Outer ring road plan receives green clearance from SEIAA

Thiruvananthapuram: The proposed outer ring road has received the environmental clearance (EC) from the state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA). Earlier, the state expert appraisal committee (SEAC) has recommended the issuance of EC for the project. The state government proposes to develop the outer ring road (ORR) under the Capital Region Development Project (CRDP)–II.The SEIAA considered the proposal in its latest meeting and noted the decisions of various state expert appraisal committee meetings. It noticed that the SEAC had appraised the proposal based on evaluation report, documents on public hearing, environmental and social impact assessment report and other documents obtained from the project proponent during appraisal.The state expert appraisal committee had recommended for EC for a period of 10 years with certain specific conditions in addition to general conditions. As per the minutes of the SEIAA meeting, the authority also decided to issue environmental clearance for 10 years with a set of specific conditions along with general conditions.It has been directed that the guidelines regarding green rating and green building certification to buildings based on green standards should be adhered to wherever applicable.The proponent has been directed to ensure the interconnection between the natural drain and the storm water drainage. Avenue plants and green belt should be developed with trees and herbs having high pollution sink potential, the state environment impact assessment authority has directed. Compensatory afforestation for the trees removed from the alignment and other areas involving the project should be carried out and a specific and appropriate management plan should be adopted for addressing the impact on water bodies and low lying areas along the proposed project, says the state environment impact assessment authority listed conditions for EC.Earlier, the two member subcommittee appointed by the state expert appraisal committee to evaluate the EIA report had flagged serious shortcomings. The proponent had failed to consider the green development plan for public buildings, schools, hospitals and other community buildings which are necessary to compensate for the vegetation loss anticipated.The proposed project is a ring road connecting Mangalapuram - Thekkada - Vizhinjam road. The project duration is 15 years. Special investment regions are also being planned in the overall development. The proposed road is planned as a 77.77 km corridor. The Southern Ring (Mangalapuram - Thekkada - Vizhinjam) has been planned for a distance of 47.97 km and the northern ring will cover a distance of 29.8 km (Navaikulam - Thekkada). The four lane road will require 70 m right of way, an area of about 375 hectares. The anticipated construction period is 30 months.