National Board for Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Forests, India FIRST DRAFT (10 !

to"er #011$ for comments of Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife

%&idelines for linear infrastr&!t&re intr&sions in nat&ral areas' roads and (o)erlines

* NTENTS Preamble National Board for Wildlife Initiative 1. Goals and Mission Statement 2. Scope of Guidelines and Definitions 3. olic! riorit! Schema" Generic Guidelines for #oads and o$erlines in Natural %reas 4. Specific Guidelines %pplica'le to #oads and o$erlines ). %dditional Specific Guidelines for o$erlines &. %dditional Specific Guidelines for #oads #ele+ant Scientific ,iterature" -e! references Guidelines and Best ractices" .ther Documents /seful We'sites

+a,e 2 2 3 4 & ( 14 1* 22 22 23

%&idelines for linear infrastr&!t&re intr&sions in nat&ral areas' roads and (o)erlines
+REAMB-E
Roads and electricity transmission lines (powerlines) are an essential part of India's development, providing for vital needs of transport, communication, and power !"e creation, e#pansion, and maintenance of suc" infrastructure also carries, "owever, significant ecological and environmental impacts and social and cultural conse$uences %uc" impacts are particularly serious for sensitive natural areas, especially Protected &reas (P&s) suc" as Wildlife %anctuaries, National Par's, (ommunity Reserves, and Wetlands, and for indigenous "uman communities dependent on t"ese natural resources for t"eir lives and liveli"oods &s described in t"e detailed bac'ground paper (Raman )*++), roads and powerlines establis"ed as linear intrusions in suc" natural areas, cause "abitat loss and fragmentation, spread of invasive alien species, desiccation of vegetation, wind,t"row damage to trees in forest areas, increased incidence of fires, animal in-ury and mortality (e g , road'ill, electrocution), c"anges in animal be"aviour, increased developmental, tourist and "unting pressures, increase in pollution, garbage, and various disturbances Roads and powerlines may also "ave negative effects on indigenous and marginalised people, rural and forest,dwelling communities t"roug" e#posure to new social and mar'et pressures, loss of land and relocation, and ine$uitous distribution of costs and benefits from infrastructure pro-ects .iven India's commitment to sustainable development, it is necessary t"at infrastructure development s"ould be carried out wit"out compromising t"e long,term value of natural areas, t"eir ecosystem services, and imperilling t"e prospects for more "olistic development This document presents an overall policy priority schema and framework of generic and specific guidelines for the creation, design, realignment, removal, restoration, and maintenance and mitigatory measures for roads and powerlines in defined natural areas of importance in the country. Recognising t"e diversity of situations and environments across t"e country, provision is made for incorporation of site,specific e#pert advice, consultation, and implementation

NATI NA- B ARD F R WI-D-IFE INITIATI.E

During the )th meeting of 0ndia1s National Board for Wildlife 2NBW,3 held on 1( March 24145 under the Chairmanship of the 6onoura'le rime Minister5 it $as decided that there is a need to e+ol+e guidelines to mitigate the gro$ing impact of +arious linear intrusions such as roads5 pipelines5 transmission lines5 etc.5 in $ildlife ha'itats. 0t $as also decided that pro7ect authorities $ould 'e acti+el! encouraged to pro+ide alternati+e alignments to '!pass rotected %reas. 8arlier5 at a meeting con+ened '! the Secretar!5 Ministr! of 8n+ironment and 9orests on 22 Decem'er 244(5 the non:official mem'ers of the NBW, presented that most high$a! pro7ects $ere tr!ing to force a fait accompli '! ma;ing huge pu'lic in+estments and starting $or; on non:forest land and then approaching the Ministr! for permissions for sections passing through rotected %reas. <he mem'ers suggested that grants of e# post,facto appro+als must 'e stopped and that the #egional .ffice must prosecute +iolations. 0t $as also suggested that e+er! proposal must contain a detailed report on alternati+es e=plored and reasons $h! it is not feasi'le along $ith a signed underta;ing that $or; has not 'een started on forest land or non:forest land. <he matter $as referred to the 2

Standing Committee of the NBW, 2SC:NBW,3 for deli'eration. 0n the 24th meeting of the Standing Committee of the NBW, held on 13 .cto'er 24145 it $as discussed that linear intrusions $ere a serious issue and a sound polic! needs to 'e framed consulting +arious e=perts. <he Chairman re>uested the mem'er of the Standing Committee from the Nature Conser+ation 9oundation5 M!sore5 to prepare a 'ac;ground paper that could 'e discussed at the ne=t meeting to mo+e to$ards the formulation of a polic! on linear intrusions at the national le+el. <he 'ac;ground paper summarising the gro$ing 'od! of scientific studies5 in 0ndia and around the $orld5 highlighting the main findings and ;e! concerns $as ta'led along $ith a presentation at the 21st meeting of the SC:NBW, on 24 ?anuar! 2411. % specific polic! schema $as proposed in the 'ac;ground paper and presentation and $as fa+oura'l! recei+ed '! mem'ers. 9ollo$ing this meeting and presentation5 the committee decided that draft guidelines for roads and po$erlines 'e drafted for discussion and future adoption. % further effort $as made to e=amine the literature5 polic! prescriptions5 and guidelines for linear intrusions de+eloped and implemented in +arious countries. Based on this5 the follo$ing draft guidelines are placed for re+ie$ and discussion at the 23rd meeting of the SC:NBW,5 indicating the o+erall polic! schema and underl!ing rules and guidelines for practice5 implementation5 and monitoring.

% A-S AND MISSI N STATEMENT

1/1 %oal' <o esta'lish5 as an essential part of long:term sustaina'le de+elopment in 0ndia5 ecologicall! sound polic! and practice in the creation5 maintenance5 remo+al5 and realignment of linear infrastructures such as roads and electricit! transmission lines 2po$erlines3 in order to a+oid or minimise the negati+e impacts on natural areas and 'iodi+ersit!. 1/# Mission' <o re:design and re:engineer ecologicall!:sound polic! and pra=is to protect and restore the ecolog! of natural areas threatened or negati+el! affected '! linear intrusions such as roads and transmission po$erline structures and clearings. + ) + ("allenge/ <o meet the re>uirements of a gro$ing econom! and need for relia'le and safe transportation and po$er infrastructure $hile a+oiding or minimising negati+e impacts on nature conser+ation and ecological sustaina'ilit!. + ) ) 0pportunity/ <o integrate the 'est ;no$ledge from ecolog!5 engineering5 and other sciences including the social sciences to ensure that 'iological and ph!sical s!stems in the landscape are considered along $ith human needs and applied to shape and preser+e our landscapes and communities into the future in a sustaina'le5 ecologicall!:sound5 and cost:efficient manner. !"oug" man often tears asunder t"e fabric 1of nature2 t"roug" ignorance or selfis"ness, social progress no doubt consists in consciously weaving t"e forces of nature and society into finer and finer patterns of correlation and solidarity It is t"e 'nowledge of and respect for t"e intricacy of t"e web of life t"at will guide man to "is "ig"est destiny @ #adha;amal Mu;er7ee 21A343

# S* +E F %0IDE-INES AND DEFINITI NS

#/1 T1e (resent ,&idelines a((ly to all roads and (o)erlines t1at (ass t1ro&,1 any of t1e follo)in, areas, referred 1en!efort1 as 2nat&ral areas2' 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 2.1.) 2.1.& 2.1.* 2.1.( 2.1.A 2.1.14 2.1.11 2.1.12 2.1.13 2.1.14 National ar;s Wildlife Sanctuaries <iger #eser+es 8lephant #eser+es and designated corridors Communit! #eser+es Conser+ation #eser+es #eser+ed 9orests rotected 9orests /nclassified State 9orests Wetlands and ri+ers 0mportant Bird %reas 8cologicall! Sensiti+e %reas Coastal #egulation Bone Grasslands of importance

2.1.1) .ther sites as ma! 'e notified '! the Ministr! of 8n+ironment and 9orests from time to time #/# In addition, t1ese ,&idelines s1all a((ly to areas lyin, in t1e vi!inity of nat&ral areas, )1i!1 is 1ere"y defined as lo!ations lyin, )it1in a 10 3m radi&s from t1e "o&ndary of t1e a"ove4mentioned nat&ral areas, e5!e(t in t1e follo)in, !ases' 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 #eser+ed 9orests rotected 9orests /nclassified State 9orests

