Initial Environmental Examination
October 2012
MFF 0021-PAK: Power Distribution Enhancement Investment Program – Proposed Tranche 3
Prepared by the Quetta Electric Supply Company for the Asian Development Bank.
Power Distribution Enhancement Project (PAK) Tranche 3
INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (Draft)
Khuzdar – Quetta Industrial 132KV Double Circuit Transmission line Subproject
Submitted to
Asian Development Bank
October 2012
Submitted By
Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO)
Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility PAK Tranche 3 Khuzdar-Quetta Industrial 132KV DC Transmission line Initial Environmental Examination Table of Contents
1. Introduction 1 1.1 Overview 1 1.2 Background 3 1.3 Scope of the IEE Study and Personnel 3 1.4 Policy and Statutory Requirements in Pakistan 5 1.5 Structure of Report 9
2. Description of the Project 11 2.1 Type of Project 11 2.2 Categorization of the Project 11 2.3 Need for the Project 11 2.4 Location and Scale of Project 12 2.5 Decommissioning and Disposal of Material 9 2.6 QESCO Subproject 13 2.7 Proposed Schedule for Implementation 13
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 14 3.1 Project Area 14 3.2 Physical Resources 14 3.3 Ecological Resources 17 3.4 Economic Development 18 3.5 Social and Cultural Resources 19
4. SCREENING POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 22 4.1 Project Location 22 4.2 General Approach to Mitigation 22 4.3 Potential Environmental Impacts during Design & Pre-Construction Stage 24 4.4 Potential Environmental Impacts from Construction 24 4.5 Potential Environmental Impacts during Operation 28
5. INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 29
6. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 44 6.1 Approach to Public Consultation 44
i Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility PAK Tranche 3 Khuzdar-Quetta Industrial 132KV DC Transmission line Initial Environmental Examination 6.2 Public Consultation Process 44 6.3 Results of Public Consultation 45 6.4 Grievance Redressal Mechanism 47
7. CONCLUSIONS 50 7.1 Findings and Recommendations 50 7.2 Summary and Conclusions 51
List of Tables
Table 5.1 Environmental Management Plan – Matrix Table 5.2 Monitoring Plan – Matrix
Figures and Maps
Figure 1.1 Pakistan IEE Process Figure 1.2 Letter from Pakistan Federal EPA on IEE Process Figure 2.1 Jurisdiction of QESCO. Figure 2.1 Layout of QESCO Khuzdar -Quetta subproject DGS Figure 6.1 Grievance Redress Mechansim
Appendices
Appendix I Institutional Arrangements for Monitoring Plan
ii Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility PAK Tranche 3 Khuzdar-Quetta Industrial 132KV DC Transmission line Initial Environmental Examination ABBREVIATIONS
ADB Asian Development Bank COI Corridor of Influence CSP Country Strategy Program DC Double Circuit DoF Department of Forests DFO Divisional Forest Officer DGS Distribution DGS Substation DGL Distribution DGS Line DIZ Direct Impact Zone EA Environmental Assessment EARF Environment Assessment Review Framework IEE Environnent Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan GDP ` Gross Domestic Product GOP Government of Pakistan GIS Gas Insulated Switchgear LARP Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan QESCO Quetta Electric Supply Company Leq Equivalent sound pressure level MPL maximum permissible level NEQS National Environmental Quality Standards NGO Non Governmental Organization NIPS National Information and Population Service PC Public consultation BEPA Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency PEPAct Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997 (as regulated and amended) PPMS Project Performance Monitoring System REA Rapid Environmental Assessment SIA Social Impact Assessment SP Subproject SR Sensitive Receiver TOR Terms of Reference TXL Transmission line
Units cfs cubic feet per second Rupee, PKR Unit of Pakistan currency. $US approx. Rs. 95
iii Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview
1. This document is the Initial Environmental Examination for the construction of a new Khuzdar- Quetta Industrial 132KV DC Transmission lines,(DGL) sub-project of Quetta Electric Supply Company QESCO and adjacent to five DGS of QESCO in four districts of Baluchistan Pakistan. This IEE presents the results and conclusions of environmental assessment for the proposed construction of transmission line subproject. This report is submitted by Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO). 2. This IEE was prepared under Tranche 3 of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Power Distribution and Enhancement Multi-tranche Finance Facility (PDEMFF) for Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO). The proposed PDEMFF facility has been designed to address both investment and institutional aspects in the electrical power sector. QESCO has been nominated by Ministry of Water and Power (MOWP) to act as the Executing Agency (EA) with each DISCO being the Implementing Agency (IA) for work in its own area. QESCO‘s role in the processing and implementation of the investment program is that of a coordinator of such activities as preparation of PC-1s and PFRs, monitoring implementation activities; that includes submission of environmental assessments for all sub-projects in all tranches of the PDEMFF under ADB operating procedures. An IEE has been carried out to fulfill the requirements of ADB Safeguards Policy Statement 2009. 3. Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (GoP) has requested ADB to provide the PDEMFF to facilitate investments in power distribution and development of networks of eight independent distribution companies (DISCOs) that distribute power to end user consumers. The investment program will cover necessary PDE development activities in secondary transmission/distribution networks of eight DISCOs and the PDEMFF loan is proposed to be approved by ADB. The PDEMFF activities include extension (additional transformers) and augmentation (replacement of transformers with higher capacity) distribution line extensions, new and replacement distribution lines, additional sub-stations, transformer protection and other non- network activities such as automatic meter reading, construction equipment and computerized accounting. New distribution lines to and from various network facilities. 4. The environmental assessment requirements of the GoP for DGL and power transmission projects are different to those of ADB. The environmental regulations of the GoP categorize development projects into two schedules according to their anticipated potential environmental impacts. The proponents of projects that have more adverse environmental impacts (Schedule II) are required to submit an environmental impact assessment (EIA). A review of the need for IEE / EIA submission is therefore required by the relevant environmental protection agency, in this case the Baluchistan Environmental Protection Agency (BEPA).
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1.2 Background
5. The standards and conditions of the power transmission system in Pakistan are inadequate to meet the rapidly growing demand for electrical power. New developments in SP will result in additional load on the DGS stations, which are already facing difficulties in meeting the demands of even the existing communities. This situation limits national development and economic growth. To cope with the constraints, the existing power transmission infrastructure has to be improved and upgraded. The overall contribution of power infrastructure also requires institutional arrangements and capacity that support strategic management of the sector, and planning and management of investments. 6. The Tranche 3 subprojects can be broadly separated into two groups. Projects that involve the improvement of facilities and equipment within existing DGS boundaries and do not require any land acquisition belong to group 1. However, the SP involves construction of a new DGL, and Impacts from the SP should not be excessive even though some land needs to be acquired for the Right of Way (RoW) to accommodate the transmission line towers. The location of the DGL is known and enabling observations and consultations for an Environmental Impact Assessment (Cat B). The designs for the Tranche 3 (T3) subprojects and further subprojects in all later tranches will be developed; under the project support component of TA. 7. The GOP has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide finance for the SP to cover the construction of a DGL to help fulfill the overall objective of the MFF to encourage economic growth and improve transmission and distribution efficiency, by creating a series of regional improvements. The improved transmission efficiency will contribute to expansion of economic opportunities by improving capacity and efficiency and security of supply in the Baluchistan Province of Pakistan.
