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Environmental Management Plan Infrastructure Development Environmental Management Plan Final Environmental Management Plan Project Number: 40648 November 2012 Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT) Prepared by Department of Tourism, Government of Himachal Pradesh 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. Environmental Assessment Document Environmental Management Plan Document Stage: Draft for Consultation Project Number: March 2011 India Inclusive Tourism Infrastructure Development Project – Himalayan Waters Sanctuary Destination sub-project PPaacckkaaggee NNoo... HHPPTTDDBB///11///11 CCiiirrccuulllaarr RRooaadd 11 kkmm llloonngg,,, NNaaiiinnaa DDeevviii DDiiissttrriiicctt BBiiilllaassppuurr,,, HHiiimmaacchhaalll PPrraaddeesshh Prepared by the Government of Himachal Pradesh This EMP 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. 1 I. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMPONENTS A. Background 1. The India Inclusive Tourism Infrastructure Development Project (IITIDP) envisages an environmentally and culturally sustainable and socially inclusive tourism development, in the project states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. The expected Impact of the Project in the four states is sustainable and inclusive tourism development in priority State tourism sub circuits divided into marketable cluster destinations that exhibit enhanced protection and management of key natural and cultural heritage tourism sites, improved market connectivity, enhanced destination and site environment and tourist support infrastructure, and enhanced capacities for sustainable destination and site development with extensive participation by the private sector and local communities. 2. In Himachal Pradesh, the Himalayan Waters Sanctuary Destination (HWSD) and (ii) Shimla Heritage Route in Himachal Pradesh are proposed for inclusion as part of the first Periodic Financing Request (PFR). 3. The important natural and cultural heritage destinations in the HWSD include: (i) the Pong Reservoir, a Ramsar Wetland and designated bird sanctuary, (ii) the Shaktipeeth cluster in Kangra valley, wherein there are temple towns associated with Goddess Shakti, located in the districts of Bilaspur, Una, Kangra and Hamirpur among which the key sites include Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalaji, and Kangra; (iii) the UNESCO listed Pathankot- Joginder Nagar historic railroad (Kangra Heritage train); and (iv) the rock carved temples at Masroor in Kangra District. 4. The improvements proposed in the Naina Devi destination, as part of the first PFR include the following: development of a 1km long Circular Road in Naina Devi and construction of Construction of Car Parking near upper terminal of Ropeway, Naina Devi. Other improvements in Naina Devi shall be taken up in the subsequent PFRs in line with the recommendations of the master plan for the Naina Devi destination. The implementation of the improvements proposed in the Naina Devi is proposed to be taken up in 2 different packages as per the Procurement Plan as follows: • Package 1: Circular Road 1km road long at Naina Devi; and, • Package 2: Car Parking at Naina Devi. 5. Prior to the loan processing, as per the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Environmental Assessment Guidelines, the sub-project components (proposed as part of the HWSD) have been categorized as ‘B’ and an IEE carried out. 6. This Environmental management plan (EMP) outlines the specific environmental measures to be adhered to during implementation of the Package No. HPTDB/1/1, Construction of a 1km long Circular Road at Shri Naina Devi Ji. The project is being implemented by the Public Works Department (PWD), Division II, Bilaspur of the Government of Himachal Pradesh. The EMP has been prepared based on the detailed designs. This stand alone EMP for the procurement package shall be appended to the Contract document to enable integration of environmental provisions / management measures during implementation. B. Circular Road – Package Description 7. The proposed development of the circular road is within the lands belonging to the GoHP. The proposed road as estimated at present is 0.90 km long and shall be developed on a formation width of 5m along the straight sections and 7m along the curved sections. There are no trees or vegetation that needs to be cleared for the road formation. The widening of the road is within the available right of way (RoW) of the HP PWD Div. II, Bilaspur Road Department. There are no major water courses across the proposed alignment, and a total of 6 cross-drainage structures are provided, of which 5 are hume pipe culverts and one is a slab culvert. 2 Figure 1: Proposed alignment for Circular Road at Naina Devi II. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 8. The assessment of environmental impacts for the proposed interventions under this package has been carried out during the following stages of the project planning and implementation: • Location impacts. Impacts associated with site selection, including impacts on environment and resettlement or livelihood related impacts on communities • Design impacts. Impacts arising from project design, including the technology used, scale of operations etc • Construction impacts. Impacts resulting from construction activities including site clearance, earthworks, civil works, etc. • O&M impacts. Impacts associated with the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure built in the project. A. Land Acquisition and Resettlement 9. The sub-project is proposed within the lands available with the GoHP. There are no impacts envisaged on land acquisition or resettlement due to the proposed package. B. Environmental Impacts 10. Table 1 provides the potential environmental impacts and the mitigation measures including the responsibilities for implementing the same. Annex 1 provides the key environmental clauses that need to be conformed to be the contractor during the implementation. 3 1. Location and design Impacts 11. The sub-project location is free of any physical encumbrances and environmental sensitive features. There are no trees or vegetation that shall require to be cleared for siting the alignment. Potential Impacts arising from the inappropriate designs has been addressed through adoption of designs compatible with the cultural environment, and careful selection of materials to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the natural surroundings. 2. Construction Impacts 12. The construction stage impacts due to the proposed project components are generic to the construction activities, and are typical of road construction projects. However, it is important to take all possible care to avoid the generic impacts through conformance to the mitigation measures laid down in the EMP by the contractor and supervised by the DSC. Key impacts during construction are envisaged on the following aspects: (i) earthwork in excavation – a total of about 11000 cum of earth in cutting shall be required to be disposed; (iii) dust generation, air and noise from construction, (iv) delineation of construction areas, movement of construction machineries etc, in the stretches within the Naina Devi settlement. 3. O & M Impacts 13. Impacts on environmental conditions associated with the operation stage of the sub- project components pertain to impacts due to increased vehicular movement along the road. Speed restrictions, provision of signages towards the same, and defining locations for pedestrian crossing shall minimization of impacts on safety during operation of the road. Table 1: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures –Circular road at Naina Devi Responsibilit Sl No Environmental Issues Mitigation Measures y Duration / Extent Extent / Duration Magnitude 1 Design and pre-construction Impacts 1.1 Impact on drainage Permanen Major Design of the project road includes provision of 6 cross-drainage PWD conditions due to the t structures to ensure adequate cross-drainage flow formation of the alignment, especially along the drainage courses cut across. 1.2 Impact on structures Permanen Moderate The cross sections for the project road has been worked out to minimize PWD and private t resettlement impacts, and the designs have been accommodated within properties, especially the RoW that is available clear of any encroachments and at the start and end of encumbrances. the proposed alignment 2 Pre-construction Activities by Contractor 2.1 Construction Camps Temporary Moderate The construction camps will be located at least 500m away from Contractor / – Location, Selection, settlements including the Naina Devi settlement. The construction camps DSC Design and Layout including sanitation facilities, shelter, canteen, first aid, health care, day Consultants crèche facilities must be adequately drained, and must not be subject to periodic flooding, nor located within 300 feet of swamps, pools, sink holes or other surface collections of water unless such water surface can be subjected to mosquito control measures. The camps must be located such that the drainage from and through the camps will not endanger any domestic or public water supply. All sites must be graded, ditched and rendered free from depressions 2.2 Defining of Temporary Moderate Construction work area will be demarcated on ground. Free-standing Contractor / construction/work fencing
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