Environment and Social Impact Cell, NTDC Room 140, WAPDA House, Lahore Email: [email protected]

Environment and Social Impact Cell, NTDC Room 140, WAPDA House, Lahore Email: Esic@Ntdc.Com.Pk

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) OF 132 KV DOUBLE CIRCUIT TRANSMISSION LINE FOR DISPERSAL OF POWER FROM 147 MW PATRIND HYDROPOWER PROJECT TO MANSEHRA GRID STATION (40 KM)

August, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 23 1.1 OVERVIEW 23 1.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND 25 1.3 NEED OF THE PROJECT 27 1.4 NEED FOR EIA STUDY 27 1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY 28 1.6 THE PROPONENT AND CONSULTANT 28 1.7 STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 28 1.8 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS 32 1.9 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES 33 1.10 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN (EMMP) 34 1.11 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 34 1.12 STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT 34 CHAPTER 2: POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 36 2.1 GENERAL 36 2.2 NATIONAL CONSERVATION STRATEGY (NCS) 36 2.3 BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN 2000 36 2.4 ENVIRONMENT RELATED NATIONAL LAWS/ POLICIES 37 2.4.1 Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 37 2.4.2 KPK Environmental Protection Act, 2014 38 2.4.3 Environmental Protection Agency Review of lEE and EIA Regulations, 2000 38 2.4.4 National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), 2000 39 2.4.5 The Antiquities Act, 1975 40 2.4.6 The Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, and Rules, 1969 40 2.4.7 The Factories Act, 1934 40 2.4.8 The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 41 2.4.9 The Explosives Act, 1884 41 2.4.10 National Resettlement Policy and Ordinance 41 2.4.11 The Forestry Act, 1927 41 2.4.12 The Telegraphy Act, 1910 41 2.4.13 The West Pakistan Water and Power Act, 1958 42 2.4.14 The Land Acquisition Act, 1894 42 2.4.15 Safety Regulations 42 2.4.16 Other Regulations 42 2.5 ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES 43 2.5.1 Guidelines of Pakistan EPA 43 2.5.2 International Protocols and Obligations 43 2.5.3 The Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979 43 2.5.4 The Rio Declaration, 1992 43 2.5.5 Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), 1971 44 2.5.6 USAID Environmental Procedures - 22 CFR Part 216 44 CHAPTER 3: DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT 45 3.1 GENERAL 45 3.2 JUSTIFICATION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT 45 3.3 PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK 46 3.4 PROJECT OBJECTIVES 48 3.5 THE PROJECT COST 48 3.6 EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY AND OTHER MATERIAL REQUIRED FOR THE 49 PROJECT CONSTRUCTION 3.7 Climatic Conditions 51

3.8 Tower Foundations and Structures 52 3.9 Safety Parameters 52 3.10 Construction Aspects 54 3.11 Activities during Construction Phase 56 3.12 Activities during Operation Phase 58 CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 60 4.1 No Project Option 60 4.2 Location Based Alternatives 60 4.3 Alternative Construction Methods 60 4.4 Alternative Route Alignment 61 CHAPTER 5: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE CONDITIONS 62 5.1 Physical Environment 62 5.2 Geological Setting 62 5.3 Soils 62 5.4 Climatic Conditions 63 5.5 Surface and Ground Water Hydrology and Drainage 64 5.6 Ambient Air Quality 65 5.7 Noise 65 5.8 Natural Hazards 65 5.9 Biological Surveys Methodology 66 5.10 Key Habitats of Project Area 67 5.11 Floral Attributes 68 5.12 Fauna Attributes 70 5.13 Socioeconomic Environment 72 5.13.1 Overview of the Area 72 5.13.2 Pattern of Settlement 72 5.13.3 Languages Spoken 73 5.13.4 Migration 74 5.13.5 Social Organization 74 5.14 Economy of the Project Area 75 5.15 Wholesale and Retail Trade 76 5.16 Government and Private Employment 76 5.17 Labor and Daily Wage Earners 76 5.18 Coal Mining 77 5.19 Fishing 77 5.20 Housing and Household Facilities 77 5.21 Women and Development 78 5.22 Education 78 5.23 Health Facilities 78 5.24 Poverty and Social Protection 78 5.25 Communication 79 5.26 Power Supply 79 5.27 Archaeological and Cultural Sites 79 5.28 Security Situation 79 5.29 Security Overview 80 5.30 Security Related Incidents 81 5.31 Community Perceptions 81 5.32 Role of Community in Security Arrangements 81 5.33 Notion of Significance 81 CHAPTER 6: STAKEHOLDERS AND PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS 83 6.1 OBJECTIVES OF CONSULTATION 83 6.2 CONSULTATIVE ASPECTS 83 6.3 STAKEHOLDER‟S CONSULTATIONS 83 6.4 SECONDARY STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIONS 84

CHAPTER 7: POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS AND 86 MITIGATION MEASURES 7.1 Impact Assessment Methodology 86 7.2 Project Siting / Design Impacts 86 7.4 Impacts Related to Construction Activities 89 7.5 Impacts Related to Operation and Maintenance Activities 100 7.6 Beneficial Environmental and Social Impacts 104 CHAPTER 8: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & MONITORING PLAN 105 8.1 GENERAL 105 8.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND MONITORING PLAN (EMMP) 105 8.3 Institutional arrangements for implementation of EMMP at 128 NTDC 8.3.1 Design and Construction Stage 128 8.3.2 Chief Engineer (EHV-I) 128 8.3.3 Project Director (PD) 128 8.3.4 Executive Engineer and Sub Divisional Officers (XENs and SDOs) 129 8.3.5 Environment and Social Impact Cell, NTDC 129 8.4 GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM 130 8.5 ESTIMATED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT COSTS 131 CHAPTER 9: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 133 9.1 CONCLUSIONS 133 9.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 134

LIST OF FIGURES Title Page Figure 1: Key Map of project area with alignment 12 Figure 2: Site Plan for Mansehra new grid station 13 Figure 3: Existing Network of NTDC 24 Figure 4: Seismic Zone Map of Pakistan 65 (a) Figure 5: Flood Zone Map of Pakistan 66 (a)

LIST OF ANNEXES Annexure 1: Material List for each type of Tower Annexure 2: Questionnaire/forms for social survey Annexure 3: Details of stakeholder consultations Annexure 4: Biological attributes of the project area Annexure 5: NTDC Compensation Policy Annexure 6: Emergency Response and Contingency Plan Annexure 7: Waste Management Plan

LIST OF TABLES TABLE TITLE Page Table 1: Project component details 11 Table 2: Distance (approximate) of proposed 132 kV D/C T/ L from Major 46 Settlements Table 3: Towers, Hardware, Insulator, Damper and Other item details of 49 Proposed T/Ls Table 4: Distribution of Labor 55 Table 5: Average Monthly Temperature at Balakot and Muzaffarabad (1960- 63 2003) Table 6: Average annual and monthly rainfall of Balakot and Muzaffarabad 63 Table 7: Number and Percentage of Floral Life Forms 69 Table 8: Dominant Floral Families with number of species 69 Table 9: Socio Statistics of Surveyed Areas 73 Table 10: Notables of the Area: 81 Table 11: Distance of T/L Crossing Points at Kunhar River 91 Table 12: Land usage of proposed 132kV D/C T/L from Patrind HPP to 96 Mansehra New Grid Station Table 13: Details of Road crossings along the 132 kV/220 kV T/Ls routes 99 Table 14: Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan - DESIGN PHASE 107 Table 15: Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan - CONSTRUCTION 110 PHASE Table 16: Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan - OPERATION AND 123 MAINTENANCE PHASE Table 17: Grievance Redress Process 131 Table 18: Estimated Environmental and Social Management Costs 132

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AOI Area of influence BAP Biodiversity Action Plan CMS Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals CITES the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CO Carbon Monoxide COD Chemical Oxygen Demand COI Corridor of Impact CSC Construction Supervision Consultant dB Decibel D/C Double Circuit EHV Extra High Voltage EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMF Electromagnetic Field EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan EMP Environmental Management Plan EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPD Environment Protection Department ESIC Environment Social Impact Cell GOP Government of Pakistan GRC Grievance Redressal Committee GS Grid Station IEE Initial Environmental Examination IESCO Islamabad Electric Supply Company IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature Km Kilometer KPK Khyber Pakhtunkhwa kV Kilo Volts LAA Land Acquisition Act LAC Land Acquisition Collector LAO Land Acquisition Officer LL Low Loss MW Mega Watts NCS Pakistan National Conservation Strategy

NEQS National Environmental Quality Standards NOC No Objection Certificate

NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide

NOx Oxides of Nitrogen NTDC National Transmission & Despatch Company PAI Project Area of Influence Pak-EPA Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency PEPA Pakistan Environmental Protection Act PEPC Pakistan Environmental Protection Council P/H Power House PM Particulate Matter PPC Pakistan Penal Code RAP Resettlement Action Plan ROW Right of Way

SO2 Sulphur Dioxide

SOx Oxides of Sulphur TA Telegraph Act T/L, TL Transmission Line TDS Total Dissolved Solids TSS Total Suspended Solids USAID U.S. Agency for International Development WHO World Health Organization

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION Pakistan is facing acute electricity shortages and requires the addition of new power sources on a fast track basis. Patrind Hydro Power Project, is currently being constructed which is expected to be operational by mid‐2017. Evacuation of electricity from 150 MW Patrind HPP is required for which NTDCL proposes to lay D/C of 132 kV, using rail conductor of length 45 km, from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New 132 kV grid station in Phase‐1. One of these circuits would be direct whereas the other circuit, would be looped in/out at Balakot 132 kV substation with the distance of Patrind HPP – Balakot of 32 km and Balakot – Mansehra New of 23 km.

NTDCL requested USAID financing for the T/L project to be implemented under Phase I. The project aims at:

132 kV D/C T/L from Patrind IPP to 220 kV Mansehra substation (45 km) 132 kV D/C T/L for In/Out of Patrind IPP‐ Mansehra S/C at Balakot (10 km) Extension of Mansehra New Grid Station (132 kV portion)

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is conducted for these projects in accordance with IEE/EIA Regulations, 2000 of Pakistan.

Project works during construction phase involve right of way procurement and clearing, civil works for tower/transformer foundations, shifting, installation and erection of towers, stringing and insulation and commissioning interventions. O/M Works contain removal of rust and re‐ painting of towers with corrosion, replacing any damaged insulators, removal/pruning of trees/branches above defined height, Filtering/changing of topping up transformer oils and replacement of other damaged equipment as part of EIA legal requirements applicable to proposed project was assessed and synopsis was prepared covering KPK environmental & other regulations and NTDCL technical/environmental/safety considerations. Field surveys along with stakeholder consultations were conducted along the T/L route and grid stations in 2017 to draw baseline profile and assess reservations/concerns. 132 kV T/L will traverse the districts Mansehra of KPK province and Muzaffarabad, AJK. Approximately 44 Km T/L will be laid down in district Mansehra, whereas approximately 4.5 Km (In‐Out) will be laid down in district Muzaffarabad. The major settlements along the RoW of 132 kV (45 Km section) T/L includes Mashan, Phurzen, Pore, Roh, Arab khan and Gohtar Bela. From angle marker number 30, proposed In‐out loop for Balakot grid station starts from Talhatta Roh crossing of Garhi Habibullah‐ Muzaffarabad road. Along 10 Km S/C T/L major settlements may include Pixpar and Ugul Kath.

Proposed 132 kV T/L will go through agriculture, mountainous area, and barren lands away from places of ecological/environmental sensitivity. Both T/Ls will be erected with recommended corridor clearances and other NTDCL/ GoP public safety and environmental protection considerations. The T/L will not pass through Batrasi Forest.

Notion of significance has been made to address the followings:

 As per Pakistan EPA “Review of IEE/EIA Regulations 2000” Projects having Power transmission/distribution greater than 11 kV capacity and installation of Grid stations are included in Schedule II for which an EIA need to be carried out to obtain environmental approval from provincial Environmental Protection Agencies  The project area region falls in Zone III on seismic map of GoP and experience frequent earthquake episodes.  The project area is a flash flood prone area. Other natural disasters that project area experience includes landslides and climate extremes like heavy rains, storms, severe snow, and hailstorms.  The development of infrastructure including transmission lines is considered as a threat for habitat of wildlife and obstacle for migratory species on their pathways. The threat of collision and electrocution through T/Ls has been widely studied along migratory routes/corridors of many migratory species.  The T/L will not pass through Batrasi Forest Reserve which is a habitat for wildlife of the area.  Some portion of the proposed T/L is passing through communities / houses, which could result in apprehensions of locals regarding safety.

In an overall view, the proposed transmission line project does not pose huge environmental and social impacts. No displacement is encountered throughout the proposed line. Major social and environmental impacts associated with most of the transmission projects are limited to the construction period and can be mitigated to an acceptable level by implementation of recommended measures and by better engineering and environmental practices. 2. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS The project will comply with all the national legislation relating to the environment in Pakistan, and other international protocols and obligations. The national legislation relating to the environment in Pakistan in order to obtain the required regulatory clearances is as under:

 The Pakistan National Conservation Strategy (NCS), which outlines the country’s primary approach towards encouraging sustainable development, conserving natural resources, and improving efficiency in the use and management of resources.  Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, which empowers the Pak-EPA to delegate powers to the Provincial EPAs, identifies categories of projects to which the IEE/EIA provisions will apply, develop guidelines for conducting IEE and EIAs and procedures for

their submission, review and approval, develop environmental emission standards for parameters such as air, water and noise, etc.  The National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), 2000 specify the maximum allowable concentrations of pollutants in municipal and liquid industrial effluents, maximum allowable concentration of pollutants in gaseous emissions from industrial sources, etc.  KPK Environmental Protection Act, after 18th Constitutional Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan, the Federal Ministry of Environment has been dissolved and subject of environment has been handed over to provinces. EPA KPK has formulated its own act. This project will comply with relevant provisions of this act.  The other provincial and departmental applicable laws and regulations include Reserved Trees Act 1966. The Telegraphy Act, 1910 which makes a provision of installing poles/towers without acquiring any land, Provincial Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Acts, Ordinances and Rules (Act, 1972), Antiquities Act, 1975, Provincial Local Government Ordinances, 2001, etc.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT As per provision of approved PC-I, the project scope is as under: Table 1: Project component details

Sr. No. Name of Proposed Project a. 132 kV D/C T/L from Patrind IPP to 220 kV Mansehra substation (45 km). b. 132 kV D/C T/L for In/Out of Patrind IPP‐ Mansehra S/C at Balakot (10 km). c. Extension of Mansehra New Grid Station (132 kV portion).

Component-A: 45 km long, 132 KV D/C transmission line from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New grid station 132 KV D/C T/L will traverse district Muzaffarabad in AJK and district Mansehra in KPK. Table 2 delineates the size of 132 kV D/C T/L section in different settlements of the project area.

Component-B: 10 km long, 132 KV S/C T/L, In/Out of Patrind HPP‐ Mansehra at Balakot Conductor of 132 kV S/C T/L will start from angle marker number 30 or 31 at

Talhatta/Roh crossing of Muzaffarabad‐ Garhi Habibullah road and will be interconnected with Balakot grid station. Tentative alignment is provided by NTDCL according to which 132 kV S/C may traverse Pixpar and Ugal Kath settlements.

Figure 1: Key Map of project area with alignment

The site plan of Mansehra New grid station is given below:

Figure 2: Site Plan for Mansehra new grid station

Salient Features of 132 kV D/C and S/C T/L

132 kV D/C and S/C T/L from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New GS includes Tower types, total length of conductor, OPGW, hardware details, insulators and dampers. Table 4 provides the summary of these features.

Extension to the proposed (220 KV) Mansehra New GS (132 kV portion)

Two breaker bays of 132 kV would be required to be added in 132 kV switchyard of Mansehra New 220 kV/132 kV substation at the 132 kV Bus Bar to provide connection to 132 kV double circuit from Patrind HPP switchyard.

Patrind HPP Switching Station

Main equipment of substation of 132 kV at Patrind HPP switchyard required for the interconnection scheme are as follows:

 Double bus bars of 132 kV with a coupler  Two breaker bays of 132 kV, one in each bus‐section to connect two 132 kV circuits  Three breaker bays of 132 kV for connecting three generating units  Two bays for auxiliary station transformers

Civil Works, Erection and Stringing of Towers, Commissioning

Laying and installation of proposed scheme will be commenced by NTDCL approved contractor. Operation and maintenance of the T/L and sub stations will be undertaken by NTDCL.

Below are the major activities involved during execution of the project

Preparation of bidding, Evaluation and award of contract Design, drawing and approval Preliminary works Right of way procurement and clearing Civil works Manufacturing and shipment of equipment Installation and erection Testing and commissioning Clearing the pending liabilities

For route alignment the design would aim to avoid cultivated fields and dense populated area as possible. Due to mountainous terrace accessibility to tower sites may be a problem however contractor should develop tracks with minimal disturbance to community and habitat.

Major civil works include blasting (if required), surveying, angle tower marking, excavation of trial pits, setting of stubs and relevant platforms for tower foundations, preparation of ground profiles for road, canal and other

14 high voltage crossings (if any). Foundations of ZM-300, ZM‐600 & ZM‐10 with 10‟ & 20‟ extension will be prepared for setting up the T/L.

The tower footings have variable dimensions as per type of tower and sub soil conditions. A minimum of 150m2 working area is required for the excavation of normal foundations and upwards of 250m2 for the larger angle towers. The depth of excavation for the normal foundation varies from about 3m to 4m. Manual or mechanical excavation will be utilized for excavation of tower footings depending on site conditions/access. The excavated ditches are backfilled after the completion of foundations works.

Tower erection on the concreted pile pad locations will be carried out with the help of derrick poles or cranes. The required working area for this activity would be approximately about 500m2 for each tower. The tower will be erected in panels and will be assembled on the ground after which it will be lifted in parts by derrick poles/crane. After this towers will be joined together with nuts and bolts and will be tightened at the specified torque. The material list for each type of tower has been attached as Annexure 1.

Other works include stringing, installation of conductor, overhead ground wire, insulator stringing hardware grounding, Power transformers, and commissioning works.

4. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

Project alternatives of proposed T/Ls have been also assessed as part of the EIA. The alternatives are categorized based on No project option, alternative site locations, construction methods and alternative route alignments.

No Project Option

In current situation without proposed T/L scheme, stable and reliable evacuation of upcoming 150 MW power from Patrind HPP to NTDCL T/L network may require further evaluation and up gradation of other T/L networks available in the project area. PC‐1, Load Flow studies, Contingency results of schemes etc. evaluated the best choice for interconnection of Patrind HPP with Mansehra New Grid Station.

Keeping in view the setting up of Muzaffarabad‐II 132 kV by the year 2018 as per plans of PESCO, proposed T/L scheme from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New Grid station will not only serve as best option for interconnection but also helps to overcome load fluctuations of Mansehra New to Mansehra 132 kV single circuit and Muzaffarabad (132 kV and 11 kV) bus bars.

Location Based Alternatives

The nearest substations to Patrind HPP are Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Mansehra. The existing 132 kV network available around the site of proposed Patrind HPP comprises of:

 A single circuit of 132 kV Muzaffarabad – Balakot

 A single circuit of 132 kV Balakot ‐ Mansehra  A double circuit of 132 kV from Mansehra – Mansehra New  Jagran power plant is connected to Muzaffarabad through a single circuit of 132 kV which is looped in‐out at Nausery.  A double circuit of 132 kV from Mansehra New to Abbottabad. A further single circuit of 132 kV from Mansehra New to Abbottabad looping in/out at Ayub Medical College 132 kV Substation.

Keeping in view the development of upcoming hydel IPPs in Mansehra‐ Muzaffarabad area there is need to select the best practical option with zero or limited technological constraints. The selection of 132 kV D/C T/L from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New Grid station has been made as part of NTDCL long term scenario of 2020 in the project area. There is also the presence of a strong 220 kV network in the vicinity via the 220 kV Mansehra New Substation which is further connected to 500 kV Islamabad‐West Substation. The strong interconnection to the 500 kV and 220 kV network helps in terms of the stability of the network.

Alternative Construction Methods

Alternative construction methods include selection of excavation mode for tower foundations, alternative routes for equipment transportation and alternative assembly techniques for tower erection. As NTDCL approved contractors are well versed with the constructability of the transmission line, thus the impacts from construction methods are not of significant nature.

Alternative Route Alignment

The alternative routes regarding geometry of towers will be assessed and reservations will be incorporated in the final design report. The main agenda of alternative alignment would be to avoid dense vegetation, populations and other places of concerns.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE CONDITIONS

Physical Environment

A data collection survey that included geology, meteorology, hydrology, ambient air quality, water quality, soil characteristics, noise levels, flora and fauna, land use pattern, and socioeconomic conditions was undertaken, based on available secondary information and data collected in the field. Primary data was collected to establish baseline conditions for the soil, climatic conditions, water (surface and ground) resources, flora, fauna, and noise. Secondary data was collected for land, geology, ecology, climate, and socioeconomic factors.

Geological Setting

The prevailing geological conditions of the project area is the consequence of lesser Himalayas. Project area is generally characterized with a mixture of

16 mountains, valleys, plains and lakes with some areas heavily forested. In the Hazara Palaeozoic sequence, the Tanawal Formation overlies the Hazara Slates and underlies the Abbottabad Formation. The Tanawals comprise dominantly of arenaceous rocks which constitute quartzite, quartzitic schist and quartzitic sandstone with interbedded arenaceous slaty shales, slates, phyllitic slates and conglomerate which are intruded by the igneous rocks.

According to the Preliminary Seismotectonic Map of Pakistan (1979) the project region in parts belongs to one of the major earthquake zones. Project area is pan of the geological set‐ up that can transmit earthquake waves. Major faults that can trigger the seismicity include Main Mantle Thrust, Main Boundary Thrust, Oghi shear zone Mansehra, Darband Falut Tarbela, Khairabad Fault, Kala Bagh Fault and other small faults. Natural resources are being explored and extracted from the mines. In Kaghan, ores of paradox, whereas in Oghi and Battal ores of graphite have been discovered and are being excavated. Some of the other minerals found in the project area are coal, corundum, feldspar, granite, marble, quartz and soap stone.

The geological map is shown on next page.

Soils

The lack of irrigation facilities in the project area has affected the productivity of the soil in spite of its fertility. Soils are mixtures of young and poorly formed stony, composition of infertile skeletal soils of landslides and weathering product of Mansehra Granite. The soil is mainly composed of metamorphic rocks and silts mica granite. Soil texture includes clay loam, silty clay loam, loam and silt loam with pH value ranges from 6.56‐7.91.

Steep middle to upper slopes of the Kunhar and Neelum valleys receives deposition of fertile soils. The soil of Pakhli plain on north of Mansehra grid station is very fertile and productive due to irrigation facilities. Climatic Conditions

According to Köppen and Geiger, the climate of the project area is classified as Cfa i.e. humid subtropical climate. Northern part where there are high mountains is cold in summer due to snow clad mountains and is very cold in winter. Project area lies in humid zone and is characterized by high rainfalls, less fluctuation in temperature and relative high humidity. The project area is influenced by two rainy seasons: (i) south‐eastern monsoon during summer: and (ii) western winds during winter. The lower altitudes generally experience humid to sub‐humid sub‐tropical conditions, the higher altitudes experience temperate conditions.

The summer season starts from April‐September and the winter season from October‐March. The warmest month of the year is June, with an average temperature of 26‐30°C while coldest month is January with average of 8‐ 12°C. The rainfall of project area is significant, with precipitation even during the driest month. Rainfall is less in northern parts as compared to Kaghan valley which receives ample showers through the year. Average annual rainfall is 1538.5 mm for Balakot and 1351.9 m for Muzaffarabad. In July, the

17 precipitation reaches its peak, with an average of 302 mm.

The nearest available meteorological stations along the project area are located at Balakot and Muzaffarabad. Average monthly Temperature (1960‐ 2003) of Balakot and Muzaffarabad and average monthly and annual rainfall of Balakot and Muzaffarabad are shown at relevant places in the EIA.

