The Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL) proposes to lay a 107 km long pipeline between its main complex at Baroda and an upcoming Gandhar Petrochemical Complex at Dahej. This will enhance the transport of Ethylene, Propylene and Naphtha between the two complexes. The Engineers India Limited (EIL), New Delhi has been appointed as a nodal agency for undertaking a comprehensive study of the environmental impacts of the proposed expansion prior undertaking any construction to ensure environmental protection and safeguard the natural environment of the project area. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, agreed upon to undertake the EIA of the proposed Dahej - Gandhar - Baroda (DGB) pipeline under the consultancy offer given by EIL. The major objective of the WII study was to evaluate the impacts of proposed expansion on the wilderness values of natural habitats lying enroute the proposed pipeline.

The proposed DGB pipeline would largely traverse through agricultural fields. Only at three points it would traverse through wetland areas. The status of the wildlife values of the three wetland areas have been evaluated during the study and the likely impacts of the project on them have been discussed in this report.

The report has been divided into five sections. Section - I provides information on the project environment, design and the objectives of this EIA study. Section - II focuses on the approach and the methodology employed for the assessment of impacts on biological environment of the project. Section - III is an evaluation of pre-project status of the wildlife values of the areas enroute the proposed pipeline. Prediction of project impacts have been dealt in Section - IV. Section - V sums up the major findings of the study.

The assistance and support provided by several organisations and individuals has greatly helped us in the preparation of this report.

The co-operation rendered by the professionals and the staff of EIL at Dahej is gratefully acknowledged. Discussions with Shri A.M. Walvekar, Resident Construction Manager, assisted the WII research team in synthesising the relevant information. Shri D.C. Dha, Sr. Survey Officer, EIL, Dahej is gratefully acknowledged for his unfailing support during the course of this study.

Shri A.G. Shah, General Manager, Projects; Shri J.H. Patva Sr. Manager; Shri D.C. Mehta, Project Engineer and Shri L.L. Jain, Manager, Processing and Operations of IPCL, Baroda are specially thanked for their kind support.

Dr. P.M.Pimparkar and Shri R.C. Sharma of EIL, New Delhi, are sincerely thanked for their help and co-operation. Dr. P.C. Mankodi and Dr. Nita V. Shah, both, members of the faculty of the Dept. of Zoology, M.S.University, Baroda have been a valuable source of useful information for this report.

At the Institute, Shri H.S. Panwar, Director and Shri S.K. Mukherjee, Additional Director, are gratefully acknowledged for their constant guidance and support.

Inspite of the rigid schedule for the preparation of the report, sincere efforts of Shri N.S. Bist, Shri G. Shanmugam, Shri Vipul Desai, Shri Mahesh Ghosh, Shri Mohammed Ismail and Shri Mohan Singh made it possible for us to have this report in its present form and well in time.

Dr. Asha Rajvanshi

(Scientist In-charge, EIA Cell)