Initial Environment Examination IND
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Initial Environment Examination Project Number: 40648-034 January 2019 IND: Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism - Tranche 3 Subproject : Development of George Everest Heritage Park, Mussoorie Submitted by Program Management Unit, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun This initial environmental examination report 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. Environmental Assessment Document Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Loan Number: 3223 IND Package No: UK/IDIPT/III/GEN/04 December 2018 Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism in Uttarakhand Sub Project – Development of George Everest Heritage Park, Mussoorie TRANCHE III Prepared by the Government of Uttarakhand for the Asian Development Bank 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. ABBREVIATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank ASI - Archaeological Survey of India CPCB – Central Pollution Control Board CPR - Common property resources DOT - Department of Tourism DSC - Design Supervision Consultants EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EMP - Environmental Management Plan FSI - Forest Survey of India GMVN - Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam GOU - Government of Uttarakhand IDIPT - Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism IEE - Initial Environmental Examination IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature KMVN - Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd. MFF - Multi-tranche Financing Facility MoEF - Ministry of Environment and Forests GOU NDBR - Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve NDNP - Nanda Devi National Park PIU - Project Implementation Unit PMC - Project Management Consultant PMU - Project Management Unit PUC - Pollution under Control PCCF - Principal Chief Conservator of Forests REA - Rapid Environmental Assessment SEIAA - State Environment Impact Assessment Authority SLEC - State-level empowered committee SPCB - State Pollution Control Board SPM - Suspended Particulate Matter SPS - Safeguard Policy Statement THDC - Tehri Hydro Electric Development Corporation TRH - Tourist Rest House UNESCO - United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UTDB - Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board WLS - Wildlife Sanctuary CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (As of October 2016) Currency unit – Indian rupee (Rs) Rs1.00 = $0.015152 $1.00 = Rs 67.000 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES dB (A) A-weighted decibel ha - hectare km - kilometer km2 - square kilometer µg - microgram m - Meter m2 - square meter MW (megawatt) - megawatt 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. Table Of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 1 I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 4 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT COMPONENTS ...................................................................................... 11 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................... 16 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................................... 22 V. ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) ......................................................................................... 27 VI. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN.............................................................................................. 49 VII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ............................................................... 53 VIII. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................ 58 IX. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 59 List of Tables: TABLE 1: CONNECTIVITY OF GEORGE EVEREST HERITAGE PARK ................................. 4 TABLE 2: ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ................................................ 8 TABLE 3: PROPOSED COMPONENTS ...................................................................................... 11 TABLE 4: AREA (IN HA) UNDER DIFFERENT LANDUSE IN MUSSOORIE ...................... 17 TABLE 5: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR PRE CONSTRUCTION STAGE ............................................................................................................................................................. 29 TABLE 6: CONSTRUCTION PHASE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ........... 33 TABLE 7: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR OPERATION PHASE ............ 47 TABLE 8: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN ............................................................... 49 TABLE 9: TRAINING MODULES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ..................... 50 TABLE 10: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING BUDGET (INR) .. 51 TABLE 11: STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION RECORDS .................................................. 54 List of Annexures: ANNEXURE-1 RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (REA) CHECKLIST ................. 60 A CHECKLIST FOR PRELIMINARY CLIMATE RISK SCREENING ....................................... 64 ANNEXURE-2 ENVIRONMENTAL SELECTION CRITERIA (AS PER EARF TABLE 6) . 66 ANNEXURE-3 SITE & CONSULTATION PHOTOGRAPHS .................................................... 74 ANNEXURE-4 NOCS ....................................................................................................................... 77 ANNEXURE-5 JOINT INSPECTION REPORT ........................................................................... 84 ANNEXURE 6 ATTENDANCE SHEETS OF CONSULTATION AT GEORGE EVEREST SITE ............................................................................................................................................................. 88 ATTENDANCE SHEETS OF CONSULTATION AT GEORGE EVEREST SITE DT. 01.12.18 ............................................................................................................................................................. 89 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Background- The India Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT) envisages environmentally and culturally sustainable and socially inclusive tourism development in the project states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, delivered through a Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Development of George Everest Heritage Park has been taken as part of Tranche-3 sub-projects. 2. Executing and Implementing Agencies - The Tourism Department of the Government of Uttarakhand is the Executing Agency; and the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) is the implementing agency (IA). 3. Categorization- The sub-project '' Development of George Everest Heritage Park " is classified as Environmental Category 'B' as per the ADB SPS 2009 as no significant impacts are envisioned. Accordingly Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) has been prepared for the sub- project. The IEE is based on a careful review of sub-project sites plan and report; field visits; secondary data collection to characterize the environment and identify potential impacts; and consultations with stakeholders. An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) outlining the specific environmental measures to be adhered to during implementation of the sub-project has been prepared. The sub-project will conform to all Government (State as well as Government of India) regulations, policies and standards, as well as Asian Development Bank’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). The sub-project does not require prior environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2006. 4. Sub-project Scope- The sub-project is for the “Development of George Everest Heritage Park”. This sub-project envisages the historic precincts' preservation; re-use and revitalization of the Sir George Everest’s House and the entire Park Estate for a substantial enhancement of the visitor experience. The sub-project firmly believes that the Park Estate with its unique Himalayan locales, proximity to popular tourist attractions and heritage significance has the potential of emerging as the new tourism must visit destination in Mussoorie, giving a boost to the experiential tourism aspect of not just the Himalayas but the entire state and nation. The proposed components include (A) Renovation and Restoration of existing structures and (B) New components for tourism support and enhanced tourism experience. (listed in table 3) 5. All the project related infrastructure will be provided on the land belonging to the Department of Tourism (UTDB). There have been