail and road transportation. But, pipelines have the disadvantage of causing considerable impacts upon the environment and the wildlife values of the areas that are located en route (WII, 1993). However, these pipeline projects can be made to substantially mitigate such impacts and become environment friendly provided due consideration to the environmental concerns are given at the conceptual and planning phases of these projects. In this case, the concerns are choice of route, construction technology, pipeline design, and precautions in construction and post construction activities.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies of such pipeline projects focus on identification of potential impacts of proposed project, develop safeguards that will enable expansion to take place without significant damage to natural environment and or harmful effects on the people and wildlife that live in the area.

1.1 THE BACKGROUND AND RATIONAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
The planning Commission had constituted a "Working Group on Petroleum" for formulating the VIII Plan document pertaining to Petroleum industry in the country. As per the request of this Working Group, IOCL was requested to examine how best to use the increased production of Western onshore crude which was projected by ONGC as 8.75 MMTPA and 10.29 MMTPA for the years 1993-94 and 1999-2000 respectively. IOCL also examined the possibility of expanding the Gujarat Refinery, Koyali and submitted a feasibility report for setting up of a 3 MMTPA Crude Distillation Unit at the refinery. However, the latest projections (1993) of Crude Oil Production as per ONGC in Gujarat oil fields have dropped significantly to 5.62 MMTPA and 7.53 MMTPA for the years 1993-94 and 1999-2000 respectively. Realisation of the fact that actual production from the western offshore oil fields may not reach even the revised projected levels, as much as 6.5 MMTPA of crude oil will have to be imported, and transported through the Salaya - Viramgam - Koyali section of the Salaya - Mathura Pipeline to meet the revamped requirement of Gujarat Refinery at 12.5 MMTPA (Fig 1.1). Therefore, the Salaya - Viramgam section of the Salaya - Mathura pipeline will have to carry crude oil to the extent of 20 MMTPA and Viramgam-Koyali section to transport 6.5 MMTPA of crude oil (IOCL, 1990a & B).

1.2 THE PROPOSED PROJECT
M/s IOCL proposes to augment the existing 141 km long VK pipeline by laying one 17 km new loop line in order to meet the crude oil requirements of the Gujarat refinery.

1.3 PROJECT SETTING, DESIGN AND DESCRIPTION
The 141 km long existing VK pipeline transports crude oil from Viramgam to Koyali (Fig. 1.2) via Intermediate Pumping station (IPS) and feeds the Gujarat Refinery with a pumping station at Viramgam. In order, to augment this section from a capacity of 7.5 MMTPA to 13.5 MMTPA, one more additional pumping station between Viramgam and Koyali is being planned and laying of 17 km length of loop line starting from the IPS (IOCL, 1990). The proposed loop line originates from Ch. 63.0 Km and terminate at Ch. 80.0 Km in VK section of SMPL. The loop line will be laid in the ROW of the existing VK pipeline. The throughout of the VK section with a pipeline dimension of 18" OD X 0.312/0.281" WT will be 6.5 MMTPA (975 kl/hr).

1.4 SCOPE OF WORK
M/s IOCL had entrusted the Engineers India Limited (EIL), New Delhi to undertake the comprehensive EIA study on the proposed augmentation of VK section of SMPL project as this is required to comply with the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 and other legal enactments of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) was offered a consultancy by EIL to undertake the EIA study of the above mentioned projects on wildlife values. The scope of work outlined for this study was as follows:

i. To assess the status of wildlife species and habitats (terrestrial and aquatic) along the proposed project.

ii. To identify and evaluate the likely impacts on wildlife (endangered/threatened) species and ecologically sensitive areas/ habitats (forests/ scrublands/ grasslands/ wetlands) due to the proposed project.

iii. To suggest mitigatory measures for thelikely impacts that may be caused by the proposed project.

iv. To outline legal/ statutory obligations to be fulfilled by the project proponent under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.