(rovided t1at' (a$ areas in t1e vi!inity of t1e sites listed &nder #/# also fall in t1e vi!inity of any of t1e ot1er !ate,ories of sites listed &nder #/1, ("$ ,&idelines are not a((li!a"le to sites listed in #/# if !redi"le inde(endent environmental im(a!t st&dies and s!ientifi! eviden!e !an "e o"tained or add&!ed s1o)in, t1at (o)erlines or roads do not 1ave any detrimental effe!ts on t1e nat&ral areas "y virt&e of "ein, in t1e 4

defined vi!inity/ #/6 Amenity val&es of nat&ral areas are defined as val&es en!om(assin, aest1eti!, !&lt&ral, et1i!al, and re!reational as(e!ts related to non4!ons&m(tive and non4 destr&!tive &se of t1ese areas, and a((re!iation of nat&re and )ildlife, vis&al a((eal and s!enery, as )ell as e!olo,i!al servi!es of nat&ral areas as )aters1eds, !ar"on stores and sin3s, and as !lean, nat&ral environments &ns&llied "y artifi!ial "&ilt str&!t&res and infrastr&!t&ral elements/ #/7 Detrimental effe!ts are defined as any effe!t t1at leads to loss, !onversion, or dist&r"an!e of nat&ral areas, or t1at res&lts in de,radation, fra,mentation, s(read of invasive alien s(e!ies, (oll&tion, or t1at !a&ses in8&ry and deat1 of individ&als, or de!line or e5tin!tion of (o(&lations of native )ildlife s(e!ies ((lants and animals$ in!l&din, "&t not restri!ted to t1ose listed in t1e follo)in, ta"le'
Detrimental effe!t Wildlife mortalit! 2road ;ill3 Wildlife mortalit! 2electrocution3 6a'itat loss and degradation Barriers causing ha'itat fragmentation Conduits for in+asi+e alien species 8ffects on population genetics ,andslides and soil erosion Disruption of canop! continuit! for ar'oreal animals in closed:canop! forests 8cological traps Change in animal 'eha+iour in or along linear intrusion 0ncreased human presence and pollution 2including noise and electrosmog3 8ffects on local and indigenous peoples Drain on pu'lic mone! due to poor maintenance practices stemming from lac; of ecological understanding 6igher light penetration and desiccation of +egetation 6igher da!time temperatures and greater range of temperature e=tremes 6igher $ind speeds and $ind:thro$ of trees in forest areas Cutting of all +egetation resulting in $eed proliferation and suppression of nati+e +egetation regeneration Distur'ance related to construction and maintenance Clearance of +egetation e+en far from lines 2as in +alle!s $ith o+erhead lines3 enetration of difficult terrain and +er! steep5 other$ise undistur'ed areas 0ncreased ris; of fires5 deli'erate and due to desiccation ollution5 sedimentation5 and changed discharge regimes into $ater 'odies 0mpairment of natural aesthetic and scenic +alues due to 'uilt structures Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces No No Ces Ces Ces ossi'le Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces Roads +o)erlines Ces Ces Ces Ces Ces /n;no$n Ces Ces ossi'le

6 + -I*9 +RI RIT9 S*:EMA' %ENERI* %0IDE-INES F R R ADS AND + WER-INES IN NAT0RA- AREAS
6/1 At a f&ndamental level, linear infrastr&!t&re (ro8e!ts (roads and (o)erlines$ affe!tin, all nat&ral areas and sites in!l&ded )it1in t1e (&rvie) of #/1 and #/# s1all (erfor!e "e eval&ated and !onsidered in relation to t1e follo)in, s!1ema in order of (riority' +revention, Reali,nment, Restoration, and Miti,ation/ 3.1.1 Prevention' B! this principle5 the foremost option for linear intrusion pro7ects is to a+oid altogether the ma7or rotected %reas or other designated critical $ildlife ha'itats5 critical tiger ha'itats5 recognised $etlands5 and other natural areas listed '! so planning the general route of the first line in the first place5 e+en if the total length of the intrusion is increased in conse>uence. <his Primacy of Prevention Principle recognises that linear intrusions ha+e a range of immediate and long:term deleterious effects5 'oth ecological and social5 in natural areas of high ecological5 amenit!5 and li+elihood +alues5 and suggests that in +irtuall! all cases5 intelligent and sustaina'le alternati+es can 'e found that are sociall! and ecologicall! more appropriate. 3.1.2 Realignment: ro7ects must in+estigate in detail and consider the possi'ilit! of alternati+e routes that a+oid natural areas of such high ecological and amenit! +alues. Such detailed consideration and alternati+e routes must 'e an integral feature of pro7ect proposal and implementation documents. #ealignments must also 'e de+eloped in a transparent manner consultation $ith local communities affected '! the routing and su'7ect e=perts in ecolog!5 $ildlife5 and en+ironment5 'esides engineers. <his is in ;eeping $ith the outcome of the National Board for Wildlife meeting chaired '! the 6onoura'le rime Minister5 $hich concluded that pro7ects passing through or impacting an! rotected %rea and critical ha'itats should perforce consider realignment to a+oid these areas. 3.1.3 Restoration: 0n natural areas5 e=isting routes 2roads and po$erlines3 that are in disuse 2e.g.5 old logging roads5 defunct po$erlines35 or e+aluated to 'e inefficient or detrimental to their o'7ects5 shall 'e targeted for ecological restoration to their original or more natural condition5 to enhance their ecological and amenit! +alues. #estoration of roads and po$erlines should 'e through highest standards of ecological restoration5 as defined '! the Societ! for 8cological #estoration 0nternational5 using local and di+erse species nati+e to the corresponding natural +egetation t!pe and $ith minimal distur'ance to landscape5 soil5 and +egetation. 3.1.4 Mitigation: Mitigation5 defined as measures to minimise detrimental effects of roads and po$erlines on ecolog!5 $ildlife5 local communities5 and users5 shall 'e considered onl! for e=isting structures and ne$ cases $here the a'o+e options ha+e 'een comprehensi+el! considered and o+erruled $ith ade>uate 7ustification. <hese are also su'7ect to re>uisite appro+als from the Ministr! of 8n+ironment and 9orests and statutor! 'odies such as National Board for Wildlife5 9orest %d+isor! Committee5 and National <iger Conser+ation %uthorit!5 as rele+ant to each case. 0n &

cases $here5 for con+incing reasons5 linear intrusions cannot 'e pre+ented5 there are no alternati+es5 and realignments are impossi'le5 it is imperati+e that mitigation measures are considered and included in the pro7ect planning5 design5 'udget5 implementation5 and monitoring stages. 6/# As a ,eneral (oli!y, (ro8e!ts and (lans &nder any of t1e a"ove s!1ema s1all "e develo(ed in a trans(arent manner in !ons&ltation )it1 all !on!erned (arties, in!l&din, "&t not restri!ted to t1e *entral and State %overnments and line de(artments, ,ram sa"1as and !ivil so!iety or,anisations )or3in, in t1e land t1ro&,1 )1i!1 t1e ro&te (asses/ 3.3 As a matter of (oli!y, sit&ations leadin, to fait accompli "y startin, )or3 on se!tions of roads or linear intr&sions o&tside +rote!ted Areas and invo3in, already in!&rred e5(endit&re as a reason for !om(letion of (ro8e!t s1all not "e entertained/ T1e Ministry of Environment and Forests s1all mandate and form&late r&les at *entral and State levels to (revent t1e emer,en!e of s&!1 fait accompli sit&ations "y esta"lis1in, a system of (&"li! !ons&ltation and trans(aren!y of (ro8e!ts from t1e (lannin, sta,e on)ards, in!l&din, t1ro&,1 (&"li! dis!los&re of (ro(osed ro&tes and !&rrent stat&s;sta,e of all road and (o)erline (ro8e!ts/

6/7 It s1all "e t1e res(onsi"ility of t1e State Forest De(artments and (ro8e!t (ro(onents to 8ointly or,anise, 1old, and re!ord in detail (&"li! !ons&ltations in !onne!tion )it1 all linear intr&sion (ro8e!ts in nat&ral areas )it1 t1e follo)in, !om(onents' 3.4.1 3.4.2 consultations at <alu; and District le+els $ith local communities designated $e'sites $ith user:friendl! interface hosted '!