6. STAKEHOLDERS AND PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

In accordance with EPA and USAID guidelines, the consultation process was carried out to share the information with the stakeholders/public on the proposed works and the expected impacts on the physical, biological and especially socio-economic conditions of the project corridor. At various locations along the project route, stakeholders/public consultations included interviews with the people of the area were carried out along the project corridor. The major concerns/issues raised by the stakeholders were regarding loss of crops, trees, etc. and their compensation process; to ensure accessibility of the field activities by community especially women; conflicts due to the uses of common resources by the contractor during the construction activities and during compensation for losses. All the concerns/issues have been taken care of and addressed accordingly in the respective chapters of the report. Identification of Affected Persons (Aps): The stakeholder consultation resulted in identification of all the people whose lands and crops will be affected by the project activities. Compensation to each AP will be paid as per NTDC policy given in Annexure 5. Names of the affected persons whose lands and crops will be affected and to whom compensation has already been paid include the following: 1. Hafeez Ahmed S/o Warisd Khan 2. Imtiaz Ahmed S/o Luqman 3. Muhammad Haroon S/o Gohar Rehman 4. Sultan ul Aarfeen S/o Sardar Syed ud Din Khan 5. Mubashir Sultan S/o Sultan ul Aarfeen 6. Muhammad Saleem S/o Muhammad Darwesh 7. Gul Muhammad Farooq S/o Noor Muhammad 8. Muhammad Manzar S/o Haider Khan 9. Noor Muhammad S/o Faqeer 10. Muhammad Zahoor S/o Khan Shireen 11. Muhammad Shoaib S/o Lal Hussain 12. Abdullah Jan S/o Muhammad Bashir 13. Muhammad Arif S/o Gohar Khan 14. Muhammad Mubarik S/o Gohar uru Rehman

15. Fehmida Begum wife of Muhammad Asif 16. Muhammad Tayyab S/o Muhammad Miskeen 17. Muhammad Hafeez S/o Muhammad Anwar 18. Ali Asghar S/o Muhammad Miskeen 19. Gul Zaib Seen Khan S/o Saaen Khan 20. Abdul Waheed S/o Abdul Karim 21. Muhammad Arshad S/o Aziz Khan 22. Gujjar Khan S/o Abdul Manan 23. Abdul Hameed S/o Muhammad Yousuf 24. Khan Shireen Awan S/o Faqeer Muhammad Awan 25. Shamraiz S/o Yaasin 26. Babu Chan Zaib Awan S/o Faqeer Muhammad Awan 27. Muhammad Humayun S/o Ashraf Khan 28. Kamran S/o Abdullah 29. Zafar Ali S/o Noor Akbar

Name of Affected Persons in area of alternate route away from Batrasi Forest to whom compensation will be paid include the following:

1. Raja Muhammad Gulzar khan S/o Raja Meer Afzal 2. Raja Sheer Afzal S/o Raja ghulam Nabi 3. Raja M Jehangir S/o Raja M Gulzaar 4. Bibi Sadia w/o Raja M Jehangir 5. Naheeda Parveen W/o Raja M Nasir Mehmood 6. Raja Ghulam Mustafa s/o Raja M Afzal 7. Raja Shehzad Hussain S/o Raja Doost M 8. Mushtaaq Ahmad s/o M Farid 9. M Saeed s/o Abdur Rasheed 10. Bibi Mehar Fazoon w/o Raja M Gulzar 11. M Rafique s/o Hameed Ullah 12. M Ashraf s/o Malak Aman khan 13. Irshad M s/o Ali Afsar khan

Pictures from Focused Group Discussions (FGD)

7. ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES

For the sake of impacts assessment, first corridor of impact (COI) was established consisting of three types of COI i.e. corridor of direct impact (COI- 1), a 30 m wide strip where crops, trees, etc., will be affected, ROW is a 30 m wide strip where trees over 2.5 m height will be disrupted and finally a 100 m strip (COI-2) within which some indirect impacts of the Project are envisaged. The major impacts on physical, biological and social environments and their mitigation measures are described as under:

Land Resources: No permanent acquisition of land will be involved for the project. However, the temporary acquisition of land for the construction activities including the establishment of the contractor facilities will be involved. The other impacts on the land resources will include damage to crops due to implementation of project, soil erosion and contamination during the construction activities. Compensation of crops, tree, etc. will be made be made to APs by NTDC. Proper mitigation measures have been considered to minimize the other impacts on the land resources. Infrastructure: To cross the existing infrastructure like highways, local roads, existing transmission lines, etc., proper clearance will be achieved by using towers of maximum height as per site requirements.

Water Resources: The major impacts envisaged on the water resources include use of local water supplies, contamination of surface and groundwater and siltation of river Kunhar along with streams/nullahs. Proper mitigation measures have been proposed to control the contamination and siltation of water resources. Ambient air quality and noise Levels: To control the effects on the ambient air quality and noise level, proper tuning of vehicles, sprinkling of water on katcha tracks under use by the contractor, controlled blasting and other mitigation measures have been proposed. Biological Resources: It is estimated that the implementation of the proposed project activities will cause cutting of a number of trees. Proper mitigations have been proposed to overcome these impacts. Socio-Economic Environment: The major social impacts will include accessibility to farm fields, restriction on women‟s field activities, disturbance to the privacy of local community particularly women, security of public as well as workers. So to resolve the social conflicts, proper mitigation measures have been proposed. Environmental and Social Benefits of the Project: Along with negative impacts of the Project, some major expected positive impacts have also been identified including availability of electricity as per demand, growth of industry and other linked benefits. 8. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN

A comprehensive environmental management and monitoring plan (EMMP) has been prepared to effectively manage and monitor the environmental and social impacts of the project. The salient features of EMMP are as under: Environmental Management Plan: To manage the environmental and social impacts of the Project, significant negative impacts and their mitigations have been covered in this section. For the ease to understand and identify the impacts and to implement their mitigations, a mitigation matrix has been developed as a ready reference for the proponent and contractor to minimize the negative impacts or to manage activities in such a manner to avoid any adverse negative impact. Environmental and Social Monitoring Plan: Keeping in view the impacts and existing institutional setup of NTDC, and environmental and social management plan has been embedded in the EMMP. Environment and Social Impact Cell (ESIC) of NTDC will be responsible for the overall environmental and social issues of the project. Responsibilities have been assigned to each key player of the project including Client, Consultant and Contractor.

9. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the available project plans/designs, field surveys and assessment of the impacts, it may be concluded that the Project has insignificant negative environmental and social impacts on the existing situation as the project alignment was selected in such a way that it would cause the least environmental and social effects. Further adoption of the proposed EMMP will help in mitigating or minimizing any adverse impacts due to the implementation of the Project. It is recommended that the anticipated impacts on crops and trees should be compensated and the affected persons should be satisfied.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 OVERVIEW The Power Generation Capacity of Pakistan is 21,353 MW including all resources like hydal, thermal and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The contribution of power generation through hydel, thermal and IPPs is 7075 MW, 4829 MW and 8678 MW respectively. The power generated from Thermal and IPPs sources is costly and the government as well as public cannot afford the high prices of electricity. Therefore, to generate cheap electricity, WAPDA is endeavoring to explore the hydropower resources. In this regard, WAPDA is working on various hydropower projects including Diamer Bhasha Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Munda Dam, Kohala Dam, Golen- Gol Hydropower, Dasu Hydropower, Bunji Hydropower, Neelum Jhelum Hydropower, Palas Hydropower, Spatgah Hydropower projects and extension in Tarbela hydropower project. For dispersal of power from these hydropower projects, which are mostly located in northern part of the country, large and extensive power transmission network consisting of 500 kV, 220 kV transmission lines and grid stations will be required. All the power plants in WAPDA‟s power system are operated in an integrated manner to supply power to the National Grid consisting of a large network of High Voltage and Extra High Voltage (HV & EHV) transmission lines and grid stations.

National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) is responsible for construction, maintenance and operation of transmission lines and grid stations of 220 kV, 500 kV and above. The existing network of NTDC is depicted in Fig. 3 on next page.

In Pakistan, the demand for energy has far exceeded its supply in recent years. The supply-demand gap for electricity reached up to 5,000 – 6,000 MW which resulted in recurring electricity cuts for domestic and industrial sectors and load-shedding of 12-16 hours across the country. The government is indeed making a concerted effort to solve the energy crisis and the Federation has reserved PKR 410 billion for energy projects in the financial year 2016-171. The government is aiming to add 10,000 MW in the national system till March 2018. Its top priority is to provide reliable and uninterrupted power to the consumers.

NTDC operates and maintains fourteen 500 KV and thirty eight 220 KV Grid Stations, 5110.48 km of 500 KV transmission line and 9686.32 km of 220 KV transmission line in Pakistan. In addition to that Karachi area has a network of

1 http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/339443-Rs-410-billion-reserved-for-energy-projects-in-FY-2016- 17

59 grid stations and 1,117 km of transmission lines of 220, 132 and 66 KV. The transmission of electricity from medium grid to lower grid and then to consumption centers is controlled by respective distribution companies in their respective regions.

Figure 3: Existing Network of NTDC

This document is the Environmental Impact Assessment for (1) 132 kV T/L which will traverse the districts Mansehra of KPK province and Muzaffarabad, AJK, (2) approximately 44 Km T/L to be laid down in district Mansehra, whereas (3) approximately 4.5 Km to be laid down in district Muzaffarabad. The project is financed by USAID.

Distribution lines and substations are included under energy projects and EIA is required by GoP for all projects involving sub transmission / distribution lines above 11 KV Transmission Lines and for Grid Stations (Schedule II).

1.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND NTDC has planned to undertake a project for transmission of power from Patrind Powerhouse to the national grid near Mansehra. As per provision of approved PC-I, this EIA covers the below components which will be financed by USAID.

Component-A 45 km long, 132 KV D/C transmission line from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New grid station 132 KV D/C T/L will traverse district Muzaffarabad in AJK and district Mansehra in KPK. Table 2 delineates the size of 132 kV D/C T/L section in different settlements of the project area.

Component-B 10 km long, 132 KV S/C T/L, In/Out of Patrind HPP‐ Mansehra at Balakot Conductor of 132 kV S/C T/L will start from angle marker number 30 or 31 at Talhatta/Roh crossing of Muzaffarabad‐ Garhi Habibullah road and will be interconnected with Balakot grid station. Tentative alignment is provided by NTDCL according to which 132 kV S/C may traverse Pixpar and Ugal Kath settlements.

Salient Features of 132 kV D/C and S/C T/L

Extension to the proposed (220 KV) Mansehra New GS (132 kV portion)

Patrind HPP Switching Station

Main equipment of substation of 132 kV at Patrind HPP switchyard required for the interconnection scheme are as follows:

 Double bus bars of 132 kV with a coupler  Two breaker bays of 132 kV, one in each bus‐section to connect two 132 kV circuits

 Three breaker bays of 132 kV for connecting three generating units  Two bays for auxiliary station transformers

Civil Works, Erection and Stringing of Towers, Commissioning

Laying and installation of proposed scheme will be commenced by NTDCL approved contractor. Operation and maintenance of the T/L and sub stations will be undertaken by NTDCL.

Below are the major activities involved during execution of the project

 Preparation of bidding, Evaluation and award of contract  Design, drawing and approval  Preliminary works  Right of way procurement and clearing  Civil works  Manufacturing and shipment of equipment  Installation and erection  Testing and commissioning  Clearing the pending liabilities

Major civil works includes blasting (if required), surveying, angle tower marking, excavation of trial pits, setting of stubs and relevant platforms for tower foundations, preparation of ground profiles for road, canal and other high voltage crossings (if any). Foundations of ZM‐300, ZM‐600 & ZM‐10 with 10‟ & 20‟ extension will be prepared for setting up the T/L.

Other works include stringing, installation of conductor, overhead ground wire, insulator stringing hardware grounding, Power transformers, and commissioning works.

1.3 NEED OF THE PROJECT

In Pakistan, there is big hydropower generation potential in northern part of the country. Total installed hydel capacity (excluding KESC) of country is 6733 MW. Significant numbers of hydro power projects are being executed/implemented in the KPK province. Projects like Duber Hydropower Project, Patrind Hydropower, Sukhi Kinari and Jabori Hydropower project etc. in district Mansehra, KPK are expected to be accomplished in near future. To evacuate the power from the district there is clear and immediate need of extension/improvement in power distribution network of the area. Keeping in view the present loading position and increasing trend of power demand/generation in near future, enhancement in existing network of NTDCL is required.

The load flow results show that there are no capacity constraints in terms of power flow or voltage ratings in the 132 kV network available in the vicinity of Patrind HPP for its connectivity under normal conditions. However N‐1 contingency results shows that voltage rating of the bus bars does not remain within their limits when the outage of Mansehra New to Mansehra 132 kV single circuit, overloads the intact circuit between these bus bars. This also causes the voltage of Muzaffarabad 132 kV and 11 kV bus bars to fall below their limits. The addition of new 132 kV line would help to overcome these bottlenecks.

1.4 NEED FOR EIA STUDY

It is a known phenomenon that investment in development sector not only contributes to the socio-economic development of people and country but it also affects the surrounding environment of the project area. The extent of damage to the environment depends largely upon the nature of the project and its intensity. In order to conserve the physical, biological and social environments from degradation, laws and regulations both at governmental and universal level has been promulgated, making it mandatory to carry out EIA studies before the commencement of the development projects.

Section 12(1) of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) of 1997 states that “No proponent of a project shall commence construction or operation unless he has filed with the Government Agency designated by Federal Environmental Protection Agency or Provincial Environmental Protection Agencies an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) or where the project is likely to cause an adverse effect an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and has obtained from Federal or Provincial Agency approval in respect thereof.” Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Review of IEE and EIA) Regulation, 2000, schedule II of IEE and EIA regulation states that any T/L higher than 11kV and above and grid stations

27 shall require an EIA report. Therefore, this project falls under schedule II and thus an EIA report has been proposed.

1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY

The Terms of references for this EIA study are designed keeping in view the following major objectives of this study i.e.  Identify adverse environmental and social impacts associated with various project components and phases of project implementation.  Describe baseline environmental and social conditions of the whole project corridor.  Identification of environmental and social impact of the project and suggest mitigation measures.  To assess and establish the existing environmental and socioeconomic conditions in the Project area.  To implement and execute environmental safeguards considering the harmful effects due to the Project.  To propose mitigation and monitoring measures that can be incorporated into the design of the Project to remove or reduce the damaging effects of various factors, as far as possible, and to control and monitor, residual factors.  To facilitate environmental decision making.  To facilitate an appropriate follow up process with requirements for monitoring, management, audit and evaluation.  To assess the proposed activities and to ensure that they comply with the relevant environmental and social regulations and standards.  Describe the governing national and international laws & regulatory framework on environment and institutional arrangements.  Prepare Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) and Environmental Costs etc.  To prepare an EIA report as per the relevant guidelines for submittal to the Provincial/Federal Environment Protection Agencies.

1.6 THE PROPONENT AND CONSULTANT

The proponent of the project is the NTDC which is implementing the project in collaboration with USAID.

1.7 STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY

The study has been conducted in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Government of Pakistan (GOP) IEE/EIA guidelines 2000. The location of the proposed T/Ls falls in Mansehra District. The guidelines of

KPK EPA were taken in account. The study is based on data collected from primary source i.e. directly through site survey and secondary source i.e. published information. Meetings were held with stakeholders including NTDC, KPK-EPA and USAID. The detailed approach and methodology used for the EIA study is as follows:

Literature Review

Before mobilization, a desk study was carried out through collection and review of guidelines, data and reports related to the Project that included (a) review of National Environmental Legislations and international best practices related to Environmental and Social Assessment Guidelines/Safeguards; (b) Google Earth Satellite Imagery; and (c) Relevant District Census Report (DCR) and any other relevant documents/drawings.

Route Optimization Study

Judicious route selection is the most cost effective method of reducing the environmental and social impacts of the construction and operation of the T/L and other linear infrastructure. Linear projects such as Transmission lines have the liberty to change in route line when encountered with potential environmental and social impacts. Consequently, the identification and optimization of the route was the most critical phase of the present EIA Study.

The objective of this work was to obtain first-hand overview of the Project environmental and social setting and to conduct an initial analysis of the physical, biological and social constraints posed within the proposed T/L route.

A map was prepared for route optimization. Efforts were made to optimize the route in such a way as to avoid environmentally sensitive areas such as protected areas, game reserves, lakes, archaeological and historical sites, settlements etc.

The objective of route optimization was to propose an initial corridor that will minimize technical and environmental constraints. An initial assessment of the infrastructure; types of land and the settlement pattern were also made based on the preliminary plans. The existing main towns and villages were identified along the proposed Project alignment through which accessibility to the proposed alignment was made.

The following environmental criteria were used in addition to technical and design considerations for the proposed T/L route.

 Avoid towns/populated areas;

 Avoid indigenous or tribal settlements;  Avoid cultural, religious and historical buildings;  Maintain minimum disturbance to the natural habitat and vegetation;  Maintain appropriate distance from the sensitive receptors (500 m);  Avoid large water bodies like lakes, rivers or streams; and  Avoid airports and other such facilities.

After the marking of proposed T/L route based on the above criteria, route optimization was carried out jointly by the design and environmental teams of NTDC, as major challenge was to avoid settlements along the route.

Review of Environmental Laws and Institutional Requirements

National laws, legislations, guidelines as well as USAID regulations and Policies/Guidelines in the absence of local laws related to resettlement along with relevant international protocols were reviewed.

Delineation of Corridor of Impact (COI)

COI/Study Area include the actual Project Right of Way (ROW) as well as the area in the surroundings in which positive and adverse impacts may be foreseen due to the implementation of the proposed Project was marked based on the available tentative T/L route. A route optimization of the T/L was made by a team of experts to highlight any potential sensitive physical, ecological and socio-economic constraints in and along the proposed T/L route. Based on the above, considering the urgency and short time available, a maximum COI of 500 m with 250 m on each side from the centerline was selected as COI for the baseline survey.

Survey of the COI

A team of environmental and social experts including surveyors, ecologists, enumerators etc. carried out the environmental and social survey of the COI to familiarize themselves with the local conditions and the environmental settings. During the survey, the information regarding the topography, soils, rock, surface water, groundwater, flora and fauna, wetlands, forested areas, social settings and villages/towns along the COI was observed.

Analysis of Alternatives

The analysis of different alternatives was carried out during the selection of the most feasible T/L route of the study in order to select the most viable route keeping in view the environmental, economic and social constraints. It is

30 an international practice for the preparation of EIA that the proposed Project is compared with other alternative arrangements that could be developed to meet the objectives for which the proposed Project has been planned. An analysis was carried out in consideration of technical and environmental aspects.

Moreover, No Project Option (NPO) was also considered with reference to the effect on the Country„s economics. This exercise provides justification for the need of the proposed Project.

Environmental Baseline Survey of the Project

After the selection of the most feasible route for the T/L based on satellite images and the delineation of COI, detailed environmental survey was carried out within the COI. Detailed investigations/surveys were carried out on all the T/L sections for environmental parameters on which any adverse or positive impacts were envisaged by the implementation of the Project. Baseline surveys were carried out during the month of July, 2017. Prior to the start of field activities, comprehensive checklists, proformas and maps were developed covering the following main parameters: a. Physical Environment

The information needed for the preparation of physical environment included the following main parameters:

 Land resources (including land use pattern, soil composition, contamination of soil and soil erosion etc.);  Water (including available surface and groundwater resources and natural streams, hydrology, spring water, water supply, water contamination etc.);  Climate (including temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and direction etc.);  Ambient air quality and noise Level;  Existing solid waste management and effluents disposal practices and storm water drainage;  Buildings, including residential, commercial and animal shed for complete/partial relocation;  Cultural properties (mosques, shrines, graveyards);  Archaeological monuments; and  Other private/public infrastructures such as roads, telephone poles, hand pumps, tube wells etc.

31 b. Ecological Environment  Flora (including vegetation cover, trees, shrubs and grasses, valuable or rare trees and their loss due to implementation of the Project etc.);  Fauna (including wildlife, avifauna, domestic animals etc.);  Reserved forests and wildlife sanctuaries in COI;  Wetlands;  Migratory birds corridors; and  Endangered species (both flora and fauna) c. Socio-Economic Environment

A sample survey was carried out within the COI in order to develop the socioeconomic baseline information of the general settled population. The following major aspects were covered in the socio-economic baseline survey of the sample population settled along the COI:

 Demographic characteristics;  Literacy status/ education;  Nature of business/occupation;  Livelihood/income;  Living standard of the population;  Access to credit;  Social Infrastructure available;  Gender issues;  Pressing needs of the people;  Aesthetic values  Archaeological/ Historical entities  Cultural values  Community perception about the Project etc.; and  Other aspects

Checklists and Proformas which are used during the baseline surveys for the EIA study are attached as Annex-2.

1.8 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS

The Project stakeholders were identified and meetings were held with them during the surveys to receive feedback on the expected environmental issues related to the Project impacts and suggested mitigation measures. Meetings were carried out with the Project affectees, relevant departments including Wildlife, Agriculture, Forest, Provincial & Federal EPAs, Irrigation, NTDC, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) etc. to discuss the

32 issues/constraints and get their views and feedback to mitigate the potential environmental impacts associated with the implementation and operation of the Project.

The proceedings of the consultations/meetings along with the photographs and list of participants are attached in Annex 3.

1.9 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES

A logical and systematic approach was adopted for impact identification and assessment. The process began during the screening and continued through scoping which identified the key issues and classified them into different categories. The tools, which were used for impact assessment, are:

 Checklists;  Matrices; and  Overlays.

Identification of potential environmental and social impacts in terms of their nature, magnitude, extent, location, timing and duration were carried out. The impacts were correlated to the Project location, design stage, construction stage and operation stage. Based on the impacts prediction methods and as a result of public/stakeholder consultations, the adverse environmental impacts were screened for inclusion in the mitigation measures and environmental management plan. The same process was followed for the identification of social impacts. Public consultations (which provided feedback of the impacts from the stakeholder„s viewpoint) were used to screen out the insignificant impacts. Matrices and overlays were used for the evaluation of temporal and spatial impacts respectively.

The practicable, economically feasible and socially acceptable mitigation measures were proposed for the significant adverse environmental and social impacts. These measures were based on exploring the ways to achieve the Project objectives causing least disturbance to the existing environment by alternative ways, proposing changes in the Project design (ROW, height of the T/L Towers and sitting of facilities), through improved monitoring and management practices (storage of construction materials, labour camps, waste disposal, disposal of construction debris etc. or through monitory compensation).

1.10 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN (EMMP)

An EMMP has been prepared to ensure the adequacy and effectiveness of the proposed protocol by clearly identifying the roles and responsibilities of the agencies responsible for implementation, monitoring and auditing of EMMP activities, existing and suggested framework, necessary approvals, training needs and the required further studies. EMMP also includes organizational setup, a monitoring mechanism, monitoring plan, environmental and social parameters to be monitored with their frequency. Similarly, costs for environmental monitoring and social component/social mitigation measures were also included as part of the EMMP. Environmental monitoring, evaluation, auditing and reporting mechanism were also proposed in the EMMP.

1.11 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the baseline conditions, identified impacts and suggested mitigation measures and proposed environmental cost, conclusions are made. Based on the conclusions, recommendations regarding the future plan of action and outcome of the EIA report are provided.

1.12 STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT The Environmental Impact Assessment Report comprises of nine (09) chapters and annexes. Chapter 1, Introduction; gives an introduction of the Project, scope of work for Environmental Impact Assessment, Approach and methodology, the study team etc. Chapter 2, Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework; provides an overview of the policy framework and national legislation that applies to the proposed project. The project is expected to comply with all national/provincial legislation relating to environment in Pakistan, and to obtain all the required regulatory clearances. It also deals with the requirements of international agencies and other international protocols for protection of biodiversity for which Pakistan has firm commitment. Chapter 3, Description of the Project; gives a rather detailed account of the Project particularly emphasizing those project components which are of importance in relation with environmental and social aspects. Chapter 4, Analysis of Alternatives; describes the analysis of alternatives, which could be site alternative, design or technology alternatives. Chapter 5, Environmental and Social Baseline Conditions; provides information about the environmental and social settings of the project area, geology, climate, flora, fauna, water resources, socioeconomic conditions etc.

