World Bank Document

Environmental Impact Assessment of the Jaipur-Kuchaman-Nagaur Public Disclosure Authorized Corridor Improvements A Subjroject of the Rajasthan State Highways Project E-238 VOL. 4 Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared on behalf of: Government of Rajasthan Public Works Department Jaipur, India Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared by: Louis Berger International, Inc., BCEOM, French Engineering Consultants CES and ECI, Sub-Consultants D-53, Hathi Babu Marg, Bani Park Jaipur - 302016 Public Disclosure Authorized August 1998 -~~~~~~ - 1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - N --- 1 EXECUTIVE SUMAR i - -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION The Govemmentof Rajasthan (GOR),Public Works Department(PWD), has initiated an ambitious and much needed program to upgrade critical segments of the State's road network under the RajasthanState Highways Project (referred to hereinafter as the RSHPor "the Project"). The Project is supportedby the World Bank and, assumingthe GOR's loan applicationis approved, construction of road improvements proposed by Project will commence in late 1998. Eleven potential improvementcorridors have been identifiedfor action. The Projectrequires World Bank, GOR and Goverunent of India (GOI) environmentalclearances and approvalsbefore constructioncan proceed. The cumulative impacts of the Project were the subject of a Sectoral EnvironmentalAssessment (SEA) as the first step in the environmental approval process. The SEA concluded that the rehabilitationactions to be undertaken by the RSHP have a low potential for significant adverse environmentalimpacts, assuming actions are taken as specified in the SEA and as specified by corridor-specificenvironmental impact assessments (EIAs). The SEA stipulated that corridor- specific EIAs would be prepared and circulated for review and commentfor those corridors deemed to warrant such action in accordance with all appropriate GOI regulations and the World Bank's operationalprocedures. The documentto which this summaryis appended is the corridor-specific EIA for the Jaipur-Kuchaman-NagaurCorridor. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT There are approximately10,000 kilometersof State Highwaysin Rajasthan. Most are paved single- to intermediate-lanewidth roads with widely varying traffic loads, includinga significantamount of through traffic between Delhi and agriculturalareas to the north and from Gujarat in the south. Tourism,by domesticvisitors and intemationaltravelers, also generatessubstantial demand for travel capacity. In view of the current and increasinglevels of traffic and the unsafe conditions presented by the narrow carriageways,the State Highwaysare in need of wideningto provide two full lanes and additionalup-grading improvements. ) A StrategicOption Study (SOS) was undertakenin 1995 to identifypriority action areas. The SOS ) investigatedall Rajasthan State Highways and selected approximately2,500 kilometers for further investigation.These 2,500 kilometers of highwayswere subjectedto a FeasibilityAssessment Study in 1997. The Feasibility Study recommendedupgrading and strengtheningof approximately 1,505 kilometersof State Highways over a five-yearperiod. Based on these recommendations,the RSHP proposes to improveapproximately 404 kilometers of highwaysin Phase 1; 371 kilometers in Phase 1A; and approximately730 kilometers in Phase 2. Detailed engineeringdesigns for Phase I roads were initiatedin 1997;Phase IA designswere initiatedin early 1998. Within each phase RSHP will: .. ) * Widen and strengthen the selectedroadways; m Replaceand/or improve culverts, drainagewaysand bridges; • Upgraderoad geometrics to meet current design speeds and specifications; t) Louis BergerInternaijonal, Inc., BCEO,M.CES and ECI ExecutiveSummary - Page I * Undertakenecessary urban improvementsand provide bypasseswhere warranted; RSHPwill also provide assistance to the GOR/PWDto: • Upgradethe existing road management system,including preparation of three-year and routine maintenanceprograms; * Prepare and implementan institutionaldevelopment strategy; * Procureequipment and technical assistanceand training; and * Providefor the supervisionof civil works. Carriageways within the improvement corridors will be widened and rehabilitated to provide improvedtwo-lane cross sections with berms and some section of paved shoulders where there are large volumesof slow moving traffic which include camel and bullock carts. Constructionactivities will be restricted almost entirely to the existing rights-of-way(ROWs). Bypasses of communities within selected corridors are incorporated in the RSHP where warranted due to engineering constraints,to improvetraffic flow, reduce the number of project-affectedpersons (PAPs), enhance road safety, reduce congestion, retain the continuity of existing villages, and/or