3.4.2.1 the State 9orest Departments 2coordinated $ith other rele+ant line departments3 for pro7ects that are planned5 forthcoming5 or 'eing implemented in natural areas and their +icinit! as defined in 2.1 and 2.25 in order to recei+e and pu'licl! record comments recei+ed5 3.4.2.2 the Ministr! of 8n+ironment and 9orests 20ndia3 for national and multi:state pro7ects 2in coordination $ith National 6igh$a!s and 8lectricit! %uthorities and other line departments3. 3.4.3 in+ol+ement of ci+il societ! organisations5 including communit!:'ased organisations 2CB.s35 non:go+ernmental organisations 2NG.s35 and indi+iduals $or;ing on social and en+ironmental issues in the consultations at all le+els. 6/< All road and (o)erline (ro8e!ts in nat&ral areas and t1eir vi!inity s1all 1ave a !om(re1ensive So!ial and Environmental Im(a!t Assessment (SEIA$ !arried o&t "y an inde(endent a,en!y meetin, t1e follo)in, minim&m re=&irements' 3.).1 the agenc! carr!ing out the assessment is not directl! paid '! the pro7ect proponent or contractor5 'ut is commissioned and paid '! the Ministr! for 8n+ironment and 9orests 20ndia3 or an appointed coordinating national institution5 $ith costs reco+ered from 2a3 pro7ect proponent5 2'3 C%M % or other Central funds *

3.).2 the S80% ma;es a proper cost:'enefit anal!sis $ith social and en+ironmental costs and 'enefits 3.).3 Social and 8n+ironmental impact assessment should 'e carried out '! competent independent agencies or personnel familiar $ith the ecolog!5 natural +egetation5 $ildlife5 and local communities of the region 3.).4 the S80% also assesses $hether pro7ects meet the conditions as re>uired '! these guidelines5 including specificall! $hether the pro7ect proposals include ade>uate consideration of" 3.).4.1 potential realignments and re:routing that $ill minimise social and en+ironmental costs 3.).4.2 allocation in planning5 logistics5 and 'udget for" 2a3 $or;er housing and transport from outside natural areas5 2'3 mitigator! measures re>uired5 2c3 pu'lic consultations at talu; and district le+els5 2d3 conser+ation and restoration of +egetation along route5 2e3 remo+al of de'ris and other unused construction materials to outside the natural areas5 and 2f3 post:pro7ect monitoring. 3.).4.3 the cumulati+e impact of the +arious pro7ects fragmenting a particular rotected %rea or landscape 2and not merel! the indi+idual pro7ect under consideration3 $hile considering proposed alignments and effects.

7 S+E*IFI* %0IDE-INES A++-I*AB-E T R ADS AND + WER-INES

7/1 +revention of linear intr&sions in nat&ral areas s1all 1ave (rima!y over (ermission or san!tion4)it14miti,ation, )1ere alternatives in!l&din, reali,nment 1ave not "een e5(lored or !onsidered for im(lementation/ 7/# Ne) (ro8e!ts t1at fail to !onsider and !om(are re4ali,nments or re4ro&tin, avoidin, nat&ral areas, and fail to (rovide !redi"le 8&stifi!ation as to )1y t1e ali,nment (ro(osed is t1e only o(tion, s1all not "e !onsidered or treated as a site4 s(e!ifi! (ro8e!t/ 7/6 +ro8e!ts t1at do not e5(li!itly in!or(orate )ildlife4friendly desi,ns and re=&ired !rossin, str&!t&res s1all not "e (ermitted in nat&ral areas, in!l&din, desi,nated (rote!ted areas and !riti!al 1a"itats/ T1ese s1all "e in!l&ded in main "&d,et of (ro8e!t at (lannin, sta,e itself/ 7/7 T1ere s1all "e a "an on a!tivities s&!1 as t1e follo)in, in !onne!tion )it1 road and (o)erline )or3 in nat&ral areas' 4.4.1 dumping of $astes 2all $astes should 'e segregated and carried to near'! to$nships or cities for safe disposal3 4.4.2 soil or $ater pollution and open 'urning of $astes

4.4.3 dumping of solids and an! $astes5 including $aste $ater5 oils5 and li>uids from $ashing and domestic uses5 into ri+ers5 streams5 or an! $ater 'odies 4.4.4 4.4.) 4.4.& 4.4.* 4.4.( cutting of old trees such as 'an!an and other nati+e species5 planting of alien tree species such as eucal!ptus and acacia $attles5 camping of $or;ers and par;ing of +ehicles inside natural areas5 $ashing +ehicles and e>uipment at or along streams5 ri+ers5 or $ater'odies5 cutting of fire$ood $ithin the natural areas5

4.4.A cutting of +egetation leading to complete 'rea;age of canop! co+er in closed:canop! forests 4.4.14 other acti+ities as ma! 'e specified in $riting at the time of pro7ect sanction.

7/< As far as any (ermitted ne) roads or (o)erlines and road4)idenin, )or3s are !on!erned, t1e follo)in, elements in nat&ral areas s1all re!eive (rote!tion and !annot "e destroyed, dama,ed, removed, or altered d&rin, !onstr&!tion and ot1er )or3s' 4.).1 an! mature5 nati+e tree species of girth at 'reast height D34 cm

4.).2 all 'an!an5 peepul5 neem5 and tamarind trees5 and an! other species +alued '! local communities as determined through open consultations or deemed useful for local people and +illage communities 4.).3 an! listed protected or reser+ed plant or animal species5

4.).4 an! gro+e or tree deemed sacred '! local communities and related places of $orship 4.).) natural streams5 ri+ers5 and $ater'odies and including roc;s5 'oulders5 sand5 gra+el5 and minerals from $ithin the $ater'odies or along their 'an;s 7/> Any (lantin, of trees or ot1er (lant s(e!ies !arried o&t alon, roads and (o)erlines s1all ens&re t1at (lantin, is !arried o&t of only t1ose (lant s(e!ies' 4.&.1 that are determined '! a competent ecologist or 'otanist to 'e nati+e to the natural +egetation t!pe of the specific location along the road or po$erline $here plantings are carried out 4.&.2 that are non:in+asi+e species

4.&.3 that ma! include nati+e and naturalised species such as ficus5 7amun5 tamarind5 and other plants useful to local communities5 in sections of roads and po$erlines passing near +illages and communit! forests 7/? +eriodi! !learin, of ve,etation (28&n,le !learin,2, 2)eed !learin,2$ alon, roads and A

(o)erlines s1all ens&re t1at all s&!1 !learin, )or3 is sensitive to lo!al nat&ral ve,etation ty(es, and !arried o&t in !ons&ltation )it1 e!olo,ists and "otanists in order t1at native s(e!ies (rovidin, ,ro&nd !over "e retained, )1ile t1ere is tar,eted removal of alien s(e!ies alon, roads and (o)erlines/ *learin, s1o&ld not "e &nderta3en in s&!1 a manner t1at t1ere is slas1in, of all &nderstorey ve,etation )it1o&t re,ard to native and alien s(e!ies/ *&ttin, of native s(e!ies seedlin,s and sa(lin,s and o(enin, &( of 1a"itats leads to (roliferation of invasive alien s(e!ies t1at t1rive in o(ened areas, leadin, to f&rt1er maintenan!e needs and e5(endit&re/ T1e )or3 e5e!&ted "y res(e!tive line de(artments, s1all "e s&"8e!t to' 4.*.1 periodic assessment at inter+als of not less than once a !ear '! independent ecologists and 'otanists commissioned for site assessments '! State 9orest Departments or statutor! committees 29orest %d+isor! Committee5 Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife3 in each area 4.*.2 preference for emplo!ment of local people in the area through $hich the road or po$erline passes 2especiall! from tri'al communities3 o+er outside $or;ers in all +egetation clearing operations5 as local people are 'etter at identif!ing nati+e and alien plant species 4.*.3 respects the guidelines on ma=imum $idth of +egetation clearing indicated under the additional specific guidelines for po$erlines 2Section )3 and roads 2Section &3. 7/@ Safe, !lean, 1&mane, and 1a"ita"le a!!ommodation s1all "e (rovided for all )or3ers d&rin, !onstr&!tion and re(air )or3 o&tside t1e nat&ral areas/ Residin, in nat&ral areas s1all not "e (ermitted and trans(ort s1all "e (rovided to "rin, )or3for!e to site everyday from desi,nated o&tside !am(sites and near"y villa,es , to)ns1i(s, or !ities/ B&d,et and lo,isti!s for 1o&sin, and trans(ort of )or3ers s1o&ld "e inte,ral to (ro8e!ts from t1e (lannin, sta,e on)ards/ +ro8e!ts t1at disre,ard t1is as(e!t s1all not "e !onsidered/ 7/A T1e Ministry of Environment and Forests (India$ s1all !oordinate a nation4)ide effort in !on8&n!tion )it1 State Forest De(artments, !onservation N% s, and individ&als to identify linear intr&sions t1at are dis&sed, def&n!t, a"andoned, or (arti!&larly 1armf&l for !onservation in t1e nat&ral areas, and "e,in t1e (ro!ess of e!olo,i!al restoration of t1ese areas )it1 re,eneration and re!overy of t1eir )ildlife and !onservation val&es/ Removal;ri((in, of def&n!t and dis&sed roads, tram)ays, (o)erlines, and ot1er dis&sed str&!t&res follo)ed "y e!olo,i!al restoration (in!l&din, nat&ral re,eneration of native ve,etation$ s1o&ld "e &nderta3en on a nation)ide "asis/ T1ese may "e s(e!ifi!ally tar,eted for' 4.A.1 4.A.2 4.A.3 4.A.4 a'andoned roads 2e.g.5 old logging coupe roads3 unsurfaced roads in infre>uent use defunct or disused po$erlines and tram$a!s roads and po$erlines disrupting ;e! ha'itats5 $hich can 'e realigned 14

