A 600 krn stretch of the Chambal river between Jawahar Sagar darn and Panchanda has been protected since 1978 as National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS), for conservation and management of the gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) under section 18(1) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The width of the sanctuary is 1000 m from either bank of the river. This is one of the most important wetland sanctuaries of the country as it harbours worlds largest population of gharial (Plate 2.2) and act as last refuge for it. It is also a suitable habitat for several other aquatic species of conservation significance. These include mugger crocodile, fresh water turtles and two prominent aquatic mammals -the otter and the gangetic dolphin. The avifaunal characteristic is also interesting as the sanctuary offers semi-arid banks and wetland for over three hundred birds (Rao 1991). The major crossing of the proposed pipeline enroute is river Chambal. This pipeline will cross the Chambal river within the sanctuary and cover a total length of 2.5 km of wetland and the bank area of the National Chambal Sanctuary (Fig. 2.0). This protected area enroute the proposed line therefore becomes an important study site for EIA.