Science and Technology Human Resource Development Project (RRP SRI 50275-002) Initial Environmental Examination July 2018 Sri Lanka: Science and Technology Human Resource Development Project: Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka —Proposed Faculty of Technology Building Complex Prepared by Total Management Solutions for Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 11 July 2018) Currency unit – Sri Lanka rupee/s (SLRe/SLRs) SLRe1.00 = $0.006278 $1.00 = SLRs159.27 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank AP – affected person BD – Building Department BIQ – Basic Information Questioner BO – built operate BOQ – Bill of Quantities CAP – Corrective Action Plan CEA – Central Environmental Authority CEB Ceylon Electricity Board COC – Certificate of Conformity DBO design-built-operate DM – Disaster Management DMC – developing member country DOF – Forest Department DPC dam-proof course DSD – Divisional Secretariat Division EHS – Environmental, Health and Safety EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMP – Environmental Management Plan EMP – Environmental Monitoring Plan EPL – Environmental Protection Licenses ESIA – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment FT – Faculty of Technology FTP – Faculty of Technology Project GND – Grama Niladari Division GRC Grievance Redress Committee GRM – Grievance Redress Mechanism HSE – Health, Safety and Environment IEE – initial environmental examination ILO – International Labor Organization IP – indigenous peoples IPS Imbulpe Pradeshiya Saba IR – involuntary resettlement LFS – Labour Force Survey M&E – monitoring & evaluation MHECA – Ministry of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs MMDE Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment MOH – Ministry of Health MSL – mean sea level NEA – National Environmental Act NIRP – National Involuntary Resettlement Project NPPD National Physical Planning Department NWRB – National Water Resources Board NWSB National Water Supply and Drainage Board PAA – Project Approving Authority PBC – performance-based contracts PIU project implementation unit PMC project management consultant PMU project management unit PP project proponent RBA Rapid Biodiversity Assessment REA – Rapid Environmental Assessment SEP Site Environmental Plan SLEC State Level Empowerment Committee SLLRDC – Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation SPS – Safeguard Policy Statement STHRDP – Science and Technology and Human Resource Development Project SUSL Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka TA – technical assistance TDP Technology Stream Degree Programmes TMS – Total Management Solutions UDA – Urban Development Authority VEC – Valued Environmental Component WASSIP – Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project NOTE In this report, "$" refers to US dollars unless otherwise stated. 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 on ADB’s 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 INTRODUCTION 1 Subproject Background 1 Objectives of the IEE 2 Approach and Methodology 3 Structure of IEE Report 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBPROJECT 5 Subproject Location 5 Description of the Subproject 7 POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 13 Applicable Local Environmental Legislations 13 Administrative Framework 17 International Agreements 18 ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 18 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 23 Methodology used for Baseline Study 23 Location Area and Connectivity 24 Area of influence 24 Land Use 25 Geology, Soil and Topography 25 Seismicity 26 Climate and Meteorology 26 Ambient Air Quality 27 Drainage and the River Systems: 27 Surface and Ground Water Quality 28 Ecology and Biodiversity 29 Educational, Medical and Religious Properties 33 Demographic details of affected population 33 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 33 ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 35 Land and Environment 35 Water and Environment 36 Air Environment 38 Noise Environment 39 Fauna and Flora 41 Waste Disposal and Sanitation 43 Design of FT Buildings under the Green Building 46 Risk of Fire and Emergency Preparedness 47 Occupational Health and Safety and General Public 47 Health and Safety of Trainees 48 Food safety guidelines 48 Induced and Cumulative Impacts 49 Climate Change Impact and Risk 50 PUBLIC CONSULTATION 51 Approach to Public Consultation 51 Methodology 51 GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 53 GRM Process 53 Registering Complaints 53 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 55 Environmental Management Plan 55 Implementing Arrangement 55 Environmental Monitoring and Reporting 60 Consultation and Information Disclosure 60 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 60 Conclusion 60 Recommendations: 61 ANNEXES 1. Site Report 63 2. Survey Plan 68 3. Master Plan 69 4. Gazette Notification of the Land 70 5. Applicable Environmental Legislations 72 6. Green Building Application 80 7. BIQ 81 8. Soil Report 90 9. Rapid Bio Diversity Assessment Report 99 10. Breakup of Fresh Water Requirement During Construction 131 11. Summary of Stakeholder Consultation Meeting 133 12. Complains Form 142 13. Terms of Reference for Environment Safeguards Consultant 143 14. Auditor General’s Report 145 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 153 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Government of Sri Lanka with loan funding from Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed to implement Science and Technology and Human Resource Development Project (STHRDP). This project aims to increase the technology-oriented workforce to transform Sri Lanka’s growing economy by supporting a series of Universities across the country. The objectives of the IEE are to: a. Determine the category of the subproject depending on improvement proposal, environmental sensitivity and magnitude of impacts, i.e. screening as per Government of Sri Lanka’s regulations and ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement 2009; b. Determine the requirement of statutory clearances; c. Baseline environmental monitoring and survey; and d. Predict impacts on relevant environmental attributes and mitigation measures to minimize the impacts. The subproject. The proposed faculty of technology (FT) development project is located in Imbulpe DS Division in Rathnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Establishment of a Faculty of Technology (FT) will generate new employment opportunities for the local community as well as improve skills and training in the engineering technology and bio system technology fields. Thus, it will simultaneously contribute to improvement of education in whole country while improving opportunities for employment. Bachelor of Bio systems Technology (BBST) and Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BET) aiming at enrolling 150 students annually to contribute for the national development aligned with the country’s development strategies. The first phase of the FT will compose of four lecture halls, a computer laboratory, laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology, office for dean, two departments and academic staffs. Subsequently, the second phase of building construction will be considered to facilitate more lecture halls, third and fourth year laboratories, additional staff rooms, common area, reading rooms etc. A total of 98, 574 sq. feet will be developed under Phases 1 to 3 construction of the FT of which Phase 1 will be 40,610 sq. feet. The estimated cost is USD 2,572,656 for the whole subproject which will be funded by ADB. There is no government contribution for this subproject. Description of the Environment: FT development subproject is located in Imbulpe in Rathnapura District within the current SUSL premises. The location coordinates are 6042ʹ33.33ʺN, 80047ʹ35.17ʺE longitude. The university is located alongside B 593 - Pambahinna-Kumbalgama-Rajawaka-Kapugala Road which connects to the main Colombo – Batticaloa Highway (A4). The proposed subproject site is within the current University premises. The surrounding environment is mountainous and forested. The SUSL is located in the former Smanalawewa development project premises handed over to SUSL which already cleared and developed. The proposed location of 2.4ha currently consists of a secondary moist semi- evergreen forest. According to SUSL, only 0.38ha will have to be cleared for the development of the FT. The biodiversity prevailing in the subproject area is of importance due to its location in a bio geographical transition between the wet zone to the west and the dry zone to the east, being located in a thin strip of the intermediate zone. Therefore, a rapid biodiversity assessment was recommended and carried out. The findings of the assessment reveal moderate levels of species richness in selected plants and animals. However, the proportions of endemic and/or threatened species in the subproject site and its periphery are not of critical levels. Policy, legal and administrative framework and sub project categorization. As per the ADB’s Safeguards Policy Statement of 2009 and based on the REA Checklist of ADB classification, the FT is categorized under environment Category B. Since the site was a forested patch, to be in line with the SPS Environment Policy Principle