4.14 E!olo,i!al restoration of linear intr&sions identified as a"ove s1o&ld follo) international (rin!i(les (So!iety for E!olo,i!al Restoration International S!ien!e and +oli!y Wor3in, %ro&( #007$ and meet t1e follo)in, minim&m re=&irements' 4.14.1 use a di+erse mi= of local species nati+e to the corresponding natural +egetation t!pe 4.14.2 ensure that restoration minimises an! additional temporar! distur'ance5 particularl! soil erosion and loss of ad7oining regenerating natural +egetation 4.14.3 road remo+al through ripping5 re:contouring or other intensi+e methods follo$ 'est practice 2e.g.5 S$itals;i et al 24443 and 'e carried out $ith colla'orati+e ad+ice from ecologists and engineers. 4.14.4 #eha'ilitation $or;s5 including slope sta'ilisation using nati+e species5 after road$or;s and other linear infrastructure installations is an important consideration5 'ut priorit! should 'e gi+en to natural 1green1 methods in+ol+ing natural regeneration of nati+e species and ground co+er5 rather than hard engineering 1cement and stone1 approaches. 7/11 T1e Ministry of Environment and Forests (India$ and related stat&tory a&t1orities and !ommittees in!l&din, t1e Forest Advisory *ommittee and t1e Standin, *ommittee of t1e National Board for Wildlife s1all en!o&ra,e and mandate t1at 1i,1)ays de(artments and a&t1orities s&!1 as t1e National :i,1)ays A&t1ority of India (N:AI$ and ele!tri!ity a&t1orities !an and s1o&ld try to deviate to save !riti!al )ildlife areas/ For e5am(le, )1en a lon, (o)erline or a national 1i,1)ay of 6000 3m is ali,ned, t1ere s1o&ld "e fle5i"ility to deviate "y a fe) 1&ndred 3ilometres aro&nd !riti!al sites (e/,/, N:? and t1e Ban1a C +en!1 !orridor$/ T1is )ill also ens&re t1at f&t&re &(,radations to t1ese roads or (o)erlines may 1a((en )it1o&t additional delays or f&rt1er re=&irements for im(a!t assessments/ 7/1# +lannin, of ali,nments of roads and (o)erlines, es(e!ially in or in t1e vi!inity of )ildlife (rote!ted areas, s1o&ld involve )ildlife s!ientists and !onservationists )or3in, in t1e lands!a(e to identify ro&tes of least dama,e to e!olo,y and )ildlife, and minimise im(a!t on amenity val&es in!l&din, aest1eti! a((re!iation of nat&ral areas, for (&ttin, in roads and (o)erlines/ 7/16 n!e a road or (o)erline is esta"lis1ed, all ot1er linear formations s&!1 as roads, ,as (i(es, (o)erlines s1o&ld &se t1e same ali,nment, )1erever (ossi"le/ W1en ea!1 ty(e of linear intr&sion !&ts its o)n s)at1e t1ro&,1 nat&ral areas inde(endently of one anot1er, t1e im(a!t is ma,nified m&lti(le times over t1at of a sin,le ali,nment/ 7/17 Addition of ad8oinin, forest "lo!3s to t1e same +rote!ted Area or ot1er +rote!ted Areas;!orridors in t1e lands!a(e "y t1e State %overnment m&st "e made a (re4 !ondition for ,rant of (ermission for any road or (o)erline (ro8e!t san!tioned after d&e (ro!ess and in !onformity )it1 t1ese ,&idelines/ 7/1< In t1e !ase of any san!tioned road or (o)erline (ro8e!t, it s1all "e mandatory to !arry o&t a field s&rvey alon, t1e entire len,t1 of t1e intr&sions "y )ildlife e!olo,y 11

e5(erts to identify s(e!ifi! lo!ations re=&irin, interventions to minimise 1armf&l effe!ts/ T1e im(lementation of s&!1 miti,ation s1all "e t1e res(onsi"ility of t1e (ro8e!t (ro(onents and t1e monitorin, of t1e im(lementation s1all "e &nderta3en "y e5(erts a((ointed "y t1e State Forest De(artment and overseen "y stat&tory !ommittees (NBW-, NT*A, FA*$ in t1e !ase of (rote!ted areas and reserved forests/ 7/1> T1e !onstr&!tion of t1e linear intr&sions s1o&ld "e in a manner (=&i!3, )it1 minim&m dist&r"an!e$ and )it1 ade=&ate desi,n and te!1nolo,y to minimise t1e lon,4term im(a!ts in!l&din, "y' 4.1&.1 /sing prefa'ricated and special methods to reduce the time ta;en in the erectionEconstruction of the intrusions. 4.1&.2 %+oiding $or; during nights to facilitate mo+ement of man! species5 especiall! large mammals and carni+ores. 4.1&.3 %+oiding camping of peopleE$or;ers and use of domestic animals.

7/1? All ve1i!les deliverin, loose !onstr&!tion material and any s&!1 material ,at1ered at t1e site m&st "e !overed "y a((ro(riate material s&!1 as tar(a&lins to (revent d&st s(readin,, (oll&tion, or )asta,e/ 7/1@ Any )or3 involvin, dist&r"an!e to soil or e5!avation of soil s1o&ld "e !arried o&t only )it1 t1e follo)in, sti(&lations' 4.1(.1 the topsoil to a depth of 34 cm should 'e first gathered5 piled aside and co+ered $ith a tarpaulin or suita'le other material 4.1(.2 the topsoil should 'e re:spread as earl! as possi'le o+er the distur'ed or e=ca+ated area after completion of $or; to a depth of 34 cm 4.1(.3 no e=posed construction material5 de'ris5 or soil 'rought in from other areas should 'e +isi'le at the surface along the road or po$erlines5 as these $ill cause $eed in+asion and other detrimental effects 4.1(.4 ground +egetation co+er of nati+e species t!pical to the surrounding natural +egetation t!pe should 'e allo$ed to re:esta'lish on the soil. 7/1A Movement of ve1i!les s1o&ld "e stri!tly restri!ted to e5istin, roads and tra!3s, and !reation of ne) roads and tra!3s or off4roadin, s1all "e (ro1i"ited in !onne!tion )it1 roads and (o)erlines in nat&ral areas/ 7/#0 Movements of ve1i!les and &se of 1eavy ma!1inery alon, riverine areas and )ater !o&rses s1o&ld also "e avoided/ 7/#1 Nat&ral !rossin,s' )1erever (ossi"le nat&ral ve,etated !rossin,s e5istin, a!ross linear intr&sions (s&!1 as tree !ano(y overla((in, over1ead or lo) nat&ral ve,etation "elo) (o)erlines$ s1o&ld "e retained or en!o&ra,ed/ 7/## Alon, roads and (o)erlines, nat&ral ,ro&nd, s1r&""y, or tree ,ro)t1 m&st "e 12

en!o&ra,ed at (eriodi!, desi,nated (oints not less t1an #00 m a(art, to (rovide for 1a"itat !over and fa!ilitate animal !rossin,s in all t1e a"ove forest ty(es as )ell as ot1er 1a"itats s&!1 as dry t1orn forest and s!r&"lands/ T1e !rossin, lo!ations s1all "e !learly mar3ed "y Forest De(artment ; 1i,1)ays a&t1orities )it1 si,ns and !a&tionary messa,es for drivers/ 7/#6 W1ere nat&ral !rossin,s !annot "e retained, re,enerated, or en!o&ra,ed, and ade=&ate 8&stifi!ation e5ists for !onstr&!tion of artifi!ial str&!t&res and (assa,es for )ildlife movement, t1ey s1o&ld "e installed on e5istin, or ne) roads (or (o)erlines$ follo)in, norms for lo!ation and desi,n stri!tly on t1e "asis of (ro(er field assessments "y and on t1e advi!e of =&alified )ildlife s!ientists and e!olo,ists/ S&!1 str&!t&res may in!l&de' 4.23.1 /nderpasses" $ell:designed tunnels5 cul+erts5 pipes5 and other structures can function as underpasses 'elo$ roads and 'ridges5 for a $ide:range of terrestrial and a>uatic species5 especiall! frogs5 turtles5 fish etc. 4.23.2 .+erpasses and fl!$a!s" 'uilt structures that go a'o+e the linear intrusion to pro+ide a passage or mo+ement route for $ildlife can 'e considered for roads disrupting mo+ement routes of animals such as some ungulates5 small mammals5 and ar'oreal mammals. <hese tend to 'e e=pensi+e and ma! 'e applica'le in limited areas and should 'e considered onl! after options to restore connecti+it! '! natural means ha+e 'een e=plored and found unsuita'le. 4.23.3 Canop! 'ridges" 'ridges $ith dura'le material such as tarpaulin5 ru''erised hose5 'am'oo5 etc. to connect tree canopies o+er roads. 4.23.4 Well:designed $ildlife crossing structures as indicated in scientific literature such as in Section 4.3.3 of Wildlife 0nstitute of 0ndia pu'lication Roads, sensitive "abitats and wildlife/ 3nvironmental guideline for India and %out" &sia, and other literature cited at the end of this document. 7/#7 Mana,ement strate,ies to dete!t and (revent en!roa!1ments or !onstr&!tion of ne) str&!t&res and 1omesteads alon, linear intr&sions need to "e ado(ted/ In t1e !ase of e5istin, str&!t&res s&!1 as 1o&se1olds and lands, (ossi"ilities of &sin, *AM+A and ot1er f&nds to (&r!1ase t1ese s1o&ld "e e5(lored/ 7/#< N+. and !om(ensatory afforestation F&nds )ill "e (aid "y t1e &ser a,en!y to t1e %overnment as (er norms/ 7/#> No material in!l&din, eart1 s1o&ld "e &sed from t1e san!t&ary area/ All !onstr&!tion materials s1o&ld "e "ro&,1t from o&tside t1e san!t&ary area in!l&din, eart1, stones et!/ 7/#? All o&tside material left over after !onstr&!tion or re(air (in!l&din, stones, sand, !ement, (a!3a,in, material, (a(ers, !artons, oils, !ans, "a,s, )ires, metal o"8e!ts, 1o&sin, s1eds, (lasti!s and ,lass$ s1o&ld not "e left on site, "&t s1o&ld "e !aref&lly removed and !arried a)ay o&tside t1e nat&ral area and safely dis(osed of or re&sed else)1ere/ 13