1.3 Scope of the IEE Study and Personnel
8. This IEE study has included field reconnaissance survey of some of the proposed Khuzdar- Quetta industrial 132 KV DC transmission lines and connecting it with existing Distribution Grid stations DGSs under the jurisdictions of QESCO. The assessments will be carried out after completion of the detail design, survey, layout plan and profile etc. This SP involves the construction of about 320km of 132 KV transmission line in Quetta, Mastung, Kalat, and Khuzdar Districts of Baluchistan and the detailed designs are under development. Land will be acquired for a Right of Way (RoW) for the supporting towers that can accommodate the transmission line The areas inside the sub-projects for improvement works will be identified and the sensitive receivers immediately adjacent to the sub-projects will be recorded, including any irrigation facilities, water supply, habitable structures, schools, health facilities, hospitals, religious places and sites of
Page 3 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination heritage or archaeological importance and critical areas1 within about 50m of the edge of the sub- station boundary walls. . Some of the sites could not be visit because of the remoteness and security concerns as most to them are located in the far flung areas of Baluchistan province. However the basic information about the proposed Transmission line and allied DGS will be collected from the QESCO GSC officials and concern DGS officers at the time of detailed design preparation. 9. The study area study included the identification of any irrigation facilities, water supply, habitable structures, schools, health facilities, hospitals, religious places and sites of heritage or archaeological importance and critical areas2 (if any) within about 50m of the proposed distribution line (DGL). The works are generally envisaged to involve construction of the bases and foundation pads and towers to support the transmission line. 10. The field studies would be undertaken by the project‘s environment team with experience of environmental assessment for power projects in Pakistan. QESCO team conducted preliminary scoping, survey and assessment activities, coordinated the field sampling and analysis, and were also responsible to supervise collation of information and co-ordinate the various public consultation activities. The team conducted preliminary scoping, survey and assessment activities, and carried out the report writing. SMEC provided leadership and guidance in the preliminary scoping, and with regard to essential inputs to the IEE study and detailed assessments, and in finalization of the report. The environmental team also benefited from technical support and other information on the impacts of the proposed power works provided in feasibility summaries prepared for QESCO3, and by expert consultants dealing with engineering, power transmission, socio-economic, re-settlement and institutional aspects. 11. A scoping and field reconnaissance was conducted on the project site, during which a Rapid Environmental Assessment5 was carried out to establish the potential impacts and categorization of enhancement activities. The methodology of the IEE study was then elaborated in order to address all interests. Subsequently primary and secondary baseline environmental data was collected from possible sources, and the intensity and likely location of impacts were identified with relation the sensitive receivers; based on the work expected to be carried out. The significance of impacts from construction of the DGL was then assessed and, for those impacts requiring mitigation, measures were proposed to reduce impacts to within acceptable limits. 12. Public consultation (PC) was carried out during July and August 2012, in line with ADB guidelines2. Under ADB requirements, the environmental assessment process must also include meaningful public consultation during the completion of the draft IEE, In this IEE, the PC process included verbal disclosure of the sub-project works as a vehicle for discussion. Interviews were conducted with local families and communities around the along the SP site, who were former
1 Critical areas as published by the PEPA on the website put in specific reference 2 Critical areas as published by the BEPA on the website put in specific reference 3 Feasibility Summary submitted to the Asian Development Bank by the Quetta Electric Supply Company, Pakistan under Power Distribution Enhancement Project PPTA 4876-PAK. Sub-project Khuzdar –Quetta Industrial DGL
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1.4 Policy and Statutory Requirements in Pakistan
13. Direct legislation on environmental protection is contained in several statutes, namely the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (1997), the Forest Act (1927) and the Balochistan Wildlife Act (1974). In addition the Land Acquisition Act (1894) also provides powers in respect of land acquisition for public purposes. There are also several other items of legislation7 and regulations which have an indirect bearing on the project or general environmental measures.
1.4.1 Statutory Framework
14. The Constitution of Pakistan distributes legislative powers between the federal and the provincial governments through two ‗lists‘ attached to the Constitution as Schedules. The Federal List covers the subjects over which the federal government has exclusive legislative power, while the Concurrent List contains subjects regarding which both the federal and provincial governments can enact laws. ―Environmental pollution and ecology‖ is included in the concurrent list; hence both the federal and the provincial governments can enact laws on this subject. However, to date, only the federal government has enacted laws on environment, and the provincial environmental institutions derive their power from the federal law. The Balochistan Environmental Protection Act 1996 is now redundant. The key environmental laws are discussed below.
1.4.2 Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997
15. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 is the basic legislative tool empowering the government to frame regulations for the protection of the environment. The act is applicable to a wide range of issues and extends to air, water, soil, marine, and noise pollution, as well as to the handling of hazardous wastes. The key features of the law that have a direct bearing on the proposed project relate to the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and environmental impact assessment (EIA) for development projects. Section 12(1) requires that: ―No proponent of a project shall commence construction or operation unless he has filed with the Federal Agency an initial Environmental examination [IEE] or, where the project is likely to cause an adverse environmental effect, an environmental impact assessment [EIA], and has obtained from the Federal Agency approval in respect thereof.‖ The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency has delegated the power of review and approval of environmental assessments to the provincial environmental protection agencies.
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1.4.3 Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Review of IEE and IEE Regulations, 2000
16. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (PEP Act) provides for two types of environmental assessments: Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). EIAs are carried out for projects that have a potentially ‗significant‘ environmental impact, whereas IEEs are conducted for relatively smaller projects with a relatively less significant impact. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Review of EIA and EIA Regulations, 20004 (the ‗Regulations‘), prepared by the Pak-EPA under the powers conferred upon it by the PEP Act, categorizes projects for EIA and EIA. Schedules I and II, attached to the Regulations, list the projects that require EIA and IEE, respectively. . 17. The Regulations also provide the necessary details on the preparation, submission, and review of IEEs and IEEs (Figure 1.1). The following is a brief step-wise description of the approval process:
. A project is categorized as requiring an EIA or EIA using the two schedules attached to the Regulations. . An EIA or EIA is conducted as per the requirement and following the Pak-EPA guidelines. . The EIA or EIA is submitted to the concerned EPA—provincial EPAs if the project is located in the provinces or the Pak-EPA if it is located in Islamabad and federally administrated areas .Fee, depending on the cost of the project and the type of the report, is submitted along with the document. . The submittal is also accompanied by an application in the format prescribed in Schedule IV of the Regulations. . The EPA conducts a preliminary scrutiny and replies within 10 days of the submittal of a report, a) confirming completeness, or b) asking for additional information, if needed, or c) returning the report requiring additional studies, if necessary. . The EPA is required to make every effort to complete the EIA and EIA review process within 45 and 90 days, respectively, of the issue of confirmation of completeness. . When the EPAs accord their approval subject to certain conditions:
a. Before commencing construction of the project, the proponent is required to submit an undertaking accepting the conditions. b. Before commencing operation of the project, the proponent is required to obtain from the EPA a written confirmation of compliance with the approval conditions and requirements of the EIA.
. An EMP is to be submitted with a request for obtaining confirmation of compliance.
