2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a procedure which provides an opportunity to identify the potential environmental and social consequences of the proposed developmental activity and also able to suggest strategies for mitigating those identified adverse effects right at the planning stage. This way the major contribution of EIA in environmental management may well be in reducing adverse impacts and making necessary alterations in the developmental proposals. The overall methodology used in the present study has been described in the following sequential sections.

2.2 CONSULTATION OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION
As a foremost requirement of the present study, detailed relevant Feasibility Reports prepared by M/s IOCL, Refineries & Pipelines Division, New Delhi were obtained and consulted. These reports were used throughout the field studies as a major reference material. Maps depicting routes of existing and proposed pipelines with various allied facilities en route provided by the IOCL were referred intensively during the field reconnaissance and intensive studies. These maps were of great help in locating sample points.

In addition to the background information and maps provided by the IOCL relevant toposheets of Survey of India in the scale of 1:50,000 and a hydrographic map (Scale 1:1,50,000) for the Gulf of Kutch were also used during the field studies. Information on Protected Areas (PAs), important wildlife habitats, floral and faunal diversity for all concerned areas were collected from the WII’s National Wildlife Database. Simultaneously bibliographic search for published information was undertaken by consulting individuals/libraries of concerned organisations viz. State Forest Departments of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana; Marine National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (MNP), Gujarat; Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad; Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Bombay; Saurashtra University, Rajkot; and a number of other institutions.

2.3 MACRO LEVEL ASSESSMENT
The second step in the present study was the macro level assessment which involved the identification of protected areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries) andecologically sensitive ecosystems/wildlife habitats en route the proposed pipelines. It was found that the major activities of the existing and proposed pipeline projects originates in the Gulf of Kutch and the MNP. Broad ecologically sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitats recognised en route the pipeline were viz. coastal and marine ecosystem (coastal watersheds, beaches, saltpans, mudflats, mangroves, intertidal zones, coral reefs and deep sea); wetlands rivers, lakes and village ponds); grasslands, forests (thorny woodland and open scrub) and man made plantations as these are prime habitats for diverse terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna. It was considered that the disturbances associated with the construction activities would be uniform all along the pipeline route, the impacts on ecologically sensitive areas en route would be more significant and therefore, need to be evaluated more carefully.

2.4 RAPID FIELD ASSESSMENT
The field studies were conducted during May, 1994. The reconnaissance along the pipeline route included an assessment ofoverall land use pattern and the extent of ecologically sensitive areas.For this purpose 30 sample points in this section (total pipeline length – 275 km) along the pipeline route was visited. Surveyed sample points were largely randomly located and some additional points were included intentionally in view of their earlier identification as ecologically sensitive wildlife habitats on those location. On an average a sample point was surveyed atleast once every 7-8 km interval. At each sample point, data on the pipeline reference number, land use pattern and wildlife values (existing and potential) were recorded. The crucial wildlife habitats this identified during the reconnaissance were revisited for intensive studies. Impact assessment methodologies used for the intensive studies were specific for each wildlife habitat category and are described below.

2.5 INTENSIVE STUDIES
Based on the above three steps viz. consultation of background information, macro level assessment and rapid field assessment six major habitat categories were identified as ecologically important areas for the propose of study and details of these are presented in the Table 2.1.

Intensive studies were taken in the above described major wildlife habitat categories using the methodologies outlined below separately for each of the category.

2.5.1 Coastal and marine ecosystem :
The term costal means the coastal waters, wetlands and adjacent shorelands, strongly influenced by marine waters or vice-versa. Thus, coastal ecosystem includes the near-shore marine waters, beaches, intertidal areas, wetlands and islands areas to the limits of coastal watershed and flood-prone areas in which natural and man-made activities can affect the coastal waters (SAC, 1992) whereas marine area included the vast expanse of deep sea. The exisitng Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) facility in the Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary (MNP) was visited. Information on the ecological changes on the shore line along the Gulf of Kutch was obtained for the SAC in the form of published reports, research papers and maps. The concerned officials of the IOCL and MNP were also interviewed for specific information. The research team walked over the intertidal zone on the Narara belt (island) during the low tide time in order to collect first hand information and evaluation of coastal and marine floral and faunal diversity. The published background information on the marine floral and faunal diversity, industrial growth and oil spills in the Gulf of Kutch were collected from the office of the MNP. Professional knowledge and judgment regarding wildlife values and possible threats to marine life were understood by consulting various resource persons.

Table 2.1 Sample points surveyed in major wildlife habitats en route the existing SV section.

2.5.2 Wetlands:
Wetlands are areas transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or land is covered by shallow water (SAC, 1992). Wetlands thereby support a wide array of economically important floral and faunal species some of which are rare, vulnerable and endangered. Conservation of these sensitive ecosystem is a must for the sustenance of life support systems. The pipeline crosses some of the major rivers along its course. Majority of these rivers were seasonal and hence, during the field survey in the month of May they were dry. At each river sample point short stretches upstream and downstream were walked in order to appreciate the river width, type of banks, river-bed, direct and indirect evidences of wildlife and moisture/ water availability. At each location local people were also interviewed for obtaining secondary information on wildlife values (fishes, crocodiles, turtles, birds, river characteristics, etc.). In a case of lakes and village ponds a similar methodology as described in the case of rivers was applied.