7/#@ T1e a,en!y s1o&ld ens&re t1at no dama,e to any flora or fa&na is !a&sed d&rin, t1e !o&rse of t1e e5e!&tion of maintenan!e and re(air )or3/ 7/#A All =&arry for metal;sand;moor&m s1all "e informed "y &ser a,en!y and (revio&s san!tion to Reven&e De(artment (minin,$ !olle!tor is mandatory/ If any (rivate (arty fo&nd to violate r&les or involved in ille,al minin, d&rin, !onstr&!tion, t1en t1e &ser a,en!y )ill "e made res(onsi"le for it/ 7/60 T1e (ro8e!t (ro(onents s1o&ld also a"ide "y any ot1er !onditions t1at may "e (res!ri"ed "y t1e *1ief Wildlife Warden or in site ins(e!tion and im(a!t assessment re(orts/ 7/61 At t1e time of any (ro8e!t san!tion, an offi!er s&!1 as t1e *1ief Wildlife Warden or of e=&ivalent ran3 s1all "e a((ointed to s&"mit a !om(lian!e re(ort on im(lementation of t1e !onditions s(e!ified and "e 1eld lia"le for t1e same/ 7/6# T1e Ministry of Environment and Forests and State Forest De(artments s1all en!o&ra,e and s&((ort )it1 relevant (ermits and s&((ort any resear!1 related to road e!olo,y and effe!ts of (o)erlines on )ildife, environments, and lo!al !omm&nities/ 7/66 +&"li! ed&!ation on t1e effe!ts of roads, (o)erlines, and linear intr&sions s1all "e en!o&ra,ed and &nderta3en "y Ministry of Environment and Forests and State Forest De(artments and !ivil so!iety or,anisations/ 7/67 0ntil all iss&es raised "y t1e "a!3,ro&nd (a(er are !om(re1ensively addressed, and final (oli!y and ,&idelines are iss&ed and ado(ted after (&"li! !ons&ltation t1ro&,1 t1e )e"site of t1e Ministry of Environment and Forests, t1ere s1all "e a moratori&m on any ne) linear intr&sions s&!1 as roads and (o)erlines in nat&ral areas/

< ADDITI NA- S+E*IFI* %0IDE-INES F R + WER-INES

</1 -inear intr&sions s&!1 as lo) (o)erlines and o(en !anals s1all not "e (ermitted in nat&ral areas/ </# 0se of &nder,ro&nd (o)er !a"les alon, e5istin, road ali,nments m&st "e !aref&lly !onsidered, )1i!1 may avoid o(enin, &( an inta!t area/ </6 +o)er transmission and distri"&tion fa!ilities s1all "e de!ommissioned )1en t1ey are o"solete, dama,ed (e/,/, "y !orrosion$ or re(la!ed d&e to in!reased (o)er demand/ De!ommissionin, a!tivities may in!l&de demolition and removal of t1e installed infrastr&!t&re (e/,/, transmission to)ers, s&"stations, a"ove,ro&nd and &nder,ro&nd &tilities and road de!ommissionin,$ and re!lamation of t1e (ro8e!t site, in!l&din, ,ro&nd sta"iliDation and re4ve,etation )it1 native s(e!ies ty(i!al to t1e nat&ral ve,etation ty(e of t1e area/ "solete lines and infrastr&!t&re, and (o)erlines t1at re=&ire e5tensive and !ostly ann&al !learin, of ve,etation, s1all "e (rioritised for 14

de!ommissionin,/ </7 W1ere (o)er fa!ilities are re(la!ed )it1 ne) or &(dated e=&i(ment t1ey s1o&ld "e installed at t1e same site or ri,1t4of4)ay )it1o&t &sin, additional area or !&ttin, ne) tra!ts, &nless t1e ali,nment of t1e ne) ro&te "y(asses t1e nat&ral area/ </< In order to (revent ele!tro!&tion deat1s of Asian ele(1ants, t1e 1ei,1t a"ove t1e ,ro&nd at t1e lo)est (oint of t1e lo)est !ond&!tor or ,ro&ndin, )ires (i/e/, at ma5im&m sa, (oint$ of (o)erlines, )1et1er ins&lated or "are, (assin, t1ro&,1 all nat&ral areas )it1 3no)n (resen!e or movement of Asian ele(1ants s1all "e' ).).1 a minimum of 24 feet 2&.& metres3 a'o+e ground on le+el terrain 2slope F24 degrees3 ).).2 a minimum of 34 feet 2A.1 metres3 a'o+e ground on steeper terrain 2slope D 24 degrees3 </> +o)erlines lo!ated in !r&!ial areas s&!1 as fly)ays, mi,ratory ro&tes, roost sites et!/ may !a&se si,nifi!ant mortality of volant animals s&!1 as "ats and "irds, "esides ris3 of fires and (o)er o&ta,e/ To minimiDe "ird and "at !ollisions and ele!tro!&tions t1e follo)in, (revention and !ontrol meas&res s1all "e ado(ted in s&!1 areas' ).&.1 %ligning transmission corridors to a+oid critical ha'itats 2e. g.. nesting grounds5 heronries5 roo;eries5 'at foraging corridors5 and migration corridors3G ).&.2 Maintaining 1.) metre spacing 'et$een energiHed components and grounded hard$are or5 $here spacing is not feasi'le5 co+ering or insulating energiHed parts and hard$areG ).&.3 8=isting transmission or distri'ution s!stems ma! 'e retro:fitted '! installing ele+ated perches5 insulating 7umper loops5 placing o'structi+e perch deterrents 2e.g. insulated IJKsI35 changing the location of conductors5 and E or using raptor hoods. ).&.4 Mar;ing of po$erline $ires $ith reflectors or other items that $ill pre+ent 'ird collisions and deaths ).&.) Monitoring po$erlines for animal deaths and effecti+eness of implemented measures </? For (o)erlines (assin, t1ro&,1 nat&ral areas, t1e follo)in, additional safe,&ards m&st "e eval&ated and im(lemented' ).*.1 remo+ing earth $ires 2and modif!ing earthing methods35

).*.2 modif!ing line5 pole and to$er design and placement5 to minimise +isual 2aesthetic35 ecological 2impact35 and $ildlife mortalities ).*.3 installing underground ca'les in preference to o+erhead ca'les5 especiall! in sensiti+e stretches 1)

).*.4

conspicuous mar;ing of lines5 poles and to$ers.

