Regional Urban Development Project (RRP NEP 47252) Initial Environmental Examination August 2017 NEP: Regional Urban Development Project Drainage and Road Construction and Improvement Works at Siddharthanagar Municipality CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 16 August 2017) Currency unit – Nepalese Rupee/s (NRe/NRs) NRs 1.00 = $ 0.0097477 $1.00 = NRs102.588 ABBREVIATIONS 3R = reduce, reuse and recycle AAPA = Aquatic Animals Protection Act ADB = Asian Development Bank CBS = Central Bureau of Statistics CFUG = community forest users group CITES = Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora DADO = District Agriculture Development Office DDC = district development committee DEECCU = District Energy, Environment and Climate Change Unit DFO = District Forest Office DIZ = direct impact zone DMC = developing member country DSC = design and supervision consultants DUDBC = Department of Urban Development and Building Construction DWEC = daily wage execution committee EARF = environmental assessment and review framework EHS = environment, health and safety EIA = environmental impact assessment EMAP = environmental management action plan EMEP = environmental mitigation execution plan EMP = environmental management plan EPA = Environment Protection Act EPM = environmental protection measures EPR = environment protection rules FGD = focused group discussion GDP = gross domestic product GFP = grievance focal points GHG = Green House Gas GON = Government of Nepal GRC = grievance redress committee GRC = grievance redress cell HDPE = high density polyethylene pipe IEC = information, education and communication IEE = initial environmental examination IIZ = indirect impact zone INGO = international governmental organizations ISWM = integrated solid waste management IUCN = international union for conservation nature IUDP = integrated urban development project IWPS = integrated waste processing sites LGCDP = Local Governance and Community Development Programme MOFALD = Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development MOFSC = Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation MOPE = Ministry of Population and Environment MOUD = Ministry of Urban Development MPMC = Municipal Project Management Committee MSW = Municipal Solid Waste NEA = Nepal Electricity Authority NGO = non-governmental organization NRs = Nepalese Rupees NTFP = non-timber forest products NWSC = Nepal Water Supply Corporation OHS = occupational health and safety PAF = project affected families PCO = project coordination office PHC = public hearing committee PIU = project implementation unit PM = particulate matter PMSC = project management and supervision consultants PPE = personal protective equipment PPTA = project preparatory technical assistance REA = rapid environmental assessment RP = resettlement plan RUDP = Regional Urban Development Project SEA = strategic environmental assessment SHS = solar home system SPM = suspended particulate matter SPS = Safeguard Policy Statement SWMTSC = solid waste management and technical support centre TA = technical assistance TLO = Tole Level Organization ToR = terms of reference TSP = total suspended particles VDCs = village development committees WUA = water users association Zol = zone of influence NOTES (i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government of Nepal ends on 15 July. FY before a calendar year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends, e.g., FY2017 ends on 15 July 2017. (ii) In this report, "$" refers to US dollars This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 1 A. ADB Policy 1 B. National Laws 3 C. Road Construction 3 D. Drainage Works 3 E. National Laws, Policies, Acts, Regulations, Standards and Guidelines 3 F. Conventions, Treaties and Protocols 9 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 10 A. Description of the Subprojects 12 B. Delineation of Project Area 16 C. Materials to be used 17 D. Energy to be used 19 E. Human Resources Requirement 19 F. Resources required for the implementation of the Proposal 19 G. Details of Technology 20 H. Project Activities 21 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 22 A. Physical Environment 22 B. Biological Environment 26 C. Socioeconomic and Cultural Environment 26 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 29 A. Methodology 29 B. Environmental Guidelines for Project Selection 30 C. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk management considerations 31 D. Pre-Construction Phase 33 E. Construction Phase Impacts 33 F. Operation and Maintenance Phase impacts 37 G. Cumulative Impact Assessment 42 H. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) 44 VI. ALTERNATIVES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSAL, ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS 44 A. Design 44 B. Project Site (Route) 44 C. Process, Time Schedule 45 D. Raw Materials (Resources) To Be Used 45 E. No Action Alternative 45 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 53 VIII. IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION MEASURES 87 A. Project Design 87 B. Project Contract 87 C. Bill of Quantities 87 D. Supervision and Monitoring 87 E. Environmental Monitoring 88 F. Monitoring Responsibility 88 G. Types of Monitoring and Monitoring Parameters 89 H. Training Activities on EMP Implementation 94 I. Cost estimates 95 IX. CONSULTATION, INFORMATION DISCLOSURE AND GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 96 A. Public Consultation and Information Disclosure 96 B. Information Disclosure 98 C. Grievance Redress Mechanism 98 D. Staffing Requirement and Budget 100 X. CONCLUSION 101 List of Appendices 1. Drainage: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 2. Urban Development: Rehabilitation of City Roads: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 3. Sample Outline Spoils Management Plan 4. Sample Outline Traffic Management Plan 5. National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Nepal 6. Recommended Noise Exposure Limits for the Work Environment-Adopted from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 7. Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard, 2056 (1999) 8. Recommended Standards for Vibration from Construction Sites 9. Sample Grievance Registration Form 10. Sample Semi-Annual Environmental Monitoring Report Template 11. Stakeholder Consultation/ Focused Group Meeting EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. The Regional Urban Development Project with subproject in Siddharthanagar municipality is financed by the Asian Development Bank under loan number 47252. The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) under the Ministry of Urban Development (MOUD) is the executing agency and is responsible for technical and project management matters including engineering, safeguards, and social aspects. The Siddharthanagar municipality is the implementing agency. The aim of this project is to increase quality of life and resiliency in Siddharthanagar. The project will improve existing roads with urban design features, and improve the drainage system to improve mobility and safety and reduce waterlogging and flooding. 2. Subproject scope. The Siddharthnagar municipality drainage and road construction subproject is one of the subprojects proposed under the RUDP. The subproject includes: (i) construction/rehabilitation of about 10 km of drains to eradicate flooding; and (ii) improvement of about 25 km of city roads to minimize traffic congestion at the city core and reduce dust pollution, and inclusion of urban design features to increase safety and convenience for pedestrians. 3. Screening and categorization. An environmental assessment of the subproject is required per ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS, 2009). An environmental assessment using ADB’s Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) checklist for drainage and road construction (Appendix 1) was conducted and the results of the assessment show that the subproject is unlikely to cause significant adverse impacts. Thus, Siddharthnagar Municipality drainage and road construction subproject is classified as environmental category B as per ADB SPS and an initial environmental examination (IEE) has been prepared in accordance with ADB SPS’s requirements for environment category B projects. This is the Initial Environmental Examination based on the detailed designs. 4. Implementation arrangements. This IEE report has been prepared for the construction and improvement works of storm water drainage and roads of Siddharthanagar municipality. DUDBC under MOUD is the executing agency and the proponent of the IEE study is the project implementation unit (PIU) of the proposed RUDP of Siddharthanagar municipality, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi. This PIU is also currently implementing the under the ongoing ntegrated Urban Development Project, which is also financed by ADB and is at advanced stage. 5. Purpose of the IEE. This IEE examines the proposed drainage and road construction improvement works in Siddharthnagar Municipality to ensure that the environmental issues associated with the development are effectively managed and they will not damage the environment, and provide guidance for the planning, construction and operation of the proposed subproject.