Salaya-Viramgam Pipeline

Project Profile

Four loop lines of about 122 km length are proposed to be laid for the augmentation of the capacity of Salaya - Viramgam (SV) section of Salaya - Mathura Pipeline (SMPL) from 17.2 MMTPA to 20 MMTPA. These looplines originate from Salaya (chainage 0.0 km), Jamnagar (chainage 46.70 km), Rajkot (chainage 114.60 km) and Surendranagar (chainage 215.0 km) and would be laid in the Right of Way (RoW) of the existing SV section. The existing SV section which originated in the midst of the Gulf of Kutch posses an off-shore Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) system capable of mooring oil tankers up to 3,00,000 DWT capacity and is connected to an offshore submarine by 5.5 km long onshore pipeline of 42" diameter. Under the proposed augmentation project, one additional SBM is proposed in the vicinity of the existing SBM. A new 6 km long submarine pipeline to connect the new SBM to onshore pipelines and a 3 km long pipeline to connect the proposed SBM to the existing SBM is also proposed as part of the augmentation project.

The activities under the proposed augmentation of SV pipeline section would be fairly widespread in Marine National Park (MNP) and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Gulf of Kutch.

Predicted Impacts

• The proposed augmentation of SV section of SMPL involves laying of looplines and offshore submarine pipelines in the already cleared strip within the acquired area for RoW. These activities are therefore not considered to pose any additional threats to the ecology of the intertidal zone, mud flats and critical coral reef zones.
   
• The installations of another SBM in the deep sea have several ecological implications.
   
• The construction activities of SBM and new off-shore pipelines will cause a significant direct disturbance in the movement of several endangered species viz. dolphins, dugong, whales, sea turtles and several other marine organisms.
   
• The proposed pigging facility for connecting new off-shore pipeline with existing on-shore pipeline is also likely to cause sufficient impact on the corals and marine life in the intertidal zone, mudflats, etc. in the MNP area.
   
• Based on the information provided by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), on an average 15-20 very large crude oil containers (VLCC) berth around the SBM every month. Already appreciable remnants of chronic oil spill has been evidenced in the islands of MNP in general and the Narara belt in particular. An additional SBM location in the coastal area will greatly add to the oil spills.
   
• The present level of disturbance to marine life from ship movements is likely to be doubled as twice the present number of large oil tankers will berth around the SBM. Oil spillages from crude oil tankers, off-shore pipeline breaks, and off-loading activities can create long term damage to coastal resources of fragile ecosystem of MNP.

Mitigation Measures

• The concerned implementing agency and decision makers will have to ascertain the fact regarding the grant of RoW to the M/s IOCL in the Gulf of Kutch and MNP and its provisions such as Coastal Regulation Zone and Environmental Guidelines for sitting of industry.
   
• If the proposed project is approved then the implementing agency will ensure minimum disturbance to marine life and damages to the coral reef, sandy beach, sand intertidal zone, near Narara island in the MNP.
   
• The implementing agency i.e. IOCL will have to build up urgently an obligatory safety facility to cope up with the oil spills in any part of the Gulf of Kutch and MNP as well as all along the pipeline route on the main land. A contingency crisis management plan has to be prepared and implemented in case of any acute oil spill.
   
• The implementing agency (IOCL) should provide adequate funds to the MNP authorities for research and ecological monitoring in the proposed activity zone and compensatory afforestation of mangroves along the Narara coastal area.
   
• It is for the betterment of both, the ecological consciousness of IOCL and the MNP management authorities, concern for MNP, the implementing agency should consider setting up of "oil spill monitoring station" with all infrastructural facilities and personnel headed by a competent biologist.
   
• Information on incoming oil tankers in the Gulf, oil spill, if any and mitigatory action taken will have to be provided regularly to the Director, MNP by the project implementing agency.
   
• The M/s IOCL and Kandla Port Trust (KPT) are expected to ensure that ships/tankers visiting Gulf area will not discharge any kind of oil/waste by establishing an information linkage system with the Indian Coast Guard who’s mandate is to control possible oil spills in the oceans and coasts.

Project Analysis

The proposed augmentation project will have significant impact on the Marine National Park and wildlife sanctuary near Narara island during the construction phase. The disturbance in this highly fragile ecosystem will be further compounded after the installation of second SBM.

Decision on Environmental Clearance

Not known

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