1. GEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF HIGHWAY PROJECTS

2. Geological and environmental investigation of highway projects
How the impact is different from a hazard
Purpose of construction of road project
Geological impact of construction of highway project
Environmental impact of construction of highway projects
Measures to reduce the impact of construction of proposed highway projects

3. How the impact is different from a hazard
A proposed road project may have various impacts. All these can be predicted well in advance at the time of preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
Various Impacts of the highway project are
Impact on Environment
Impact on Economy
Impact on Culture
Impact on Society.

4. PURPOSE OF HIGHWAYS Better linkage / connectivity by road
Essential for the development of nation
Speedy reach of destination
Speedy transportation of industrial produce, agri produce, essential commodities.
Conservation of fossil fuels spent in transportation, so that fuels can be preserved for future generation, vehicle emissions can be reduced.
Cost of transportation can be cut down
Industry or commercial operations can be run with least inventory
Better convenience to public
Industrial development
In emergency health facility can be reached faster
Better industrial growth, better employment opportunities

5. Geological impact of construction of highway projects
Any lapse in selection of proper alignment will lead more distance to travel
Lapses in identification of clay pockets leads to settlement, deformation and frequent damage of roads
Loss of construction materials, mineral deposits in case of alignment through these materials

6. Geological impact of construction of highway projects
Compaction of ground leads to less infiltration of rain water in to ground
Landslides

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
Construction of highway projects will also have negative impact on environment
Loss of forest land if it passes through forest
Loss of agricultural land
Loss of wild life
Change in natural flow of water
Compaction of ground leads to less infiltration of rain water in to ground
Contributed to floods as we are disturbing the natural flow of streams
Soil erosion
Road accidents
Noise pollution

8. Loss of forest land Loss of Green Cover/tress, shrubs wooden material
Loss of tribal culture/ forces migration of tribals to remote areas
Loss of forest produce
- nuts, leaves , spices, gum, fruits, honey, plant based medicines, fiber, timber, fire wood etc.
Impact on climate, rain fall,/ micro climatic changes
Loss of carbon absorption capacity
Loss of bio diversity
Reduction in cleaning capacity of pollutants

9. Loss of forest land
Loss of educational benefits Loss of tourism Loss of aesthetic effect Forest reduces run off and increases infiltration Reduction in infiltration will leads to reduction in availability of groundwater Contributes to floods Loss of ecological benefits In accessible areas in forest will have access to human beings

10. Loss of forest produce nuts leaves spices gum fruits honey
plant based medicines
fiber, timber, fire wood etc.

11. Impact on climate and rain fall
Loss of forest cover results in reduction in co2 absorption capacity in turn capacity to give O2 also comes down
Increase in temperature in adjoining areas

12. Loss of forest land

13. Loss of wild life
Loss of shelter to wild life will lead to migration of wild animals
Loss of bio diversity
Species may become extinct
Livelihood of tribals will get effected

14. Loss of wildlife

15. Loss of agricultural land
Construction of major road projects leads to loss of thousands of hectares of farmland.
Farmers loose their lands and it effects the livelihood of farmers and leads to migration.
Reduction in agricultural productivity which in turn effects the agricultural based industry.
Farm labor will not have work in that area and this forces to migration of farm labor

16. Change in natural flow of water
Contributes to floods as we are disturbing the natural flow of streams
Soil erosion
Effects the groundwater recharge .

17. Soil erosion and landslides

18. Geological and environmental investigations
The purpose of geological and environmental investigation is to identify a suitable site for construction of highway projects
- site should be safe( land slides/ settlements/ deformation)
- cost of construction should be economic
- cause less damage to the natural and man
made environment
- least distance between the destinations connecting important places
We need to identify at least two or more routes, evaluate and finally select the route having minimum damage to the environment , safe and economic.

19. Environmental investigations
Detailed investigations are essential to assess the impact of the proposed high projects on natural and man made environment
Impact on forestland
Wild life
Agricultural land
Human settlements
Economy
Ecological
Aesthetic
Social
Cultural
Loss of man made environment such as loss of utility net works, housing, health and education facilities
Noise pollution

20. Geological investigations
Utilize remote sensing, geological, topographical maps and hydrological maps, prepare land use land cover maps and go for alignment of route
We need to look for shortest possible route
Avoid the locations where soft clay pockets are occurring
Avoid areas prone to landslides
Prefer the route having flat terrain, avoid steep terrain

21. Highway geological investigations
highway alignment ,location of right of way for the proposed construction
Subsurface exploration along the highway centre line
Classification of materials for excavation ,rock versus common burrow soil
Ground water aspects related to construction
Evaluation of landslide areas

22. Evaluating the type of rock
Examine whether there is compressible soil
Existing maps are studied in order to select the highway alignment.
Examine whether there are any river crossing
Locations
Road distances need to kept minimum

23. Measures to reduce the impact of highway projects
Utilize latest technologies available such as remote sensing to prepare land use land cover maps and align the route that cause minimum damage
Avoid passing the route through forests to the possible extent
If required the road to pass through forest , go for compensatory afforestation
Ensure that highways runs away from residential and sensitive areas so that public will not have disturbance of noise pollution

24. Measures to reduce the impact of highway projects
Adopt all safety measures along highways (underpass, over bridge, fuel stations, emergency vehicles, restaurants, dividers, plantation blockades to prevent lighting effect on drivers , signage boards of safety and other information)
resettlement and rehabilitation and compensation in a appreciable manner