2.5.3 Grasslands :
Throughout the pipeline route several important grasslands areas were seen. These grasslands or grazing lands are mainly of two types : 9i) 'free grazing plots', and (ii) hay plots. The 'free grazing plots' are the culturable and non-culturable wastelands around villages and urban areas, belonging too the government. Cattle are allowed to graze freely in these plots during the 'growth period'. These grazing lands come up only during the monsoon months of late June to October (the 'growth period') and thus can be called as 'natural' to 'semi-natural grazing lands'. Grasses are sown in any of the grazing lands. While 'hay plots' can be private or government owned mainly by the Forest Department as Reserved Grasslands ('Vidis'). These 'vidis' areas are well protected by the private owner or government staff atleast during the active growth period. Grass is harvested during the post-monsoon season, dried, baled and stored for the consumption by livestock during lean and scarcity periods. After systematic collection of grass these 'vidis' areas are opened up for free grazing by livestock. The livestock is then able to graze upon the remnants tussocks of perennial grasses and left over grass. These arid and semi-arid grassland areas throughout the pipeline route serve as potential wildlife habitats for species viz. grassland dependent avifauna including endangered Great Indian bustard (Choriotis nigriceps), Lesser florican (Sypheotides indica) and a few of the rare and endangered mammals namely chinkara, blackbuck, desert cat, caracal, hyena, wolf, etc. All ecologically sensitive grassland habitats i.e. reserved grasslands ('vidis') belonging to the Forest Department en route pipeline were surveyed and data on structure, composition and productivity was collected. Field data on wildlife evidences was also collected during intensive studies of these habitats.

2.5.4 Forests :
Mainly the open scrub (Salvadora sp., Acacia sp., Zyzaphus sp., etc.) was seen along the pipeline route. The vegetation assessment procedures varied according to the vegetation height classes. In case of forest< 5 m height class ten circular plots each of 5 m radius were laid at an interval of 100 m on a straight transect. While in case of forest > 5 m height class the size of the circular plots were of 10 m radius. The quantification of vegetation was done on the basis of field data collected in these sample plots. All species within the sampling plot were identified and their individuals were enumerated. However, in forests with almost pure stands of single species, associated plant species were ocularly observed and recorded.

In order to assess the wildlife values, direct sightings and indirect animal evidences (faecal droppings and tracks etc.) were recorded within the sample plots. Information on the wildlife in the forests was further substantiated by secondary information collected during dialogues with the local people and all other possible sources.

Fixed radius point count method (Askins, et al. 1989) was used to estimate forest avifauna richness. In each forest area 10 fixed radius (25 m) point count place were laid at every 100 m interval on a straight line.

Biotic disturbances in terms of lopping, tree cutting and grazing signs were quantified using a rating scale (0 - 3) viz. 0 - Nil, 1 - Low, 2 - Moderate, and 3 - High pressure. Actual number of trees lopped/cut in each vegetation sample plot were noted. In addition dung/pellet groups were counted in the sample plots and their numbers were also recorded. Whenever wood cutters and livestock (cattle, sheep, goat and camel) were seen in the forest area their numbers were recorded.

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE
The assessment of how and why a species, a population, a community, a habitat and an ecosystem as a whole are threatened is crucial to rational decision making before the implementation of a major developmental project. Spellerberg (1992) has provided a set of ecological guidelines for determining priorities for nature conservation. Taking a clue from these guidelines a set of evaluation criteria for the assessment of conservation significance of various wildlife habitats/ecosystems en route the proposed pipeline project has been evolved and described here.

(i) Legal status of wildlife habitats :
Under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, forest and wildlife areas have been provided varying level of protection, legal status and also provisions of different levels of uses. Accordingly five categories viz. National Park (NP), Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Reserved Forests (RF), Protected Forests (PF) and privately owned areas were recognised and conservation significance rating viz. 5,4,3,2, and 1, respectively to these have been assigned. It is obvious in this case that a National Park has the highest conservation importance.

(ii) Extent of wildlife areas:
Size or actual extent of a wildlife area is critical because the capacity to support the range of diverse flora and fauna of an ecosystem would depend on the total area included for or available to conservation such values. Following evaluation criteria have been evolved with regard to the size of a grassland, a forest and an open scrub. Categories of coastal and marine ecosystem and wetlands (rivers, lakes and village ponds) have been excluded from this particular evaluation criteria on account that only one major coastal and marine ecosystem i.e. Gulf of Kutch MNP and WLS lies in the route of proposed pipeline. Since MNP has a National Park status and has been well recognised as a megacentre of coastal and marine biodiversity, the importance of Gulf of Kutch or MNP as a whole has to be considered as an extremely important ecologically sensitive entity.

Similarly for various categories of wetland a separate criteria on the basis of their seasonality has been evolved. These criteria classes are: (a) Wetland having water only during the monsoon season of 3-4 months, (b) Wetland having water during the greater part of the year except the dry summer season, and (c) Wetlands which are perennial. These wetlands have been assigned ranking values 1,2, and 3, respectively. These values are in an increasing order of conservation significance.

(iii) Status of wildlife habitat ecosystem - Species diversity, biological productivity and present level of threat:
In view of a very large extent of proposed pipeline, and adoption of rapid assessment methods, it was not possible and desirable to present detailed inventories of flora and fauna for each area, assessment of overall species diversity, and estimation of primary and secondary productivity. However, based on actual field observations, secondary data collection and professional judgement status value to each wildlife habitat was assigned as explained below:
 

In summary, a wildlife habitat/an ecosystem can achieve the maximum score of 11 and a minimum of 3 by taking into account assigned values as per the above items (i), (ii), and (iii).  Thus, a wildlife habitat/ecosystem securing higher score by above criteria signifies a greater importance with respect to conservation.  The explanation for the final evaluation criteria is presented in the following tabular statement.
 

After describing the baseline status of each wildlife habitat/ ecosystem located in the pipeline route, the probable impacts during the construction, operational and maintenance phase have been visualised. These impacts have been visualised on the basis of available scientific reports on ecological changes and professional judgment. At the end, mitigatory measures for such impacts have been recommended.