Chapter 6, Stakeholders and Public Consultations; deals with the outcome of the consultation carried out with the local communities, knowledgeable people, public representatives, etc. It discusses the concern of various tires of the people and provides an outline how these have been addressed within the EIA of the project. Chapter 7, Potential Environmental and Social Impacts and Mitigation Measures; identifies the potential impacts due to the implementation of 500 kV grid station and allied transmission lines on the physical, biological and social environment of the Project Area. Chapter 8, Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans; outlines the environmental management plan, identifies the roles and responsibilities to implement EMP, suggest monitoring frequencies of various parameters, environmental costs/budgets etc. Chapter 9, Conclusions and Recommendations; sums up the report and conclusions and recommendations resulting from the study.

CHAPTER 2: POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

2.1 GENERAL The enactment of comprehensive legislation on the environment, covering multiple areas of concern, is a relatively new and ongoing phenomenon in Pakistan. However, a basic policy and legislative framework for the protection of the environment and overall biodiversity in the country are now in place. The Project is expected to comply with all legislations relating to environment in vogue in Pakistan.

The components of project are falling in KPK Province. The EPA-KPK Environmental requirements, IEE/EIA regulations, 2000 and PEPA 1997, will be applicable on this project.

2.2 NATIONAL CONSERVATION STRATEGY (NCS)

The National Conservation Strategy (NCS) is the first policy document (approved by the federal cabinet in March 1992) that pledged to balance Pakistan economic development with the conservation of natural resources. Underlying goal of this document is that all economic and statutory development in the country should be such that it does not conflict with the interests of nature conservation. The NCS outlines the country‟s primary approach towards encouraging sustainable development, conserving natural resources, and improving efficiency in the use and management of resources. The NCS has 68 specific programs in 14 core areas in which policy intervention is considered crucial for the preservation of Pakistan‟s natural and physical environment. The core areas that are relevant in the context of the proposed project are pollution prevention and abatement, restoration of rangelands, increasing energy efficiency, conserving biodiversity, supporting forestry and plantations, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 is the basic legislative tool empowering the government to frame regulations for the protection of the environment. The policy, laws, regulations and standards relevant to the project, in the context of environmental protection are described in the following sections.

2.3 BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN 2000

Pakistan is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and is thereby obligated to develop a national strategy for the conservation of biodiversity. The Government of Pakistan has constituted a Biodiversity working group under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan for

36 the country. After an extensive consultative exercise, a draft Action Plan has been developed. The plan which has been designed to complement the NCS and the proposed provincial conservation strategies identifies the causes of biodiversity loss in Pakistan and suggests a series of proposals for action to conserve biodiversity in the country.

2.4 ENVIRONMENT RELATED NATIONAL LAWS/ POLICIES

Pakistan has a number of laws concerned with the management and protection of the environment. Most of the existing laws on environmental issues were enforced over an extended period of time, and are context- specific. These laws are old and do not cover all the environmental issues. The penalties under these laws are very small, that becomes ineffective to control the environmental degradation. However, the enactment of comprehensive legislation on the environment, in the form of an act of parliament, has been promulgated as PEPA, 1997.

2.4.1 Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (the Act) is the basic legislative tool empowering the government to frame regulations for the protection of the environment. The Act is applicable to a broad range of issues and extends to air, water, soil, marine and noise pollution, as well as the handling of hazardous waste. The discharge or emission of any effluent, waste, air pollutant or noise in an amount, concentration or level in excess of the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) specified by the Pakistan environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has been prohibited under the Act, and penalties have been prescribed for those contravening the provisions of the Act. The powers of the Federal and Provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs), established under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance 1983, have also been considerably enhanced under this legislation and they have been given the power to conduct inquiries into possible breaches of environmental law either of their own accord, or upon the registration of a complaint.

The requirement for environmental assessment is laid out in Section 12 (1) of the Act. Under this section, no project involving construction activities or any change in the physical environment can be undertaken unless an Initial Environmental Examination (lEE) or an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is conducted, and approval is accorded by the Federal or Provincial EPAs. The section 12(6) of the act states that this provision is applicable only to such categories of projects as Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Review of lEE and EIA Regulations, 2000 (the Regulations); and are discussed hereinafter.

2.4.2 KPK Environmental Protection Act, 2014

After 18th Constitutional Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan, the Federal Ministry of Environment has been dissolved and subject of environment has been handed over to provinces. EPA KPK has formulated its own act. The major content of the act is same as of PEPA, 1997. Minor amendments/ changes have been made viz.

The Name of Act has been changed into “KPK Environmental Protection Act, 2014”.

For the words “Federal Government”, wherever occur, the word “Government” shall be substituted; For the words “Federal Agency”, wherever occur, the words “Provincial Agency” shall be substituted; and For the word “National”, wherever occurs, the word “KPK” shall be substituted. All the other clauses, sub-clauses, sections and sub-sections are almost same.

The Section 13 of KPK Environmental Protection Act, 2014 states that “No proponent of a project shall commence construction and operation unless he has filed with the Agency an initial environmental examination or where the project is likely to cause an adverse environmental effect, an environmental impact assessment, and has obtained from the Agency, environmental approval in respect thereof”.

2.4.3 Environmental Protection Agency Review of lEE and EIA Regulations, 2000

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Review of lEE and EIA Regulations, 2000 (the Regulations) prepared by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) under the powers conferred upon it by the Act, provide the necessary details on preparation, submission and review of the lEE and the EIA. Categorization of projects for lEE and EIA is one of the main components of the Regulations. Projects have been classified on the basis of expected degree of adverse environmental impacts. Project types listed in Schedule-I are designated as potentially less damaging to the environment and those listed in Schedule-II as having potentially serious adverse effects. Schedule-I projects require a lEE to be conducted, provided they are not located in environmentally sensitive areas. For the schedule-II projects, conducting an EIA is necessary. The Project falls in the schedule-II, Section-A Energy, hence an EIA has been conducted. Since the project is located in Punjab, therefore it falls in the jurisdiction of Punjab-EPA. Salient features of the regulation, relevant to the proposed Project are listed below:

I. Categories of projects requiring lEE and EIA are issued through two schedules attached with the Regulations. II. A fee, depending on the cost of the project, has been imposed for review of EIA and lEE. III. The submittal is to be accompanied by an application in prescribed format included as schedule IV of the Regulations. IV. The EPA is bound to conduct a preliminary scrutiny and reply within 10 days of submittal of report a) confirming completeness, b) asking for additional information, or c) requiring additional studies. V. The EPA is required to make every effort to complete the review process for IEE within 45 days and of the EIA within 90 days, of issue of confirmation of completeness. VI. EPAs accord their approval subject to following conditions:  Before commencing construction of the project, the proponent is required to submit an undertaking accepting the conditions.  Before commencing operation of the Project, the proponent is required to obtain from EPA a written confirmation of compliance with approved conditions and requirements of the EIA.  An EMP is required to be submitted with the request for obtaining confirmation of compliance. VII. The EPAs are required to issue confirmation of compliance within 15 days of receipt of request and complete documentation. VIII. The EIA approval will be valid for three years from the date of accord. IX. A monitoring report is required to be submitted to the EPA after completion of construction, followed by annual monitoring reports during operations.

2.4.4 National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), 2000

The National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), promulgated under the PEPA 1997, specify the following standards:  Maximum allowable concentration of pollutants (32 parameters) in municipal and liquid industrial effluents discharged to inland waters, sewage treatment facilities, and the sea (three separate sets of numbers).  Maximum allowable concentration of pollutants (16 parameters) in gaseous emissions from industrial sources.  Maximum allowable concentration of pollutants (two parameters) in gaseous emissions from vehicle exhaust.  Maximum allowable noise levels from vehicles.

These standards apply to the gaseous emissions and liquid effluents discharged by batching plants, campsites and construction machinery. The

39 standards for vehicles will apply during the construction as well as operation phase of the project.

2.4.5 The Antiquities Act, 1975

The Antiquities Act of 1975 ensures the protection of cultural resources in Pakistan. The act is designed to protect antiquities from destruction, theft, negligence, unlawful excavation, trade and export. Antiquities have been defined in the Act as ancient products of human activity, historical sites, or sites of anthropological or cultural interest, national monuments, etc. The law prohibits new construction in the proximity of a protected antiquity and empowers the Government of Pakistan to prohibit excavation in any area that may contain articles of archaeological significance. Under the Act, the project proponents are obligated to:

 Ensure that no activity is undertaken in the proximity of a protected antiquity, and  If during the course of the Project an archaeological discovery is made, it should be reported to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan.

2.4.6 The Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, and Rules, 1969

The Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, has been extended with effect from March 05, 1978, to the whole of Pakistan. It deals with the licensing requirement for driving; powers of licensing authority, Regional Transport Authority and those of Court vis-à-vis disqualification for license and registration requirements to control road transport; compensations for the death of or injury to a passenger of public carrier; powers of Road Transport Corporation; traffic rules, power to limit speed, weight, use of vehicles; power to erect traffic signs; specific duties of drivers in case of accident and powers of police officers to check and penalize traffic offenders.

2.4.7 The Factories Act, 1934

The pertinent clauses of the Act are those that deal with health, safety and welfare of the workers, disposal of solid waste and effluent, and damage to private and public property. It also deals with the regulations for handling and disposing of toxic and hazardous materials. As the construction activity has also been classified as an „industry‟, the regulations will be applicable to the Contractors.

2.4.8 The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860

The Act deals with the offences where public or private properties and human lives are affected due to intentional or accidental misconduct of an individual or a mass of people. It also addresses violation to any law of the country.

2.4.9 The Explosives Act, 1884

It provides regulations for handling, transportation and use of explosives. The contractors have to abide by the regulation during quarrying, blasting and for other purposes.

2.4.10 National Resettlement Policy and Ordinance

At this point, the only legislation relating to land acquisition and compensation is the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) of 1894. The LAA is, however, limited to a cash compensation policy for the acquisition of land and built-up property, and damage to other assets, such as crops, trees, and infrastructure. The LAA does not consider the rehabilitation and resettlement of disrupted populations and the restoration of their livelihoods.

Experience with large-scale infrastructure development projects implemented by institutions such as the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and National Highway Authority (NHA) has demonstrated the need for a cohesive national policy for resettlement. In spite of the fact that a National Resettlement Policy and related legislation has been drafted, it has not been officially notified. In the absence of this, the NTDC has its own system for payments for loss of trees and crops. The payments are made at three stages i.e. one at foundation stage, second at tower erection stage and third at wire stringing stage.

2.4.11 The Forestry Act, 1927

The Forestry Act, 1927; empowers the government to declare certain areas reserved forest. As no reserved forest exists in the vicinity of the proposed subproject, this law will not affect to the proposed subproject.

2.4.12 The Telegraphy Act, 1910

This Act was promulgated for installation of telegraph poles and stringing. This Act makes a provision of installing poles/towers without acquiring any land. However, provision is there for temporary acquisition of land during the construction period. As such, compensation is made for the loss of crop for a specific period.

2.4.13 The West Pakistan Water and Power Act, 1958

This Act authorizes WAPDA to construct and operate electrical transmission lines with powers and obligations of a licensee under the Telegraphy Act 1910. This Act also establishes policy for land acquisition and compensation, as well as the degree of liability of WAPDA for damages sustained by landowners or others.

2.4.14 The Land Acquisition Act, 1894

At present, the only legislation relating to land acquisition and compensation is the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) of 1894. The LAA is, however, limited to a cash compensation policy for the acquisition of land and built-up property, and damage to other assets, such as crops, trees, and infrastructure. The LAA does not consider the rehabilitation and resettlement of non-titled populations.

Section IV of Land Acquisition Act states that “Whenever it appears to the Collector of the District that land in any locality is needed or is likely to be needed for any public purpose or for a Company, a notification to that effect shall be published in the official Gazette, and the Collector shall cause public notice of the substance of such notification to be given at convenient places in the said locality”.

2.4.15 Safety Regulations

Following laws and regulations directly or indirectly govern the occupational health and safety issues during the currently studied production activities:  PEPA Laws, 2000  Labor Laws  Electricity Rules, 1937

2.4.16 Other Regulations

Other regulations which could be relevant to this project include:  Rules for Prohibition and Regulation of Fishing Burboster, Labeo Rohita, Catlcatla, Cirrhina, and Mirgala less than 10 inches in length. (No. 2989/54-6541-D (f), 1954.  West Pakistan Land Reform Rules, 1959.  West Pakistan Land Reforms Regulation, 1959, MLR No. 64.  West Pakistan Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1959.  Wildlife Protection Rules 1960.

 Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act 1992.

2.5 ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES

2.5.1 Guidelines of Pakistan EPA

Sets of environmental guidelines to facilitate environmental assessment studies have been developed under the statutory cover of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997. The following guidelines have been developed through a consultative process:  Guidelines for the preparation and review of environmental reports  Guidelines for Public Consultations  Guidelines for sensitive and critical areas  Sectoral Guidelines

2.5.2 International Protocols and Obligations

As Pakistan is a member of a number of international organizations like United Nations Organization (UNO), Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC), Economic Corporation Organization (ECO), etc., so it has to follow the international protocols and obligations related to the environmental perspective. The protocols and obligations related to the proposed project are as under:

2.5.3 The Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979

The Convention requires the countries to take action to avoid endangering migratory species. Species covered in the Convention should be given special attention during EIA and monitoring, and any impacts identified should be mitigated to acceptable levels.

2.5.4 The Rio Declaration, 1992

The Rio Declaration comprises twenty seven principles which address such important issues as; sustainable development to integrate environmental protection into the development process; common but differentiated responsibilities to conserve, protect and restore the earth‟s ecosystems; public participation and information access at the national level, reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption.

2.5.5 Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), 1971

The broad aim of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) is to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve those that remain through wise use and technology transfer. Contracting Parties have made commitments to:  Designate at least one site that meets the Ramsar criteria for inclusion in the list of Wetlands of International Importance.  Protect the ecological character of listed sites.  Include wetlands conservation within their national land-use planning.  Establish nature reserves on wetlands and promote wetland training.

2.5.6 USAID Environmental Procedures - 22 CFR Part 216

USAID‟s environmental impact assessment procedures are based on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1970. 22 CFR 216 applies to all USAID programs, projects, activities and substantive amendments. The Procedures are federal regulations and therefore, it is imperative that they be followed in the development of Agency programs.

In addition, these procedures are to be taken care of:

Provide advance notice that certain types of projects will automatically require detailed environmental analysis thus eliminating one step in the former process and permitting early planning for this activity Permit the use of specially prepared project design considerations or guidance to be substituted for environmental analysis in selected situations Advocate the use of indigenous specialists to examine pre‐defined issues during the project design stage Clarify the role of the Bureauʹs Environmental Officer in the review and approval process and Permit in certain circumstances, projects to go forward prior to completion of environmental analysis

Environmental sustainability is integral to USAIDʹs overall goal. To meet this goal, environmental considerations shall be incorporated into results planning, achieving, and monitoring. Regulation 216 defines what USAID and its operating units will do to integrate environmental issues into its programs to meet USG environmental requirements.

CHAPTER 3: DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

3.1 GENERAL

This section provides an overview of the proposed project “Construction of 132 KV Double circuit Transmission Line for Dispersal of Power from 147 MW Patrind Hydropower Project to Mansehra Grid Station (40 Km)”. This study will cover all the components of aforementioned project.

3.2 JUSTIFICATION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

Reliable supply of power to industrial, agricultural, commercial and domestic consumers is a lifeline for development and production in these key sectors which contribute significantly in the economic growth of the country. Statistics demonstrate an average increase of 4.92% per annum in power demand of IESCO during next 10 years. Patrind HPP costing 362 Million USD has been sponsored by STAR Hydropower Limited (SHPL) and being constructed on a build‐own‐operate‐ transfer (BOOT) basis. The SHPL have entered into a 30 year Power Purchase Agreement with the NTDCL in March 2012. The construction works were initiated in 2012 and 27% work is completed to date. This generation facility is to be integrated with the National grid and is expected to start commercial operation by the start of year 2017.

NTDCL has planned the interconnection scheme for dispersal of power from Patrind HPP in two phases. Phase I consists of a 132 kV T/L from Patrind to Mansehra Grid Station with in/out at Balakot GS to be commissioned by the year 2016. Phase II consists of an in/out from the 132 kV Patrind to Mansehra Transmission line at Muzaffarabad GS is planned to be implemented in the year 2018.

The PC‐1 for the proposed interconnection scheme has been drafted and is in process of approval from the General Manager (Planning) NTDCL. The PC‐1 for this project includes the Phase II but it is dependent on the commissioning of 132 kV Muzaffarabad II Grid Station, which is planned to be commissioned by 2018.

NTDCL has requested USAID EPP to finance the T/L project to be implemented under Phase I. The estimated cost for Phase I is USD 7.63 million. The execution and O/M responsibilities of lie with NTDCL/PESCO. The implementation time for Phase I is two years.

3.3 PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK

As per provision of approved PC-I, the project scope is as under:

1. 45 km long, 132 KV D/C transmission line from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New grid station 132 KV D/C T/L will traverse district Muzaffarabad in AJK and district Mansehra in KPK. Table 6 delineates the size of 132 kV D/C T/L section in different settlements of the project area.

Table 2: Distance (approximate) of proposed 132 kV D/C T/ L from Major Settlements

No. Section of TL Distance from T/L Distance from Name of Settlements route (Km) first AM (Km) 1 Pore 0.26 11.5 2 Roh 0.06 12.45 3 Arab Khan 0.22 17.04 4 Garhi Habibullah 0.39 9.85 5 Gohatar 0.12 19.68 6 Gandhian Bela 0.34 28.68 7 Masahan 1.09 3.06

2. 10 km long, 132 KV S/C T/L, In/Out of Patrind HPP‐ Mansehra at Balakot Conductor of 132 kV S/C T/L will start from angle marker number 30 or 31 at Talhatta/Roh crossing of Muzaffarabad‐ Garhi Habibullah road and will be interconnected with Balakot grid station. Tentative alignment is provided by NTDCL according to which 132 kV S/C may traverse Pixpar and Ugal Kath settlements.

The site plan of Mansehra New grid station is given in Figure 2 in previous sections of this report.

Salient Features of 132 kV D/C and S/C T/L

Extension to the proposed (220 KV) Mansehra New GS (132 kV portion)

Patrind HPP Switching Station

Main equipment of substation of 132 kV at Patrind HPP switchyard required

46 for the interconnection scheme are as follows:

Civil Works, Erection and Stringing of Towers, Commissioning

Laying and installation of proposed scheme will be commenced by NTDCL approved contractor. Operation and maintenance of the T/L and sub stations will be undertaken by NTDCL.

Below are the major activities involved during execution of the project

Major civil works includes blasting (if required), surveying, angle tower marking, excavation of trial pits, setting of stubs and relevant platforms for tower foundations, preparation of ground profiles for road, canal and other high voltage crossings (if any). Foundations of ZM‐ 300, ZM‐600 & ZM‐10 with 10‟ & 20‟ extension will be prepared for setting up the T/L.

47 lifted in parts by derrick poles/crane. After this towers will be joined together with nuts and bolts and will be tightened at the specified torque. The material list for each type of tower has been attached as Annexure 1.

Other works include stringing, installation of conductor, overhead ground wire, insulator stringing hardware grounding, Power transformers, and commissioning works.

Operation and Maintenance Works

The lifetime of a transmission line is 40‐50 years during which maintenance works are comparatively less, and limited to following;

 Removal of rust and re‐painting of any tower steel members with corrosion  Replacing any damaged insulators  Removal/pruning of trees/branches of them which may grow above 3m, height along the 35m wide line corridor.

The lifetime of a GSS is 40‐50 years and maintenance works involved are limited to following items;

 Filtering/changing of topping up transformer oils  Removal and replacement of equipment

Tower types and foundation details is provided in Annexure 1.

3.4 PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the project is evacuation of power from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New grid station. The proposed scheme of 132 kV T/L erection has been prepared to integrate power produced from Patrind HPP with NTDC distribution network.

The inter‐alia benefits associated with the proposed project includes availability of environmental friendly power, less dependence on fossil fuel power plants, significant improvement in reliability and stability of electric supply system, improvement in voltage profile, improved economic and financial rate of return and reduction in load shedding.

3.5 THE PROJECT COST

The total project cost has been worked out at US$ 6.96 Million which will be funded by USAID.

3.6 EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY AND OTHER MATERIAL REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION

Equipment List of equipment and machinery required for the project is given below in the table: Table 3: Towers, Hardware, Insulator, Damper and Other item details of Proposed T/Ls

132 KV DC T/L from 132 KV SC In- No. Item Unit Patrind to Out at Balakot Mansehra New GS 1 Tower Nos. Light angle Nos. 23 5 Heavy Angle Nos. 15 3 River Crossing Nos. 0 0 Suspension Nos. 150 34 2 Conductor Kms 284 63 3 OPGW Kms 47 11 4 HARDWARE SS‐R Nos 915 206 ST‐R Nos 511 107 MS‐R Nos 89 20 RS‐R Nos 45 10 Joint box for OPGW A‐type Nos 16 4 B‐type Nos 4 4 OPGW attaching Nos 32 7 Clamps SS‐ASSEMBLY Set 150 34 ST‐ASSEMBLY Set 46 10 DT‐ASSEMBLY Set 31 7 5 INSULATORS Suspension Nos 7320 1648 Tension Nos 4088 856 6 DAMPERS Stockbridge Nos 2260 493 dampers Dampers for Nos 377 82 OPGW 7 GROUNDING Nos 376 84 SETS Source: Draft PC 1 Interconnection Scheme of Patrind HPP

Extension to the proposed (220 KV) Mansehra New GS (132 kV portion)

Patrind HPP Switching Station

Main equipment of substation of 132 kV at Patrind HPP switchyard required for the interconnection scheme are as follows:

Civil Works, Erection and Stringing of Towers, Commissioning

Laying and installation of proposed scheme will be commenced by NTDCL approved contractor. Operation and maintenance of the T/L and sub stations will be undertaken by NTDCL.

Below are the major activities involved during execution of the project

Major civil works includes blasting (if required), surveying, angle tower marking, excavation of trial pits, setting of stubs and relevant platforms for tower foundations, preparation of ground profiles for road, canal and other high voltage crossings (if any). Foundations of ZM‐ 300, ZM‐600 & ZM‐10 with 10‟ & 20‟ extension will be prepared for setting up the T/L.

Other works include stringing, installation of conductor, overhead ground wire, insulator stringing hardware grounding, Power transformers, and commissioning works.

Operation and Maintenance Works

The lifetime of a transmission line is 40‐50 years during which maintenance works are comparatively less, and limited to following;

The lifetime of a GSS is 40‐50 years and maintenance works involved are limited to following items;

 Filtering/changing of topping up transformer oils  Removal and replacement of equipment

3.7 Climatic Conditions According to Köppen and Geiger, the climate of the project area is classified as Cfa i.e. humid subtropical climate. Northern part where there are high mountains is cold in summer due to snow clad mountains and is very cold in winter. Project area lies in humid zone and is characterized by high rainfalls, less fluctuation in temperature and relative high humidity. The project area is influenced by two rainy seasons: (i) south‐eastern monsoon during summer: and (ii) western winds during winter. The lower altitudes generally experience humid to sub‐humid sub‐tropical conditions, the higher altitudes experience temperate conditions.

The nearest available meteorological stations along the project area are located at Balakot and Muzaffarabad. Average monthly Temperature (1960‐ 2003) of Balakot and Muzaffarabad is shown in Table 2 in previous sections. Average monthly and annual rainfall of Balakot and Muzaffarabad is shown in Table 3.

