Unit 3

IMPACT OF
DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES
AND LAND USE
Introduction:
 The assessment of potential land use impact
should be comprehensive covering characteristics of the
project.
 The integrity of soils and groundwater can be
altered the addition or removal of soil and water, compaction
of soil,changes in use of land or ground cover, water
hydrology, climate.
 The addition or substraction of substances of
effluents into ground water,discharge or disposal of waste on
to land
 The leaching of contaminents into groundwater
changes in quality of surface water and deposition of air
pollutants on land.
 Methodology for the assessment of impacts on soils
and groundwater:
 To provide a basis for addressing soil and for groundwater
environment impacts we have seven steps for planning and
conducting impacts studies.
 In analyzing environmental impacts both objective and
subjective judgement should be taken into account.
 Subjective judgement are on the basis of valve,feelings and
beliefs whereas objective judgement are verifiable by scientific
methods and these do not depend on personal reflections feelings
or prejudices.
 Here objective judgements descibes the impact whereas other
one describes how people feel about the fact.
Steps for planning and conducting impact studies:
step-1 : Delineation of study area
step-2 : Identification of activities of project which will
have different types of impact on
soil or groundwater quantity
step-3 : Preparation of description of existing soil and for
ground water resources condition
step-4 : Procurement of relevant soil and for groundwater
quantity or quality standards
step-5 : Impact prediction for soil and for groundwater
environment
step-6 : Assessment of impact significance
step-7: Identification and incorporation of mitigation
measures.
1) Delineation of impact area:
The study area should reflect the full reach of possible within the particular impact
is being considered. The proposed land use map along with committed land use
policies , zoning and development projects should be included in the study area.
The categories shown in land use map should be following
a) Residential
b) Commercial and industrial
c) Institutional and parks or recreation
d) Non urban mixed
2) Identification of activities:
The following are the activities which have direct
land use impacts on soil and groundwater land areas.
a) Land forms
b) Soil profile
c) Soil composition
d) Slope stability
e) Seismicity
f) Subsidence and compaction
g) Flood plains swamps
h) Land use
i) Mineral or engineering resources
j) Buffer zones
3)Preparation of description of existing soil and for ground water
resources condition:
In these the preparation of description of the soil and the ground
water resources condition is to be despricted in detailed.
4) Procurement of relevant soil or groundwater quality:
a) The primary sources of information needed for this step will
be to the government agencies namely CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT or LOCAL
AGENCIES.
b) In addition international environmental agecies may have
information pertinent to this step.
5) Impact prediction :
The potential influence of the environment on a proposed
project can be approached from three perspectives which are
a) Qualitative
b) Simple quantitative
c) Specific quantitative
 The potential environmental impacts during construction
and operation of the project can be broadly categorized into the
following types which are
a) Primary impacts : Release of air pollutants,heat and changes
in ambient noise levels.
b) Secondary impacts : Changes in air quality , impact on visibility
climate change and particulate deposition
water and land.
c) Tertiary impacts : Impact on human health,asthetic’s,agricultural
productivity,economic output and socio
cultural environment.
6) Assessment of impact significance :
This includes the assessment of current state of soil and
groundwater by insitue,satellite and airborne observation and also
laboratory analysis of quantity variables are ground water levels
and recharge rates and quality variables.
The soil at construction site should be given maximum importance
for EIA because of the following
a) Any developmental activity causes disturbance to the soil
b) The agricultural land may be distributed or lost due to project
activity
c) Contamination of land is likely to occurs.
d) The condition of soil of the project site can assessed by
1) Desk study 2) Field worth
3) laboratory tests 4) statistical approach
Identification and incorporation of mitigation measure :
The mitigation measure can be broadly categorized into
the following :
a) Measure innate of project as sustainable changes in the construction,
friendly environmental technologies.
b) Measure to mitigate the negative imoacts from development for
instance,sewage pollution . Loss of habitant fragmentation can be
minimized by habitat replacement and creation.
c) Adoption measures to prevent negative effects as dust by use of
mufflers ,silencers of air inlet or outlet, anti-vibration pad,earmuffs
and ear plugs etc..
 Methadology for the assessment of impacts on biological
environment :
Prediction and assessment of impacts on the biological environment
involves a number of technical and professional consideration of the
anticipated changes.
Biological impact assessment:
The biological assessment of impact of any project may include
a) Results of onsite inspections or surveys.
b) Views of recognized experts
c) Reviews of literature and other information
d) Analysis of alternative action considered
 Six steps proto call for evaluation of biological environment
impacts :
1. identification of biological impacts of proposed project
activity
2. Preparation of description of existing biological condition and
consideration of endangered species
3. Procurement of relevant laws,regulations of criteria to impacts
or conditions.
4. Impact prediction