</@ Widt1 of ve,etation !learin,s alon, (o)erlines s1o&ld also "e minimised/ Widt1 of ve,etation !learin, from t1e !entre of t1e (o)erline s1all "e' ).(.1 4 metres 2no clearing3 in the case of open areas $ith lo$ +egetation5 including grasslands5 $etlands5 scru'5 thorn forest5 steppe5 semi:desert and hot and cold desert areas. ).(.2 4 metres 2no clearing3 in the case of an! locations $here po$erlines pass o+er +alle!s 2including those $ith streams and ri+ers3 along the entire stretch $here the conductor $ires at ma=imum sag pass at a height of more than & m o+er the ma=imum canop! height of +egetation in that area. 9or all e=isting po$erlines5 especiall! in hill! terrain5 efforts must 'e also made to allo$ natural +egetation to regenerate and restore connecti+it! perpendicular to the route of the po$erline along all stretches $here the a'o+e condition is met. ).(.3 Minimal and restricted5 in the case of forests $ith trees5 to lopping5 pollarding5 or if una+oida'le5 to remo+ing5 onl! those trees that are of sufficient height to compromise the re>uirements of minimal +ertical and horiHontal clearance from the conductor $ires at ma=imum sag point as specified in the ta'le 'elo$" Ta"le of !learan!esE *ate,ory .olta,e .erti!al !learan!e a"ove ,ro&nd ).( metresL .erti!al !learan!e from ve,etation 2.) metres :oriDontal !learan!e from ve,etation 1.2 metres

,o$ E medium /p to &)4 J +oltage and ser+ice lines 6igh 8=tra high

.+er &)4 J to &.1 metres L 33 ;J .+er 33 ;J &.1 metresL 2plus 4.3 metres for e+er! additional 33 ;J or part thereof3

3.* metres 3.* metres 2plus 4.3 m for e+er! additional 33 ;J or part thereof3

2 metres 2.4 metres 2plus 4.3 m for e+er! additional 33 ;J or part therefore3

!able based on t"e clearance re$uirements for powerlines under Rules 55, 56, and 7*, read wit" Rule 7)&(8) in t"e Indian 3lectricity Rules +69: (as amended up to )9 November )***)

;<or natural areas wit" presence of &sian elep"ants, .uideline => )5 specifying minimum : : m above ground on level terrain (slope ?)* degrees) and minimum 6 + m above ground on steeper terrain (slope @ )* degrees) s"all apply

</A

As far as (ossi"le ve,etation !learin, alon, t1e stret!1es of transmission !orridor (assin, t1ro&,1 nat&ral areas s1all "e minimised or avoided "y in!reasin, t1e 1ei,1t of to)er str&!t&res to maintain safe verti!al !learan!e over nat&ral ve,etation or "y &sin, &nder,ro&nd (o)er !a"les alon, !riti!al stret!1es to (revent disr&(tion of ve,etation or forest !ontin&ity/

1&

</10 T1e Ministry of Environment and Forests s1all !omm&ni!ate relevant !on!erns to and liaise )it1 t1e Ministry of +o)er in order to ens&re t1at a((ro(riate r&les are form&lated &nder t1e Ele!tri!ity A!t to in!or(orate t1e !onsiderations of t1e (resent ,&idelines related to all e5istin, and f&t&re (o)erlines in nat&ral areas/

> ADDITI NA- S+E*IFI* %0IDE-INES F R R ADS

>/1 As (er e5istin, ,&idelines of t1e National Board for Wildlife, t1ere s1o&ld "e no !1an,e in t1e ty(e of s&rfa!e of all e5istin, roads in )ildlife (rote!ted areas (National +ar3s and Wildlife San!t&aries$ in t1e name of re(air, &(,radation, )idenin,, stren,t1enin, et!/ "y meas&res s&!1 as t1ro&,1 "la!34to((in, or !ementin,, or !onversion of roads or road s1o&lders to !on!rete, WBM or ot1er sealed roads, or &se of !on!rete "lo!3s or stones/ >/# E5istin, roads and road s1o&lders may "e maintained at t1e same ty(e (,ravel as ,ravel, "la!34to((ed as "la!34to((ed et!$/ and t1e same )idt1 t1ro&,1 (eriodi! maintenan!e )or3, e5!e(t in t1e !ase of dis&sed or de!ommissioned roads or roads ear4mar3ed for removal and e!olo,i!al restoration, )1ere s&!1 )or3 s1all not "e (ermitted/ After re(air and maintenan!e )or3, t1e overall )idt1 of t1e road (of ,raded (ortion and s1o&lders$ s1o&ld not "e more t1an e5istin, )idt1 (of ,raded (ortion and s1o&lders$/ >/6 Any road )or3 in!l&din, re(air, )idenin,, or stren,t1enin, of roads, road sides or road s1o&lders, involvin, !1an,e to "la!34to((ed, !on!rete;!ement, WBM roads or t1e li3e in!l&din, &se of !on!rete;!ement "lo!3s, or )idenin, of roads or road4 s1o&lders in Wildlife +rote!ted Areas or ot1er forest areas s1all "e &nderta3en only after' &.3.1 re>uisite permission is o'tained from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife 2for rotected %reas3 or the 9orest %d+isor! Committee 2for othe forest areas3G &.3.2 a site assessment is carried out '! mem'ers of the a'o+e statutor! committees andEor independent e=perts commissioned '! the committees for such assessmentsG &.3.3 possi'le realignments that a+oid the rotected %rea or forest are ruled outG

&.3.4 specific mitigation measures at specific locations5 such as underpasses and o+erpasses5 speed 'rea;ers5 slope sta'ilisation5 etc. are identified and imposed on agenc! e=ecuting the pro7ect. >/7 In t1e !ase of !ertain !riti!al !onservation areas, s&!1 as National +ar3s and Ti,er Reserves, a !om(lete "an on ni,1t traffi! alon, roads may "e im(lemented &sin, e5istin, (rovisions in t1e la) (Se!tion 6@. of t1e Wildlife +rote!tion A!t, 1A?#$/ In s&!1 !ases, t1e follo)in, additional !onsiderations s1all a((ly'

1*

&.4.1 <he night 'an shall appl! primaril! to all tourist and commercial +ehicles5 and non:commercial +ehicles not registered to o$ners residing in rotected %reas and ad7oining 'uffer Hones &.4.2 #ela=ed entr! guidelines ma! 'e implemented for the 'enefit of 'ona:fide users from local communities resident in the rotected %rea or 'uffer Hone 2e.g.5 personal +ehicles of people resident $ithin encla+es of protected areas5 pu'lic transport3 &.4.3 Jehicles carr!ing crops and produce from plantations and agriculture $ithin or ad7oining protected areas ma! 'e permitted on contingenc! 'asis5 onl! $here no alternati+e roads e=ist5 $ith registration and monitoring of speed norms and chec;s at designated forest chec;posts. &.4.4 Con+o! s!stems $ith regulated speed and timing ma! 'e considered as alternati+es to a complete 'an on traffic in areas $here a dual:chec;post monitoring s!stem is feasi'le. 0n the case of $ildlife protected areas5 such s!stems shall 'e su'7ect to further appro+al '! State Boards for Wildlife and the National Board for Wildlife. >/< S(eed limits s1all "e defined and enfor!ed )it1in all roads (assin, t1ro&,1 nat&ral areas )it1 t1e follo)in, !onditions' &.).1 Jehicle speeds in e=cess of 34 ;mph shall not 'e permitted in those stretches of road that pass through an! natural area. &.).2 Speed limit monitoring and imposition and collection of fines shall 'e the prerogati+e of State 9orest Departments as $ell as high$a!s and traffic police authorities &.).3 <he State 9orest Departments shall $or; to install speed:detection de+ices and speed cameras at all sensiti+e stretches of road passing through natural areas5 particularl! $ildlife protected areas. >/> Meas&res to (revent &na&t1orised sto((in, of ve1i!les and (eo(le )it1in +rote!ted Areas, in!l&din, a system of fines and (atrollin,, m&st "e formalised and esta"lis1ed nation4)ide )it1in > mont1s from t1e date of finalisation and (&"li!ation of t1ese ,&idelines/ >/? ff4roadin, s1all "e stri!tly "anned in all nat&ral areas, es(e!ially in +rote!ted Areas and !riti!al ti,er and )ildlife 1a"itats, ,rasslands, meado) 1a"itats, in!l&din, o(en 1a"itats/ T1is is (arti!&larly relevant to minimise dist&r"an!e to areas s&!1 as Baas (latea&, montane ,rasslands of Western %1ats, t1orn forest and semi4desert, and 1ot and !old desert areas, al(ine meado)s and ste((e/ >/@ Tree !ano(y overla((in, over1ead a"ove roads is an essential attri"&te to "e retained )1erever roads (ass t1ro&,1 forests )it1 !losed !ano(y or si,nifi!ant tree !over (tree density (er 1e!tare of over <0 tree stems of ,irt1 ,reater t1an or e=&al to 60 !m$, as a lo)4!ost, effi!ient and d&ra"le sol&tion for t1e movement of ar"oreal s(e!ies/ T1is is relevant to re,ions )1ere t1e nat&ral ve,etation is' 1(

&.(.1 &.(.2 &.(.3 &.(.4 &.(.)

tropical $et e+ergreen forest tropical dr! e+ergreen forests tropical semi:e+ergreen forests tropical dr! and moist deciduous forests temperate forests 2coniferous or 'road:lea+ed3