3.8 Tower Foundations and Structures

Tower erection on the concreted pile pad locations will be carried out with the help of derrick poles or cranes. The required working area for this activity would be approximately about 500m2 for each tower. The tower will be erected in panels and will be assembled on the ground after which it will be lifted in parts by derrick poles/crane. After this towers will be joined together with nuts and bolts and will be tightened at the specified torque. The details about the transmission towers is given in Annexure 1.

3.9 Safety Parameters

For EHV (Extra High Voltage) lines, safety considerations are of two types. One is related with the safety of the system, while others are related to the public. For this reason, NTDC has adopted a 30 m wide (15 m either side from the centerline) corridor as the ROW for 220 KV transmission lines in this Project.

The aspects to be considered in this regard are as under:

(a) System Safety

Conductor to Tower Clearance: For the safety of the system, it is imperative that any factor that may interrupt the power supply should be considered in the design. The clearance of the conductor from tower legs and trusses is of prime importance. Therefore, in the design, a minimum clearance of 1.55 m has been adopted under extreme wind conditions. This is based on regulations of GOP/WAPDA and minimum requirements of National Electric Safety Code (ANSI C2). With this clearance, there is 99% probability of withstanding switching surge of 3-sigma margin due to maximum over voltage under adverse climatic conditions.

Earthing of the System: Every tower is connected to an earthing system to keep tower footings resistance at a level lower than 10 ohms. For this, two earth electrodes of copper-clad steel rods are sunk vertically into the ground to a minimum depth of 3 m and the locations where the required resistance not achieved crow footing will be done.

Lightning Performance: The tower geometry, clearance and insulation of the system are designed to perform safely within the permitted lightning intensities. In this respect, consideration has been given to the tower footing resistance and Isokeraunic level of the area. The accepted level is one tripout/ 100 km/ year due to lightning.

Security Arrangements: Given the prevailing law and order in the country, necessary armed security staff is required. Reinforced security will be required at work base, labor camp, material depot, equipment yard and the locations where work will be in progress.

Work Uniform and Health and Safety Equipment: Transmission line construction is a special job and the labor working on such works requires special protective uniform and personal protection equipment to cope up with safety and health requirements. It will be ensured that the labor engaged in handling rough construction materials, mixing of concrete and handling transmission lines etc. shall have long boots, overall dresses, goggles, gloves and safety hats. They will invariably have their company Identity Cards worn around their necks with the help of a ribbon.

As an overall Safety, Health and Environment measure, any one going into the construction area will also wear safety helmet and safety shoes. Special arrangements must be made for Fire Protection by way of providing appropriate type of fire extinguishers with firefighting training to concerned personnel.

(b) Public Safety

General Aspects: In view of public safety, NTDC has adopted a policy such that, the existing orchards having fruit trees with a height of not exceeding 2.5 m are allowed to remain under the lines. Similarly, open wells, including Persian wheels, are allowed to remain under the transmission lines. However, tube wells and peter pumps are not permitted under the high voltage conductors. This is for the reason that piping and cranes used to refurbish such wells could come in contact with the lines.

No residential or other public buildings like factory, school, hospital, etc. are permitted within the corridor. However, farm buildings, which are not used for residential purposes are allowed to remain under the high voltage lines, provided a 7.0 m minimum clearance is maintained. The height of the towers can be increased to accommodate such buildings.

Conductor to Ground Clearance: The conductor to ground clearance is desirable to be worked out based on over voltage due to switching surge. In this consideration, safe clearance is required to be provided for moving objects under the line with a height of 4.5 m, withstanding switching surge of 3-sigma margin with 99.7% probability under adverse atmospheric conditions. This should keep the maximum voltage gradient at ground level and maximum current induced in a person less than the internationally allowable values. As such, the total conductor to ground clearance shall in no way be less than 7.0 meters. This is in accordance with the regulations of Government of Pakistan (GOP) and NTDC practice.

3.10 Construction Aspects

Contractor’s Arrangement

NTDC has planned to implement the Project through Local Contract Bidding.

Construction Schedule

If all the processing goes on as per the schedule, the construction of 220/132 kV Patrind HPP to Mansehra will be completed by 2017. In case any unavoidable delays at the outset or during construction phase do take place, the envisaged completion date of the project will slide forward accordingly.

Construction Camps

Camp sites will be located keeping in view the availability of an adequate area for establishing camps, including parking areas for machinery, stores and workshops, access to communication and local markets, and an appropriate

54 distance from the sensitive areas in the vicinity. Although majority of labor will come from local sources, some semi-skilled and skilled labor will have to be bought from outside by the contractor.

Work Force

The Project involves many construction activities. For the purpose of ease, the activities involved in the construction of Transmission Lines will require a team of diversified workers. The type of staff required is enlisted as below.

 Site In-charge  Site Engineer  Supervisor  Foreman Assistant Foreman  Surveyors  Skilled Workers Semi-skilled Workers  Unskilled / Helpers  Drivers

The contractor shall be contractually bound to employ maximum local people except on the job for which local expertise is not available. Keeping in view the experience of NTDC on construction of similar transmission lines, the local labor sharing can be illustrated as given in Table given below.

Table 4: Distribution of Labor Type of Labor Local Non-Local Total Skilled 20% 80% 100% Semi-skilled 60% 40% 100% Unskilled 100% 0 100%

By and large the daily wage rate fixed by the local communities will be used.

Work Base

An ideal arrangement would be to set up the work base within the fenced land of existing Mansehra Grid Station. This will help in keeping the labor within an enclosed campus and forestall any social problem which can be caused due to interaction between any outside labor and local population especially women. The local labor can also come to the work base at the start of the shift and return to their homes after the work is finished. This will ease accommodation on labor camp on the campus.

Machinery Maintenance and Equipment Yard: Near the work base a machinery and equipment yard will be provided. The yard will have enough storage and haulage space with ample moving and working space. The yard will be within the walled campus of existing Mansehra Grid Station, yet its security shall have to be reinforced by appointing special guards.

Material Depot: Near the work base within the walled campus, a material depot shall be required for safe storage of construction material. It will have temporary sheds for storage of expandable material like cement and open space for storing stones, shingles and bricks. Sensitive electrical materials shall have to be kept in suitable stores under lock and key. Material depots shall have to be provided with extra security. A trained store keeper shall be appointed for keeping an account of incoming and outgoing materials.

3.11 Activities during Construction Phase The contractor will also be responsible for addressing any changes during construction and reclamation activities following the completion of construction activities. The procurement of equipment will be done in accordance with the procedures of NTDC.

(a) Poles Installation: Prior to erecting the poles, appropriate arrangements will be made for the transportation of the poles from the storage area to the specific location at which they have to be installed. Such transportation may require careful planning if the distance between the storage area and the site is significant. The poles will be lifted off of the pole hauler at designated structure sites only. Field drilling and treating activities will be undertaken for installing the poles. The field drilled holes will be treated with the application of preservation compound.

Excavation will be carried out in more detail for the footing of the pole in the ground. The excavation for the pole footing is carried out either manually or by mechanical excavator as per site requirements. In rocky areas, some controlled blasting may also be involved. After fixing steel reinforcing bars and concreting, the ditch is refilled with excavated material and the site is brought to the original ground level. Pole erection is carried out on the concreted locations with the help of forklifts or cranes.

(b) Conductors Installation: Prior to the tension stringing of the conductors the appropriate arrangements will be made for the transportation of the conductors from the storage area to the specific location at which they have to be stringed. Such transportation will require careful planning if the distance between the storage area and the site is significant.

After the pole erection is accomplished for a reasonable reach and the transformers are installed, stringing activity is started. This involves preparing the poles to access for tractor movement by clearing a strip of about 30 m wide from all the obstacles. In some cases, the clearing would have already been done when the original transmission line route was being marked and its components installed. Positioning of the tensioner and puller are temporarily anchored on both ends of the stringing stretch. At road, railway and telephone line crossings, rider poles are provided during the stringing to avoid any interruption to traffic or shutdown of the power in the existing line. Shutdown will be arranged for power lines crossing the transmission route and temporary delinked and un-dipped from the towers.

(c) Construction Procedures: As discussed in Impact Assessment Section of the report, except for a few areas, the project will have insignificant effects on the local environment. Several precautions have been taken in the selection of the route of T/Ls and design of the system to minimize the environmental degradation. The construction activities may, however, disrupt the environmental and social setting to some extent for short periods of time. To keep such disruption/degradation at the minimal level, the Contractors will be required to adopt good engineering practices and follow the specified codes for construction of T/Ls. NTDC has laid down some construction procedures, which are discussed in the following paragraphs.

(d) Access to Construction Sites: Since the work base will be established within the walled Grid Station campus, so the workers shall have an easy access to that. Within the campus internal small roads and paths shall have to be provided to facilitate movement of vehicles and workers. NTDC‟s Contract specifies that the contractor will not cause any damage to the existing roads and village tracks. However, in case of any damage, the Contractor will be responsible for its repair. In this regard, NTDC bounds the Construction Contractor by withholding a 10% amount from the Contractors‟ interim bills submitted to the Engineer for payments to exert the contractor to complete his pending works.

(e) Camp Offices: Adjacent to work base and material depot, the contractor will be allowed to set up a camp office to run his day to day field affairs.

(f) Machinery Repair Workshop: With a large number of vehicles and other similar machinery a repair workshop is essential. The contractor may establish his own workshop.

(g) Clearing Area of Influence (AOI): The area required for placement of tower footings for Transmission Lines has to be completely cleared of vegetation, crops and trees. Trees over 2.5 meters in height, which may

57 obstruct stringing or create hazard/danger to the allied transmission line, will have to be removed. On the other hand, the clearing of shrubs is restricted to what is required for placement of footings and for the assembly and erection of towers and wire pulling at site. NTDC allows that the cleared materials such as trees, shrubs, etc. will be the property of landowners. While other materials (if any) such as fossils, coins and antiquities discovered on the site of the work will be deemed as the property of GOP.

The clearance of AOI from the vegetation is normally done by mechanical means. The latter method is used where the vegetation is very thick and the site is not accessible by the machinery. NTDC does not allow any contractor to use herbicides for vegetation removal.

3.12 Activities during Operation Phase Activities during the operation phase generally comprise of checking and ensuring that the transmission line components, such as the conductors, poles and transformers are properly maintained and function correctly. A rigorous system of inspection and preventive maintenance will be carried out by NTDC. The components will be checked for wear and tear, and any damage inflicted upon them, either due to the weather or due to military and insurgent activities.

Line inspections during project operation will generally be undertaken during the dry season and will entail twice yearly inspections (from the ground); five yearly inspections (involving full tower climbing from the base to tower top), special inspections after incidents such as floods and forest fires and emergency inspections of affected sections after each tripping of the line.

Routine maintenance, to be undertaken during the dry season where possible, will include periodic hand pruning of vegetation within the RoW to maintain line clearances. This will be undertaken at least every two years subject to growth rates. The stabilization or reinforcement of tower foundations with measures such as revetment works, drains or backfill mounds may be implemented. In the event of a wire break, emergency line restringing will be undertaken.

Based on WAPDA maintenance manuals, following paragraph enlist the items to be checked by the Inspection Crew during patrolling.

Foundations  Check for any soil settlement around the foundation chimney, any unusual cracks between the stub angle and concrete and/or cracks in the concrete chimney.

 Check for erosion in and around the tower foundations. Where erosion exists, locations and extent is noted on the inspection form, take measurement from the centerline. Note if a stream (Nullah) or dry wash is causing the erosion. Also, note any damage done by farming operations near or under the tower. Towers located in the active hill- torrent zone will require inspection on a continual basis.

Steel Works

Look for bent or missing steel members, missing or loose bolts. An excellent test in addition to visual inspection is to strike the tower leg angle sharply with a stick of wood or rubber hammer. Any loose bolts or members will produce a rattling sound.

Conductor, Overhead Ground Wire, Hardware and Insulators

Conductor is the most important part of the line. A very thorough visual inspection has to be made. The checklist for this component includes the followings:  Check every bolt, nut, pin and cotter pin on the conductor shoe, shackles connecting links and other hardware fittings for looseness or missing.  Check for chips, dirt and/or lightning “Tracks or marks” on the insulators. This lightning mark will especially show up on the first few insulators nearest the tower attachment point.  There will not be cracks of any size in the insulators because before porcelain cracks, a piece of the insulator will break off. Always look around the base of every tower for pieces of insulators, pins, bolts, nuts, etc.  Check every ball in the insulator strings for missing cotter pins. Note that ball can work itself half way out and still holds. First, the cotter pin falls out, next with the continual vibration the ball can very slowly work itself out to a point where the ball is only held by half of the socket. One can spot this condition by a slight tilting of the insulator below or beyond the loose ball. This also applies to shackle or hardware pins and is a very serious condition. Report it immediately.  Check the stock-bridge dampers on the conductor and OPGW to make sure these are in the proper position.  On dead end towers, check the jumpers to see that all the bolts are tight in the jumper pads. Also there should be no missing or loose bolts  Along the line, check the conductors for frayed or broken strands.  Spot-check ground clearance and observe if any building or structure is being constructed under the line. Also, check for any tree growing near or under the line. Report these conditions immediately.

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

4.1 No Project Option

4.2 Location Based Alternatives

The nearest substations to Patrind HPP are Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Mansehra. The existing 132 kV network available around the site of proposed Patrind HPP comprises of:

 A single circuit of 132 kV Muzaffarabad – Balakot  A single circuit of 132 kV Balakot ‐ Mansehra  A double circuit of 132 kV from Mansehra – Mansehra New  Jagran power plant is connected to Muzaffarabad through a single circuit of 132 kV which is looped in‐out at Nausery.  A double circuit of 132 kV from Mansehra New to Abbottabad. A further single circuit of 132 kV from Mansehra New to Abbottabad looping in/out at Ayub Medical College 132 kV Substation.

4.3 Alternative Construction Methods

Alternative construction methods include selection of excavation mode for tower foundations, alternative routes for equipment transportation and

60 alternative assembly techniques for tower erection. As NTDCL approved contractors are well versed with the constructability of the transmission line, thus the impacts from construction methods are not of significant nature.

4.4 Alternative Route Alignment

CHAPTER 5: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE CONDITIONS

5.1 Physical Environment

5.2 Geological Setting

The prevailing geological conditions of the project area is the consequence of lesser Himalayas. Project area is generally characterized with a mixture of mountains, valleys, plains and lakes with some areas heavily forested. In the Hazara Palaeozoic sequence, the Tanawal Formation overlies the Hazara Slates and underlies the Abbottabad Formation. The Tanawals comprise dominantly of arenaceous rocks which constitute quartzite, quartzitic schist and quartzitic sandstone with interbedded arenaceous slaty shales, slates, phyllitic slates and conglomerate which are intruded by the igneous rocks.

In Kaghan, ores of paradox, whereas in Oghi and Battal ores of graphite have been discovered and are being excavated. Some of the other minerals found in the project area are coal, corundum, feldspar, granite, marble, quartz and soap stone.

5.3 Soils

The soil is mainly composed of metamorphic rocks and silts mica granite. Soil texture includes clay loam, silty clay loam, loam and silt loam with pH value ranges from 6.56‐7.91. Steep middle to upper slopes of the Kunhar and Neelum valleys receives deposition of fertile soils. The soil of Pakhli plain on north of Mansehra grid station is very fertile and productive due to irrigation facilities.

5.4 Climatic Conditions

The nearest available meteorological stations along the project area are located at Balakot and Muzaffarabad.

Table 5: Average Monthly Temperature at Balakot and Muzaffarabad (1960- 2003)

Temperature (oC) Month Balakot Muzaffarabad January 8.1 9.5 February 9.6 11.4 March 13.3 16 April 19 21.1 May 24.1 25.7 June 28.2 29.9 July 26.8 28.8 August 25.9 28.1 September 24 26.3 October 19.4 21.7 November 14 15.9 December 9.4 10.9

Table 6: Average annual and monthly rainfall of Balakot and Muzaffarabad Rainfall (mm) Month Balakot Muzaffarabad January 8.1 79.7 February 132.1 128.4 March 159.6 142.6 April 113.5 95.4 May 69.4 72.1

June 87.1 101.7 July 351.1 273.3 August 275.4 215.5 September 117.5 100.5 October 50.3 43.7 November 37.1 34.7 December 63.7 64.8

5.5 Surface and Ground Water Hydrology and Drainage

Kunhar River The Kunhar bursts out from the lake Lulusar at the head of Kaghan valley and after a turbulent course of 110 miles falls in the river Jhelum at Pattan. It flows through deep mountain gorges from its source up to Balakot from where it enters a broader valley up to Garhi Habibullah. Since the land upon its bank is little level therefore, its water is not used for irrigation purposes. The Kunhar River has catchment area of 938 square miles. Besides bottom load of pebbles and boulders, the suspended load of Kunhar River contains sand, silt and clay, their proportion varying in low and high flow seasons.

Approximate distance of Kunhar River from Balakot grid station is approximately 5.8 kms, and from Mansehra new grid station is 26 Kms. 132 kV transmission line will traverse the shoulders of Kunhar River at approximately five crossing points.

Lake The major lakes encircled by snow clad mountains of Kaghan valley are Lulusar, Dudupatsar and Saiful Maluk Sar. The former two lie near Babusar top while the latter one near Naran. In summer when the water of these lake reflects like a mirror a large number of visitors from different areas of the country come to watch the enchanting views of these lakes.

Canal Network / Nullahs There is no defined canal network along the route of T/L, however small irrigation channel /distributaries has been developed by locals for terrace farming. Ichar nullah flows through the project area. Some other notable bourn and nullahs of similar nature in district Mansehra are Pootkattha (Mansehra), NadiUnhar (Shergarh), Butkus (joins the Siran near Icharian), Kodarn Nullah and Jingal from Jaba.

Ground water/Springs Water resources are abundant and most of the municipal water supplies are based on gravity flow system from springs. Despite of availability of ground water resources, communities usually prefer surface water because it is easily accessible. The main source of groundwater recharge is the precipitation and percolation from water channels. Agriculture experts have expressed concern over decline in the underground water level in the earthquake‐affected district of Mansehra and called for building water channels to save agriculture products in the area.

Drainage System The drainage system in the area has not properly developed. Open and unplanned drainage is usually practiced in project area which is degrading the soil quality and aesthetic appeal of the area.

5.6 Ambient Air Quality

The ambient air quality of the project area is generally good as no significant sources of pollution are present in close vicinity except one quarry site at Bela Labar Kot. The vehicular emissions and dirt from road/tracks may be considered as the major sources of air pollution in the area. The main pollutants emitted by vehicle exhaust pipes are lead, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. These emissions generally may affect the air quality in the vicinity of the roads. However as traffic on the roads in the project area is low therefore it is unlikely that any significant air quality concerns exist for communities living close to them.

5.7 Noise

There are minor scattered human settlements in the project area of proposed T/L routes. Traffic near the project site is low, industrialization is non‐existent, thus ambient noise levels are low.

5.8 Natural Hazards

Seismic Hazards According to the seismic zoning map of Pakistan, the project area region falls in Zone III with moderate to severe damage area probability. Seismic Zone Map of Pakistan with highlight of project area is shown in Figure 4 on next page.

Project area is pan of the geological set‐ up that can transmit earthquake waves. Major faults that may trigger the seismic waves in project area are: Main Mantle Thrust, Main Boundary Thrust Oghi shear zone Mansehra, Darband Falut Tarbela, Khairabad Fault, Kala Bagh Fault and other small faults.

The earthquake of October 2005 affected almost all aspects of socio‐ economic life of the people as well as physical infrastructure of the district. As reported by the District Government, the loss of human lives in Mansehra was 15,997 while 9,903 persons were injured. In addition, a huge number of population was displaced. As a result a total of Rs.256.891 billion has been paid as compensation for deaths and injuries in the district as of June,2006. (Source: Report on Mansehra City, 2011) Most of the residential units in the project area relied on load‐bearing masonry walls. Major factors which can be attributed to such a scale damage are reliance on week load bearing masonry walls, inferior construction material, inadequate roof support, poor wall‐to‐wall connections, poor detailing work, instability of the walls, asymmetric floor plans, and aging.

Other Disasters Other frequent recurring disasters include landslides, flash floods, and extreme weather events such as heavy rains, storms, severe snow, and hailstorms. 3200 households were affected with High floods while 2000 were affected with medium monsoon flash floods of 2012 in district Mansehra. Potential waterways include river Siran and Kunhar, Ichar, Shinkian, Perhan, Boli, Satbani, Saroori, Moli, Batakas Nullahs. (Source: Monsoon Contingency plan, 2012, PDMA KPK). Flood Zone Map of Pakistan with highlight of project area is shown Figure 5 on next page.

Because of the frequency of these disasters, local people have developed a belief that disasters are part of their lives which cannot be avoided. Even though no matter at which scale disaster came across there is clear loopholes which accelerate the impact of disaster. Loopholes include:

 Physical vulnerability from high altitude, harsh weather, mountainous terrain  Disaster prone buildings and infrastructure  Poor economic status, poverty and unemployment  Decline in agricultural production due to poor irrigation and infertile soil  Increased population and health problems  Poor disaster management structure

5.9 Biological Surveys Methodology

Representative sampling locations for the identification of floral and fauna assemblages were selected covering all habitat types, along the proposed routes of T/Ls. The quantitative accounts of vegetation (i.e. Relative Cover, Relative Frequency, Relative Density and Importance of Index Value (I.V.I) of all the dominant species.) were calculated. The usual means of sampling of vegetation for floristic composition is the quadrate. Traditionally, quadrates are square, although rectangular and even circular quadrates have been used as per field requirements. It was ensured that maximum number of species can be observed within the project area. Quadrates of following sizes were laid down at every sampling site:

 Measuring 20m x 20 m (Climax community: Trees/Tall shrubs)  Measuring 2m x 2 m (Underneath flora: tall herbs/sub‐ shrubs/herbs and grasses) The field data of fauna attributes (birds, mammals and reptiles) was collected by using recognised survey techniques including line transects, incidental sightings and plot searches for:

 Avifauna (birds, both resident and migratory)  Mammals (including ungulates, carnivores and small mammals)  Reptiles The presence of avian species in project area noted by survey team by direct sightings or through their discrete calls like of Partridges, House sparrow,

Common myna, Jungle crow, House crow and many passerines living in forest areas, agricultural fields and around human presence. Nocturnal animals are noticed through signs of their movement for predation and scavenging from food refuge and sometimes depredating on poultry and livestock. Asiatic jackal, Kashmir/Hill fox, Wild boar, Indian crested porcupine and Small Kashmir flying squirrel are noticed through their forage sites, footprints, scats and sometimes direct sighting. Similarly rodents are observed through their burrow systems. The field survey methodologies followed scientifically established and accepted wildlife and vegetation survey techniques. Consultation meetings were held with major stakeholders during the course of EIA, the list of consulted stakeholders is in Annexure 3.

5.10 Key Habitats of Project Area

The project area of proposed T/Ls is planned outside any protected areas notified under the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Wildlife Protection Laws. The T/L will not pass through Batrasi Forest. Based on distribution of fauna and flora and physical features of the project area proposed the following main habitat types were recognised.

Main Course of Jhelum and Kunhar River and other Wetlands

Proposed T/L‟s has been planned initiating from close vicinity of River Jhelum nearMuzaffarabad city and then taking the route of Kunhar River (towards upstream) on its left and right banks. On the route, the Kunhar River which is followed up to the city of Garhi Habibullah is fed by a number of hill streams (seasonal and perennial) from watershed areas which are covered with Pinus roxburghii forests at the lower limits. However, the main course of river is not very critical as wildlife habitat. Moreover, its navigational value for migratory waterbirds is not critical as compared to other major rivers of the country. The vegetative cover like Typha latifolia and Phragmites karka provide refuge to small passerines and thickets are hiding places for large mammals like Wild boar, Asiatic jackal and Hill fox which are usually active during night time.