4 The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Review of Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2000
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. The EPAs are required to issue confirmation of compliance within 15 days of the receipt of request and complete documentation. . The IEE approval is valid for three years from the date of accord. . A monitoring report is to be submitted to the EPA after completion of construction, followed by annual monitoring reports during operation.
18. Transmission lines and DGS substations above 11KV are included under energy projects in Schedule II, under which rules IEE is required by GoP for all projects involving transmission lines of 11KV and above and for DGS substations. Initial Environmental examination (IEE) is required for transmission lines less than 11KV and large distribution projects (Schedule I). A review of the need for EIA / IEE submission is therefore required by the relevant environmental protection authority, in this case the Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency. As the proposed project will be located in Balochistan, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency. 19. There are no formal provisions for the environmental assessment of expanding existing transmission lines and DGS substations but Balochistan EPA (BEPA) have requested disclosure of the scope and extent of each subproject in order that the Director General of BEPA can determine if additional land is required and the need for statutory environmental assessment (Figure 1.2). The details of this subproject will be forwarded to the Balochistan EPA later on, in order to commence the local statutory environmental assessment process.
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1.4.4 National Environmental Quality Standards
20. The National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) were first promulgated in 1993 and have been amended in 1995 and 2000, but the NEQs would not generally be applicable to a project such as the Khuzdar –Quetta proposed project.
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1.4.5 Other Relevant Laws
21. There are a number of other federal and provincial laws that are important in the context of environmental management. The important laws are listed below.
a. The Baluchistan Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 1972 empowers the government to declare certain areas reserved for the protection of wildlife and control activities within in these areas. It also provides protection to endangered species of wildlife. As no activities are planned in these areas, no provision of this law is applicable to the proposed project. b. The Forestry Act, 1927 empowers the government to declare certain areas reserved forest. As no reserved forest exists in the vicinity of the proposed project, the provisions of this law are not applicable to the proposed project. c. The Antiquities Act of 1975 ensures the protection of Pakistan‘s cultural resources. The Act defines ‗antiquities‘ as ancient products of human activity, historical sites, or sites of anthropological or cultural interest, national monuments, etc. The Act is designed to protect these antiquities from destruction, theft, negligence, unlawful excavation, trade, and export. The law prohibits new construction in the proximity of a protected antiquity and empowers the Government of Pakistan to prohibit excavation in any area that may contain articles of archaeological significance. Under the Act, the project proponents are obligated to:
. Ensure that no activity is undertaken in the proximity of a protected antiquity . Report to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan, any archaeological discovery made during the course of the project.
22. No protected or unprotected antiquity was identified in the vicinity of the proposed project that may be affected by the project.
1.5 Structure of Report
23. This (Draft) reviews information on existing environmental attributes of the Study Area. Geological, hydrological and ecological features, air quality, noise, water quality, soils, social and economic aspects and cultural resources are included. The report predicts the probable impacts on the environment due to the proposed project enhancement and expansion. This also proposes various environmental management measures. Details of all background environmental quality, environmental impact / pollutant generating activities, pollution sources, pollution control equipment, predicted environmental quality and related aspects have been provided in this report. References are presented as footnotes throughout the text. Following this introduction the report follows ADB guidelines and includes:
. Description of the Project
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. Description of Environmental and Social Conditions . Assessment of Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures . Mitigation Measures for identified impacts . Environmental Management Plan (EMP) . Environmental Monitoring Plan . Public Consultation . Recommendations and Conclusions
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2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
2.1 Type of Project
24. QESCO intends to construct Khuzdar - Quetta Industrial 132kv distribution line connecting from the existing 220kv grid station at Khuzdar to Quetta industrial DGS. This is 132kv DC transmission line subproject is about 320km of in/out double conductor 132kv transmission line to connect to the existing Quetta industrial DGS Line (Figure 2.1).
2.2 Categorization of the Project
25. Categorization is based on the environmentally most sensitive component of a project. The Khuzdar -Quetta SP is categorized as a Category B sub-project under ADB requirements as the project site does not have any environmentally sensitive receptors.
2.3 Need for the Project
26. Pakistan is a country with an economy of improving performance with a wide network of power distribution. However the standards and conditions of the power distribution are inadequate to meet rapidly growing power demand. This situation limits reliable power distribution and therefore the contribution of the power sector to national development and economic growth. To cope with the constraints, the existing power distribution infrastructure has to be improved and upgraded. The overall contribution of power infrastructure also requires institutional arrangements and capacity that support strategic management of the sector, and planning and management of
Page 11 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination investments. Overall the proposed PDEMFF Project has been designed in addressing both investment and institutional aspects in the sector. 27. The projects will contribute to the improvement of the overall performance of the power distribution sector, improving distribution efficiency, broadly widening access to power to drive economic opportunities. The beneficiaries of the sub-projects will be people, companies, and government and non-government agencies in Pakistan that use power distribution services directly and indirectly. Communities indirectly served by the sub-projects will benefit from improved, secure faster distribution services. Power users will benefit in terms of secure power and improved power safety and potentially increased productivity.
2.4 Location and Scale of Project
28. The length of proposed transmission line is 320 km from Khuzdar - Quetta industrial DGS and passes across four districts (Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung and Quetta) of Baluchistan and have some distance from human habitations. The transmission line may require 1200 towers and the alignment that has been studied line is about 150 to 200 meters away from the nearest houses and other places of human settlement. 29. The Project Proponent Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) plans to have the Tranche 3 completed as soon as possible. The project is part of proposal submitted by QESCO to ADB. The details for the implementation of the sub-project are being developed.
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2.5 Decommissioning and Disposal of Materials
30. Decommissioning and disposal of discarded material the project will be recycled and reused within the PEPCO system. And no waste will be generated that can be classified as hazardous and requiring special disposal.
2.6 QESCO Subproject
31. QESCO proposed Khuzdar-Quetta 132kv transmission line subprojects under for ADB funding. Most of areas are in the urban centers while some are in rural areas. The T/L projects spread out in rural areas at most of places, however some of the around sites may exists within the fruit trees, crops etc in QESCO jurisdiction (Figure 2.1).
2.6.1 Khuzdar Substation
32. The 220kv Khuzdar DGS(under construction) is located in west of the Khuzdar city near a barren and hilly land The Khuzdar is thickly populated city on Quetta – Karachi RCD high way about 320 km away from Quetta city. The road access fairly good. The construction new transmission line will have no severe environmental impacts if the lay out rout of the line is selected from the west of the Khuzdar city. The staff of QESCO was in favor of the project and was its early implementation. Khuzdar is remote area of Baluchistan and IEE team may unable be visiting this site due to insecurity and its location in the tribal belt of Baluchistan. The IEE team is of the opinion that there will be no significant impacts of the environment because of this project. Lack of drinking water and shortage of staff are the problems mentioned by the staff of substation.
2.6.2 Quetta Industrial Substation
33. Quetta Industrial DGS is Located in the industrial estate, of Quetta division, the substation is 18 km away from the Quetta city. The substation is surrounded by different industrial units while the western side is barren land. QESCO proposes transmission line from there and this may be taken in consideration at time of detail design of DGS .The proposed project will have no negative environmental impacts. The total number of staff is 19. Shortage of drinking water was mentioned as a problem while interview the staff.
