Initial Environmental Examination
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Initial Environmental Examination August 2017 IND: Second Rural Connectivity Investment Program Assam Prepared by National Rural Road Development Agency, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 6 July 2017) Currency unit – Indian Rupees (INR/Rs) INR1.00 = $ 0.01545 $1.00 = INR 64.73 ABBREVIATIONS ADB : Asian Development Bank ASRB : Assam State Rural Board BIS : Bureau of Indian Standards CD : Cross Drainage CGWB : Central Ground Water Board CO : Carbon Monoxide COI : Corridor of Impact DM : District Magistrate EA : Executing Agency EAF : Environment Assessment Framework ECOP : Environmental Codes of Practice EIA : Environmental Impact Assessment EMAP : Environmental Management Action Plan EO : Environmental Officer FEO : Field Environmental Officer FGD : Focus Group Discussion FFA : Framework Financing Agreement GOI : Government of India GP : Gram panchyat GSB : Granular Sub Base HA : Hectare HC : Hydro Carbon IA : Implementing Agency IEE : Initial Environmental Examination IRC : Indian Road Congress LPG : Liquefied Petroleum Gas MFF : Multitranche Financing Facility MORD : Ministry of Rural Development MORTH : Ministry of Road Transport and Highways MOU : Memorandum of Understanding NAAQS : National Ambient Air Quality Standards NGO : Non Governmental Organisation NOx : Nitrogen Oxide NC : Not Connected NRRDA : National Rural Road Development Agency PIU : Project Implementation Unit PIC : Project Implementation Consultants PRIs : Panchyati Raj Institutions PMGSY : Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana POL : Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants PPTA : Project Preparation Technical Assistance ROW : Right-of-Way RPM : Respirable Particulate Matter SRRDA : State Rural Road Development Agency SBD : Standard Bidding Documents SO2 : Sulphur di-Oxide SPM : Suspended Particulate Matter TSC : Technical Support Consultants UG : Upgradation WBM : Water Bound Macadam ZP : Zilla Parisad 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. 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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. i A. Physical Environment .................................................................................................... i B. Biological Environment ................................................................................................. ii C. Socio-economic Environment ....................................................................................... ii D. Anticipated Enviromental Impacts and Mitigating Measures ......................................... ii E. Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................. iv I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 A. Project Background ..................................................................................................... 1 B. Project Roads Identification and Location .................................................................... 1 C. Rural Road Construction Proposal............................................................................... 2 D. ADB Safeguard Policies and Category of the Project .................................................. 2 E. Objectives and Approach for Environmental Assessment ............................................ 3 F. IEE Methodology and Content .................................................................................... 3 G. Legal Framework and Legislative Requirements: ........................................................ 4 H. Acknowledgement ....................................................................................................... 5 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................... 6 A. General ....................................................................................................................... 6 B. Sample Roads Selected in Assam State ..................................................................... 6 C. Project Description ...................................................................................................... 6 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT .........................................................................10 A. Background ................................................................................................................10 B. Physical Environment .................................................................................................11 C. Biological Environment / Ecological Resources ..........................................................23 D. Socio-Economic Environment .....................................................................................26 IV. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ITS MITIGATION MEASURES ..........32 A. Common Impacts during Design and Construction Phase ..........................................32 B. Common Impacts during Operation Phase .................................................................40 C. Road Specific Impacts ................................................................................................42 D. Climate Change Impacts and Risks ............................................................................42 V. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN, INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM .............................................................................46 A. Environmental Management Plan ...............................................................................46 B. Environmental Monitoring Plan ...................................................................................46 C. Institutional Arrangements and Responsibilities ..........................................................47 D. Institutional Environmental Responsibilities ................................................................47 E. Environmental Assessment and Review Framework (EARF) for Second RCIP ..........51 F. Capacity Building ........................................................................................................52 G. Consultation and Information Disclosure.....................................................................52 H. Grievance Redress Mechanism ..................................................................................53 VI. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE .......................................54 A. General ......................................................................................................................54 B. Compliance with Relevant Regulatory Requirements .................................................54 C. Beneficiaries’ Comments ............................................................................................54 VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................58 A. Conclusions ................................................................................................................58 B. Key Recommendations: ..............................................................................................59 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Details of Proposed RCIP II Tranche I Roads in Assam ........................................60 Appendix 2: Sample Rural Road: Environmental Checklist .......................................................66 Appendix 3: Guidelines for Borrow Areas Management ............................................................78 Appendix 4: Environmental Management Plan ..........................................................................81 Appendix 5: Environmental Monitoring Plan ..............................................................................99 List of Tables Table 1: Summary of proposed subprojects for Second RCIP-II Tr I .......................................... 2 Table 2: Summary of District Wise Rural Roads ......................................................................... 6 Table 3: ROW Requirement ....................................................................................................... 7 Table 4: Maximum observed Ambient Air Quality during 2008 ..................................................11 Table 5: Ambient Air Quality Status of Assam in Previous Years ..............................................13 Table 6: Land Use Pattern in the State .....................................................................................19 Table 7: Hydro geological Conditions of Project District / Assam .............................................21 Table 8: Mammals Recorded In Guwahati City and Forest Area ...............................................23 Table 9: List of Fauna ...............................................................................................................24 Table 10: List of Protected Areas in Assam ...............................................................................25 Table 11: Demographic Profile ..................................................................................................27