>/A Alon, roads t1ro&,1 +rote!ted Areas and ot1er !riti!al 1a"itats (&"li! trans(ort m&st "e (romoted, and attem(ts made to red&!e infl&5 of (rivate ve1i!les, es(e!ially to&rist ve1i!les, in!l&din, t1ro&,1 meas&res s&!1 as' &.A.1 Strong regulations controlling timing and traffic +olumes for all roads through rotected %reas and critical ha'itats. &.A.2 6igh differential toll during late e+ening and earl! morning hours 2along $ith night closure3 as a disincenti+e for use of roads passing through critical areas. &.A.3 Di+erting traffic a$a! from secondar! roads and roads passing through core Hone and sensiti+e areas into primar! roads &.A.4 Closing and remo+ing remote roads to reduce human access and distur'ance. >/10 Roads (assin, t1ro&,1 1i,1ly sensitive areas )it1 indi,eno&s and sensitive tri"al !omm&nities, es(e!ially t1ro&,1 tri"al reserves in Andamans and Ni!o"ars s&!1 as t1e Fara)a Reserve, s1all "e !losed for ,eneral traffi! in !onsonan!e )it1 t1e orders of t1e S&(reme *o&rt of India/ >/11 T1e Ministry of Environment and Forests (India$ s1all !oordinate a nation4)ide effort, &nder t1e ae,is of re,ional !entres and in (artners1i( )it1 )ildlife and !onservation resear!1 instit&tions, to evolve lists of native (lant s(e!ies s&ita"le for all roadside (lantin,s )it1 s&,,estions re,ardin, (ro(ortion of vario&s s(e!ies to "e (lanted for t1e different e!ore,ions ; "io,eo,ra(1i! Dones of India/ >/1# Widt1 of ve,etation !learin,s alon, roads s1o&ld "e minimised/ Widt1 of ve,etation !learin, from ed,e of road"ed s1all "e' &.12.1 not more than 3 metres in areas such as tourism Hones and on the inside of sharp cur+es for the purpose of +isi'ilit! &.12.2 &.12.3 not more than 1.) metres in general in all other parts of natural areas 4 metres $here the +egetation is lo$ 2grassland5 scru'5 $etlands3

>/16 Soil "erms and nat&ral ve,etation m&st "e &sed to ma5im&m e5tent (ossi"le to de(ress roads and to red&!e traffi! dist&r"an!e effe!ts on )ildlife (and (eo(le$/ >/17 To (revent entry of eroded soil, sediments, and road (oll&tants into streams and 1A

ot1er )ater"odies, t1e im(lementin, a,en!y s1all (lan and im(lement' &.14.1 installation of soil and de'ris traps and soa; pits along side drains at ;e! locationsG &.14.2 maintaining along streams and other $ater'odies a +egetated 'uffer Hone of $idth not less than 14 m in le+el terrain 2slope F24 degrees3 and 34 m in steep terrain 2slope D24 degrees3 $ith nati+e species including grasses5 sedges5 'am'oos5 trees5 or shru's as appropriate to the specific natural +egetation t!pe to pre+ent soil erosion or drift of de'ris and pollution into the $ater'od!. >/1< S(eed restri!tions and ot1er ,&idelines t1at s(ell o&t r&les and avoidan!e of dist&r"an!e to )ildlife and 1a"itats alon, roads in nat&ral areas m&st "e (rominently !onveyed t1ro&,1 )ell4desi,ned si,n"oards at entry and e5it (oints and all ot1er relevant lo!ations/ >/1> Re(air of e5istin, roads s1o&ld "e (rioritised and (referred over !reation of ne) roads in all nat&ral areas/ >/1? *ontin&o&s retention )alls, fen!es or ot1er str&!t&res t1at !an a!t as "arriers to animal movement s1o&ld not "e installed alon, roads, es(e!ially in 1illy terrain/ Str&!t&res (ermitted to "e installed or already installed alon, e5istin, roads in nat&ral areas s1o&ld' &.1*.1 ha+e sufficient gaps of at least 2 metres $idth incorporated at regular inter+als 2e+er! ( metres3 in the case of retention $allsEside $allsG &.1*.2 ha+e a height not e=ceeding 4) cmG

&.1*.3 in the case of fences5 not 'e installed as a matter of polic!5 unless specificall! e+aluated and ad+ised regarding height5 placement5 and animal passages '! a competent $ildlife scientist after field assessment &.1*.4 preferentiall! use crash:guards $ith single 'ar 2at 4.& M 1 metre height3 o+er continuous side$alls5 $ith periodic gaps as mentioned a'o+e5 as this $ill facilitate mo+ement of 'oth smaller animals under the 'ars and larger species through gaps. >/1@ For e5istin, roads in )ildlife (rote!ted areas, efforts s1all "e made to' &.1(.1 reduce and maintain $idth of primar! roads to less than *.) metres 2less than 12.) m including graded portion and shoulders3 and $idth of secondar! roads to less than 4.) m 2(.) m including shoulders3 &.1(.2 reduce the num'er of secondar! roads

>/1A T1ere s1o&ld "e (rovision of s(eed "rea3ers at every 700 m of roads (assin, t1ro&,1 nat&ral areas s&!1 t1at t1e s(eed is re,&lated so as to avoid a!!idental deat1 of )ild animals/ >/#0 A(art from mandatory si,n "oards alon, t1e road, "oards de(i!tin, )ildlife safety 24

instr&!tions and !a&tions relatin, to it s1o&ld also "e (la!ed at every <00 m &sin, ,ood material and 1avin, (ro(er font siDe and (i!t&res/ >/#1 All ve1i!les enterin, nat&ral s1all (ay (res!ri"ed entry fees/ Me!1anisms to ens&re t1at s&!1 fees are &tilised for !onservation of t1e area s1o&ld "e en!o&ra,ed/ >/## For roads in 1ill areas t1e follo)in, additional !onditions a((ly (from %B +ant Instit&te of :imalayan Environment and Develo(ment re!ommendations$' &.22.1 9or construction of an! road of more than ) ;m 2including e=tensionE$idening of e=isting roads3 length $here the same ma! not 'e tarred roads and en+ironmental impact assessment is other$ise not re>uired5 en+ironmental impact assessment should 'e carried out in accordance $ith the instructions to 'e issued for this purpose '! the State Go+ernments. &.22.2 ro+ision should 'e made in the design of the road for treatment of hill slope insta'ilities resulting from road cutting5 cross drainage $or;s and cul+erts using 'io:engineering and other appropriate techni>ues '! including the cost of such measures in the cost estimate of the proposed road. &.22.3 ro+isions should also 'e made for disposal of de'ris from construction sites in appropriate manner at suita'le and identified locations so as not to aff ect the ecolog! of the area ad+ersel!. 8ncouragement should 'e pro+ided for use of de'ris material for local de+elopment. 9urther5 the dumped material should 'e treated using 'io:engineering and other appropriate techni>ues and the cost of such measures should 'e included in the cost estimate of the proposed road. &.22.4 Where+er hot mi= plants are used5 the! should 'e set up at least 2 ;m a$a! from settlements and a minimum area of 244 s>. m. surrounding the site should 'e de+oid of +egetation. &.22.) No stone >uarr!ing should 'e carried out $ithout proper management and treatment plan including reha'ilitation plan and financial pro+ision for reha'ilitation of the site should 'e included in the cost of the management plan. &.22.& %ll hill roads should 'e pro+ided $ith ade>uate num'er of road side drains and these drains shall 'e ;ept free from 'loc;age for runoff disposalG in the e+ent that this is not done and this fact leads to damages that could other$ise ha+e 'een pre+ented5 the persons responsi'le should 'e lia'le for prosecutionEdamagesG further5 the cross drains shall 'e treated suita'l! using 'io:engineering and other appropriate technologies so as to minimise slope insta'ilit!. &.22.* <he runoff from the road side drains should 'e connected $ith the natural drainage s!stem in the area. &.22.( 9ault Hones and historicall! land slide prone Hones should 'e a+oided during alignment of a road5 $here for an! reason it is not possi'le to do so5 notice should 'e gi+en pro+iding full 7ustification and the construction should 'e carried out onl! after sufficient measures ha+e 'een ta;en to minimiHe the associated ris;s. 21

&.22.A Notice should 'e gi+en a'out all fault Hones and land slide Hones along the roads indicating the 'eginning and the end of such areas. &.22.14 #idge alignment should 'e preferred to +alle! alignment.

&.22.11 %lignment should 'e selected so as to minimise loss of +egetal co+er. South or South:$est alignment should 'e preferred to a+oid moist areas. &.22.12 %ppropriate design standards should 'e follo$ed $hile designing the roads including mass 'alancing of cut and fill and a+oidance of unnecessar! cutting.