2.7 Proposed Schedule for Implementation
34. Designs of the DGL, equipment layout, review of environmental management and construction processes could take several months. When the detailed designs are completed, tendering and award of contract will take place over about three to six months. The construction period will follow and best estimates indicate about eighteen months to two years. The preliminary schedule aims to complete the SP as soon as possible.
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3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
3.1 Project Area
3.3.1 General Characteristics of Project Area
35. Khuzdar –Quetta industrial 132kv D/C DGL length is 320 km and crosses four districts with thick gardens of apple and other fruit trees that may come in the right of way of the transmission line and many small towns. There are no sensitive receivers near the existing grid station at Khuzdar, neither are there many on the route of the selected transmission line. On the east is a residential colony, while the west side of the DGS is barren land. 36. The sewage, drinking water supply, drainage and shortage of staff were the main concerns of the staff at all these DGS. All the staff and people contacted during the survey were in favor of the project and recommended its early implementation. 37. Typically there are a few buildings including residential and other social infrastructure that are located within 50m of the DGS.
3.2 Physical Resources
3.2.1 Topography, Geography, Geology, and Soils
38. The area of the QESCO jurisdiction is in the province of Baluchistan while the subprojects are located in Quetta, Mastung , Kalat ,Khuzdar districts. The topography of the whole area is relatively flat with the land sloping gently in a northeast-southwest direction and a surface gradient of about 0.25 m per km. 39. Quetta district lies between 300 - 03‘ and 300 -27‘ N and 660 - 44‘ and 670 - 18‘ E. The total geographical area of Quetta district is 2653 Km2.The general character of the district is mountainous. The hill ranges are fairly uniform in character consisting of long central ridges from which frequent spurs descend. These spurs are intersected by innumerable gorges and torrent beds. They vary in elevation from about 1,254 to 3,500 meters. The Mashlakh, the Chiltan, the Murdar and Zarghoon are the important mountain ranges in the district. Quetta lies in the active seismic region; therefore earthquakes occur from time to time. The worst earthquake occurred in May, 1935, when a large part of Quetta was destroyed and 60,000 people died. As recent as February 1997 a seven earthquakes (7.1 on Richter scale hit Balochistan). 40. There is no perennial river in the district. The Quetta Lora comes out near Sariab and traverses the western side of the Quetta valley. The Quetta Lora carries rain and waste water near Baleli and continues northward through the Kuchlak valley. Water from the Quetta Lora is used for irrigation in villages like Khazi Samungli and Nohsar.
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41. Physiographically, the soils of Quetta district may be described by four main types i.e. (1) Piedmont plains (very deep and well-drained soil) (2) Piedmont basins, (3) Saline and Alkaline soils (4) Gravelly piedmont fans and aprons bordering the mountains and loess plains. Each physiological unit has different parent material.
Minerals
42. There is limited information available regarding the major mineral resources of the target project area. However, the major minerals of the district Quetta is coal, limestone and building stone. Coal mining activity in the private sector has been in operation at Sorange for the past hundred years. Only male labour is involved in its production and marketing. It is marketed through middle men (commission agents) who transport it to Sindh and Balochistan where it is mostly used in brick kilns. According to the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), the district has further potential for coal production. 43. Also new technology and safety measures should be applied in the mining sector. However, its exploitation is becoming more difficult and expensive as the base of coal reserve is horizontal and narrow. Similarly there is also scope for limestone, which is mostly used in the cement industry.
3.2.2 Climate and Hydrology
44. The proposed project is situated at an altitude of about 1,700m. Therefore, the weather is extremely dry and an arid climate prevails in the area. The winter is very cold and the minimum temperature ranges between -15 to - 7 degrees Celsius. 45. Summer is relatively mild and the maximum temperature ranges between 32 to 35oC. July is generally the hottest month. The project area lies outside the range of the monsoon currents and the rainfall is scant and irregular. The average annual rainfall for Quetta City is 226mm, whereas in the Hanna area, the average is about 312mm. In the spring and summer seasons there is very little rainfall. The heaviest rainfall and snowfall occurs in January and February. There is no weather center for Khuzdar –Quetta. However, the data of Quetta city can be taken as a reference for the project areas. 46. According to the information supplied by the Meteorological Department, the average total annual mean rainfall in the year 1999 was 308.2 mm, ranging from 143.2mm in the month of June to 68.5mm in the month of March. Climate will have little bearing on the minor environmental impacts from the construction of this sub-project.
3.2.3 Groundwater and Water Supply
47. The quality of ground water in Quetta District varies from place to place. In most of the places, water is of good quality while in Balali, Mehtarzai, Samalani and Mallahzai, the quality of water is very poor (saline / brackish) and not potable. According to the P.H.E.D authorities, the water found
Page 15 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination in most of the rural areas entirely satisfies the criteria laid down by W.H.O. Water provided by MES is filtered and chlorinated. There have been some studies indicating that there is potential for exploiting water in the district valley, but due to very low water table it will be very expensive to utilize that water in future. The underground potential needs to be charged and this could be done through construction of delay action dams and plantations of vegetation on a massive scale. 48. Most of QESCO staff at the proposed sites complained about lack of potable piped water supply in the grid stations as well as staff colonies. In outlying areas, the local population is generally reliant on supply from tube wells, as well as occasional open wells and hand pumps. There should be no impact on these sources of water by the construction of the extension and augmentation sub-projects.
3.2.4 Surface water
49. The sub-project areas are in an area of Quetta district which has no river. The sub-project DGS has the natural soils within the sub-station covered but the cobblestones allow surface water to drain away from some areas to the underlying soil. In other areas, brick and concrete channels divert rain water to surface drains.
3.2.5 Air Quality
50. Air quality in the most of the sub-project area appears fairly good based on observation during the study period although areas nearer the busy main roads are clearly impacted by vehicle fumes and dist. It is unlikely that large powered mechanical equipment will be needed for the sub project other than delivery lorries and lifting cranes. There may also be neighboring domestic sources of air pollution, such as emissions from wood and kerosene burning stoves as well as small diesel standby generators in some households. Other industrial sources are very few and limited to occasional factories. The major source of atmospheric pollution for the operational phase will be from vehicles on nearby roads and any industrial facilities nearby. Such emissions will be very well dissipated in the open terrain. The project area is distant from major sources of air pollution like industries or urban type traffic, domestic sources such as burning of wood and kerosene stoves, etc. or fugitive sources such as burning of solid wastes. Air quality in the project area appeared very good during the study period. Air quality measurements in major urban centers , carried out by Pak-EPA , revealed that CO, SO2 and NO levels were in excess of the acceptable levels in some areas but the average levels were found below WHO standards . Air quality testing by
DISCOs (average values are : TSP 1.09 mg/m3 , CO 634 ppb , SO2 24.34 ppb, NO2 23.73 ppb
)through various consultants has revealed that most sub stations have NO2, CO2 and CO values below international standards although TSP levels at some locations was higher than international standards.