The banks of Kunhar River are also used by other common birds like Jungle crow, Little egret, and other wildlife for roosting and source of drinking water. The presence of typical flowing water species, the Brown dipper was also noted near Patrind HPP (inlet point of tunnel).

Chir Pine Forests

The banks of River Kunhar are occupied with sandy and gravellery beds and have vegetation‟s species dominated by Saccharum spontaneum along with annual herbs. These areas are surrounded by representative Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) along watershed up to suitable elevation where from other species like Blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) replaces it. Northern slopes have rich floral diversity and are covered with Pinus roxburghii along with other main floral species include Woodfodia fruticosa, Ailanthus altissima and Ficus virgata. Southern slopes have negligible pine cover, less vegetation and are covered with bushes and grasses. Thick vegetative cover near Patrind and Batrasi Reserve Forest is typical habitat for Common leopard (Panthera pardus),

Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and Kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) which are reported from these forest types. However, no evidence of their presence could be noted during the site visit.

Chir pine forests are also habitat of Small Kashmir flying squirrel (Hylopetes fimbriatus) and Yellow throated marten (Martes flavigula). Both species are usually camouflaged during day times in cavities and are active between dusk and dawn. Forest cover also provide habitat for a variety of passerines which are summer breeding birds of these areas. Beautiful Asian paradise flycatcher and Magpie are noticed while moving from trees. Bark gecko, Black rock agama and Cliff racer are representative reptiles of this habitat type.

Agricultural Lands

The major portion of project area in Mansehra‐KPK comprises of agricultural fields (both irrigated and rain‐fed), and villages/towns. The ecology in such areas has been altered with passage of time due to different human interventions, built environment, communication network and introduction of livestock. During the field visit, most of the fields were without any crop and were being prepared for upcoming crops. However, major crop cultivated here is wheat. In between the agriculture fields which are usually in terraced form, the broken land, the broken land, nullahs and rocky slopes have scrub type of vegetation and are occupied by a variety of wildlife which includes Wild boar, Cape hare, Grey partridge, Blue rock pigeon, Common babbler, Collared dove and Little brown dove. During night time, the Cape hare emerges from bushes and other hides to have its food from agriculture or other natural flora.

In villages, agricultural fields and along irrigation system, the anthropogenic tree species like Broussonesia papyrifera, Acacia modesta, Morus nigra, Populus alba and Albizia lebbek are quite common and provide food and shelter to wildlife.. In addition these planted trees and small orchards serve as roosting places for species Black kite, Tawny eagle, Jungle crow, Common myna, Indian tree pie and raptors.

Rocky Slopes/Fallow Lands

The small patches between villages, agricultural fields and rocky slopes are composed of this micro habitat. The new Balakot city has been planned on this habitat. This area is of least importance for wildlife as less opportunity for food and shelter is available. However, reptile‟s activity may be noticed here. The species which were noticed here include Red vented bulbul, White cheeked bulbul, Crested lark and Common myna. Rodent holes and typical hole of Indian spiny tailed lizard were also noticed. Common flora includes Cynadon dactylon, Desmostachya bipinnata and Aristida funiculata, Tamarix aphylla and Saccharum bengalense. Overall, such areas are of least ecological importance.

5.11 Floral Attributes

A total of 10 sampling locations were selected along the project area of T/Ls and grid station sites. Sampling locations on project site were selected at random intervals in order to identify maximum number of species. During field

68 work for EIA, 119 plant species belonging to 48 families and 109 genera were identified within the project area. Most of the project area has been cleared for cultivation and last remnants of the forest are heavily degraded due to over grazing and felling of trees. Six types of life forms were identified in the project area. The number and percentage of the floral life forms is provided below Table below.

Table 7: Number and Percentage of Floral Life Forms

Life Form Numbers Percentages Herbs 52 43.69 Shrubs 26 21.84 Grasses 12 10.08 Trees 20 16.80 Sedges 03 2.52 Climbers 02 1.68 Creepers 04 3.36

Life form of the area is dominated by trees (16.80%), herbs (43.69%) and shrubs (21.84%) followed by grasses (10.08%), creepers (3.36%), sedges (2.52%) and climbers (1.68%). Dominant families along with the number of species belonging to those families are given in Table below.

Table 8: Dominant Floral Families with number of species

Sr. Number of Family Name No. Species 1 Poaceae 13 2 Asteraceae 9 3 Papilionaceae 6 4 Lamiaceae 6 5 Solanaceae 6 6 Amaranthaceae 5 7 Mimosaceae 5 8 Verbenaceae 5

The area lies under Himalayan foot hills and has rich diversity of floral species. Mostly the area comprises of rocky mountains, seasonal as well permanent streams and boundaries of agricultural fields. North facing slopes of the mountains having rich vegetation dominated by Pinus roxburghii with underneath species of shrubs and herbs along with ferns including Adiantum capilus‐veneris and Pteris vitata. Sandy beds along Kunhar river and dry and semi dried beds of seasonal streams have vegetation dominated by Saccharum spontaneum, phragmites karka followed by Saccharum benghalense and Typha latifolia. Major agricultural crops of the area are Potatoes, Maize, Wheat, Tobacco and Cabbage. Other vegetables are also being grown but not at large scale.

Vegetation species of the project area are listed in Table 1 of Annexure 4.

Some representative photographs of the flora in the project area are provided at the end of this section.

Plants of Economic or Medicinal Value

Plant species having medicinal value are also observed in the project area. Most of these are naturally grown while certain are cultivated like Tinospora cordifolia which is used by the locals against chronic fevers. Adiantum cappalis‐veneris, Zanthoxylum armatum, Adhatoda vesica, Berberis lyceum and Calotropis procera are the naturally growing medicinal plants having national as well as international importance in terms of medicinal/ economical value.

Importance Value Index (I.V.I)

Field vegetation parameters like frequency, cover and density values of species found in sensitive habitats were recorded by using quadrate method. For a particular species, these values were computed to get relative density, relative frequency, and relative cover. Importance value index (I.V.I) obtained by summed up these values.

Floral species along with their IVI (Important value index) in Wetland habitat, agricultural and rocky habitat are given in Table 2 of Annexure‐4 respectively.

Rare or Endemic Species

No endemic or rare species were recorded during the site visit from the project area. All species have a wide range of distribution in other ecological zones of country, especially in Himalayan foothills. Local scale and medium scale impact is expected by the proposed project.

5.12 Fauna Attributes

Field survey of the project area was carried out by wildlife expert in December 2014. The fauna field data collection included line transects, incidental sightings and plot searches for birds, reptiles and mammals. During field survey of the project area, along proposed route of T/L starting from Patrind HPP (AJK) and ending near city of Mansehra (KPK), 41 species of birds, 11 species of mammals and 7 species of reptiles were recorded. The summary of these assessment/observations is given below.

Avifauna

41 bird species were observed during field survey. Since the field visit was carried out during last week of December 2014, the diversity and number of avian fauna was low. The summer breeding visitors and some other have descended to comparatively warmer places in plains. Out of total 41 recorded species 36 are resident, whereas only, 5 are migrants to such habitat. Out of these 16 are common, 21 are abundant, 3 are less common and one (Great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) is rare species.

Out of total 41 species, five are protected under the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Act. Out of total recorded species, 5 are on CITES Appendices whereas none is listed on

CMS and IUCN Red List.

Since, Great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) is rare species, it‟s deteriorating habitat needs protection. The development for communication, human interference and agriculture extension have already squeezed its habitat in shape of islands. Small pockets of Typha and Phragmites which are still available along Kunhar River and other streams may be affected due to construction work of T/L. However, it has no threat of hunting which other birds like Grey partridge and Common starling are facing. Due to construction work in Chir pine zone, the habitat of Asian paradise flycatcher, Magpie and Blue rock thrush may be at stake. Himalayan griffon is having large area to scan, it may have other options for its food and roosting. The raptors including Tawny eagle will have additional roosting places in form of T/L if CMS Guidelines are adopted for “Bird safe towers‟.

A complete list of birds observed in the project area with their national and international status/listing is shown in Table 3 of Annexure 4.

Mammals

The project area is a blend of habitats with good cover on hills and slopes, provide safe environment to mammalian fauna. These include Panther/Common leopard on top of the food‐chain and rodents as food for carnivores and raptors. Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), famous primate of this habitat type is mobile depending upon availability of food. During the field visit, it could not be sighted. However, hilly terrain with Chir pine is its prime habitat. Small Kashmir flying squirrel is fascinating small mammal of the project area which is noticed after dawn coming out of its hiding cavities.

A total of 11 mammalian species were recorded /reported during the field survey. Out of total 11 species of mammals, only one, Panther/Common leopard is protected under the AJK and KPK Wildlife laws. As regards to international recognition, none is on IUCN Red List and four are on CITES Appendix‐III. A complete list of the mammalian species, with their listing may be seen in Table 4 of Annexure 4.

Reptiles

The project area may be having a diversity of reptiles in variety of habitats. However, the field visit was undertaken at the peak of winter season when these cold blooded creatures are either in hibernation and remain dormant. On the basis of experience of survey team, indirect evidences and information obtained from local knowledgeable, presence of 7 reptile species could be confirmed living in the project area. Most of these recorded/reported species, are commonly found in similar area. These include Bark gecko from forest areas, Cliff racer and Black rock agama from rocky slopes and Indian cobra from all habitat types. Two species of house geckos are found in all the build areas. Cliff racer and Indian spiny tailed lizard, recorded from non‐agricultural habitats are protected under the AJK and KPK wildlife protections laws. Additionally, two species are listed on CITES Appendix‐II.

None of the reptiles may be considered as key species as their status in country is appropriate. A complete list of the reptilian species observed/reported in the project area can be seen in Table 5 of Annexure 4. Photographs below shows biological attributes observed in the project

5.13 Socioeconomic Environment

5.13.1 Overview of the Area

Major portion of the proposed T/L from Patrind HPP to Mansehra new grid station and Balakot grid station is located in tehsil Mansehra of Mansehra district of KPK province. About 4.5 km of T/L is located in Muzaffarabad district of AJK. A small portion of the T/L is located in Tehsil Balakot of Mansehra district. The area is comprised of mountainous area with many narrow valleys. The entire area is green with scenic beauty of mountain ridges covered with thick forests. Water resources are abundant and most of the municipal water supplies are based on gravity flow system from springs. Agricultural land in valleys and on hilly terraces is private owned property. Landowners also possess ownership of forest segments located on high mountains. Ownership rights of agriculture farms and mountain forests are both documented in the Record of Rights of the Land Revenue Department. In most villages some area of the mountain forests are communal property (shamlat). According to key informants there is no state land in the areas traversed by the T/L. There are few coal mines in Garhi Habibullah where artisanal mining is in practice. T/L from Patrind HPP to Mansehra and Patrind to Balakot will cross cultivated farm land, private parcels of mountain forests and human settlements.

There are intermittent small clusters of houses on both banks of the Kunhar River and on the narrow strip between the river and the road from Roh to Balakot. Bisian is the only major village located in the middle of Roh and Balakot.

5.13.2 Pattern of Settlement

Pattern of settlement is dependent upon the terrain where most houses and businesses are established on relatively levelled parcels of land. There are terraced houses in many localities on the mountain ridges. In agricultural villages housing mostly comprise small clusters of houses scattered over a large area as every smallholder builds house on his own property.

The district has suffered major disaster in the 2005 earthquake and in villages around Balakot grid station most people still live in shelters built after the disaster. This disaster has resulted in large scale out‐migration from tehsil Balakot and in‐migration in Mansehra town and tehsil. Many rural areas have almost increased 100% in size because of in‐migration.

The New Balakot city was planned in 2008 to accommodate homeless people after the earthquake of 2005. Government acquired large areas of private

72 land of Bakrial village for this purpose. The city is yet to be built though multiple black top roads have been constructed. Construction of housing has not started yet.

In the past five years a large area in the vicinity of the proposed Mansehra new grid station was acquired collectively by Afghan refugees on ten years lease from local landlord. This area comprises low ridges where Afghan refugees have erected mud and straw structures as temporary shelter. It is estimated that about 200 households live in this encampment. The area is known as Jandar Banda and is located in vicinity of Shaikh Abad and Gujri Ki Gali.

A total of 8 FGDs were conducted, four with male community members and four with female community members in Gandhian Bela, Reerh, Garhi Habibullah, Bilian and Porhi areas within in the close proximity of the proposed T/L.

Table 9: Socio Statistics of Surveyed Areas

Name of Religious Adherence Tribes / House Est. Village / (Households) Kinship - hold Population Area Muslims Non-Muslims Groups Gandhian 220 1,520 220 0 Tanoli, Swati, Bela Gujjar, Syed, Khankhel , Awan Hathimera 450 3,150 450 0 Swati, Tanoli, Arbab, Awan, Kashmiri, Qureshi, Gujjar, Yousufzai Reerh 650 4,485 650 0 Awan, Swati, Tanoli, Gujjar, Kashmiri, Syed, Garhi 1100 7,590 1100 0 Khankhel, Habibullah Awan, Swati, Tanoli, Syed Balakot 230 1,633 7.1 0 Swati, Gujjar, (Biliani and Awan, Porhi) Khankhel

5.13.3 Languages Spoken

Hindko is mother tongue of all native people including Swati, Pathan and Khankhels of the area. Afghan refugees temporarily settled in Mansehra town and in other villages speak Pashto language. Urdu is spoken by all men and women of the area though only Afghan refugee men can communicate in Urdu.

5.13.4 Migration

Mansehra town and villages in its 15 km radius have experienced extraordinary level of in‐ migration since past decade. The earthquake affected people of Balakot tehsil and from Muzaffarabad area gradually started buying residential plots in different villages. They have built houses and become part of the local community. In some villages like Gandian Bela and Reerh in‐migrants comprised not less than 50% of the households while all localities have received in‐migrants in different proportions. Rural to rural areas migration is more prominent in Mansehra villages though the town has enlarged because of rural to urban migration as well.

Out‐migration has taken place from Biliani and Pore localities of Balakot where about 30% of households have migrated to other areas. There has been no out‐migration from Mansehra tehsil areas after the disaster or more recently. Only people employed in other areas migrate for work to other areas for shorter duration only.

5.13.5 Social Organization

In all areas social organization is based on kinship system where family is the basic unit of the kinship group. Joint family where married sons and their families live with parents is the norm in all areas surveyed. Preference of kinship group in marriages is highly uncommon though marriages are arranged by family. In marriages most important consideration is bridegroom‟s social status and level of income irrespective of his kinship group. In all kinship groups marriages are without any bride price or exchange of brides. A reasonable amount of dowry is given to brides by parents. Average age at marriage for both male and female is about 22 years.

Community leadership is mostly vested in landlords who are more influential because of their economic power and relations with bureaucracy and political leadership. Land ownership is spread among all communities but mostly Swati are large landowners and known as Khans.

Every kinship group of the locality has its elder who adjudicate disputes, if any, among the kin relations. Inter‐group disputes are also resolved by elders of the concerned groups. Dispute resolution mechanism is effective and people prefer to settle disputes through arbitration by elders as litigation in courts is expensive and lengthy. Only major disputes are referred to courts and litigation is not uncommon in the area.

All rural population in the surveyed area belong to Sunni faith and Shia group is present only in Mansehra town and their proportion is about 10%. There is no sectarian activity in the area and both groups live harmoniously.

In the past (2008) Mansehra has witnessed violent incidents against working women and NGO employees by extremist groups. The law and order situation is satisfactory in the surveyed villages. The recent settlement of Afghan refugees on the outskirts of Mansehra in Jandar Banda is considered problematic. It is reported that some incidents of mugging have occurred in

74 the area and taxi drivers avoid going to this area during the night.

5.14 Economy of the Project Area a) Land Tenure System All cultivated land in the district is in private ownership and government owns reserve forests in the district Mansehra. Landownership is skewed in the district where about 88% of the farms are smaller than 5 acres in size and account for 43% of the farm area while 11% of the farms are between 5 and 25 acres and account for 43% of the farm area and 1% of the farms are larger than 25 acres and account for 4% of the area ((http://pbs.gov.pk/content/agricultural‐ census‐2010‐pakistan‐report).

About 80% of the village households are landowners in Hathimera and 70% in Garhi Habibullah while in all other villages only 20% are landowners. In Gandhian Bela and Reerh about 50% of the household were recent migrants from Balakot and Kashmir which has reduced the proportion of landowning households in these villages. In Balakot localities of Biliani and Pore, 50% of the households are landowners.

Forests are an important source of wood and timber in the area. Total forest area of the district is 439,423 acres. There are three types of forests in the district: (i) Reserve and protected forests owned by the government is about 50%, (ii) Guzara forests (communal ownership of local landowners) is about 28%, and (iii) private forests owned by individual landowners is about 22% of the total forests (Development Statistics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2014). b) Agriculture and Livestock Agriculture is an important economic activity in all villages though landholdings are small and irrigation facilities are limited. Vast majority of the farms are barani (rain fed) where crops are cultivated after rainfall. In surveyed villages only Hathimera has canal irrigation system. There are small springs in all rain fed areas and a small proportion of lands are irrigated by streams. c) Cropping Pattern Cropping pattern in all barani areas comprises of maize and wheat as major crops. In canal irrigated village of Hathimera main crops are seasonal vegetables. Vegetable production is highly profitable in this village. According to local landowners a farm of 10 kanal is sufficient for family subsistence. d) Tenant Ownership A vast majority of the landholdings are small and about 50% of the landholdings are owner‐ operated. Small landholders in other professions and large landholders employ sharecropping tenants for cultivation. There are two major types of tenancy in the surveyed area: (i) Mouroosi tenant or occupancy tenants who have long term contract for cultivation of land, and (ii) Tenant at will. Occupancy tenants have permanent tenancy rights and could not be evicted without legal action. Tenants at will have short term agreements and can be evicted at the end of cropping season. Among the tenants about 10% are occupancy tenants and 90% are tenants at will. Fertilizers and pesticides

75 are used on all farms in both barani and canal irrigated areas. Landlord and tenants equally share the cost of seed and other agricultural inputs while ploughing and labour are all provided by tenants. In this case produce is equally shared between the tenants and landlord. If all expenses for agriculture inputs are borne by landlord then tenant receives one third of the produce. Because of hilly terrain and terraced fields ploughing is still done by bulls. None of the village reported agricultural land rent or land given on annual lease against cash payment. e) Livestock Ownership About 50% of the households in all areas own cattle and/or goats. Livestock farming is the traditional occupation of Gujjars who are about 50% of the households in Hathimera. Gujjars are traditionally herders with nomadic lifestyle as they move to different pastures with their cattle heads. With the passage of time they have abandoned nomadic lifestyle and are settled in villages. Because of this almost all Gujjars are landless. It appears that livestock keeping is declining in the area. Milk is sold locally in small quantities by most cattle owners.

5.15 Wholesale and Retail Trade

Mansehra town is the wholesale market for all surveyed areas. Retail shops and tea stalls are common in all areas. All necessities and groceries are available in these shops. Agriculture inputs are also sold in Garhi Habibullah, Hathimera and Reerh villages.

Wheat is used for domestic consumption and maize is sold in the market. Most small holders sell maize to local shopkeepers. Large landowners sell maize in Mansehra market. Vegetables produced in Hathimera is sold in Mansehra market.

5.16 Government and Private Employment

Men in regular employment (government and private) are reported to the extent of 10% in all localities. About 5% of these are employed in Islamabad and other areas and 5% are employed in local offices. Majority of the men working in other areas had kept their families in native villages. Women employment is small, restricted to education and health establishments.

5.17 Labor and Daily Wage Earners

About 30% of the households are daily wage earners in all surveyed areas. A vast majority of the small landholders and landless labourers have no work opportunities in villages or in Mansehra which indicates lack of economic opportunities in the area. They migrate to other parts of the country for work and send remittances to family.

There are few opportunities for agriculture labour in the villages except in harvesting season. Owner cultivation and sharecropping tenancy on small farms has considerably reduced the demand of labour.

5.18 Coal Mining

Few coal mines are reported in Garhi Habibullah and other areas where at present mining is done on artisanal scale. In 2013 about 1,065 tonne coal was extracted from these mines (Development Statistics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2014). There are several other minerals including granite in the district.

5.19 Fishing

Fishing is negligible economic activity in the surveyed area. According to provincial development statistics trout fish catch of the district was 1657 tonnes in 2012 (Development Statistics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2014).

5.20 Housing and Household Facilities

In all surveyed areas except two localities of Balakot villages, about 80% of the houses are constructed with baked bricks or cement blocks and 50% had RCC roofs. About 20% of the houses are made of cement blocks or sundry material and their roof are made of wood and iron sheets. These are considered katcha houses. In Biliani and Pore about 60% of houses have some room made of prefabricated sheets and iron sheets which were designated as shelter. About 40% of the houses are made of bricks and iron sheets. A very small proportion of houses mostly temporary shelters of Afghan refugees in Jandar banda and other villages are made of mud and adobe.

In all surveyed areas except two localities of Balakot about 10% of the households are living in rented houses. Those living in rented houses are in‐ migrants who are unable to build their own houses Almost all houses have lavatories and about 70% have flush toilets but without sewerage system. All surveyed localities reported deep pits for sewage disposal which according to them is absorbed in the soil.

All houses in surveyed area reported separate kitchen and bathroom in the houses. Municipal water supply system based on tube well in Hathimera is not properly functional and remains out of operation for several days. Ground water is deep about 120 feet or more. There are several deep wells where water is fetched with buckets and some of the wells have installed electric pump. Since this locality is spread out in about two kms length a one section of the village gets municipal water supply based on gravity flow from spring.

In all other localities municipal water supply based on gravity flow from springs is provided. In Reerh municipal water supply from springs provide water in some localities of the village while hand pumps are installed in other. In Balakot localities spring water is used as there is no municipal water supply.

Natural gas is not available in any of the surveyed localities. Wood is the principal fuel source. LPG cylinders are used in all localities and all localities have gas vendor shops.

5.21 Women and Development

Literacy rate among rural women is very high compared to many other districts of the province. According to Pakistan Standard of Living Measurement Survey of 2013, about 47% of rural women and 74% rural men are literate. Net enrolment rate in primary classes in rural areas is 71% for girls and 78% for boys. According to key informants enrolment and literacy rate are high for both sexes in all localities (PSLM Survey 2012‐13, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics).

Women have access to health services in all surveyed areas. According to Lady Health Visitor about 20% of pregnant women visit for antenatal check‐ up. General health condition of women and children is reported well.

An insignificant proportion of women are engaged in agriculture activities on family farms. In houses with cattle and goats livestock tending is responsibility of women. All women are engaged in domestic chores and have no other work opportunity to earn an income.

Land on inheritance is given to women by small number of households. Most people pay cash instead of land in inheritance depriving women from their rights. It is reported that some women give their share of landed property to brothers as gift. Rural women mostly own assets like pieces of silver and gold jewellery according to their economic status.

5.22 Education

In all surveyed localities government and private primary schools are available. Private schools are more than government schools in all localities except Balakot. In Garhi Habibullah there are 8 government and 10 private primary schools. Private and government high schools and government college for boys and girls is available in Garhi Habibullah. In all other localities high schools is not more than 2 km away from any locality.

5.23 Health Facilities

Health facilities are provided by the government in or close to all surveyed localities. Women have access to health services in all areas as BHU and MCH centres are available in surveyed village or neighbouring localities. Civil hospital is operational in Garhi Habibullah. Mother and Child Health Centres are provided in every Basic Heath Unit and civil hospital. All health facilities have male as well as female doctors. Tehsil headquarter hospital is very close to Biliani and Porhi localities of Balakot. There are a few private medical practitioners in all surveyed localities. All of these practitioners are medical technicians. Private hospitals and clinics are available n Mansehra.

5.24 Poverty and Social Protection

Poverty is persistent in rural areas because of very small landholdings and wage earners in other areas. Careful estimate from FGD suggests that about 20% of the rural households are poor and vulnerable because of uncertainty in getting wages for all working days.

Zakat funds are provided for treatment of patients in government hospitals for which eligibility certificates are required. Funds are directly paid to hospital instead of poor patient. Stipend from Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is provided to about 5% of the rural households in all surveyed localities.