achieve other environmentalgoals. The rehabilitationactivities will expand transport capacity, and improve surface conditions, travel speeds, highwaysafety and drainage patterns, and will facilitatedevelopment and improvedaccess to a large portion of the State. The RSHP alignmentshave been adjusted wherever possible to reduce the necessity for tree removals and to minimize potential impacts to temples, shrines and cultural properties. A generous tree-planting program viill be implementedas a part of the Project. PWD will establish an Environmental Management Unit (EMU) to develop an in-house capacity to implementand manage environmentalissues related to the highways. The improvedroads will result in less congestionleading to economicbenefits and improvementsin highway safety, air quality and noise. Details of specific actionswithin the Jaipur-Kuchaman-NagaurCorridor are as follows. ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED ACTIONS IN THE JAIPUR-KUCHAMAN-NAGAUR CORRIDOR Definition of the Corridor. The Jaipur-Kuchaman-NagaurCorridor links the State capital, Jaipir, with Nagaur, a District capital and geographiccenter of the State. Improvementswill be made within two segmentsof the Corridortotaling 228 kilometersdefined as follows: * The Jaipur-KuchamanSegment - beginning at a point to the west of Jaipur along State Highway2A and proceedingto its point of intersectionwith State Highway 7 (SH 7) at a point 11 kilometerssouth of Kuchaman, and; The Kuchaman-Nagaur Segment - beginningat a point to the west of Kuchaman along SH 2A and SH 2 and proceedingto a point two kilometerseast of Nagaur. Eight bypasses totaling 15 kilometers will be p7oNidedat the following locations: Manda, Bhadwa, Lohrana,Nawa, Meethri, Barwala, Budsu, and Choti Khatu. Organizationof the Assessment. The ELAis organized in accordance with the stipulations of the GOI Environmental Impact Assessment Act o. 1994, as amended on 4 May 1994, Schedule III. Louis Berger International. Inc.. BCEOM. CES and ECI Execuzive Summary - Page 2 Additional information required pursuant to World Bank guidelines is incorporated pursuant to World Bank Operational Directive 4.01 and the recommendationsWorld Bank Technical Paper Number 376: Roads and the Environment: A Handbook. In accordance with this outline, the followingpresents a sumrnmaryof the existing conditions,potential impacts and mitigation actions related to them as a result of the proposed RSHP construction activities in the Jaipur-Kuchaman- Nagaur Corridoras follows. Topographic, Geological and Soil Characteristics Existing Conditions. The Jaipur-Kuchaman-NagaurCorridor traverses an area of undulating alluvialplain with occasional stabilizedsand dunes and low rocky outcroppingsof the Aravalli Hills. The Corridor is located in Seismic Zone II as defined by the Indian Standard Seismic Zoning ClassificationSystem, i.e., an area of low instability. Minerals are plentiful throughoutthe Corridor and mineral extractions are a major factor in the area's economy. Soils in the Corridor are predominantlyrocky gray-brown loam or desert sand. Potential Impacts. Potential impacts to topographic, geological and soil characteristics of the Corridorhave been evaluated have been assessedwith particular regard to: * Altered Embankments. Actions will be confined largely to the existing ROW. Contract documentscontain stipulations to ensure adequate stabilization and re-vegetation. No adverse impactsdue to altered embankmentsare anticipated. * BorrowPit Excavations.Borrow pits will be allowed only in confornance with the most recent Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specificationsrequiring full restoration. No adverse impacts are anticipated. * Quarries and Construction Material Procurement. The Project will present a demand for crushed rock, sand and similar materials. Only licensed quarrying operations will be used as supply sources. Potential impacts related to noise and dust associatedwith the extraction and transportof these materials will be regulatedin accordancewith all applicableregulations. Mitigation. Adherence to good engineering and construction practices and the enforcement of contractprovisions for re-vegetationand the extractionand transport of constructionmaterial, are the main mitigationactions related to potentialtopographic, geological and/or soil characteristicsof the Corridorare consideredwarranted. Water Resources Existing Conditions. Most of the westem portion of the Corridor from Kuchaman to Nagaur experiencessheet flow or concentratedrunoff along small drainage ways. Occasionalponding occurs on and adjacent to the existing roadway throughout the Corridor for short periods following the summer monsoon storms. The Jaipur-Kuchamanportion of the Corridortraverses a tributary of the Banas River and a number of ephemeral streams, most of which drain

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