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3.2.6 Noise and Vibration
51. Noise from vehicles and other powered mechanical equipment is intermittent in most urban areas. There are also the occasional calls to prayer from the PA systems at the local religious locations and there are other occasion disturbances typical of the urban setting. However the proposed power transmission lines sub projects should not be noisy or create vibration nuisance. DISCOs have carried out noise level measurements at various sub stations and transmission line locations within the system .These analyzed to calculate Leq values have resulted in Leq values much below the 85 dBA limit prescribed under the NEQs established by the EPA or the 75 dBA used by DISCOs/NTDC/QESCO in the equipment specifications . Typical values were average 46.21 dBA ; high 63.14 dBA ; and low 34.35 dBA .
3.3 Ecological Resources
3.3.1 Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquatic Biology
52. Due to cutting of trees and illegal hunting, wild life, such as suleman markhor, iIbex, houbara, bustard, chukor, see-see etc. are vanishing very rapidly.
3.3.2 Terrestrial Habitats, Forests and Protected Species
Vegetation cover and trees
53. There is only sparse rooted vegetation in most areas. The major forests in Quetta are Karkhasa (4048 Ha), Takatu south (2894 Ha) and Hazargunji forest (2202 Ha). Major forests in Urak are Spin Karez (7260 Ha), Tagha Tarkhar (6125 Ha) and Zarghun central. These are well away from the subproject location. Artemisia is used for medicine purpose. The salt vegetation found in pashin and Q saifullah is a source of salts for the livestock. Shkarai, Andropogo and Artemisia are also fed to the animals. Pistachia, which is found in the Zarghoon hills, is eaten by small ruminants. Some of the vegetation like camelarom (Z0Z), Juniper and Pistachio trees are used for fuel purposes.
Protected and Religious Trees
54. There are no protected or religious trees on, or around the DGS SP site or DGL. The works, however, must deal with any trees that need to be lopped or removed for safety reasons, with the necessary permissions, if there are unexpected impacts later.
Protected areas / National sanctuaries
55. In Pakistan, there are several areas of land devoted to the preservation of biodiversity through the dedication of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. There are no protected areas near the
Page 17 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination transmission line alignment. In Pakistan, there are several areas of land devoted to the preservation of biodiversity through the dedication of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. There are no protected areas near the DGS site.
3.4 Economic Development
3.4.1 Agriculture, Industries
56. Quetta City is the biggest trade centre in the Province, which exports and imports a variety of different goods, not only with other parts of the country but also with Iran. Its major industrial trade includes electrical goods, rubber products, bicycles, food products, beverages, handicrafts, leather shoes, printing and chemicals, photo and cinematic goods, as well as agriculture products and dried fruits. 57. The area of Khuzdar -Quetta produces fruits and vegetables. The marketing of fruits and vegetables is not restricted to the province, but in many cases crosses the provincial boundaries. It is estimated that 60-70% of the fruit production is marketed and consumed in other provinces. The market infrastructure, regulation, marketing costs, directly affects the prices received by the growers for their produce. There are numerous intermediaries operating at various stages of marketing.
3.4.2 Transportation
58. The Quetta airport is a major entry point to the province and the railways and major roads all operate from Quetta. Longer haul journeys are made by public bus and mini bus. Trucks are used to transmit freight over longer routes across the study area and goods between market centres. Farm tractors are available in some areas and are used to convey local produce to market as well as for agricultural purposes. The air, rail and road transport systems are all reliant to some extent on electrical power and thus the majority of the local population is reliant on the power network for transportation. The important linking roads are:
. Quetta - Mastung Road . Quetta - Kalat . Quetta - Kalat - Khuzdar - Karachi Road . Quetta - Taftan - Zahidan Road . Quetta via Ziarat - Loralai - Dera Ghazi Khan Road
59. The presence of roads has benefited the residents of other provinces as well. The road construction has had a stimulating effect on different sectors of the economy like agriculture, industry and transport. Further roads have reduced the traffic pressure on the railway. Thus consumers, producers and intermediaries have benefited from the spread effects of road development.
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60. The construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads in the district are handled by different organizations. These organizations include: National Highway Authority, C&W Department, Cantonment Board, Municipal Corporation, Quetta Development Authority and District Council. 61. The main source of transportation is road in all of the target districts. There is a good network of metaled and un-metaled roads in these areas. Pakistan Railways serves only a part of these districts. Almost every village in the target districts has telephone facilities. Quetta has an international airport while there are small airports at.
3.4.3 Power Sources
62. The transmission lines for electrical power in the QESCO run in a complex grid (Figure 2.1). Economic growth increases the demand for power supply. To gauge the economic development of a country, the criterion of per capita energy consumption is a good indicator. Electricity has multi- dimensional uses. It is used in the agricultural sector to run tube-wells. In the industrial sector it is vital for running machinery, and for households it facilitates life to a great extent. For households, electricity is not only a source of light, but also a source of power for a range of appliances. Electricity is also produced locally at Guddu. There are seven grid stations and one power house in the district.
3.5 Social and Cultural Resources
3.5.1 Population Communities and Employment
63. There are many newly developing urban localities where families from middle and upper classes of society from all religions and castes are taking up residence and these are all demanding better provision of electrical power from the network. This sub-project will not require relocation or resettlement. The Quetta district is ethnically diverse. 64. The district is multilingual as there are five major ethnic groups, and each group has its own cultural values. They are Pashtoons, Balochs, Brahuis, Hazaras and Balochistanis. Some other minor ethnic groups like Urdu speaking Mehajirs and Sindhis are also living in the city. The mode of living differs from group to group. In the urban area except Kachi Abadis, the way of living is somewhat modern, especially among the wealthier people. In the rural area, the style of living is more traditional. 65. The major sources of income of the residents are trade, transport, government jobs, agriculture and mining. The informal sector is also playing a very significant role in generating income. Like in other urban centers, in Quetta city a large number of shops, street vendors, small garages (auto repair shops) and tailoring shops can be observed. 66. Food habits among the major ethnic groups are almost identical, they take meals twice a day, along with a light breakfast. Meat is the main item of the meal and wheat is the staple food. However, food habits of Balochi and Urdu speaking (Mehajir) are different. Their meals usually
Page 19 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination contain mutton, vegetables, pulses flavoured and cooked with chillies. Tea is normally offered in the houses to guests. In summer, lassi (a yoghurt drink) is widely used as refreshment.
3.5.2 Education and Literacy
67. In Quetta District, there are 30 mosque schools for boys, while there are 232 primary boys schools and 127 primary girls schools run by government. The number of privately run primary schools is 78. There are 51 middle schools, 29 for boys and 22 for girls while there are 38 government and 40 private High schools in the district. The proportion of girls‘ High school within the total number is 44.7%. 68. In addition to the primary schooling, Middle schools are providing three years of schooling while High schools are providing education up to tenth class. 69. In district Quetta, government controlled primary, middle and high schools are taught in Urdu while only private schools teach in English. There is one technical school, one polytechnic institute and one agriculture college in the district with a large number of English language centres in the city. Futhermore, there are many computer training centres operating in the city, both in public and private capacity. In addition, there are many private driving schools, including one by the public department (specifically for police personnel). Balochistan University is also located in Quetta.