5.25 Communication

All surveyed localities and village clusters are connected with vast network of black top roads. Public transport in all areas is provided by small cars and vans. Bus service is available at Garhi Habibullah. People from all surveyed areas need to travel to Mansehra to get public transport for travelling to other main cities.

Cellular phone service is available in all areas and almost every person possesses cell phone. PTCL service is available in Garhi Habibullah only. Cable television is available in all surveyed localities except in Biliani and Porhi areas of Balakot.

5.26 Power Supply

Electricity is available in all surveyed localities and 100% houses have power connections. In all areas unscheduled load shedding is reported. In some areas of Garhi Habib Ulla low voltage is also reported.

5.27 Archaeological and Cultural Sites

The district has at least one archaeological site in the form of 2000 years old stone edicts near Mansehra town. There is no archaeological site along the T/L in the project area.

5.28 Security Situation

Project Area Analysis

The project scope encompasses construction of a new 132 KV T/L from Patrind HPP to Mansehra Grid Station with a 10 km in/out at Balakot Grid Station, to be commissioned by the year 2016. The project area has been divided in three zones as part of initial analysis from security point of view.

Zone‐1‐ Areas astride River Kunhar from Patrind HPP upto Balakot.

The area consists of a narrow river valley between low‐lying hills from Patrind HPP to Garhi Habibullah from where it starts opening up towards the North up to Balakot beyond which it again starts narrowing down. The entire valley is served with all‐weather roads, running parallel to the river on both sides. The river valley is fairly populated in the form of small villages and small cluster of houses. Except for Garhi Habibullah and Balakot, generally the locals own small pieces of agriculture land, while in Garhi Habibullah and Balakot, there are few big land owners as well. Almost more than 30 % locals work in other

79 parts of the country or abroad to earn livelihood while remaining engage in agriculture.

Zone‐2‐ Area along low‐lying hills separating Kunhar River Valley from Village Roh to the South of Village Hathimera in the Mansehra Valley

The area consists of low‐lying hilly terrain, separating Kunhar River Valley from Mansehra Valley. It starts from Village Roh on the western bank of the river and traverses in a westerly direction along the hills which are mostly devoid of any agriculture/population and enters Mansehra Valley near Village Hathimera. There are no roads along the proposed T/L alignment except for a small portion of a zig‐zag road linking Village Roh to Attar Shesha in the Mansehra Valley. There exist few small agriculture land holdings at its entrance to the Mansehra Valley.

Zone‐3‐ Area in the form of rolling grounds towards South‐West in the Mansehra Valley from Village Hathimera to its terminus at Mansehra Grid Station

While entire Mansehra valley has a well‐developed road network, the alignment of proposed T/L mostly intersects various roads at different locations. The valley slopes down in South‐westerly direction and is interspersed with small villages. The valley itself consists of mostly the agriculture lands which are held in the form of small pieces of land by the locals except for some big land owners. Poultry farming is another significant activity in the area due to suitable climatic conditions.

5.29 Security Overview

Mansehra is the biggest city in the project area while Garhi Habibullah and Balakot are the major towns in the Kunhar River Valley. The inhabitants of Mansehra valley are perceived to be inclined more towards the religion as compared to the towns located in the Kunhar River valley. The overall security environment around Balakot, Garhi Habibullah and rest of Kunhar River Valley is fairly stable and satisfactory. The inhabitants of these areas are friendly and hospitable and exhibit a reasonably high literacy rate. The presence of police posts make travelling fairly safe at all times, however, night travel is not recommended to be undertaken unless absolutely unavoidable. Similarly, entire Mansehra valley is also stable in the context of security, however, there have been instances in the past when the locals staged protest demonstrations against power shutdowns and other matters, at times even blocking the Karakorum Highway. Generally, the entire project area has a low crime rate while adoption of common personal security measures and precaution are recommended to minimize chance of becoming victim to any such activity. In view of strong religious orientation of the locals, especially in the Mansehra valley, due caution is recommended for refraining from indulging in any controversial matter concerning religion. Moreover, area is

80 extremely conservative in nature and women are generally not seen around in the market places etc. in Mansehra unlike some of the other areas therefore, adherence to local norms and respecting local customs is highly advisable.

5.30 Security Related Incidents

There has not been any serious security related incident either involving terrorists/extremists or abductions during the recent past in the area. However, incidents of petty‐crimes have been reported near Mansehra Grid Station which is attributed to the presence of Afghan refugees in the area, who have established a makeshift colony of approximately 250 household nearby. Due to this reason, even the locals avoid visiting this area at odd timings.

5.31 Community Perceptions

During our consultations with the local communities, it was revealed that mostly people were unaware about the impending project, when explained, mostly they exhibited an indifferent attitude, fearing that they would not get any direct benefit from the project. Moreover, the residents of Village Gandian Bela which falls under the proposed T/L alignment, also expressed their concern for the compensation package as it would only offer them crop losses for the period of tower construction. They claimed that the village is expanding fast as increasing number of houses are being built on the existing agriculture land and in case of construction of a tower, their land would be rendered useless.

5.32 Role of Community in Security Arrangements

It is recommended that appropriate compensation where due may be dispensed prior to undertaking any construction activity to alleviate misgivings of the locals and to win their cooperation. Prior involvement of local notables is also recommended in this regard. Such actions will increase the sense of ownership by the local population who are expected to extend necessary cooperation not only during construction phase but during the operation phase as well. Names of some of the notable of the area is listed below.

Table 10: Notables of the Area:

Area Notables of the Area Mansehra District Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Captain Safdar, Sardar Zahoor, Haji Abrar Hussain Balakot Munir Ahmad Khan Garhi Habib Ullah Changez Khan Tanoli, Gulfam Khan, Jahangir Khan

5.33 Notion of Significance

The significant features of the project activities and project area are listed below.

 As per Pakistan EPA “Review of IEE/EIA Regulations 2000” and AJ&K Environmental Protection Act 2000, Projects having Power transmission/distribution greater than 11 kV capacity and installation of Grid stations are included in Schedule II for which an EIA need to be carried out to obtain environmental approval from provincial and AJK Environmental Protection Agencies  The project region in parts belongs to one of the major earthquake zones. Project area is pan of the geological set‐ up that can transmit earthquake waves. Major faults that can trigger the seismicity include Main Mantle Thrust, Main Boundary Thrust, Oghi shear zone Mansehra, Darband Falut Tarbela, Khairabad Fault, Kala Bagh Fault and other small faults.  The project area is a flash flood prone area. Other natural disasters that project area experience includes landslides and climate extremes like heavy rains, storms, severe snow, and hailstorms.  The development of infrastructure including transmission lines is considered as a threat for habitat of wildlife and obstacle for migratory species on their pathways. The threat of collision and electrocution through T/Ls has been widely studied along migratory routes/corridors of many migratory species.  The T/L will not pass through Batrasi Forest.  Some portion of the proposed T/L is passing through communities / houses, which could result in apprehensions of locals regarding safety.

CHAPTER 6: STAKEHOLDERS AND PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

6.1 OBJECTIVES OF CONSULTATION Public consultation plays a vital role in studying the effects of any development project on stakeholders and in its successful implementation and execution. It affords an opportunity to exchange knowledge with those who as members of the society are concerned with the Project, immediately or remotely. Referring particularly to a project related to environmental assessment, involvement of public is all the more essential, as it leads to better and more acceptable decision-making. The overall objective of the consultation with the stakeholders is to help verify the environmental and social issues, besides technical ones, that have been presumed to arise and to identify those which are not known or are unique to the Project. In fact, discourse with many who have thoroughly observed the site conditions in the pre-developmental phase, goes a long way in updating the knowledge and understanding.

6.2 CONSULTATIVE ASPECTS

The proposed Project involves stakeholders from various segments of the society, who have direct or indirect interest in the developmental activity. Consultative sessions were held with a number of prominent stakeholders to evince their views on the proposed Project, inter-alia, their opinions, suggestions, understanding on various issues and concerns.

The consultations aimed specifically at:  Exchange of information related to the Project and its possible utilization in the Project planning and execution.  Dissemination of information through discussions, education and liaison.  Collaboratively solving the problems.  Eliciting the comments and feedback on the proposed Project.  Documentation of information narrated by the stakeholders.  Documentation of mitigation measures proposed by the stakeholders.  Incorporation of public concerns and their addressal in the EIA.

6.3 STAKEHOLDER’S CONSULTATIONS

There are two types of stakeholders, i.e. primary and secondary stakeholders. The primary stakeholders are the initial stakeholders, such as affected persons, general public including women resided in villages in the vicinity of the sub-project area. Accordingly, the consultations were made with all

83 primary stakeholders for sharing the information regarding the project components A&B and community feedback regarding the project. However, the consultative meetings were also held with the secondary stakeholders including the officials/ staff involved in planning& design, and management.

Feedback received during public consultation includes both Project related concerns and other / general concerns.

Project related concerns and suggestions are related to the willingness of people to accept the project, livelihood, electricity and compensation/ relocation/resettlement while concerns include Road infrastructures, drinking water supply and sewerage, health facilities, road infrastructures, education, women's issues, agriculture and security. Following are the main concerns of the locals:

 The houses which come under the transmission line, live in that area for last 100 years, and they have no other land for relocating their houses, their concern was to change the route of the existing transmission line because they have a major safety threat especially in rainy season.  Compensation for loss of crops due to project activities should be provided.  Compensation of trees should also be given.  There should be transparent and fair compensation.  All actions associated with the project should be through proper consultations.  There should be a continuous community consultation program throughout the project implementation period.  There should be employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled local people, preference should be given to the project affected persons.  Respondent also discussed their homes privacy issues, as according to them when outsiders will come into their area during construction phase, they will have to restrict their mobility.  Project should not be implemented during the harvesting season as during that season the females have to go out to help male members in the fields.  Majority respondents have negative views about the Projects, as according to them, the project has a major threat to their health and safety and also the land value would be reduced due to the construction of new T/L in the Project Area.

6.4 SECONDARY STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIONS

Secondary Stakeholders identified for the Project are:  The National Transmission and Despatch Company (the project proponent)

 Forest Department including Wildlife  Representatives of local communities  NGOs  Federal and provincial (KPK) EPAs

The secondary stakehilders suggested the following:

a. Obtain NOCs from the relevant departments such as EPA, Forest Department if T/L is to pass through any forest. b. Develop appropriate Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan ensuring that project activities do not affect the environment. c. Conduct regular monitoring as per the EMMP and submit reports to the concerned stakeholders. d. Compensation to affected parties should be appropriate so as to address their grievances.

CHAPTER 7: POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

7.1 Impact Assessment Methodology

The location and scale of the works are very important in predicting the environmental impacts. The process of impact analysis is the core of the EIA and it is critical that the recommendations and mitigation measures need to be carried out according to result of EIA and subsequent EIA (If warranted). EIA methodology has been based on GoP (National and Provincial) environmental assessment guidelines. The approach aims to identify, describe, assess and analyse the significance of the direct and indirect effects of a project on the physical, biological and socio‐economic characteristics of the project area.

Based on the results of baseline inventory a diligent listing of potential environmental issues has been identified and scrutinized. Critical issues were identified from (1) Interviews and secondary sources, (2) the EIA checklists (3) the social and wildlife field surveys and (4) sector specific expert opinions. The significant issues are included in the EIA process and mitigation and monitoring requirements are evaluated. The consolidation and ranking process was conducted by the EIA team and later shared with other stakeholders for comments through emails and briefings. As EIA provides a transitory view of significant environmental issues and detailed assessments are subject to subsequent assessments.

The Rapid environmental and social assessment process has been conducted on following procedure/criteria.

Identification of significant environmental/social impacts Impact Analysis Impact Valuation Recommendations i.e. Mitigation Measures

7.2 Project Siting / Design Impacts

Project siting/design impact include impacts of route selection, uncontrolled soil erosion at tower sites, waste disposal options, hydrological impacts, design associated with social impacts and noise impacts.

Impacts of T/L Route Selection

Impact Analysis: The proposed T/L alignments do not encroach upon ecologically sensitive areas or any major land portion of significance except Batrasi reserve forest. 132 kV D/C T/L traverse arid mountainous terrace so may cause minor to moderate impacts to the ecological resources such as forestry, ecological linkages, and biodiversity. Tower siting need to be selected based on the preliminary investigations and sites with uncontrolled soil erosion need to be avoided.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations:  NTDCL design team will incorporate the factors of uncontrolled soil erosion and ecological significance at the time of route finalization.

Impacts of Waste Disposal

Impact Analysis: The construction phase of the project is expected to generate wastes including; packing waste; scrap, excess construction materials and debris, domestic wastes from construction camp, empty containers and drums, used lubricating oils and chemicals etc. Besides being an eyesore, the waste can also pose significant hazards, pollute soil, surface and ground water if disposed‐off improperly. The hazardous waste generated from the grid stations may be transformer oil used batteries and electric‐ waste. The impacts related to waste disposal can hinder the environmental performance of the project if not managed properly. At design stage waste related environmental issues should be covered through contractual obligations.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with low severity and medium magnitude.

Recommendations

 Need to identify sufficient and proper locations for disposal of transformer oil.  Inclusion of contractual obligation for waste disposal.  Identification of temporary disposal sites in the contract.  Identification of waste disposal vendors and locations approved by EPA and NTDCL.

Temporary Drainage and Erosion Prone Sites

Impact Analysis: The sites with poor drainage and uncontrolled erosion can impair the integrity of T/L system tower foundation and may lead to untoward emergency if mitigation measures not included at preliminary design stage for erosion control and temporary drainage.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with high severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Identify locations where drainage or irrigation crossing may affect the T/L routes  Include in protection works contract as a payment milestone(s)  Risk assessment of unavoidable temporary drainage and erosion prone sites

Social Impacts Associated with Design Phase

Impact Analysis: Land acquisition and resettlement can be minimized through avoidance of existing settlements and buildings and minimizing the need to acquire agricultural land at the time of T/L route selection. LARP study should be conducted prior to finalization of the design in order to ensure that the adverse impacts due to the property acquisition and resettlement are properly addressed.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and high magnitude

Recommendations

 Preparation of LARP prior to finalization of T/L routes  Timely Acquisition of lands to minimize the uncertainty of people  Implementation of LARP to provide compensation and assistance to the APs  All the payments/entitlements need to be paid according to the Entitlement Matrix, based on LARP results  Correspondence/Coordination with concerned District Revenue Department and Land Acquisition collectors

Hydrological Impacts

Impact Analysis: Hydrological flow where it is sensitive, such as water courses or bridges and culverts may impact the foundations of towers and may interrupt the emergency situation maintenance works of T/L system particularly during climate extreme events.

Impact Valuation: Indirect impact on local scale with low severity and low magnitude

Recommendations

 Sound Design of adequate major and minor culverts facilities need to be completed  Consideration of such locations/routes in the design report

Noise Assessment

Impact Analysis: Project work including blasting, concrete mixing, excavator/crane operations, stringing create noise nuisance to sensitive receptor like residents and wildlife etc.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations:

 Identification of noise sensitive locations and their incorporation in design report

 Conduct detailed acoustic assessment for all residential areas and habitat of noise sensitive species within 50m of RoW.

If noise at sensitive receiver exceeds the permissible limit, the construction/erection activities should be monitored and controlled.

Additional Impacts Associated with Project Siting / Design

Following additional impacts associated with project design were identified during the document review and field visit by the EIA team.

o Civil/erection works should be avoided during harvesting season and same need to be incorporated in project implementation schedule. o Usage of Community‟s common resources like potable water, fuel wood etc. by contractor workforce may create conflicts between the community and the contractor. Contractor obligations regarding use of community resources should be the part of the contractor. o Safe distance of construction camp from communities should be identified.

7.4 Impacts Related to Construction Activities

RoW Clearing

Impact Analysis: 132 kV T/L system from Patrind HPP to New Mansehra grid stations involves no additional encroachment or impacts associated with physical disfiguration of the rural landscape are expected from construction. The periphery of T/L route is moderate and should not extend beyond the legal/selected corridor (RoW). Therefore, no significant landscape impacts are expected from clearing of the T/L route. Potential disfiguration of the landscape can however result from construction on access routes to tower foundations and the uncontrolled excavation of raw materials such as rock, gravel and sand from neighbouring areas. Site of Mansehra new grid station has been previously acquired by NTDCL thus involves no additional encroachment of land.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 The corridor that is disturbed during construction will be kept to a minimum  The movement of vehicles and machinery will be restricted to the construction areas only  Soil erosion control measures (e.g. sprinkling of water on kick‐off dust, PE sheet covering, silt fences, rip rap) will be undertaken where necessary during construction.

 The construction sites need to be restored as close as possible to their pre‐project conditions after completion of construction activities. For this purpose a restoration plan need to be prepared under consultant supervision.

Construction Debris and Disposal

Addition of 132 kV portion at Mansehra new grid stations should not require any significant cutting and filling but minor excavations and piling will be required in which the new transformers are to be located to create the footings. Associated T/L work should not involve any significant cutting and filling but minor excavations (down to 4m) and piling may be required to create the foundations for the towers. It is envisaged (depending on the mode of contract) that the surface under the towers will need to be scrabbled to remove unstable materials, or to stockpile topsoil. The use of this immediately available material will minimize the need for additional extraction. The extraction of raw materials should be minimized by the re‐use on‐site for levelling of disturbed ground.

The material (cement, sand and aggregate) requirement of a typical 132 kV grid station (about 150 cu.m) and a 132 kV transmission tower (4.8 cu.m, or 40 bags of cement per tower) are not large. In T/L construction sand and aggregate are delivered directly to the tower location from the quarry / source, there is no intermediate or bulk storage of these materials. Similarly construction materials for the grid stations will be stored within the substation site and are scheduled as per the work progress. The quantities of construction material required for a typical substation or transmission tower are not so larger that they potentially represent a traffic hazard.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with low severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations  Contractual clauses should be included to require each contractor to produce a materials management plan (one month before construction commences) to identify all sources of cement and aggregates and to balance cut and fill.  In order to allow the proper functioning of the settlement sites (access to villages) during construction it is recommended that consideration be given to erect temporary hoardings immediately adjacent to the nearest houses and shops if they are within 15m of the T/L tower construction site.  Estimation of cut and fill during course of construction and updation of its inventory  Material Acquisition/transfer plan  Mitigation measures for construction material storage and re‐use

Trees, Ecology and Protected Areas

Impact Analysis: Surveys have been made at representative project locations and there should be limited disturbance of trees in the 132 kV T/L route. Land for 132 kV portion has been allocated from the already levelled land of Mansehra new grid station, hence involve no disturbance to ecology/trees. . The project area of both 132 kV D/C and S/CT/L is located outside any protected areas notified by KPK and AJK governments, Only Batrasi Forest Reserve falls along the route of T/L. The T/L erection require the installation of 38 towers of 132 kV D/C T/L along with 150 suspensions and 8 Towers of 132 kV S/C T/L along with 34 suspensions from Patrind HPP to Mansehra new grid station. However, in case of removal of any tree on private or forest land during the works, written permission should be sought. At this stage no areas require removal of forest portion. If for some unforeseen reason or change of alignment, any trees with religious significance or other trees need to be removed, written permission should be obtained from the forest authority and the owner after written justification by NTDCL/PESCO.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations

 Identification of affected specimen trees of religious plantations (if any)  Identification of area that will be landscaped as part of compensation to replaced trees  Identification of tree replacement ratio  A requirement shall be inserted in the contracts that no trees are to be cut within the Grid Stations, on the T/L route or outside without the written permission from the forest department/NTDCL who may permit the removal of trees if unavoidable on safety, technical or engineering grounds after written justification

Impacts on Water Resources

Impact Analysis: 132 kV T/L route traverse the shoulders of Kunhar river. T/L crosses the river at about 5 locations. Excavation for tower footings and dewatering will not expected to impact the water resources. Stockpiling of excavated materials may interfere with drainage paths particularly during construction of river/canal crossings.

Table 11: Distance of T/L Crossing Points at Kunhar River

Name and Type of Distance from first AM-132 KV No. Crossing D/C T/L (Km) 1 Kunhar River‐1 1.54 2 Kunhar River‐2 2.13 3 Kunhar River‐3 4.52 4 Kunhar River‐4 5.63 5 Kunhar River‐5 10

The drainage streams en‐route of the T/L should not be impeded by the T/L works. The scale of the works does not warrant hydrological monitoring. Hence soil erosion triggered by exposed soils in slopes is very unlikely to occur therefore no significant impact on surface water quality is expected. If labor camps are situated close to waterway, sanitary waste may cause surface water pollution. But scattered nature of construction and shorter time may not require large scale labor camps.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with low severity and low magnitude

Recommendations:

 Prior consultation with highway/irrigation department upon commencement of work at crossings  Preparation of SOP for civil works involved in Kunhar river crossing  Impact assessment associated with Kunhar river ecology and same should be covered in subsequent EA.

Air Pollution from Civil Works and Transport / Blasting

Impact Analysis: Field observations indicate that ambient air quality is generally acceptable and that emissions from traffic and other powered mechanical equipment in the area are rapidly dispersed. Blasting will be required only if the foundations are on rocky formation, which could not be excavated using conventional methods; the possibility of which is very less. Blasting may deteriorate the ambient air quality but due to very limited activity impacts are of minor nature. Moreover powered mechanical equipment to be used in the construction of the T/L works may give rise to gaseous emissions. However these all should be well dissipated. The major sources of complaint will likely be unavoidable blasting, any necessary earthworks and local soil compaction. Major earthworks are not envisaged but minor excavations and piling will be required which can contribute to increasing dust. However the scale of the works at any one location is not likely to cause excessive dust. Therefore dust control from works at this scale should be easy to achieve at little extra cost.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with:

. Low severity and medium magnitude (without blasting) . Medium severity and low magnitude (with blasting) Recommendations

 Rock blasting need to be done after due risk assessment and community consultation  In case of sensitive receptor, controlled/muffled blasting should be adopted  Availability of dust suppression facilities where earth and cement works are required  Construction materials (sand, gravel, and rocks) and spoil materials will be transported in trucks covered with tarpaulins.

 Storage piles will be at least 30m downwind of the nearest human settlements.  Material Acquisition/transfer plan  Mitigation measures for construction material storage and re‐use  Vehicular Exhaust emission monitoring of equipment/vehicles as per GoP NEQS

Noise and Vibration/Blasting

Impact Analysis: Major source of noise may be unavoidable rock blasting along the 132 kV T/L route. It is anticipated that blasting will be done with continuous supervision and proper mitigation measure. Other sources of noise will be powered mechanical equipment and hand tool used to construct the tower foundations. Powered mechanical equipment can generate significant noise and vibration. The cumulative effects from several machines can be significant. Noise from construction of the power distribution lines and addition of 132 kV potion at Mansehra new grid station should be covered under GoP NEQS for noise. Vibration from construction of piles to support pads may be required for some tower foundation works and may be a significant impact but this should be short duration. Where blasting/vibration could become a major consideration (within say 100m of schools, religious sensitive ecological habitats and residences) a building condition survey should take place prior to construction.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations:

 Adoption of controlled/muffled blasting, community consultation prior to blasting if required  Equipment machinery inspection reports/ certifications  Compliance with GoP NEQS for smoke, noise and air quality  No construction should be allowed during nighttime and 70 dB(A) Leq should be the criterion at other times during the day measured at the boundaries of land from which construction noise is emitted  Public consultation at implementation stage particularly with sensitive receptor e.g. schools, mosques, houses etc.

