A.P. POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

REGIONAL OFFICE, ELURU

P. RAVINDRANATH, M. Tech.                                                     11-19, K.S.R.Thota,

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER                                                        Sanivarapu peta

                                                                                                   Eluru – 534 003

Lr. No. 1226/ PCB/ RO-ELR/ 2005-981                                                               Dt. 15-09-2005

To

The Village Secretary

Sivagiri Panchayat

Polavaram mandal

W.G. District

Sir,

Sub:        APPCB-RO-ELR – Indira Sagar Project (Polavaram project) at Ramaiah peta village, Polavaram mandal, West Godavari District – Application for consent for establishment of APPCB – Public hearing to be conducted to record views, suggestions, comments and objections of General  Public – Display of Executive summary of the EIA report in Telugu of the project

 Ref:         1. MoE&F, GOI notification on EIA of developmental projects Dt. 27- 01-1994 and         amendments there upon.

2. Application submitted by Irrigation and CAD department, Govt. of Andhra    Pradesh, Dt. 09-09-2005

                       3. Note orders of the Collector & District Magistrate, West Godavari, Dt. 09-09-2005.

***

Irrigation and CAD Department, Govt.of Andhra Pradesh has submitted CFE application for the proposed Indira Sagar Project (Polavaram project) at a cost of Rs. 11,906 crores.  The head works of the project are proposed to be located at Ramaiahpeta village, Polavaram mandal, West Godavari district.  The proposed right main canal passes through 48 villages of the 11 mandals of West Godavari district.  26 villages in Polavaram mandal are identified as the areas of submergence due to this project.

The public hearing to invite views, suggestions, comments and objections of the public, if any on the above project is scheduled on 10-10-2005 at 11:00 A.M. at MRO office premises, Polavaram mandal, West Godavari district.

Please find enclosed copies of the Executive Summary of the EIA report of the project.

It is requested to kindly make arrangements for display of the Executive Summary of the EIA report in the notice board for the information of the general public and you are also requested to give wide publicity in your village through mouth publicity (Tamuku) about the public hearing and date of public hearing.

You are requested to treat this as top priority.

Yours faithfully

Sd/-

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

POLAVARAM PROJECT – EFFECTS

Environmental impact appraisal report:

Just as in many other parts of the state and the community people in the command area project are also affiliated with some of the common infectious diseases like dysentery, diarrhea, gastrotriches and mosquito borne diseases like Malaria. The Over whelming evidence of the past has been that irrigation projects bring with them potential hazards in the form of out breaks of communicable diseases.

Due to the growth of aquatic weeds and plants in the canals and waterlogged areas, there may be quick growth of snails and other intermediate hosts, which aid in causing control.

The Problems of water salinity is not there.

Vertical migration of tribal population:  The vertical migration is expected to reduce the ecological impact in comparison to remote rehabilitation.

Intermediate hosts (vector) like snails', mosquitoes, copepods and small fish do require the food links for their existence in the food web and also certain vegetation as their habitat temporarily.  Certain free floating snails like Aplochitus can migrate in the water regimes and will freely be carried to the down stream areas, resulting in the proliferation of infection.  The birds and mammals in the closer proximity of the water body depend on the small fishes, which act as intermediate host in the life cycle of certain flukes and tapeworms.  So every possibility appears that diseases like Malaria, Philaria and guinea – worm will spread in the human beings, if the intermediate host or the larval stages occur in the stagnated water.

In addition to the above mentioned diseases the bacterial and protozoan diseases also can spread and or enhanced in the region. The common diseases like diarrhea cholera and typhoid are few to be mentioned which are likely to spread in the domestic areas.

Source: Polavaram Project: Environmental Impact appraisal Report, Irrigation Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad May, 1985

Endangered species not found in submergible area. The submergible area includes 107 Hec, of Teak plantation, of 1927 to 1973.  The riverbed is breeding and feeding area for crocodile and other aquatic animals, while the adjacent forests harbour many other wild animals.  The area of proposed submergence abound in rich wild life and threatened species life Tiger, Panther, bison, blackbuck Chousingha - Crocodile Pythons peafowl etc.  The damage to wild life habitat is irretrievable.