3.5.3 Health Facilities
70. People of the project area have access to good curative and preventive health facilities. There are 5 government hospitals working in the district providing treatment facilities to men and women. However, there is no separate government hospital for women. Moreover, there are hospitals run by various organizations for their staff members and their families such as the Railways, WAPDA, Cantonment Board, Combined Military Hospital (CMH) etc. They also provide treatment facilities to the general public. There are at least 30 private hospitals in Quetta. The treatment cost of private hospitals is much higher than that of the government controlled hospitals. People also visit Hakeems who treat them with traditional oriental herbs and shrubs. It is noted that patients from outside the district and even from Afghanistan visit Quetta for treatment due to proximity of Quetta and ease of travel from Afghanistan.
3.5.4 Occupation
71. Generally the people are illiterate and earn living by forming as tenants on land owned by landlords. However some people are in government services and labors. A large portion of population is serving abroad. Some people are engaged in trade, commerce and transportation.
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3.5.5 Handicrafts
72. The traditional handicrafts of the province include embroidery work on coats, shoes, caps, leather and women‘s and children‘s shalwar and kameez. Embroidery work is carried out by women and girls as traditional activity in every house. In case they sell their work, they sell it to middlemen, but sometimes it is bought by NGOs which sell it through exhibitions.
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4. SCREENING POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
4.1 Project Location
4.1.1 Impact Assessment and Mitigation
73. The location and scale of the works are very important in predicting the environmental impacts. This process of impact prediction is the core of the IEE process and it is critical that the recommendations and mitigation measures are carried out according to, and with reference to the conditions on the ground in the affected areas in the spirit of the environmental assessments process (Figure 2.2 show the Jurisdiction of the QESCO proposed DGL). In this section, the potential environmental impacts are reviewed. Where impacts are significant enough to exceed accepted environmental standards, mitigation is proposed in order to reduce residual impact to acceptable levels. Therefore, it is essential that a proper analysis is carried out during the project planning period. In this regard, the impact prediction plays a vital role as these predictions are used for developing mitigation measures and any alternative options, if appropriate. When the detailed designs are completed, the impacts and mitigation measures will need to be further reviewed to take account of how the contracts are set up and in the light of any fine tuning of the Subproject proposals. 74. The environmental management plan (Section 5 and EMP matrix Table – 5.1) has been reviewed based on the EMP and shall be reviewed in due course at project inception and through construction in order to provide a feedback on any significant unpredicted impacts. It is based on the analysis of impacts, primarily to document key environmental issues likely to arise from Subproject implementation, to prescribe mitigation measures to be integrated in the project design, to design monitoring and evaluation schedules to be implemented during Subproject construction and operation, and to estimate costs required for implementing Subproject mitigation measures. The EMP plan must be reviewed in the Subproject inception by the project management and approved before any construction activity is initiated, to take account of any subsequent changes and fine tuning of the proposals.
4.2 General Approach to Mitigation
75. Based on experience on some projects, contractors have put emphasis on the financial compensation for nuisances. This may be acceptable for some social impacts where evacuation is necessary or where houses have been accidentally damaged, however it is not best international practice to accept payment for environmental impacts. An approach whereby the subproject contractor pays money for nuisances rather than control impacts at source will not be acceptable. This practice should not be allowed and financial compensation shall not be allowed as mitigation for environmental impacts or environmental nuisance.
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76. During the preparation for the Subproject construction phase the future contractors must be notified and prepared to co-operate with the executing agency, project management, supervising consultants and local population in the mitigation of impacts. Furthermore the contractor must be primed through bidding stages and the contract documentation to implement the EMP in full and be ready to engage trained environmental management staff to audit the effectiveness and review mitigation measures as the project proceeds. The effective implementation of the EMP will be audited as part of the loan conditions and the executing agency (QESCO) must be prepared for this. In this regard, the QESCO must fulfill the requirements of the law and guidance prepared by Pak EPA on the environmental aspects of power projects and the recommendations already made for Subproject in this IEE and under Pakistan‘s PEP Act. 77. The location of the residences, mosques, schools, hospitals and civic, cultural and other heritage sites has been reviewed in Section 3. No residences or schools are close enough to the Subproject (at the time of survey of the site) on which there could be potential impacts in the construction stage from disturbance, noise or dust. However, the site is on the main entrance to the colony, and all pedestrians and vehicles entering or leaving the colony from the Canal Road gate could be possibly affected by certain activities of construction. However it is possible to predict the extent to which there could be residential developments in Khuzdar -Quetta by the time the project is actually implemented. 78. Water is available in the study area, although surplus water may not always be available, to suppress dust from vulnerable locations, especially in the dry season. Therefore, as a general approach, it is recommended that in case the existing site hoarding be retained for the construction of the DGS, If it transpires that there are any works within 10m of any sensitive receivers along the proposed DGL, the contractor should install segregation between the works and the edge of the sensitive receivers. The segregation should be easily erectable 2.5m high tarpaulin sheet and designed to retain dust and provide a temporary visual barrier to the works. Where dust is the major consideration, the barrier can take the form of tarpaulins strung between two poles mounted on a concrete base. These can be moved along from tower base to tower base the power as the work proceeds. Where noise is a major consideration (say outside schools or hospitals), construction should be avoided at sensitive times. As a fall back option to control noise, the mass of the barriers can be increased using block-board or corrugated metal sheet to supplement the tarpaulins. In addition to the physical effect of mitigating dust and noise, the installation of such measures should be discussed with the local population and serve as a vehicle for further public consultation at the implementation stage to assist in public relations.
4.2.1 Cultural Heritage, Mosques, Religious Sites, and Social Infrastructure
79. There are no mosques or religious sites near the works or other cultural/heritage SR sites as has been explained in Section 3.
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80. The nearest clinic / hospitals are in Khuzdar –Quetta, more than 100m from the edge of the Subproject. There will be sufficient buffer distance between the works and the SP, so no major significant impact would be expected from the works. 81. The nearest school is also more than 100m from the Subproject. There will, therefore, be a sufficient buffer distance between the works and the entire SP, such that no significant impacts can be expected. Public consultation should be undertaken at the implementation stage to ensure nuisances are not allowed to escalate.
4.3 Potential Environmental Impacts during Design & Pre-Construction Stage
4.3.1 Social Impacts
82. QESCO will select site locations that will not affect any public built-in property or house.
4.3.2 Waste Disposal
83. Suitable locations will be identified for disposal of transformer oil, unsuitable soils and scrap metal. 84. Designate disposal sites in contracts and cost unit disposal rates accordingly. 85. QESCO shall ensure that any residual oily waste and other contaminated waste generated in the construction and operational phase is disposed in line with provincial EPA and local authority requirements. With the proper implementation of appropriate waste disposal protocols, there will be no residual risk due to improper waste disposal.
4.3.3 Soil Contamination
86. The containment and bunds under all newly installed transformers will be designed to retain all transformer oil contents. 87. Contingency measures will be developed to recondition or dispose of any oil released during an emergency.
4.3.4 Statutory
88. The local EPA will be informed of the scope of the subproject to be developed.
4.4 Potential Environmental Impacts from Construction
4.4.1 Cut and fill
89. The Subproject work should not involve any significant cutting and filling, but minor excavations (down to about 4m) and piling may be required to create the foundations for the towers.