5. Assessment of impact significance

6. Identification and incorporation of mitigation measures

The biological environment includes plants and animals,different

species and habitats forming a community are often inter
dependent which will have effect on each others in indirect
way.
 Methodology for the assessment of impacts on surface water
environment:
The steps involved in the evaluation of impact of various
developmental activities on surface water environment are as mentioned
below are…
Step-1 : identification of surface water quantity or quality
Step-2 : analysis of the potential impacts of the development project on
the surface water conditions
Step-3 : collection of significant information related to quantity and
quality of surface water
Step-4 : evaluation and predictions on surface water
Step-5 : analysis of impact significance
Step-6 : mitigation measures
Step-1:Identification of surface water quantity and quality :
the water quantity defined in terms of physical, chemical and biological
constituents of surface water is below.
physical parameters includes temperature ,colour,conductivity,turbidity,total
suspended solids,dissolved solids,oil and grease etc..
chemical parameters of water are broadly categorized into

a) Organic content of water :

it includes BOD,COD,TOC(total organic carbon),

TOD(total oxygen demand).

b) inorganic content of water :

it includes salinity, hardness, acidity, pH, cations,

anions …
Step-2: Analysis of potential impacts of project on water
conditions:
The mathematical models commonly used in EIA to determine changes in the water
quality .quantity and flow patterns are

a) Fundamental runoff formula for predicting surface water runoff

b) Rational formula to determine the water flow patterns

c) Navier –stokes equations to determine the water flow patterns

d) streeter- phelps equation (or) dissolved sag equation for evaluating dissolved oxygen
in water.

e) Adjective transport formulation

f) Surface heat budget formulation

g) Dispensive transport formulation

h) Dissloved oxygen saturation formulation

i) Hydrological transport model

 Step-3: Collection of significant information related to quantity
and quality of surface water :
1)The aquatic environment in a water body provides habitat for aquatic life,clear
water for animals and humans and it is important to understand the surface
water qaulity.
2) Climate and precipitaion ,soil type,geology,vegetation,ground water flow
conditions,human activities to contribute to water quality
3) For domestic,industrial,commercial,live stock water use ,mining oublic
supply,thermo electric power etc..water is essential to sustain in kife.
4) IS 10500-1991 govern the quality by the bureau of indian standard
sprcifications issued by WHO
5) The government agencies include the ministry of water resources, the ministry
of urban development and poverty allevation,the ministry of rural
development,the ministry of environment and forests,the ministry of health.
6) Several factors that cotribute to water quality are climate and precipitation,soil
type.geology,vegetation,groundwater,flow conditions etc..
 Step-4:Evaluation and Prediction on surface water:
the potential surface water impacts that are likely to occur as a result of the
proposed development activity depends on different factors..

a)Direction of impact:
it may be positive ,negative or neutral effect on the environment.

b)Magnitude of the impact :

it should be low,moderate,hogh or negligible.

c) Duration of environmental impact :

it may be transient,short term,medium term,long term or it may be permanent.

d) Geographical extent :

it refers to the extent to which the proposed activity is likely to

affect ,whether it is local,regional,national or international.
e)Probability of impact occurance :

it refers to chances of occrance of impacts are

1) Least probable (or) in probable (<5% chances)

2) Low probability (5% to 40% chances )

3) Medium probability ( 40% to 60% chances)

4) High probability ( 60% to 90% chances)

5) Definite (impact will occur definitely)

Step-5 : Analysis of impact significances :

a) Depending on type and extent pf a project the type of resources affected can be
ascertained

b) This information helps us to proceed in the project or not and also used for
identification and evaluation of the project has a significant impact on the

community.
Step-6: Mitigation measures :
Some general mitigation measures should be followed are

a) Revegetation and true plantation near the proposed construction.

b) Prevention of construction materials intp surface water to prevent the adverse impacts
on drinking water supplies,irrigation systems.

c) Prevent the entry of sediments into surface water by implementing runoff control
measures,mechanical sediment control measures.

d) Incresing water infiltration into soil

e) Controlling excessive storm runoff

f) Controlling soil erosion

g) Using the runoff for useful purposes.
 Air pollution sources :
Contamination of air with pollutants that cause harm to humans,other living
organisms,the natural environment and the atmosphere.
Classifications of air pollution:
1) Based on the source of emission of pollutants
a) Natural sources :
sources like volcanoes,forest fires,sulpjur,springs,natural
organic and inorganic decays,fungal spores and photochemical reactions.
etc…
b)Man-made sources:
produced by human activitiessuch as
industrialization,vehicular emissions,power generation,waste treatment etc..
2) Air pollution sources can also be classified as
a) primary sources
b) secondary sources
 Generalized approach for assessment of air pollution impact:
The evaluation of impacts on air pollution by any project can be structured in
following steps. they are
Step-1: we should evaluate the type of pollutants released during construction and
their quantity form various sources .
Step-2: evaluation of project site for ambient air quality inventory and
metrological data.
the pollutant in air are analyzed by owing methods. They are
a) gravimetric analysis b) volumetric analysis
c) spectrophotometric analysis d) turbidimetry
e) nephelometry f) flurometry
Step-3 : examination of air quality standards crieria,policies of the local state and
central government agencies
Step-4 : impact prediction of new project on ambient air quality
Step-5 : assessment of impact significances
step-6: mitigation measures