Vishakhapatnam Vijayawada Pipeline Project

Project Profile

This 363 km long proposed petroleum product pipeline with a diameter of 46.00 cm would originate from a new storage terminal of a refinery near Vishakapatnam and would terminate at Vijayawada. Reserved Forests of Narava Potukonda, Mallam, Mallarapukonda, Totapalli, Tedlam, Vellagallapalli, Pollavaram, Arvugolanupeta and Jangalapalli are the major areas of ecological interest en route the proposed pipeline.

Predicted Impacts

• The pipeline route does not traverse through any protected area and no protected areas lie within the 25 km radius of the pipeline.

• Land use practices such as dry land farming, conversion of forest land into cultivable land and raising of orchards have already reduced and fragmented the terrestrial habitats existing in the pipeline route. No species and wildlife habitats of conservation significance are being impacted upon by the proposed route of the pipeline.

• Reserved Forests particularly Narava, Potukonda, Malarupukonda, Totapalli,Tedlam, Velagallapalli and Jangalapalli are already being impacted upon by their overuse for resource demands of local people. These forests may not be able to sustain the additional impacts of fire wood and timber requirements of construction and labour camps located in the vicinity of these forests.

Mitigation Measures

• Compensatory afforestation should be ensured to restore to some extent the loss of vegetation in areas within the Right of Way.
   

• Disturbance in the forested areas en route the pipeline can be substantially minimised by provisions of alternative fuel and timber resources to residential colonies and construction camps.

  Project Analysis

• The project is not perceived as a major source of impacts to wildlife habitats and species of conservation significance that are characteristic of this region. The fairly degraded status of ecosystems en route the pipeline do not seem to ensure long term success of conservation efforts in these areas.

Decision on Environmental Clearance
The project has been granted environmental clearance by MOE&F.

Location Map

State Map