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90. Mitigation measures must focus on the minimization of impacts. In order to allow the proper functioning of the settlement sites (access to villages) during construction of the DGL, it is recommended that consideration be given to erect temporary hoardings immediately adjacent to the nearest houses and shops if the aligment is revised and they are within 15m of the power transmission line tower construction. 91. If surplus materials arise from the removal of the existing surfaces from specific areas, these should be used elsewhere on the project before additional soil, rock, gravel or sand is brought in. The use of immediately available material will generally minimize the need for additional rock based materials extraction from outside. 92. The Subproject detailed designers have so far estimated that no substantial additional materials will be required, subject to confirmation at the detailed design stage. 93. Contractual clauses should be included to require each contractor to produce a materials management plan (one month before construction commences), to identify all sources of cement and aggregates and to balance cut and fill. The plan should clearly state the methods to be employed prior to and during the extraction of materials and all the mitigation measures to be employed to mitigate nuisances to local residents. Financial compensation shall not be allowed as mitigation for environmental impacts or environmental nuisance. Mitigation measures shall seek to control the impacts at source in the first place. The engineer shall be responsible to update the Subproject cut and fill estimates and create Materials Master Plan to facilitate materials exchange between the different contract areas along the power line and sub-contractors on the power line and to provide an overall balance for materials and minimize impacts on local resources.
4.4.2 Encroachment, Landscape and Physical Disfiguration
94. Prior to the operation of Subproject, the DGL (and the associated power lines) will be expanded. The extent of expansion of the associated power lines for the proposed DGS is moderate, and should not extend beyond the power corridor (RoW) created by the Subproject. No significant landscape impacts are expected from construction of the Subproject. 95. Disposal of surplus materials must also be negotiated through local authority approvals prior to the commencement of construction.
4.4.3 Trees, Ecology and Protected Areas
96. There are no trees in the DGL and project operations are unlikely to create disturbance to trees outside the RoW. If for some unforeseen reason Reserved or other trees do need to be removed, permission should be obtained from the forest user group and Department of Forests (DoF), based on written justification. 97. At this stage, no areas require removal of woodland. However, if specimen trees of religious plantations are affected, the owners should be given the resources and opportunity to reinstate the woodland long term and a plantation compensation plan should be drawn up to replant the woodland/trees. In the event that the land is not suitable for plantation, other areas should be
Page 25 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination identified to replace the cut trees and sufficient areas should be identified to allow plantation of trees at a rate of say 3:1 or greater. The replacement ratio should allow for a high mortality rate among the newly planted trees in the dry environment or otherwise as based on advice from the District Forest Officer. 98. A requirement shall be inserted in the contracts that no trees are to be cut on the SP site or outside, without the written permission from the Supervising consultant, who may permit the removal of trees if unavoidable on safety / technical / engineering grounds on written justification to the satisfaction of local user groups or DoF.
4.4.4 Hydrology, Sedimentation, Soil Erosion
99. The drainage streams en-route of the Subproject project should not be impeded by the works. The scale of the works does not warrant hydrological monitoring.
4.4.5 Air Pollution from earthworks and transport
100. Field observations indicate that ambient air quality is generally acceptable and that emissions from powered mechanical equipment would be rapidly dispersed. 101. Earthworks will contribute to increasing dust, and the foundation earthworks will generate dust and the following mitigation measures are needed:
(i) Dust suppression shall be undertaken where towers are within 50m of houses. (ii) Construction materials (sand, gravel, and rocks) and spoil materials will be transported by trucks covered with tarpaulins. (iii) All vehicles (e.g., trucks, equipment, and other vehicles that support construction works) will comply with the national vehicle regulations.
102. It should be possible to control and mange emissions from project activities at source, under the EMP. There will be a few items of powered mechanical equipment to be used in the construction of the DGL works that may give rise to complaints of dust and other emissions. However, these should be minor and easily dissipated. There are no other industrial pollution sources in the vicinity of the Khuzdar -Quetta SP. 103. The other major source of air pollution is dust arising from construction and other ground or soil disturbance, during dry weather, and from movement of vehicles on poorly surfaced or damaged access roads. It has been observed that dust levels from vehicles may even be high enough to obscure vision significantly temporarily. 104. The need for large stockpiles should be minimized by careful planning of the supply of materials from controlled sources. Stockpiles should not be located within 50m of schools, hospitals or other public amenities such as wells and pumps and should be covered with tarpaulins when not in use and at the end of the working day to enclose dust.
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4.4.6 Noise, Vibration and Blasting
105. Noise impacts from the operation of the DGL equipment should be negligible and no nuisances to dwellings and other structures from operation are anticipated. 106. Noise and vibration from compaction during construction of foundations may be a significant local impact, but there are no habitations in the vicinity at present, and no houses are planned in the immediate vicinity of the DGL. 107. It is anticipated that powered mechanical equipment and some local labor with hand tool methods will be used to construct the subproject works. No blasting is anticipated. Powered mechanical equipment can generate significant noise and vibration. The cumulative effects from several machines can be significant. To minimize such impacts, the contractor for subproject should be requested by the construction supervision consultants (engineer) to provide evidence and certification that all equipment to be used for construction is fitted with the necessary air pollution and noise dampening devices to meet EPA requirements.
Table-6.1: National Environmental Quality Standards for Noise Effective from 1st July, Effective from 1st July, 2010 2012 S No. Category of Area/Zone Limit in dB(A) Leq* Day time Night time Day time Night time 1. Residential are (A) 65 50 55 45 2. Commercial area (B) 70 60 65 55 3. Industrial area (C) 80 75 75 65 4. Silence zone (D) 55 45 50 45
Note:
. Day time hours: 6 .00 am to 10.00 pm . Night Time hours: 10.00 pm to 6.00 am . Silence zone: Zones which are declared as such by the competent authority. An area comprising not less than 100 meters around hospitals, educational institutions and courts and courts. . Mixed categories of areas may be declared as one of the four above-mentioned categories by the competent authority. . dB(A) Leq: time weighted average of the level of sound in decibels on scale A which is relatable to human hearing.
108. Noise will be monitored at a distance of 7m from the boundary wall of any residential unit and should follow the NEQS of 45dB (A). 109. Noise from construction of the power distribution lines and improvements to substations is not covered under any regulations however in order to keep in line with best international practice It is recommended that no construction should be allowed during nighttime (9 PM to 6 AM) Any
Page 27 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination noisy equipment should be located within DGS or as far from SRs as possible to prevent nuisances to dwellings and other structures from operation. However, if the noise still exceeds NEQS then noise barriers will be installed around the equipment to reduce the effects of the noise. 110. Vibration from construction of piles to support pads may be required for some tower construction and may be a significant impact but this should be short duration. Where vibration could become a major consideration (within say 100m of schools, religious premises, hospitals or residences) a building condition survey should take place prior to construction. The physical effect of piling should be assessed prior to construction and measures should be discussed with the local population as well as timing of the works to serve as a vehicle for further public consultation at the implementation stage and to assist in public relations. At nearby schools, the contractor shall discuss with the school principals the agreed time for operating these machines and completely avoid machine use near schools during examination times, if such a need arises.