The area also containing good timber and bamboo forest and is a source of raw material for adjacent forest based industries as local and Urban population the project will effect forest 730 hectares of wildlife sanctuary including the riverbed which forms breeding ground for crocodiles pre-impoundment conditions are ideal for breeding crocodile and gharial. The prospects of Crocodile farming can be assessed only after survey of post impoundment conditions. The damage to scenic value of the natural forest will be apparent.

95 Para: Fauna – Tigers exist in fair number and are usually not met near Munturu, Darapalli, Konduluru, Kondapalli, Tulugondra and Motugudem.  Bears are frequent in foothills.  Spotted deer is comparatively less but found to some extent in Kunavaram range.  Sambhar, barking deer and mouse deer are found to some extent in Kunavaram range.  Sambhar, barking deer and mouse deer are found all over the division although rarely occurrence of Bison is seen on Rekhapalli R.F. and Mariguda R.F. and in adjacent Bastar.  Wild boars and Nilgais are in Nelakota area.  Peafowl, Jungle fowl, spur fowl, Patridge, Imperial pigeon, Quail are chief birds.  During August, September, pelicans are seen in Godavari, Hornbill is seen in the interior, crocodile in Tammileru and Papi hills.

Stream Alimeru, Tadaka Vagu, Turi, Intaluru, Pala, Peddawagu, Gonderu.

***********

Configuration of the ground:

Classification into Zones: The area met with in this division has a general undulating configuration skirted on the north and the east by two high ranges and numerous scattered groups of hills broken up by the rivers SABARI, SILERU, SOKILERU and their tributaries. The terrain can be grouped two well defined zones:

1)      the Rekhapalli Zone 2) the Sabari – Pedavagu Zone.

1) Rekhapalli zone: The average height of the area in this zone is about 275 mts. above MSL.  River Sokileru cuts the zone into roughly two halves.  In the lower half, hills rarely attain a height of more than 550 mtrs., while the northern half they are much higher reaching upto 1220 mtrs.  This zone lies to the east of the river Sabari and consists of mass of rugged hills with deep ravines and precipitous ridges except in the extreme north where a long valley runs parallel to river SILERU.

The Rekhapalli Zone forms a vital catchment area to the numerous streams that ultimately drain into the Godavari.  The drainage pattern of the area roughly as follows:

I.        Northern regions by Sileru with its various tributaries like Alimeru vagu, Tadaka Vagu, Pala Vagu etc.

II.     Eastern regions by Pamuleru and Gondiyeru with the tributaries joining.

III.   Regions by Godavari and its Tributaries.

Below the confluence with Sabari to grips with the constructing spurs of Eastern ghats and it obliged to restrict itself – its attempt to force its way on its down, while doing so the river has presented a scenery in the gorge which has only to be believed at one place the width of the river is mere 200 meters and constantly race advancing wooded slopes overhanging the river – an illusion of the river at the gorge considered as unfathomable is not however expected more than 60 Mts.

2) The Sabari Pedavagu zone:  This lies between Sabari and comparatively a minor stream, which forms the common boundary to Bhadrachalam south and north.  The Sabari there is an immense mass slowly tapering into plains as on slowly tapering into plains as one.  This area is considered as the home – 80% of rain by Southwest monsoon.  Narakonda Vagu in Kunavaram Range only hold water in stagnant pools in summer.

Studies by Singareni Collieries indicated that the deposit of coal occurring over a restricted to a Godavari bed is of Bhaskara formation.  250 tonns of graphite is developed in the area.  The terrigenous sediments which are brought due to the flooding will alter the physio-chemical parameters.  When the waters are turbid due to the suspended sediments the reduction in the Euphotic zone results in decrease in the productivity.  Necessary management's will be made and steps initiated for removing the hazards of floristic and control of weed growth.

Source:  ‘Working plan Bhadrachalam South'  1968-69 to 1982-83 by T.C.Kesava rao