Oman-India Gas Pipeline

Project Profile

India is expected to receive 28.32 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day (MMSCMD) gas from the gas fields of Oman through offshore pipeline to India. The landfall point in India is proposed at Rapar Gadhwali in Kachchh District of Gujarat. From here, a 165 km onshore pipeline is proposed to transfer the gas to the custody transfer metering station at Bhachau. The areas of ecological interest enroute this 165 km long pipeline (dia=102.0 cm) are (i) Rann saline thorn forests at Rapar Gadhwali, (ii) grassland habitats (marshy saline and savannah), and (iii) seasonal rivers (Naira, Kanakwati, Ratiyanala Dharwa, Pur and Sang).

Predicted Impacts

• The proposed pipeline route would pass through critical habitats of the two highly endangered species - the Indian Grey Wolf and the Great Indian Bustard. The dense scrub jungle near Rapar Gadhwali and the desert thorn scrub habitats of Samosara village supports a small population of Indian Grey Wolf. The grasslands with desert thorn scrub vegetation interspersed with agricultural fields provide extensive feeding and breeding grounds for the Great Indian Bustard population of Kachchh region.
   

• Removal of vegetal cover would be a direct threat to shelter requirements, denning sites, and breeding populations of the Indian Grey Wolf.
   

• Disturbances associated with increased movements of vehicles for transportation of equipment and material and influx of people are likely to impact upon the habitat utilization by the wolf. Probabilities of habitat abandonment by the wolves can not be ruled out under these circumstances.
   

• Construction of storage facilities and location of camping sites in these scrublands would directly lead to further reduction in the available habitat.
   

• Indirect impacts of the project can also be realised in the increased incidence of poaching, accidental mortality and habitat destruction of prey species of wolf.
   

• Bustards generally lay one, (rarely two eggs) on the bare ground. The destruction of eggs by removal of vegetal cover and by vehicular movements in areas in close proximity of its nesting sites would be a direct impact on the reproductive biology of the species.
   

• Great Indian Bustard is a highly territorial species. Disturbances associated with all project activities are likely to impact upon the territory size of the bustards.
   

• Caracal and desert cat also have reported occurrence in the project area. Destruction of their habitats that are otherwise also not widespread in the country is a major impact that would threaten the conservation prospects of these two species.

Mitigation Measures

• Minimum damage to vegetal cover will have to be insured to protect Great Indian Bustard and its habitat in all the stretches of the pipeline route where the bird is reported to occur. right-of-way through the grassland habitats will have to be restricted to 15 m.
   

• No construction related activity would be recommended during the breeding season (December to April) of the bird. Pipeline laying operation in these habitats will have to be insured within the minimum time during the period between May to November.
   

• Any deviation in the construction period would require a prior survey of the area to avoid probable damage to nesting sites and fledglings.
   

• It should be ensured that no new access network (small or large) be created in these wildlife habitats.
   

• No part of grassland habitat should be utilized for providing camping and storage facilities during the construction phase.
   

• No pipeline laying operation or any other project related disturbance should be allowed in the wolf habitats en route the proposed pipeline during
   

• November to April to avoid coincidence of project actions with the breeding period of wolves in Gujarat.
   

• Minimum damage to vegetal cover would have to be ensured to prevent damage to denning sites and young pups during breeding season.
   

• Creation of new roads and trails will have to be prevented to avoid further fragmentation of wolf range and also to avoid disturbance/destruction of prey base.
   

• The location of the sites and storage facilities will have to be ensured outside the natural habitats of wolves in these regions.
   

• All care should be taken to protect habitats of other endangered species reported from the project while laying the pipeline.
   

• It is also recommended that the project authorities should assist in promoting conservation efforts in the area by creating a corpus fund for supporting wildlife research and restorative management of habitats.

Project Analysis

The national importance of the project is realised in its feasibility to ensure the availability of gas from Oman through this pipeline. Although the proposed pipeline is aligned through the habitats of several endangered species yet this cannot be avoided due to the fact that realignment is not feasible to receive the gas from the land fall point. Mitigatory measures if implemented as suggested would ensure the protection and conservation of species and habitats enroute the pipeline.

Decision on Environmental Clearance

The Project has been granted environmental clearance by MOE&F.

Location Map

State map