Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport

Status of Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Study

The need of EIA:The proposed Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport project falls under Category A of the Schedule (Sector 7e - Physical Infrastructure Projects) under the EIA Notification, 2006, which requires Environmental clearance prior to construction from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India.

Steps for environmental clearance: As per the EIA Notification, 2006, the following are the steps to be taken for obtaining environmental clearance.

  • The project proponent to submit a terms of reference (ToR) for the Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study to the MoEF for consideration and approval by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)
  • The EAC to review the ToR and approve the same as such or with additional ToR, as the case be.
  • The project proponent to commission a comprehensive ESIA study (with all season / 12 months data) through QCI/NABET accredited EIA consultants, based on the approved ToR and prepare a Draft Comprehensive ESIA report
  • The project proponent to submit an application to the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) along with the Draft Comprehensive ESIA report for conducting Environmental Public Hearing (EPH)
  • The PCB to publish the Draft Comprehensive ESIA report and notify the date & venue for the EPH with a minimum of 30 days’ notice.
  • The public / stake holders to submit their views on the Draft Comprehensive ESIA report during the EPH notification period or during the EPH, chaired by the District Collector, the proceedings of which will be recorded live and minuted.
  • The PCB will consolidate the proceedings of the EPH and forward to the project proponents, with copy to the MoEF and the Public (through PCB website)
  • The project proponent to incorporate and address the views of the public and prepare the Final Comprehensive ESIA Report, publish the same (in VISL web site) and submit the application to the MoEF for consideration of the EAC and to make a presentation before the EAC about the findings of the study.
  • The EAC to review the report and (or) make a site visit(s), and may issue environmental clearance, or, insist for additional studies for further consideration, or reject environmental clearance as the case be.
  • Once environmental clearance is issued, the project proponent can initiate the construction activities, under strict compliance of the conditions and half yearly reporting.

QCI/NABET accredited consultants for ESIA study:The ESIA study for theVizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport has been entrusted with QCI/NABET accredited environmental consultants. The Port sector ESIA is being carried out through the Asian Consulting Engineers (India) Ltd (ACE), New Delhi (entrusted by the International Finance Corporation-IFC, advisors to the project through Royal Haskoning-RH, IFC’s consultants) and the ESIA for Rail/Road connectivity and ancillary facilities (Back up area, truck terminal, warehouse etc.) are being carried out through L&T Ramboll Consulting Engineers Ltd (LTR), (entrusted by Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd-VISL).

Terms of Reference (ToR) for ESIA:The application for approval of the ToR for the ESIA study submitted by VISL was considered by the MoEF on 18th January, 2011 and advised to be resubmitted. The resubmitted application (April, 2011) was again considered by the EAC on 11th May 2011; 31st May 2011 and 23rd June 2011 along with a site appraisal by MoEF officials and the Hon. Union Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Sri. Jayaram Ramesh on 13th June 2011. The MoEF finally approved the ToR with additional project specific ToR (issued on 10th June 2011) and site specific ToR (issued on 1st July 2011) in addition to the ToR submitted by VISL. As per the approved ToR, the ESIA study has to be conducted in all the seasons (round the year) to have a holistic assessment of the impacts, including additional technical studies like historical & seasonal shoreline changes based on time series satellite imageries; mathematical modeling etc. to ascertain the impact of breakwater construction in the wave pattern, sedimentation pattern and shore line erosion etc. The consolidated ToRfor the ESIA studies is given in Table 1.

Status of the ESIA Study: The LTR commenced the studies in April, 2010 and the ACE commenced the studies in January, 2011. Considering that the approval of the ToR for the study was finally given by the MoEF on 1st July 2011, insisting for an all season (round the year) data collection, the study period has been defined as 1st July 2011 to 30th June 2012. According the study is progressing in all the seasons with the following schedule.

Completion of data collection / June 2012
Preparation of Draft ESIA report & submission to PCB for EPH / July 2012
Conduct of EPH by PCB with one month notice / Aug 2012
Preparation of Comprehensive ESIA report with EPH report& submission to MoEF / Sept 2012