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Initial Environmental Examination: Mongar Accelerated Rural

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Initial Environmental Examination: Mongar Accelerated Rural Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 42252 August 2010 BHU: Rural Renewable Energy Development Project Prepared by the Department of Energy, Government of Bhutan for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Royal Government of Bhutan Asian Development Bank Technical Assistance Project Number: 7318-BHU Preparing the Rural Renewable Energy Development Project INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (DRAFT) MONGAR ACCELERATED RURAL ELECTRIFICATION SUBPROJECT MARCH 2010 1 Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................8 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK .....................................................13 A. Policies relevant to the project...........................................................................................13 B. Environmental Clearance Procedures..............................................................................15 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT..........................................................................................17 A. Project description ................................................................................................................17 B. Project budget and implementation..................................................................................20 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT...............................................................................24 A. Physical Resources...............................................................................................................24 B. Ecological Resources ...........................................................................................................26 C. Economic Development .......................................................................................................28 D. Social and Cultural Resources...........................................................................................29 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES.................31 A. Environmental effects due to project location and design.........................................31 B. Environmental effects during Construction ...................................................................32 C. Environmental effects during Operation and Maintenance........................................43 VI. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES..............................................................................................46 VII. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION ..........................48 A. Project stakeholders .............................................................................................................48 B. Consultation and disclosure to date.................................................................................48 C. Future consultation and disclosure ..................................................................................49 VIII.GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM........................................................................................51 IX.ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN...................................................................................55 A. Summary of environmental impacts and mitigation measures.................................55 B. Environmental Monitoring Plan..........................................................................................55 2 C. Institutional Arrangement....................................................................................................63 D. Environmental Management and Monitoring Costs .....................................................63 X.CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ....................................................................................65 A. Project Findings .....................................................................................................................65 B. Recommendations.................................................................................................................67 C. Conclusion............................................................................................................................... 67 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................................68 ANNEXURES ...........................................................................................................................................70 Annex 1: List of species found in project area.....................................................................................70 Annex 2: Summary of Public Consultation...........................................................................................73 Annex 3: Photos from project sites........................................................................................................77 Annex 4: MOU between BPC and Affected Persons..........................................................................80 3 Abbreviations ADB: Asian Development Bank BAP: Biodiversity Action Plan BHU: Basic Health Unit BPC: Bhutan Power Corporation CS: Community School DFO: Divisional Forest Officer DoF: Department of Forest DoE. Department of Energy DYT: Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchhung EA: Environmental Assessment EA: Executing agency EC: Environmental Clearance EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment FYP: Five Year Plan EMP: Environmental Monitoring Program FNCA: Forest and Nature Conservation Act HH: Household HSS: Higher Secondary School IA: Implementing Agency H&S: Health and Safety JSWNP: Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park LSS: Lower Secondary School LV: Low Voltage MoA: Ministry of Agriculture MSS: Middle Secondary School MTI: Ministry of Trade and Industry MV: Medium Voltage NCD: Nature Conservation Division NEC: National Environment Commission NES: National Environment Strategy NGO: Non-Government Organization NWFP Non-Wood Forest Product O & M: Operation and Maintenance ORC: Out Reach Clinic PA: Protected Area PM: Project Manager/Park Manager PPE: Personal protective equipment PPTA: Project Preparatory Technical Assistance PS: Primary School RE: Rural Electrification RGOB: Royal Government of Bhutan RMNP: Royal Manas National Park RNR: Renewable Natural Resources RoW: Right of Way RSPN: Royal Society for the Protection of Nature TOR: Terms of Reference TNP: Thrumshingla National Park 4 TABLES Table 1: Summary of distribution lines Table 2: Improvements in rural electrification infrastructure proposed Table 3: Length Feeders in PA Table 4: Length of distribution line through different land use Table 5: Length of MV line passing through private land Table 6: Comparison of alternatives Table 7: Details of public consultation conducted Table 8: Summary of public consultation Table 9: Length of distribution lines and affected persons/beneficiaries Table 10: Total length of feeder through government and private land Table 11: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Table 12: Environmental Management Plan Table 13: Cost of implementing EMP and monitoring MAPS Map 1: Proposed Distribution lines under this sub-project Map 2: Map of Bhutan highlighting Mongar Map 3: Protected Areas in Bhutan Map 4: Map showing location of Distribution lines in Mongar Glossary of Bhutanese Terms Chathrim: Act, statute Chiwog: A unit under a Gewog Chuzhing: Irrigated/Wetland Dungkhag: Sub-district Dungpa: Sub-district administrator Dzong: The administrative center as well as religious centre in the district Dzongdag: District administrator Gewog: Block/ County Gup: Head of a Gewog Kamzhing: Dryland Lhakhang: Temple Rabdeys: Monastic bodies in Dzongs other than Punakha and Thimphu Sokshing: Area where dried leaf litter is collected to make manure Tsamdro: Pasture land Tseri: Shifting cultivation, Slash and burn cultivation Tshechu: Religious festival Tshogpa: Elected representative of a Chiwog 5 List of Terms AAAC All Aluminum Alloy Conductor ABC Arial bundle cable ACSR Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced ADB Asian Development Bank AEC Agriculture Extension Centre BHU Basic Health Unit BPC Bhutan Power Corporation BPC/ES BPC Environment Section BWS Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary DCS Distribution Construction Section DFO Divisional Forest Officer DOE Department of Energy, Ministry of Trade and Industry Dzongkhag District DYT Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung EIA Environment Impact Assessment ESD BPC Electricity Services Division FO Dzongkhag Forest Office Gewog Block GIS Geographic Information System (software) GYT Gewog Yargye Tshogchung IEE Initial Environment Examination JBIC Japan Bank for International Cooperation JDNP Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency JSWNP Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park LEC Livestock Extension Centre LV Low voltage ( 400V, 240 V) LUPP Land Use Planning Project MoA Ministry of Agriculture MTI Ministry of Trade and Industry MV Medium voltage (33 kV, 11 kV) NEC National Environment Commission NFE Non-Formal Education NRDCL Natural Resource Development Corporation Limited ORC Out Reach Clinic PC Public Consensus PPTA Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (ADB) 6 RE Rural Electrification RED BPC Rural Electrification Department The Integrated Master Plan Study for Dzongkhag-wise REMP Electrification
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