RE-E.ANT S*IENTIFI* -ITERAT0RE' BE9 REFEREN*ES

Bec;mann5 ?. .5 Cle+enger5 %. . 6ui7ser5 M. .5 6ilt!5 ?. %. 28ds3 224143 %afe passagesA"ig"ways, wildlife, and "abitat connectivity. 0sland ress5 Washington5 D. C. Be+anger5 -. 21AA43 Bird interactions $ith utilit! structures" collision and electrocution5 causes and mitigating measures. Ibis 13&" 412M42). 9ahrig5 ,.5 and #!t$ins;i5 <. 2244A3 8ffects of roads on animal a'undance" an empirical re+ie$ and s!nthesis. 3cology and %ociety 14213" 21. 9orman5 #. <. <.5 Sperling5 D.5 Bissonette5 ?.5 Cle+enger5 %.5 Cutshall5 C.5 Dale5 J.5 9ahrig5 ,.5 9rance5 #.5 Goldman5 C.5 6eanue5 -.5 ?ones5 ?.5 S$anson5 9.5 <urrentine5 <.5 and Winter5 <. 224433 Road 3cology/ %cience and %olutions. 0sland ress5 Washington5 D. C. Goosem5 M. and <urton5 S. 21AAA3 Impacts of roads and powerlines on t"e Wet !ropics World Beritage &rea/ %tage I Cooperati+e #esearch Centre for <ropical #ainforest 8colog! and Management 2#ainforest C#C35 Cairns. Goosem5 M. and <urton5 S. 224443 Impacts of roads and powerlines on t"e Wet !ropics World Beritage &rea %tage II Report Wet <ropics Management %uthorit! and Cooperati+e #esearch Centre for #ainforest 8colog! and Management5 Cairns5 214 pp. ,aurance5 W.9.5 Goosem5 M. and ,aurance5 S.G. 2244A3 0mpacts of roads and linear clearings on tropical forests. !rends in 3cology and 3volution 24" &)A:&&A. #aman5 <. #. S. 2244A3 Death on the high$a!. !"e Bindu %urvey of t"e 3nvironment 244A" 113 M 11(. http"EE$$$.ncf: india.orgE'logEdeath:on:the:high$a! #aman5 <. #. S. 2411. <raming ecologically sound policy on linear intrusions affecting wildlife "abitats Bac;ground paper for the National Board for Wildlife. Su'mitted to the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife during its 21st meeting on 24 ?anuar! 2411. Sidle5 #. C.5 Biegler5 %. D.5 Negishi5 ?. N.5 Ni;5 %. #.5 Sie$5 #.5 and <ur;el'oom5 9. 2244&3 8rosion processes in steep terrain N<ruths5 m!ths5 and uncertainties related to forest management in Southeast %sia. <orest 3cology and Canagement 224" 1AA:22). S$itals;i5 <. %.5 Bissonette5 ?. %.5 De,uca5 <. 6.5 ,uce5 C. 6. and Made75 M. %. 224443 Benefits and impacts of road remo+al. <rontiers in 3cology and t"e 3nvironment 2" 21:2(. Canes5 M.5 Jelasco5 ?.M. and SuareH5 9. 21AA)3 ermea'ilit! of roads and rail$a!s to +erte'rates" the importance of cul+erts. Biological (onservation *1" 21*:222. Biegler5 %. D.5 Negishi5 ?.5 Sidle5 #. C.5 reechapan!a5 .5 Sutherland5 #. %.5 Giam'elluca5 <. W.5 ?aiaree5 S. 2244&3 #eduction of stream sediment concentration '! a riparian 'uffer" filtering of road runoff in distur'ed head$ater 'asins of Montane Mainland Southeast %sia. Dournal of 3nvironmental Euality 3)" 1)1:1&2.

%0IDE-INES AND BEST +RA*TI*ES' T:ER D *0MENTS

%non!mous 2244A3 Go+ernance for Sustaining 6imala!an 8cos!stem 2G:S683" Guidelines and Best ractices. Ministr! of 8n+ironment and 9orests and the G. B. ant 0nstitute of 6imala!an 8n+ironment and De+elopment5 0ndia. Fhttp"EEg'pihed.nic.inEG:S68OBoo;.pdfD

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Bird,ife 0nternational 2244*3 Position %tatement on Birds and Power Fines/ 0n t"e ris's to birds from electricity transmission facilities and "ow to minimise any suc" adverse effects Bird,ife 0nternational5 Cam'ridge5 /-. http"EE$$$.'irdlife.orgEeuEpdfsENatureODirecti+esOmaterialEB6D<9OO ositionO o$erO,inesOandO'irdsO244* O4)O14O.pdf Cotterell5 8. 21AA(3. <is" passage in streams/ <is"eries guidelines for design of stream crossings . Pueensland Department of rimar! 0ndustries5 Bris'ane. Goosem5 M.5 6arding5 8. -.5 Chester5 G.5 <uc;er5 N. and 6arriss5 C. 224143 #oads in #ainforest" Science Behind the Guidelines. Guidelines prepared for the Pueensland Department of <ransport and Main #oads and the %ustralian Go+ernmentKs Marine and <ropical Sciences #esearch 9acilit!. #eef and #ainforest #esearch Centre ,imited5 Cairns 2*&pp.3. 6aas5 D.5 and Nip;o$5 M. 224423 (aution 3lectrocution A %uggested Practices for Bird Protection on Power Fines . N%B/5 Birdlife artner German!5 Bonn. http"EE$$$.na'u.deEm4)Em4)O43E4)1&&.html 6aas5 D.5 Nip;o$5 M.5 9iedler5 G.5 Schneider5 #.5 6aas5 W.5 and SchQren'erg5 B. 2244)3. Protecting birds from powerlines Nature and en+ironment5 No. 1445 Council of 8urope u'lishing5 March 244) 2including 31 figures3. http"EE$$$.coe.intEtEdg4EcultureheritageEnatureE'ernEne$sEc!prusE u'licationsE rotectingO'irdsOfromOpo$erlines .pdf 6olford5 W. 21A)A3. Guidelines for the routeing of ne$ high +oltage o+erhead transmission lines. /nited -ingdom. http"EE$$$.nationalgrid.comEN#Erdonl!resE8A81)24%:8B4A:4%D*:(44B: %114%(4&**8*E41421E6olford#ules1.pdf 09C 2244*3 3nvironmental, Bealt", and %afety .uidelines for 3lectric Power !ransmission and Gistribution 0nternational 9inance Corporation5 World Ban; Group. http"EE$$$.ifc.orgEifce=tEsustaina'ilit!.nsfE%ttachmentsB!<itleEguiO86SGuidelines244*O8lectric<ransmissionE R90,8E9inalS:S8lectricS<ransmissionSandSDistri'ution.pdf #a7+anshi5 %.5 Mathur5 J. B.5 <ele;i5 G. C.5 Mu;her7ee5 S. -. 224413 Roads, sensitive "abitats and wildlife/ environmental guidelines for India and %out" &sia Wildlife 0nstitute of 0ndia5 Dehradun. Williams5 ?. 6. 224433 International Best Practices for &ssessing and Reducing t"e 3nvironmental Impacts of Big", Holtage !ransmission Fines. repared for the <hird Wor;shop on o$er Grid 0nterconnection in Northeast %sia5 Jladi+osto;5 #ussia5 Septem'er 34 :.cto'er 35 2443. http"EE$$$.nautilus.orgEpro7ectsEasian:energ!: securit!Ethird:$or;shop:on:po$er:grid:interconnection:in:northeast:asiaEpapers:and: presentationsE8n+OBestO racticesOWilliamsOfinal.pdfE+ie$

A&stralian !odes of (ra!ti!e and ,&idelines

Road Maintenan!e *ode of +ra!ti!e )it1in t1e Wet Tro(i!s World :erita,e Area, A&stralia/ Details practices that minimise impacts on the %rea. 0t $as de+eloped '! the Department of Main #oads in con7unction $ith the Wet <ropics Management %uthorit!5 en+ironmental e=perts5 road engineers and road$or; cre$s. http"EE$$$.$ettropics.go+.auEm$haEm$haOpdfEs&2OguidelinesEs&2O4Aroad.pdf T1e Ele!tri!ity S&((ly *ode of +ra!ti!e Wet Tro(i!s World :erita,e Area, A&stralia . % >uic; reference guide for field staff and contractors $hen electricit! suppl! $or; is carried out. 0t summarises the re>uirements of permits to $or; in the %rea and the 8n+ironmental Code of ractice. http"EE$$$.$ettropics.go+.auEm$haEm$haOpdfEs&2OguidelinesEs&2O44elec.pdf Section &2 Guidelines <he statutor! Wet <ropics Management lan sets out principles and criteria for deciding and assessing permit applications and inform permit applicants. <hese guidelines are used as part of the conditions for issuing a permit. %&ideline 7' T1e G&eensland Ele!tri!ity S&((ly Ind&stry Maintenan!e *ode H#@<BBI http"EE$$$.$ettropics.go+.auEm$haEm$haOpdfEs&2OguidelinesEs&2O44elec.pdf %&ideline A' Road Maintenan!e *ode of +ra!ti!e H>MBI http"EE$$$.$ettropics.go+.auEm$haEm$haOpdfEs&2OguidelinesEs&2O4Aroad.pdf

0SEF0- WEBSITES
http"EE$$$.'irdsandpo$erlines.org Birds and o$erlines http"EE$$$.$ildlifeandroads.orgE Wildlife and #oads" % resource for mitigating the effects of roads on $ildlife using $ildlife crossings such as o+erpasses5 underpasses5 and cross$al;s.

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