Sanitation, Solid Waste Disposal

Impact Analysis: The main issues of concern can be uncontrolled disposal of waste by construction workers, unmanaged disposal of solid and liquid wastes into watercourses and natural drains. In order to maintain proper sanitation around construction sites the workforce will be allowed to use the flush toilets in the construction camps. Construction worker camps will not be necessary, based on the scale of the works needed. Construction camp needs to be avoided in settlement areas or near sensitive water resources. There should not be any significant amounts of waste from the T/L works expected.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Temporary and permanent drainage facilities (where required) should be designed to facilitate the rapid removal of surface water from construction sites  Preparation and implementation of solid waste management plan  Identification of gray and black water disposal options for contractor camps other than urban areas if established  Restriction to contractor for offsite installation of potable lavatories

Socio-Economic Impacts

Public Safety

Impact Analysis: The proposed T/L carrying 132 kV runs over an area that is under the cultivation, mountain terraces and land of forest department at some locations. The line route is characterized with limited human activities, movements, and settlements with lower population density. However settlement like Chotadi, Dalola, Barar koi, Pixpar, Agal Kath , Bela, Sarwai, Mongan, Pore , Reeh, Gohtar, Ghandian Bela are residing within the approximately 2 Km radius of T/L routes, therefore concerns of public safety may arise. There is need to pay special attention to the safety of people in the short and long run of the project activities, as the potential harm on the life and well‐being of the residents cannot be ignored in an expedited development process.

Impact Valuation: Direct\Indirect impact on local scale with high severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations

 Implementation of NTDCL Social Safety Considerations  Implementation of NTDCL Public Safety Parameters  Conductor to Ground Clearance as per American National Electrical Safety Code (ANSI C2)  Corridor Clearance as per NTDCL/GoP horizontal clearance policy

Workers Safety

Impact Analysis: Construction related hazards are the most common accidents that could occur and varying in nature. All possible measures are taken to avoid and minimize damage due to accidents. Contractor shall take proper safety measures (placing warning tapes around excavations) to avoid people/ children accidentally falling into excavations. Jobs that involve working in high elevations such as tower erection and stringing will be carried out with special care with well‐trained skilled workers.

NTDCL should ensure the operation/maintenance staff working in the components of the project are well trained and educated in the HSE hazards associated with their duties, and that of the public in the project area. The operation and maintenance plan will include the hazard prevention and safety plan, which will address health and safety of the workers and people in the project area.

Impact Valuation: Direct\Indirect impact on local scale with high severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations

 Utilization of trained O&M staff  Implementation of construction safety practices  Compliance of NTDCL safety considerations  Detailed assessment of safety hazards

Potential relocation of people

Impact Analysis: The project does not cause any dramatic change in the population in the short run, but improved power supply may attract people by the sparsely populated in the years to come. As the transmission line has been designed with special emphasis on minimum impact on human settlement, it causes no major relocation of households living in or in the vicinity of its route course. Families living in the vicinity of the line route and those residents have to continue their use of existing housing facilities under indispensable precautionary measures and conditions pertaining to the expansion and reconstruction of them in the future.

Impact Valuation: Direct\Indirect impact on local scale with low severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 No additional recommendations are required except to avoid dense communities while finalization of 132 kV T/L route.

Impact on agriculture/plantations and existing land use of the area

Land use Impacts

Impact Analysis: The project area of both 132 kV T/L is located outside any protected areas notified by Government of KPK and AJK. For the calculation of land usage percentage along the RoW of T/L, an area of 50m have been taken as area to be disturbed during the construction phase. Below table provide land use statistics of 132 kV D/C T/L while land use percentage for 10 Km Balakot in‐out section of 132 kV S/C cannot be calculated due to non‐ finalisation of route alignment.

Table 12: Land usage of proposed 132kV D/C T/L from Patrind HPP to Mansehra New Grid Station

Land Usage Area (sq Km) Percentage Forest 0.35 18 Barren 0.56 29 Settlement 0.01 1 Water 0.12 6 Agriculture 0.85 45

Impact Valuation: Direct\Indirect impact on local scale with Medium Severity and Medium Magnitude

Recommendations

 Compliance to NTDCL environmental safety considerations  Avoid sensitive receptor (if any) while selection/finalization of 132 kV T/L routes

Impacts on Cropland

Impact Analysis: The proposed T/L traverses for considerable portion of its total length over agricultural land. Selection of this line route over cropland avoids a serious impact on residential areas and plantations with high grown crops. The use of agricultural land for the construction of supportive towers would not cause considerable reduction of cropland as farmers could cultivate the area under the towers leaving only the tower bases.

The construction phase of the T/L system over the cropland, will keep the line route, access roads and tower bases out of cultivation. Construction activities may also disturbs the irrigation system leaving the adjacent cropland out of cultivation for a considerable period of time depending on the completion of the project. Extensive use of existing access roads and newly constructed access roads for the transportation of materials can impair the quality of crops.

Impact Valuation: Direct\Indirect impact on local scale with medium severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations

 Use of existing tracks instead of developing new one as much as possible  Use of only acquired land for construction working area  Restricted vehicular speed limits in agricultural area  Temporary waste management arrangements  Avoid irrigation disturbances  Restricted work schedule particularly during harvesting season

Impact on Plantations

Impact Analysis: The major portion of project area of T/L is passing through agriculture land, mountainous terrace and shoulders of Kunhar river/roads. The project requires the high grown trees to be removed completely. This requirement would cause a considerable loss to the owners of the lands of those cultivations. Furthermore, the conditions imposed preventing the cultivation of high grown trees would compel the owners to change their pattern of land use. The impact of land clearance for the construction and maintenance of the power line, results in reducing the income that people earn from their farmlands, and other cultivations. Impact Valuation: Indirect impact on local scale with medium severity and small magnitude Recommendations  South facing slopes of mountains have less floral diversity and should be used for passing of T/L to avoid degradation to pine forest.  Compliance to NTDCL Resettlement Policy  Compliance to NTDCL environmental safety considerations

Other Socioeconomic Impacts/Benefits if any Limitations of the Construction of Buildings

Impact Analysis: The people of the affected area are highly concerned about the traversing of power line over their buildings and the inevitable ceiling on the height of constructions imposed by the project. The people of the area have future plans of construction. However all expressed their apprehension about the negative impact of the power line on their safety and future use of their lands for constructions. Construction of tower bases in small plots of lands will further reduce the quantity of land area available human use if such lands are selected.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with small severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Avoid dense populations and buildings while selection of line route for T/L  Due and timely compensation in case of acquisition of commercial lands  Framework for social monitoring of the T/L system  Implementation of LARP  Required detailed assessment

Degrading of land and property values

Impact Analysis: People in the areas of urban and suburban may be dissatisfied with an anticipated impact of decreasing land and property values as a result of the restrictions accompanied by the project. They anticipated a

97 considerable decrease in land price after project implementation. The symbolic value of lands, properties, and cultivations are higher than their real value as people assign various cultural meanings to them on the ground of inheritance, memories, and emotional attachments. Any negative impacts on such properties are deeply felt by the owners as their lives are interwoven with them.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with high severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations

 Compliance to LARP  Compliance to NTDCL social safety consideration

Impacts on other proposed or planned government/private sector development activities in the vicinity

Impact Analysis: General development activities such as construction of houses and business premise might be undertaken in project area. If such activities are undertaken under the T/L, necessary building approval need to be acquired from local authority, NTDCL will maintain relevant safety clearance.

Impact Valuation: Indirect impact on local scale with small severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Detail data need to be collected regarding proposed / planned government / private sector development activities in the vicinity of the proposed T/L and detail assessment need to be carried out.

Impacts on Transportation

Impact Analysis: As both T/L will traverse the roads, therefore impacts on transportation particularly at the time of construction of crossing tower are anticipated. Due to sagging of conductors, ground clearance will become least in the middle span of two adjacent towers, which will compromise the usability of the road. In road crossing, NTDCL will use extended towers to maintain minimum vertical safety clearance above road surface. Any line crossing with road corridor will be constructed with adherence to NTDCL technical specifications and ANSI guidelines. There is chance of interference with other utilities such as telecommunication and water supply as well.

Table 13: Details of Road crossings along the 132 kV/220 kV T/Ls routes

Distance from first AM-132 KV Name and Type of Crossing D/C T/L (Km) 1 Pano Road‐ 02 crossings 6.8 and 31.14 2 Talhatta‐Gari Habibullah Road‐03 1.7, 2.07 and 10.2 crossings 3 Garhi Habibullah‐MʹAbad‐02 8 and 8.4 crossings 4 Mansehra‐Talhatta Road‐ 02 12.4, 13 and 13.5 crossings 5 Mansehra Naran Jalkhad Chilas 17 Road 6 Hathi Mera Doraha Road 25.4 7 Hathi Mera Road 26 8 Karakoram Road Highway 28.4

Impact Valuation: Indirect impact on local scale with small severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Compliance of ANSI minimum ground and corridor clearance standards  Compliance of NTDCL safety considerations  Public consultation prior to start of work on roads  Preparation of Traffic Management Plan (If warranted)  Identification of sensitive road crossing w.r.t traffic density  Coordination with Provincial / National Highway authorities

Archaeological Impacts

Impact Analysis: The 132 kV D/C T/L routes do not traverse the places and objects of historical and archaeological significance.

Impact Valuation: Indirect impact on local scale with small severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Coordination with Department of Archaeology for prompt advice  Identification of any places of worship or other similar archaeological sites along the RoW of T/L systems  Awareness of project staff about the possibility of unearthing such places along the project route

Visual Impacts

Impact Analysis: Proposed T/L traverses through different habitats and mostly passes through agricultural and mountainous area. Due to

99 mountainous terrace aesthetic appeal of the project area will be impaired. The form, color, or texture of a line can be modified to minimize aesthetic impacts. The color and construction material of towers can be chosen to blend with or complement the landscape around them.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with high severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations

 Preparation of Landscape plan  Limit cutting and filling to maintain an aesthetic appearance  Attend to required earthworks for partial restoration  Avoid water stagnation during construction  Plantation of quick growing cover crop in areas to be restored  Follow up with shrubs creepers, and tree species (local) as appropriate to the particular agro climatic zone

Impacts on Surrounding Environment any Possible Accidents, or Hazards

Impact Analysis: Although T/L‟s are designed with adequate safety factors to withstand wind forces, in event of disaster like climate extreme such as a high speed winds/ floods and high scale seismic activity, towers may fail. As mentioned earlier, T/L‟s are designed with proper protection equipment, so that power would trip out of service (turn off), if they fall or contact trees.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with high severity and high magnitude

Recommendations

 Conductor and corridor clearance as per ANSI C2  Compliance to NTDCL civil works specifications  Compliance to NTDCL safety considerations

7.5 Impacts Related to Operation and Maintenance Activities

Air Pollution and Noise from the Extended Operations at Grid Stations

Impact Analysis: Based on observations of many different types of grid stations extensions and up gradation of towers sites noise and vibration should not be a nuisance to any nearby receptor. Addition of 132 kV portion at Mansehra New Grid station also not envisaged incremental addition to noise levels hence not causing a significant disturbing effect in the vicinity of the project area.

As NTDL procure SF6 free switch gears therefore losses of the SF6 gas are not anticipated in the operational phase. The T/L works will extend the power distribution lines but no source of atmospheric pollution is expected.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with small severity and small magnitude

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Recommendations  Periodic noise assessments to check the compliance with GoP NEQS  Compliance with ambient air quality standards  Procurement and installation of SF6 free switchgears  Preparation of leak detection plans for SF6

Impacts on Avi-Fauna

Impact Analysis

The diversion of main course of water and development of dam, grid system and T/L are considered as a threat for habitat of wildlife and obstacle for flying species. The threat of collision and electrocution through T/L has been widely studied along migratory routes/corridors of many migratory species. T/L route has been proposed along Kunhar River and crossing it at a number of places will create an obstacle for migratory as well as for resident birds. T/L planned through Chir pine zone will disturb the ecosystem and may enhance process of erosion in catchment/watershed areas. T/L routes traversed Batrasi Reserve forest with a length of approx. 2.6 km which is a habitat of birds.

Impact Valuation: Indirect impact on local scale with medium severity and medium magnitude

Recommendations

 Minimum flow in major course of Kunhar River from Patrind HPP to the site of its natural confluence shall be maintained with River Jhelum which will help to maintain the ecology of aquatic diversity as well as in surrounding environment.  Application of CMS and Birdlife International guidelines for safety of avian species.

The seventh meeting of the Conference of Parties to the CMS (CMS‐COP 7) held in Bonn, Germany during September 2002 adopted the Resolution on “Electrocution of Migratory Bird Species”. The “Resolution encourages the constructors and operators to cooperate with ornithologists, conservation organizations and energy companies in order to reduce the electrocution risk posed to birds from transmission lines.  The “Mitigation Guidelines for the Protection of Birds” annexed to above mentioned Resolution proposes construction of certain types of poles, insulators, insulation caps, spacing of power lines etc. of medium voltage range.  To minimise the risk of collision and electrocution, it is strongly recommended the poles and T/Ls should be planned as bird friendly by using different guidelines of CMS and Birdlife International.  The construction of T/L in Chir pine forest patches particularly in

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Batrasi Reserve Forest should be avoided to minimise the loss of critical habitat and process of erosion.  Forest department should be consulted during the final survey and construction phases for counting of damaged trees.  Forests should be compensated with suitable replantation ratio after consultation with forest deptt. These plantations should be cared of up to minimum of three years.  Minor adjustments during final survey should be carried out to save trees, especially pine trees.

Pollution from Accidental Spills, Fuel Spills and Hazardous Materials

Impact Analysis: NTDCL prohibits use of PCBs transformers, more ever NTDCL procure transformer oil from approved vendor SOP for oil transfer and storage need to be complied through the life span of project. No significant impacts from oily residues such as transformer oil and lubricants are expected to arise. However control measures will be needed for oily residues such as transformer oil and lubricants in the case of accidental or unexpected release. Transformer oil is supplied in drums from an NTDCL approved source and tap tanks are topped up as necessary on sites . Recycling (dehydrating) oil for breakers may be a concern if recycling facility with dedicated drainage not provided. Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Oily residues and fuel should be captured at source and refueling and maintenance should take place in dedicated areas  Preparation of oil spill contingency plan  Identification of NTDCL/EPA approved vendor for disposal of waste oil  Supervision of refueling, maintenance and recycling works

Danger of Fallen Lines

Impact Analysis: Air gap along the T/L routes may have a lethal impact on people working or moving very close without any physical contact. In particular, farmers using modern harvesting and other equipment have to be ever conscious about the precautionary measures. Danger of fallen lines cannot be ignored at any cost even after assurance of technical and other safety measures taken by the project. Smooth functioning of the systems can be interrupted as unexpected natural or anthropogenic incidence might cause severe damage to towers, lines and grid station.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with high severity and medium magnitude

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Recommendations

 As the transmission line runs over croplands and other passage routes, people living and working in those areas have to take precautionary measures to protect themselves keeping the maximum distance between themselves/ objects in their hands or physical contact and the power line.  Procedure of emergency switching of power in case of any electrocution  Periodic inspection of towers foundations against weathering/soil erosions  Early warning to public in case of natural incidences like high speed winds i.e. winds which may damage the foundations of towers

Untoward Lightning Strikes

Impact Analysis: Power poles and towers, trees and other tall objects are more likely to intercept lightning strikes. Transmission lines are therefore usually built with two grounded shield wires at the top of the poles. This protects the T/L from lightning. Any lightening attack will be absorbed by earth wires and safely grounded through the tower. Lightning is not likely to strike houses or cars near the T/L. Shorter objects under or very near a line may actually receive some protection from lightning.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 No additional recommendations except provision of grounded shield wires at the top of the towers

Potential Interference to Electrical/Electronic Equipment

Impact Analysis: Based on people‟s perception towards scientific realities, there is strong belief that the transmission line would cause some sort of electrical or lightening risk at any time to their properties or their health. This can be a result of psychological stress developed over period of time that the proposed line will cause more threat and damage to them and their electrical appliances such as refrigerator, television, and audio players due to lightening.

Impact Valuation: Direct impact on local scale with medium severity and small magnitude

Recommendations

 Community consultation workshops regarding operation of T/L  Periodic Social monitoring along the T/L routes by NTDCL/PESCO

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7.6 Beneficial Environmental and Social Impacts

Continued supply of electricity is an indispensable infrastructure facility required for various development programs. It will facilitate the domestic as well as commercial power requirements of people living in the vicinity of the project area. With the construction of the new transmission line, number of current issues in electricity supply to surrounding areas will be resolved. This will respond to low voltage problems encountered and improve the reliability of electricity supply to consumers of the said areas. On the other hand, this project will reduce distribution losses and improve overall efficiency of the network.

The generation of employment and economic opportunities during the construction and operation phases will have a beneficial effect on the locals of the project area.

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CHAPTER 8: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & MONITORING PLAN

8.1 GENERAL

This Chapter provides an overall approach for managing and monitoring the potential environmental and social impacts and describes the institutional framework and resource allocations to implement these measures. The main objectives of the EMMP are:

 Provide the details of the Project impacts along with the proposed mitigation measures and the corresponding implementation activities  Define the role and responsibilities of the Project Proponent, Contractor, Supervisory Consultants and other role players and effectively communicate environmental issues among them  Define a monitoring mechanism, reporting frequency and identify monitoring parameters to ensure that all the mitigation measures are completely and effectively implemented  Identify the resources required to implement the EMMP and outline the corresponding financing arrangements.

8.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND MONITORING PLAN (EMMP) The environmental protection and enhancement are achieved in various ways. These approaches should begin right at the embryonic stage, i.e. i) project location, ii) design, specifications and tender/contract documents, iii) construction activities and iv) post completion activities i.e. operation and maintenance stage. Appropriate environmental management measures are required to be exercised in a cascade order by NTDC at each stage of the project.

In this way, it is envisaged that the Project will achieve maximum ongoing cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability and social soundness, far beyond the end of implementation of the Project. All the stages of the Project have to be managed by adopting the proposed environmental mitigation measures, where, besides engineering aspects, due importance is to be accorded to mitigation measures which make a perfect blending with the surrounding ecosystem.

The key environmental and social issues, which have already been discussed in previous sections are as under:

 Contamination of air, water and soil during the construction activities  Soil erosion and soil contamination  Impact of noise generated by vehicles, machinery and equipment during the construction activities

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 Impact on community and work force safety as a result of accident hazards during the construction and operation of the project  Vegetation clearing for tower foundations and establishment of camp facilities

An Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan is provided in Table below, which establishes the linkages between the environmental and social impacts, mitigation strategy and the agencies responsible for execution.

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Table 14: Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan DESIGN PHASE Impact Title Environmental Mitigation Measures Conditions/ Monitoring Responsibility Aspect Implementation Parameter/ Schedule Method

Transmission Community, Incorporation of Review of project Audit/validation NTDC Line route Ecology, Physical uncontrolled soil erosion documents of project selection structures factors in project documents documents Waste disposal Water quality,  Inclusion of  During  Audit/validation NTDC Soils, contractual obligation prequalificatio of project Environmental for waste disposal n Or Tender documents Aesthetics  Identification of negotiations  Audit of temporary disposal  Before start of approved waste sites in the contract construction vendor before  Identification of waste award of disposal vendors and contracts locations approved by NTDC  Development of Waste management plan Poor drainage Water resources,  Provisions of Before the Audit/validation of NTDC and erosion Water Quality, protection walls, commencement project documents prone sites Public Safety vibration dampers, of construction pile foundation in activities design  Identify locations where drainage or irrigation crossing

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may affect the T/L routes  Include in protection works contract, if any erosion prone site intervened  Risk assessment of unavoidable temporary drainage and erosion prone sites  Design of adequate major and minor culverts facilities Social Impacts Socioeconomic  Preparation of  Before the  Audit/Validation NTDC aspects, Compensation plan in installation of of project Economic line with OP 4.12 prior towers and documents development to construction of T/Ls structures the  Performance  Timely compensation NTDC report of of lands to minimize compensation Compensation the uncertainty in the plan plan minds of people developed  ROW  Implementation of and initiated community NTDC compensation  APs to be apprehension plan to provide given survey compensation and sufficient time  % people who assistance to the APs with received  All the payments/ compensation appropriate entitlements need to money and to compensation be paid according to resettle the Entitlement satisfactorily. Matrix, based on

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LARP results and compensation plan  Correspondence/ Coordination with concerned District Revenue Department and Land Acquisition collectors Hydrological Water resources, Sound construction of  During Audit/Validation /of NTDC Impacts water quality adequate major and prequalificatio project documents minor culverts facilities n or tender as per project design negotiations. need to be completed if  Provisions of any protection walls, vibration tempering, pile foundation in design Noise Public Safety,  Identification of noise  During EDF  Audit/Validation NTDC Ecology, sensitive locations preparation of project Sensitive and their  A list of documents Receptors incorporation in site sensitive  Noise sensitive specific EDF receptors locations  Conduct detailed Included in identified and acoustic assessment the contract. included in the for all residential design report areas and habitat of noise sensitive species within 50m of ROW

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Table 15: Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan CONSTRUCTION PHASE

Impact Title Environmental Mitigation Measures Conditions/ Monitoring Parameter/ Responsibility Aspect Implementation Method Schedule

Encroachment Social Aspects,  The corridor that is  Corridor  Number of buildings Execution: for grid station Ecology, disturbed during clearance prior along the line route, NTDC T/L / ROW clearing Environmental construction shall to start of urban and suburban contractor(s) Aesthetics be kept to a construction centers of population minimum work crossed by the line,  The movement of  Contractor proportion of line Compliance vehicles and construction route through such Monitoring: machinery shall be management areas NTDC restricted to the plan  Observations during construction areas developed site visits, as only  Restoration of frequently as required  Soil erosion control site(s) once  Post construction measures (e.g., construction is site visits to check sprinkling of water completed restoration on kick-off dust, PE sheet covering, silt fences, rip rap) shall be undertaken where necessary during construction.  The construction sites need to be restored as close

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as possible to their pre-project conditions after completion of construction activities. For this purpose a restoration plan shall be prepared under consultant supervision. Construction Soil, Water and  Contractual clauses  During entire  Monthly audit of Execution: debris and Air Quality. should be included construction contractor material NTDC T/L disposal to require each phase management contractor(s) Public Nuisance contractor to  Contractor plan/inventories produce a materials construction  Observations during Environmental management plan management Site visits, as Compliance Aesthetics (one month before plan frequently as required Monitoring: construction developed  Audit of contractor NTDC commences) to  List of routes material yards, identify all sources of transport of temporary stockpiling of cement and construction areas and waste aggregates and to material dumping sites balance cut and fill. prepared for  EMP compliance  In order to allow the the contract audits proper functioning and agreed  Compliance reports of the settlement one month of Contractor sites (access to prior to construction villages) during construction management plan construction,  Report of consideration to vehicle erect temporary conditions

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hoardings available immediately  Map of adjacent to the locations of nearest houses and storage is shops if they are prepared by within 15m of the the contractor. T/L tower  A list of construction site. temporary  Estimation of cut stockpiling and fill during areas and course of more construction and permanent updating of its dumping areas inventory to be prepared  Material at the contract Acquisition/ transfer stage for plan agreement  Mitigation  List of measures for temporary construction dumping areas material storage to be prepared and re-use one month prior to construction Use of Soil and Water  Identification of Prior start of  Availability and NTDC pesticides for Quality requirements for construction Implementation of termite Public Safety use of pesticides activity PPERSUAP,2013 treatment  Preparation of  Procurement and pesticide control updating of inventory plan of approved  Contractual pesticides obligations

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regarding use of pesticides as per PPERSUAP 2013 Trees, ecology Ecology  Identification of  Prior start of  Observations during NTDC and protected Wildlife affected specimen construction Site visits, as areas trees of religious activity frequently as required plantations (if any)  Consultation  Validation of  Identification of with forest/wildlife area that will be forest/wildlife consultation records landscaped as part department in  EMP compliance of compensation to case any tree audits replaced trees cutting  Identification of tree required replacement ratio  Landscape  A requirement shall plan be inserted in the developed contracts that no trees are to be cut within the grid stations, on the T/L route, or outside without the written permission from the forest department/ NTDC who may permit the removal of trees if unavoidable on safety, technical, or engineering grounds after written justification.

