The State Forest Department along with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun a survey of forest areas for the Chennai-Salem Greenfield Highway in Tiruvannamalai district on Monday.
The eight-lane greenfield highway will run for 123.90 kilometres in Tiruvannamalai district.
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Reserve forests
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Officials estimated that around 18 hectares of forest land would be required for laying the stretch that would pass through at least four reserve forests (RF) in the district.
According to officials, the survey commenced at Alialamangalam RF in Polur forest range. Apart from Alialamangalam, the stretch would pass through Anandavadi and Ravandavadi RFs in Chengam forest range and Nambedu RF in the Arani forest range.
Following Alialamangalam, officials are expected to carry out the survey in Chengam forest range. “Forest area is not a huge junk when compared to lands belonging to farmers and revenue lands required for the project. As of now, nearly 18 hectares of forest land are required for the highway in the district,” a senior officer said.
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During the survey, officials measure the area - length and breadth - required for the greenfield highway in the forests, enumerate the number of trees along the alignment path of the highway, measure the girth of trees to determine the age, height and type of trees.
Vegetation cover
“The vegetation cover will be taken into account. Flora and fauna will be listed. Mostly, deer and wild boars are found in these reserve forests,” a forest officer said.
The environment impact assessment has already been done, and once the survey was completed, the user agency - NHAI - will upload the details online as per the requirement of the Forest Conservation Act, officials said.
Under the Forest Conservation Act, now the application has to be online. The clearance is at many levels beginning with the District Forest Officer to Chief Conservator of Forests and upwards to the Centre.