Mitigation measures key to reduce negative impact,says study

The PMC,as per the court directives,had appointed an agency to prepare an impact analysis statement for the project. The statement was recently submitted to the PMC.

Additional City Engineer Pramod Nirbhavan said the findings would soon be submitted to the court. “We will seek an early hearing of the case and present our stand,” he added.

The study says carrying capacity of Law College Road is completely exhausted due to the ever-increasing traffic volume,which points to the need for alternatives and new roads.

“The proposed road has more of a negative impact though the positive effects on Law College Road are compensatory. If the proper mitigation measures are taken to reduce the negative impact from development activities,the project will become environmentally sustainable,” it said.

Environmental planning with adequate funding and a public audit of the Road Construction Project will lead to sustainable traffic management in the city,said the report,keeping alive hopes of the project taking off.

The study admits there will be considerable impact on flora,fauna,watershed features during the construction phase as stated in the impact analysis chart. It says there will be a temporary increase in vehicular movement and air pollution on the roads leading to construction site,cutting trees or filling of ground will lead to accelerated erosion along the construction site. Air pollution after construction may reduce considerably but will increase proportionately as the vehicular movement will increase,it adds.

On the other hand,the study also concludes that there will be positive impacts on the health of residents of Law College Road area as the congestion levels will dip owing to reduction in traffic volume. Social unrest due to congestion and accidents will reduce substantially on Law College Road.

The report raises concerns that the new road may lead to encroachment and population pressure in the adjacent areas. This will lead to excessive tree felling,land-grabbing,and pollution due to liquid and solid waste dumping.

On economic impacts,the study says that the improved fuel economy (50 per cent) due to de-congestion will be a positive impact of the proposed road.

“The savings will be around Rs. 6.5 crore a year considering only two-wheelers and four-wheelers while the cost of construction of the proposed road is Rs 24 crore,” it said.

The report suggests mitigation measures,disaster control,environment management plan which includes careful alignment of road to avoid tree felling,transplantation of existing trees,planting local species with good canopy along the proposed road – 20 m on both the sides.

Control of erosion,minimum damage to water courses though may be dry during non-monsoon period,control of vehicular pollution during the construction phase,control of dust pollution due to cutting and filling activities,control of noise pollution. Avoidance of landslides or avalanche of soil or rock fragments due to cutting filling activities.

It suggested environmental budget of at least 2 per cent of the project cost and also including cost of preventing environmental deterioration in the project budget,provision of budget for rehabilitation of not only project affected people but for ecosystem components like plants and animals also. And need for strict legislation to prevent any encroachment or settlement near or along the road for next 100 years.

Prashant Inamdar of Pedestrians First said,“I had said the project should not be undertaken if there is no analysis of traffic of the area. If the PMC has done so,the study should be made public,” he added.