Initial Environmental Examination

Initial Environmental Examination February 2013 NEP: SASEC Road Connectivity Project Mechipul-Chandraghadi-Birtamod Subproject Prepared by the Department of Road, Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management for the Asian Development Bank. ii CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 21 February 2013) Currency unit – Nepalese rupee (NR) NR1.00 – $ 0.0115340254 $1.00 – NR86.700000 ABBREVIATIONS AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic AC Asphaltic Concrete ADB Asian Development Bank ADF Asian Development Fund ADT Average Daily Traffic AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome amsl Above Mean Sea Level AP Affected People ARI Acute Respiratory Infection BOD Biological Oxygen Demand B.S. Bikram Sambat ºC Degree Celsius CBOs Community Based Organizations CBR California Bearing Ratio CBS Central Bureau of Statistics CDMA Code Division Multiple Access CF Community Forest CFUG Community Forest User Group ch Chainage CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CMVC Classified Manual Vehicle Counts CO Carbon Monoxide COI Corridor of Impact CR Critically Endangered DBST Double Bituminous Surface Treatment DCP Dynamic Cone Penetrometer DDC District Development Committee DFID Department for International Development, UK DG Diesel Generating DFO District Forest Office DoHM Department of Hydrology and Metrology DHO District Health Office DHs District Hospitals DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation DOF Department of Forest DOLIDAR Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads DOR Department of Roads DSC Design and Supervision Consultant DUDBC Department of Urban Development and Building Construction EA Executing Agency EAG Environmental Assessment Guidelines EFDRP Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation Project - ADB EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMG Environment Management Guidelines EMP Environmental Management Plan EMoP Environmental Monitoring Plan iii EN Endangered EPA Environment Protection Act EPR Environmental Protection Rules ES Environmental Specialist ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework EWH East-West Highway FGD Focus Group Discussion FIDIC Federation International Des Ingenieurs-Conseils FM Frequency Modulation FS Feasibility Study FUG Forest User Group FY Fiscal Year GESU Geo-Environmental and Social Unit GHG Green House Gases GON Government of Nepal HFT Himalayan Frontal Thrust HH Household HMGN His Majesty Government of Nepal HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus I Indeterminate IA Implementing Agency ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development IEE Initial Environmental Examination IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature ISRC Intensive Study and Research Centre JICA Japan International Co-operative Agency Km Kilometer LC Least Concern LR Lower Risk LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas LRMP Land Resource Mapping Project m Metre masl meters above sea level mm milimeter MCT Main Central Trust MoFSC Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation MHH Mid-Hill Highway MoEnv Ministry of Environment MoPPW Ministry of Physical Planning and Works MRM Mahendra Raj Marg NAAQS Nepal Ambient Air Quality Standard NEP Nepal NGO Non Government Organization NH National Highway NOx Nitrogen Oxide NPC National Planning Commission NPWC National Parks and Wildlife Conservation nt Near Threatened NTFPs Non-timber Forest Products OD Origin-Destination OHS Occupational Health and Safety PD Project Directorate PPE Personal Protective Equipment PIP Priority Investment Plan PIU Project Implementation Unit iv PPMO Public Procurement Monitoring Office PPTA Project Preparatory Technical Assistance RCC Reinforced Cement Concrete RCP Road Connectivity Project - ADB RCSP Road Connectivity Sector Project - ADB REA Rapid Environmental Assessment RIP Road Improvement Project- DOR RNDP Road Network Development Project - ADB ROW Right of Way RRRSDP Rural Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Sector Development Project – ADB RSDP Road Sector Development Project – WB SC Supervision Consultant SD Surface Dressing SDC Social Development Consultant SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SPS Safeguard Policy Statements SRCP SASEC Road Connectivity Project STD Sexually Transmitted Disease STEP Sub-regional Transport Enhancement Project – ADB TA Technical Assistance TMO Transport Management Office TOR Terms of Reference TPPF Transport Project Preparation Facility – ADB WECS Water and Energy Commission Secretariat UN United Nations UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization VDC Village Development Committee VU Vulnerable ZOI Zone of Influence WEIGHTS AND MEASURES dBA decibels A KWH Kilowatt-Hour K VA Kilo -Volt- Ampere MLd Millions of Litres Per Day ppb Parts Per Billion pph Persons Per Hectare ppm Parts Per Million NOTES (i) The Nepalese calendar year (B.S) runs from mid April to mid April. Unless otherwise stated, year ranges written in the form 2011/012 denote a single calendar year. (ii) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government ends on 15 July. FY before a calendar Year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends. (iii) Acts and Regulations are cited under the name of the ministry from which they originate. The official version of Acts and Regulations is published in the Nepal Gazette (in Nepali). Some Acts and Regulations are published by other Government agencies in English (Unofficial translations). This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed v 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. vi CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... vii I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 A. Project Background/Rationale ........................................................................ 1 B. Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................... 3 C. Extent of IEE .................................................................................................. 3 D. IEE Report Content ........................................................................................ 3 E. Methods Adopted to Prepare the IEE Report ................................................. 3 F. Sources of Information and Data .................................................................... 4 G. Public Consultation ........................................................................................ 4 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ....................................... 6 A. ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 ......................................................... 6 B. Nepal‟s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements for the Project ........ 6 C. Guidelines for the Road Sector .................................................................... 10 D. International Conventions and Treaties ........................................................ 11 E. Permissions and Clearance Required for the Project ................................... 12 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................ 14 A. The SASEC Road Connectivity Project (SRCP) ........................................... 14 B. The Menchipul-Chandragadhi-Birtamod Road ............................................. 14 C. Key Upgrading Activities ................................................................................ 4 D. Materials Required and Sourcing ................................................................... 5 E. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost.................................................... 5 F. Category of the Project .................................................................................. 5 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ................................................................. 7 A. Physical Resources ....................................................................................... 7 B. Ecological Resources .................................................................................... 9 C. Economic Development ............................................................................... 11 D. Social and Cultural Resources ..................................................................... 12 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .... 15 A. Impact on Physical Environment .................................................................. 15 B. Ecological Resources .................................................................................. 23 VI. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ........................... 28 A. Consultation Method and Information Disclosed .......................................... 28 B. Compliance with Relevant Regulatory Requirements ................................... 28 C. Information Disclosure ................................................................................. 29 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND GRIEVANCE READDRESSAL MECHANISM .....................................................................................................................

Load more