Jorhat-Numaligarh Pipeline

Project Profile

A 55 km long pipeline (dia = 16 inches) between the existing pumping station at Jorhat and the upcoming refinery at Numaligarh is proposed to transport the crude oil from North - Eastern oil fields to the proposed refinery at Numaligarh. The major portion (42.5 km) of the proposed pipeline would be aligned along the existing Naharkotiya - Barauni crude oil pipeline using the same Right of Way (RoW).

The major crossings within the proposed pipeline corridor include 23 roads (3 National Highways and 20 State Highways) and 15 water bodies (3 rivers, 2 beels and 10 nalhas). Based on ecological reconnaissance of the pipeline corridor, two rivers (Dhansiri and Kakadanga) and two marshy pools (Na Beel and Bar Beel) were identified as wetlands of ecological interest.

Predicted Impacts

• The proposed pipeline will cross Dhansiri river, which is an important wetland habitat for two important species of conservation significance viz. the Gangetic dolphin and otter. The population of dolphin and otter in this wetland are already threatened by fishing and mining activities that are regularly carried out. The proposed pipeline is viewed as a source of added threats to these two species.
   

• Kakadanga river corridor that will also be traversed by the proposed pipeline supports a few species of aquatic avifauna (red wattled lapwing, common sandpiper, white breasted moorhen and egrets). The cultivation and tea gardens on its banks are major sources of disturbance to the aquatic fauna of this region. There are no records of breeding populations of any aquatic wildlife species in the stretches where the proposed pipeline would cross. No impacts of pipeline crossing are therefore perceived on this river.
   

• The Bar Beel and Nar Beel are ox-bow perennial marshy ponds located near the villages. The avifauna of these beels is represented by pheasant tailed jacana and bronze winged jacana, open bill stork, black ibis, whistling teals and little egrets. The reptilian fauna is represented by Gangetic soft shell turtle and Indian saw back terrapin. The otter (Lutra sp.) represents the mammalian species of beels. These beels are the sources of fish and water for domestic requirements of village population. The laying of pipeline would involve dredging, welding and hydrotesting. All these activities would be detrimental to aquatic life of beels.

Mitigation Measures

• It is obvious from the status of wildlife values in different wetlands within the pipeline corridor, that, river Dhansiri supporting Gangetic dolphins and otters is the most important wetland habitat from the conservation standpoint. The following strategies for preventive mitigation of project impacts are therefore necessary
   

• The pipeline across Dhansiri river must be laid using Horizontal Direction Drilling Technology.
   

• No construction related activity on Dhansiri river should coincide with calving season (December to January) of dolphin and otter.
   

• During the pipeline laying across beels, construction activities should be avoided during post monsoon and winter season to avoid impacts on otters.
   

• The Beels should not be used as source of water for construction related activities.

Project Analysis

The proposed project has considerable potential to alter the ecology of Dhansiri river. The choice of technology (Horizontal Directional Drilling) to be adopted has proven merit in effectively preventing the impacts on river ecology.

Decision on Environmental Clearance

Not known.

Location Map

State map