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Impacts on Ecology,  Prior consultation  Prior to start of  Ecological Execution: water Avifauna, with highway, construction assessment report NTDC T/L resources Public Safety irrigation, and work at  Management contractor(s) fisheries crossings. supervision during department upon  Approval of civil works at water commencement of specific SOP resources crossings Compliance work at crossings  NOC from  Validation of obtained Monitoring:  Preparation of SOP relevant NOC NTDC for civil works department  EMMP compliance involved in Kunhar obtained audits river crossing  Arrangements  Impact assessment for ecological associated with assessment Indus river ecology. Air pollution Ambient Air  Dust suppression  During entire  Observations during Execution: from civil works Quality, facilities should be construction site visits, as NTDC T/L and transport Environmental available where phase frequently as required contractor(s) Aesthetics earth and cement  Contractor  Validation of ambient works are required. construction air  Construction management  Quality monitoring Compliance materials (sand, plan reports Monitoring: gravel, and rocks) developed  Validation of NTDC and spoil materials  All vehicular exhaust are to be construction emission reports transported in sites within  Compliance reports trucks covered with 100m of of Construction tarpaulins. sensitive management plan  Storage piles will receptors  EMMP compliance be at least 30 m identified audits downwind of the  A list of such nearest human locations settlements. included in the

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 A material contract acquisition and transfer plan should be prepared.  Mitigation measures for construction material storage and re-use should be available.  Vehicular Exhaust emission monitoring of equipment/vehicles should be conducted as per GOP NEQS. Noise and Ambient noise  Maintain equipment  During entire  Noise level Execution: vibration level, machinery construction monitoring reports NTDC T/L Public safety, inspection reports/ phase  Machinery/Equipment contractor(s) Sensitive certifications  A list of noise inspection checklist / Receptors  Compliance with and vibration records GOP NEQS for sensitive  Compliance with Compliance smoke, noise and locations is GOP NEQS for Monitoring: air quality included in the smoke, noise and air NTDC  No construction contract quality should be allowed  Construction  Observations during during nighttime equipment Site visits, as and 70 dB(A) Leq status, hours frequently as required should be the of operation,  EMMP compliance criterion at other noise and audits times during the vibration,

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day measured at maintenance the boundaries of land from which construction noise is emitted  Public consultation at implementation stage, particularly with sensitive sites in the immediate vicinity / surrounding of the project area, e.g. schools, mosques, houses etc. Sanitation, Soil, Water and  Temporary and  List of sites at  Observations during Execution: solid waste Air Quality, permanent which surface site visits, as NTDC T/L disposal Public drainage facilities water run off frequently as required contractor(s) Nuisance, (where required) can intervene  Contractor camps Environmental should be designed  Check Inspections/audits Aesthetics, to facilitate the provision of  Compliance reports Compliance Worker Safety rapid removal of adequate of Construction Monitoring: surface water from sewerage management plans NTDC construction sites system if  EMMP Compliance  Preparation and camps are audits implementation of established solid waste other than management plan urban area  Identification of  Proper gray and black sanitation, water disposal water supply options for and waste

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contractor camps disposal other than urban facilities areas if established provided to  Restriction to construction contractor for offsite workforce. installation of potable lavatories Environmental Noise level  Preparation of  Environmental  Environmental Execution: Quality monitoring environmental monitoring Laboratory reports NTDC T/L Air quality monitoring plan plans are  Availability and contractor(s) Water quality  Mitigations for available updating of parameters  Environment environmental exceeding NEQS Monitoring monitoring plan Compliance  Contractor interventions  Corrective actions to Monitoring: obligations of conducted confirm compliance NTDC Environmental monitoring Socio- Socioeconomic  Implementation of  During entire  Monitor Compliance Execution: economic aspects, NTDC Social construction to NTDC Public, NTDC T/L impacts Economic Safety phase Social safety contractor(s) development Considerations  Complaints of considerations  Implementation of Aps to be  Monitor Compliance NTDC Public solved as soon to ANSI C2 Compliance Safety Parameters as possible guidelines Monitoring:  Conductor-to-  Necessary  Monitor Compliance NTDC Ground Clearance evacuations to to NTDC/GOP as per American be done as horizontal clearance National Electrical when policy Safety Code (ANSI necessary if  Validation of C2) construction contractor workforce,  Corridor Clearance impacts are of safe man hours, SAs as per NTDC/GOP significant and PTW system

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horizontal duration and  Record of community clearance policy close to Aps complaints & their  Utilization of trained  Authorization close outs O&M staff for trained  EMMP compliance  Implementation of O&M staff audit construction safety  Permits for practices work at height  Compliance of  Job safety NTDC safety analysis  Considerations  Community  Detailed consultant assessment of hired by safety hazards contractor  Proper and timely  Public compensation to complaint locals register  Availability of public grievance address mechanism / register  Respect of local cultural norms with focus on gender issues  Generation of employment for locals

Impact on Ecology,  Compliance to  During entire  Observations during Execution: cropland, Socio-economic NTDC construction site visits, as NTDC T/L plantation and aspects environmental phase frequently as required contractor(s) existing land safety

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use considerations  Number of  Monitor Compliance  Avoid sensitive buildings along to Compliance sites (if any) while the line route,  NTDC resettlement Monitoring: selection/finalizatio urban and and environmental NTDC n of 132 kV T/L suburban safety considerations routes centers of  Community  Use of existing population apprehensions tracks instead of crossed by the surveys/social developing new line, proportion monitoring one as much as of line route  EMMP compliance possible through such audits  Use of only areas acquired land for  List/map of construction existing tracks working area at tower sites  Restricted vehicular developed speed limits in  Construction agricultural area management  Temporary waste plan management developed arrangements  Amendments  Avoid irrigation in work disturbances schedule  Restricted work during schedule harvesting particularly during season harvesting season conducted  Compliance with NTDC Resettlement Policy  Compliance with NTDC

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environmental safety considerations Degrading of Socio-economic  Compliance to During project life  Community NTDC land and aspects compensation plan span apprehensions property values  Compliance to surveys/social NTDC social safety monitoring consideration  EMMP compliance audits Impacts on Public Safety,  Compliance of  Prior to and  Check approval and Execution: transportation Worker Safety ANSI minimum throughout the communication of NTDC T/L ground and corridor construction. traffic management contractor(s) clearance  The most plans by concerned standards important authorities  Compliance of locations to be  Monitor compliance Compliance NTDC safety identified and to traffic Monitoring: considerations listed.  Management plans NTDC  Public consultation  Consultation  EMMP Compliance prior to start of work with highway audits on roads authorities  Preparation of conducted Traffic  Relevant plans Management Plan on traffic (if warranted) arrangements  Identification of are available. sensitive road crossing traffic density  Coordination with Provincial/National Highway authorities Archaeological Archaeological/  Coordination with  Prior to and Record of awareness Execution:

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impacts cultural heritage Department of throughout the session arranged for NTDC T/L Archaeology for construction. project staff for contractor(s) prompt advice  Awareness archaeological impacts  Identification of any session of places of worship project staff for Compliance or other similar archaeological Monitoring: archaeological sites impacts NTDC along the ROW of conducted T/L systems  Coordination  Awareness of mechanism project staff about with the possibility of archaeology unearthing such department places along the available project route Visual impacts Ecology,  Preparation of  Prior to and  Review of landscape Execution: Environmental Landscape plan throughout the plan NTDC T/L Aesthetics  Limit cutting and construction.  Validation of contractor(s) filling to maintain  Coordination plantation an aesthetic with forest procurement appearance department for procedure and Compliance  Attend to required plantation of receipts Monitoring: earthworks for tree available  Monitor NTDC partial restoration  Landscape records/pictorial  Avoid water expert/contract evidences of stagnation during or identified accomplished construction  Budgeting for landscape  Plantation of local landscape  Community and indigenous quick plan forest department growing cover crop accomplished apprehensions w.r.t in areas to be landscape plan restored

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 Follow up with shrubs creepers, and tree species (local) as appropriate to the particular agro climatic zone Impacts on Ecology,  Conductor and  During project  Validation of ANSI C2 NTDC surrounding Public safety, corridor clearance life span and NTDC civil work environment Environmental as per ANSI C2  Emergency specifications and possible aesthetics  Compliance to response plan  Check availability of hazards NTDC civil works developed emergency response specifications plan  Compliance to NTDC safety considerations

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Table 16: Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PHASE

Impact Title Environmental Mitigation Measures Conditions/ Monitoring Responsibility Aspect Implementation Parameter/ Method Schedule

Air pollution Ambient air  Periodic noise  During entire  Monitor compliance NTDC and noise from quality, assessments to operation with GOP NEQS for extended Ambient Noise, check the phase ambient air and operations at Public Safety, compliance with  Environmental noise grid stations Sensitive GOP NEQS Monitoring  Validation of Receptors  Compliance with plans available acoustic designs ambient air quality  Frequency of  Periodic SF6 leak standards Environmental detection surveys  Procurement and Monitoring installation of SF6- defined free switchgears  SF6 Leak  Preparation of leak detection plan detection plans for available SF6 Impacts on Ecology  Application of CMS  During entire  Wildlife Effect NTDC Avifauna Migratory birds and Birdlife operation monitoring surveys International phase  Close out of Effect Guidelines for safety  Copy of CMS monitoring surveys of avian species. and Birdlife  Electrocution  The “Mitigation International Incidents Guidelines for the guidelines reports/Records

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Protection of Birds” available at annexed to the Engineering above mentioned and other Resolution proposes offices construction of  Wildlife Expert certain types of consulted to poles, insulators, facilitate the insulation caps, implementation spacing of power of above lines etc., of medium guidelines voltage range.  Mechanism  Poles and T/Ls developed to should be planned adopt these as such so that it is guidelines bird friendly by using the guidelines of CMS and Birdlife International.  Option of Under- surface Indus River crossing to minimize the risk of collision for migratory species especially during migration season. Pollution from Soil Quality,  Oily residues and  Grid  During entire NTDC accidental Environmental fuel should be Substation operation phase spills and aesthetics, captured at source  Transformers  Monitor Hazardous Health and and refueling and located within performance of oil materials Safety maintenance should secure and spill contingency aspects take place in impervious plan through drills dedicated areas sump areas and records

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 Preparation of oil with a storage  Monitor Records of spill contingency capacity of at Oil spills and their plan least 100% of disposal at grid  Identification of the capacity of stations NTDC/EPA oil in  EMMP Compliance approved vendor for transformers audits disposal of waste oil and associated  Supervision of reserve tanks refueling,  Transformer oil maintenance and sump checked recycling works through physical measurement of volume and visual inspection Danger of Public Safety,  As the transmission  Emergency  Regular inspection NTDC fallen lines Fire related line runs over switching of the transmission Environmental croplands and other procedure line to clear any Hazards passage routes, included in vegetation / people living and operational obstructions working in those manual  Records of areas have to take  Mechanism for Electrical safety precautionary provision of  Raising campaigns measures to protect Electricity  Tower foundations themselves keeping safety  Inspection survey the maximum  Awareness reports distance between raising in  EMMP Compliance themselves and project areas audits objects in their developed hands or physical  Tower contact and the foundations

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power line. inspection  Procedure for frequency emergency defined switching of power in  Early warning case of any system SOP electrocution developed  Periodic inspection  Survey of of towers ROW by foundations against NTDC design weathering/soil team erosions  Early warning to public in case of natural incidents, such as high speed winds that may damage the foundations of towers  Rights of Way (RoW) of 30 meters will be maintained on both T/Ls to protect against danger of fallen lines  Protection Relays will be installed in Grid Station that will be operated at both end of T/LS in millisecond for cut- off of Power flow to

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protect inhabitant & property. Untoward Public Safety, Provision of grounded Grounded shield  Records of all NTDC lightning strikes Fire related shield wires at the top of wires are provided lightning strikes Environmental the towers at T/Ls  EMMP Compliance Hazards audits Potential Community  Community  Mechanism for  Regular inspection NTDC Interference to apprehensions, consultation provision of of the transmission electrical / Social aspects workshops regarding Electricity line to clear any electronic operation of T/L safety vegetation equipment particularly on  Awareness /obstructions impacts related to raising in  Records of electromagnetic project areas Electrical safety effects, noise, etc. developed raising campaigns  Availability of public  Frequency of  Social monitoring grievance address social reports and their mechanism / register monitoring close outs Periodic Social defined monitoring along the  Public T/L routes by NTDC complaint mechanism Environmental Noise  Preparation of  Environmental  Environment Labs Execution: quality during Ambient air environmental monitoring reports NTDC T/L operation quality monitoring plan plans are  Availability and contractor(s) Water quality  Mitigations for available updating of parameters  Environment environmental exceeding NEQS Monitoring monitoring plan Compliance  Client obligations of interventions  Corrective actions Monitoring: environmental conducted to confirm NTDC monitoring compliance

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8.3 Institutional arrangements for implementation of EMMP at NTDC

8.3.1 Design and Construction Stage

In NTDC, Design and construction of the Project is the core responsibility of Chief Engineer (Design) and GM (GSC) respectively. The GM (GSC) is supported by two Chief Engineers (EHV-I & II). The major role and responsibilities related to the environmental and social tasks are as under:

8.3.2 Chief Engineer (EHV-I)

The Chief Engineer (EHV-I) “Construction Projects” will be responsible for ensuring that the Project design and specifications adequately reflected in the EMMP along with the resettlement/compensation provisions documents. Other responsibilities will include:

 To ensure the Project compliance with the environmental regulations and donor requirements;  Stakeholder participation in the Project design  To ensure that the TOR for the Supervisory Consultants adequately cover the environmental and social issues; and  Approval of compensation budgets.

8.3.3 Project Director (PD)

The specific responsibilities are as follows:

 Setting up systems for environmental management;  Ensuring that the Contractor(s) develop and carry out environmental implementation plans that are consistent with the EMMP;  Change of alignment, if sensitive sites come into the proposed route;  Coordination with the regulatory agencies including EPAs, local NGOs and CBOs that could assist NTDC in independent review of environmental and social compliance;  Assistance in EIA approval from the EPAs concerned; and  Liaising between the Project staff (essentially XENs, SDOs etc.) and the ESIC staff to monitor environmental compliance during construction.

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8.3.4 Executive Engineer and Sub Divisional Officers (XENs and SDOs)

The specific responsibilities will be as under:

 Select the Tower spotting in such a way that it should not disrupt the community or if unavoidable, then disruption should be the minimum;  To ensure the minimum disruption of shaded trees and no disruption of fruit trees;  Project route should avoid the disruption of schools, hospitals, shrines, mazars, mosques and graveyards; and  Proper soil investigations should be ensured and appropriate mitigations should be adopted at the design stage in water logged, wetland and wet soils.

8.3.5 Environment and Social Impact Cell, NTDC

ESIC is directly in-charge for the financial and technical matters and directly reports to the GM (Projects). The general monitoring responsibilities of the ESIC will consist of:

 Assessment of the crops, valuation of property and negotiation with the affectees for fixation of compensation to be paid for temporary acquisition of the land under the Towers.  To estimate the crop compensation for the construction of foundations and erection of Towers and in the 30m wide corridor during the stringing operations;  Assist in valuation of the infrastructure, tube wells/peter engines, trees etc. and negotiation with the owners;  Assist in checking genuine ownerships of the claimants, in consultation with the Revenue staff for prompt payment to the affectees;  To ensure that the tenants get their rightful compensation as per prevailing law especially in case of loss of crops;  Assist the Contractor for the timely payments of negotiated prices;  Check that the Contractor backfills, compacts and leaves the ground in the original condition after excavation of pits for subsurface investigations and for the Tower footings;  Keep checks and controls so that the pollution of land and water resources due to the spills of lubricants, fuel, chemicals and other wastes does not take place;  Monitor, that pollution of wetlands is not avoided during the excavation for the Tower footings;  To check that the Contractor keeps the damages to the minimum while making tracks for accessibility and that the damage is rectified properly;

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 All the existing tracks, roads, water courses etc. are left in the original shape after completion of the construction activities;  Monitor that the Contractor uses such working methodology so as not to cause disturbance to the communities by fugitive dust, noise, fumes etc.;  Monitor that the Contractor adjusts his working hours during the stringing activities in such a manner that it causes the least inconvenience to the local population.  To ensure that the Contractor keeps first aid kits, medicines, safety gadgets at the site for taking care of possible mishaps to the workers or other persons; and  To keep the working site/camps tidy so as to avoid unhealthy impacts on the work force

8.4 GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM

This section describes mechanism to receive and facilitates the resolution of affected party including women‟ concerns and grievances. A grievance mechanism will be available to allow an AP appealing any disagreeable decision, practice or activity arising from land or other assets compensation. APs will be fully informed of their rights and of the procedures for addressing complaints whether verbally or in writing during consultation, survey, and time of compensation.

APs/ local community will enter their complaints/ concerns and issues formally including the information of date, name and address of complainant, description of complain. The Assistant Manager (social mobilization) at PIU will maintain a register named as “community complaint register (CCR)”. The register will include the information as date, name and address of complainant, description of complaints, and will enter the complaints in a date covering the minimum information of name and address of complaint, description of complaints, action taken, status of redress of complaints and reasons in case issue not resolved.

GRC will work at field level, while unsettled issues will be referred to the PMU at sub-project level. The field level PIU (AM Environment) will inform the affected persons about GRC and its mechanism by passing the information at known places.

Efforts will be made to avoid the APs/ community concerns by implementing the sub-project in accordance with the EMP, i.e. proper information disclosure, community consultations, payments as per entitlements and coordination with APs/ APC, PIU and PMU. However, a Grievance Redress

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Committees (GRC) will also be established to redress the unresolved issues. The composition of GRC will as below:

GRC at PIU Level i). Executive Engineer (NTDC) ii). Representative of E&SIC (Assistant Manager Social Mobilization) iii). Representative of CSC iv). Representative of Contractor v). 3 Representatives of Affected Person Committee (APC) including Nazim/Village Notable person

A comprehensive grievance redress process regarding land compensation and other compensation is described below: Table 17: Grievance Redress Process Land / Crop Compensation Other Items Compensation Issues Issues

 First, complaints will be  First, complaints will be redressed at field redressed at field level through level through the involvement of PIU and the involvement of PIU and APC as well as other local committees. APC as well as other local committees.  If issue is unresolved, then it  If no solution is accomplished, then will be lodged to the DO grievance will be lodged to GRC. (Revenue)/ LAC who will have  The GRC will provide the decision within 3 14 day to make decision on it. weeks. The GRC decision must be in compliance with this EMP and provisions given in the EMP.  If issue still unsettled, then  If the grievance redress system does not grievance will be forwarded to satisfy the APs, then, the grievance can be GRC. submitted to the GM Projects (PMU),  GRC will provide decision where decision will be made in a period of within 3 weeks, which should 2 weeks. be in compliance with the EMP and provisions given in the EMP.  In case, the grievance  If still APs are not satisfied, they can redressal system does not pursue their case to appropriate Court of satisfy the APs, then they can law. pursue by submitting their case to the appropriate court of law.

8.5 ESTIMATED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT COSTS Table below provides the estimated costs for the compensation against the damages to crops, and implementation of EMMP. At this stage only tentative

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and lump sum amount has been proposed for the expected losses and is based on the environmental and social field surveys.

The cost for implementation of mitigation measures prescribed in Environmental Management & Monitoring Plan (EMMP) has also been given. The mitigation measures include; water sprinkling, provision of PPEs to workers, arrangement of first aid kits at site, waste management etc.

The total estimated cost for the environmental and social management comes to PKR. 8.72 million, out of which PKR 5.26 million is for Component-A and PKR 3.46 million is for Component-B. The details of environmental and social costs are presented in Table below.

Table 18: Estimated Environmental and Social Management Costs

Total Sr. Particulars Component-A Component-B Cost No. (PKR) 01 person for 12 01 person for 12 Staffing, audit and months @ PKR months @ PKR 1 1,920,000 monitoring 80,000. 80,000. (PKR: 960,000) (PKR: 960,000) Environmental 2 Monitoring as 1,000,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 detailed in EMMP. Agriculture crops 3 1,800,000 - 1,800,000 compensation Other Mitigation Measures as 4 1,500,000 1,500,000 3,000,000 mentioned in Table 8.1 Grand Total 5,260,000 3,460,000 8,720,000

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CHAPTER 9: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

9.1 CONCLUSIONS

Impacts like T/L route selection, identification of temporary drainage and erosion prone site, hydrological impact and noise assessments need to be addressed at design stage. Impacts related to construction phase involves land acquisition for RoW clearing, generation of construction debris and disposal, impacts on water flora and fauna, air pollution from civil works and transport, noise and vibration from stringing and vehicular movement, sanitation and disposal issues. Socio‐economic impacts that may intervene during project life span includes public/worker safety, land use impacts, limitation in land use like construction restriction, devalue properties etc. Impact related to operation phase include air/noise pollution from extended operations, accidental spills, disposal of hazardous waste, danger of fallen lines, untoward lightning strikes, potential interference with electronic equipment and electrocution issues. Impacts on transportation particularly while erection of (river/road/canal) crossing towers and aesthetic/visual impacts required due consideration during implementation of the project.

T/L routes are traversing river Kunhar, a migratory route of water birds for in and out migration. The threat of collision and electrocution through transmission lines has been widely studied along migratory routes/corridors of many migratory species. The development of infrastructure including T/L is considered as a threat for public and habitat of wildlife. Some portion of the proposed T/L is passing through communities / houses, which could result in apprehensions of locals regarding safety as project area falls in Zone II‐B with moderate to severe damage area w.r.t seismicity and flood prone.

Agricultural fields and barren lands are the main farmlands traversed by the lines corridors. The timing of the construction activities in the agricultural area shall be adjusted as far as practicable, to avoid the cultivating/ harvesting period. Social impacts can be minimized by avoiding sensitive receptor along the RoW of T/Ls in final design report. Social impacts can be mitigated by implementation of NTDCL compensation policy. Any damage to the properties and cultivations affected by the Project (including cutting/uprooting of the trees in the T/L corridor) has to be properly compensated. People should be made properly aware of the project, its national contribution and direct or indirect positive impact of it on their life and future generations so that they may act in favor of the project.

Strengthening of transmission system in Patrind / Mansehra cluster will make direct and indirect positive impact on locally as well as at national level. Improved quality and reliability of power supply will help to boost economic activities. In an overall view, major social and environmental impacts associated with most of the transmission projects are limited to the construction period and can be mitigated to an acceptable level by implementation of recommended measures and by better engineering and environmental practices. NTDCL is committed to install, operate and maintain the transmission system in an environmentally and socially responsible

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manner and will be fully complied with environmental requirements defined by government regulations and guidelines.

In the light of the above discussions, it can be concluded that the proposed routes are environment friendly and will cause the least effects on the area‟s existing social and environmental settings.

9.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

Although comprehensive mitigation measures have been proposed in the report to minimize the negative impacts and to enhance the positive impacts of the Project, however, major recommended mitigation measures are summarized as under:

 Temporary labor camps should be developed inside the existing grid stations boundary and should be facilitated with proper drainage facilities.  Soil erosion and contamination, water contamination, air pollution and high noise levels should be controlled with the use of good engineering practices.  Contractor should be bound to prepare traffic management plan at the time of construction near road crossings, implement Solid waste management and EMP in letter and spirit.  As provided in Environmental Budget estimates, contractor would be bound to engage a qualified environment specialist for proper monitoring of EMP and health and safety issues at construction sites.  Fair and negotiated compensation in accordance with the prevailing market prices should be made for loss of crops and trees during the construction activities of the Project.  Erection of towers in the water bodies should be avoided as far as possible. However, at places where realignment of the transmission line is unavoidable, towers with the maximum span should be used to minimize the number of towers in the water body.  Contractor should warn the workers not to hunt the wildlife resources of project area.  The Contractor will have to adopt some suitable timing for the construction activities so as to cause the least disturbance to the local community particularly women considering their peak movement hours. Night time construction should not be allowed near communities in any case.  Contractor should take due care of the local community and its sensitivity towards local customs and traditions.  EMP proposed should be implemented in the true letter and spirit.

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ANNEXES