4.5 Potential Environmental Impacts during Operation
4.5.1 Air pollution and noise from the enhanced operations
111. There should be no source of atmospheric pollution from the project. In the operational phase, the distant industrial facilities with fuel powered mechanical equipment will be the main polluters. All such emissions will be very well dissipated in the open terrain and there will be no cumulative effect from the project. 112. The Subproject works will extend the power transmission lines but no houses, mosques or schools will be close to the facilities in the operational phase. Nevertheless, certain offices and residences (such as the proposed apartments) could be close to the DGS. Therefore, it is recommended that an acoustical check be made on the detailed design to determine if any noise barriers are required.
4.5.2 Sanitation, Solid Waste Disposal, Communicable Diseases
113. The main issues of concern are uncontrolled defecation by construction workers, unmanaged disposal of solid and liquid wastes into watercourses, natural drains and improper disposal of storm water and black water. 114. In order to maintain proper sanitation around construction sites, provision of temporary toilets will be made. Construction worker camps will not be located in settlement areas or near sensitive water resources.
4.5.3 Disease Vectors
115. Vectors such as mosquitoes will be encountered at the SP site. Wherever water is allowed to accumulate, in temporary drainage facilities, due to improper storm water management, or improper disposal of wastewater generated from the site, it can offer a breeding site for
Page 28 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination mosquitoes and other insects. Temporary and permanent drainage facilities should therefore be designed to facilitate the rapid removal of surface water from all areas and prevent the accumulation of surface water ponds.
4.5.4 Pollution from oily run-off, fuel spills and dangerous goods
116. Control measures for oily residues, lubricants and refueling are prescribed in the EMP. In most DGS stations of QESCO, maintenance yards have been created but they have no dedicated drainage which can capture run-off. Oily residues and fuel should be captured at source and refueling and maintenance should take place in dedicated areas away from surface water resources. No significant impacts should be allowed to arise in the present Subproject, and final design of the project must pay attention to this aspect. 117. No significant impacts from oily residues such as transformer oil and lubricants are expected to arise in this subproject. However, control measures will be needed for oily residues such as transformer oil and lubricants in the case of accidental or unexpected release. Transformer oil is supplied in drums from an imported source and tap tanks are topped up as necessary on site. There are facilities in some subproject DGS maintenance yards for recycling (dehydrating) oil from breakers. However, the areas upon which these recycling facilities are located have no dedicated drainage which can capture run-off. Oily residues and fuel and any contaminated soil residues should be captured at source by installing bunds and refueling and maintenance should take place in dedicated areas away from surface water resources. Contaminated residues and waste oily residues should be disposed at a site agreed with the local authority.
5. INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
118. The Environmental Management Plan is based on the type, extent and duration of the identified environmental impacts. The EMP has been prepared by reference to and following the best practices and the ADB Environmental Assessment Guidelines2. 119. It is important that the recommendations and mitigation measures are carried out according to the spirit of the environmental assessment process and in line with the guidelines. In this
Page 29 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination section, the mitigation measures that are required, for the power transmission enhancements, to reduce residual impact to acceptable levels and achieve the expected outcomes of the project are discussed. The EMP matrix is presented as Table 5.1. The impact prediction (Section 4) has played a vital role in reconfirming typical mitigation measures and in identifying some different approaches based on the feasibility and detailed design assumptions and any alternatives available at this stage. 120. Prior to implementation and construction of the enhancements the EMP shall be amended and reviewed by QESCO in due course after detailed designs are complete. Such a review shall be based on reconfirmation and additional information on the assumptions made at the feasibility stage on alignment, location scale and expected operating conditions of the project. For example, in this case if there are any additional transmission lines or extension of the substation boundaries to be included, the designs may be amended and then the performance and evaluation schedules to be implemented during project construction and operation can be updated, and costs estimates can be revised. 121. The EMP plan must be reviewed by the project management and approved by the BEPA before any construction activity is initiated. This is also an ADB requirement in order to take account of any sub-sequent changes and fine tuning of the proposals. It is recommended that before the works contract is worked out in detail and before pre-qualification that a full extent of the environmental requirements of the project (IEE / IEE) are included in the bidding documents including the EMP. Past environmental performance of contractors and awareness of environmentally responsible procurement should also be used as indicators for prequalification of contractors. 122. In order to facilitate the implementation of the EMP, during the preparation for the construction phase the future contractors must be prepared to co-operate with the local population in the mitigation of impacts. Furthermore the contractor must be primed through the contract documentation and ready to implement all the mitigation measures and engage trained environmental management staff to audit the effectiveness and review mitigation measures as the project proceeds. The effective implementation of the EMP will be audited as part of the mid term review of loan conditions and the executing agency must be prepared for this. 123. The details of EMP given in Table – 5.1 in the form of the matrix. The impacts have been classified into those relevant to the design/preparation stage, construction stage and operation and maintenance stage. The matrix provides details of the mitigation measures recommended for each of the identified impacts, approximate location of the mitigation sites, time span of the implementation of mitigation measures, an analysis of the associated costs and the responsibility of the institution. The institutional responsibility has been specified for the purpose of the implementation and the supervision. The matrix is supplemented with a monitoring plan (Table 5.2) for the performance indicators. An estimation of the associated costs for the monitoring is given with the plan including physical mitigation costs. The EMP has been prepared following the best practices and the ADB environmental assessment guidelines.
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124. Prior to implementation of the Project, QESCO needs to comply with several environmental requirements, such as obtaining BEPA clearance (―No Objection Certificate‖, compiling acceptable EMP and Clearance Certificate) under PEP Act (guidelines and regulations 2000), securing tree removal and replanting permits from the Department of Forests and any permissions required from the Irrigation Department and Department of Wildlife Services. QESCO will also need to confirm that contractors and their suppliers have complied with all statutory requirements and have appropriate and valid licenses and permits for all powered mechanical equipment, permissions for use of local water supplies in line with the all environmental requirements (e.g. and local authority conditions). 125. The EMP (Table – 5.1) was prepared taking into account the limited capacity of QESCO to conduct environmental assessments and QESCO has yet to engage any graduate staff with field experience. However, an environmental manager will be required. It is envisaged that experience in this field should therefore develop in the near future. However it is also strongly recommended that for subprojects in future Tranches, QESCO be prepared to engage more support where necessary (e.g. senior environmental specialist with at least 3 years experience in environmental management and one year of site experience in environmental monitoring and auditing) to guide the subsequent formal assessment and submission process under the BEPAct and monitor compliance with the EMP. As of October 2007, the QESCO has demonstrated only limited commitment to developing in-house environmental and social capability. 126. Further staff can be engaged later with site experience in environmental monitoring and auditing to guide the subsequent formal assessment and submission process under the PEP Act and monitor compliance with the EMP. Observations suggest that there is little or no environmental awareness with senior management. At this stage, staff members and consultants are responsible for addressing environmental concerns for the MFF, potentially involving hundreds of kilometers of power transmission lines and DGS in later tranches. Most of the environmental work is delegated to consultants. Whereas there is a limited level of awareness at the working level, QESCO staff need more training and resources if they are to effectively provide quality control and oversight for the EMP implementation. Specific areas for immediate attention are in EMP auditing, environmentally responsible procurement, air, water and noise pollution management and ecological impact mitigation. It is recommended that an environmental specialist consultant with 10 years experience covers this aspect full time for at least the first six months of the MFF project and that on a call off basis with local support, those services are retained for the life of the MFF loan. 127. For this subproject and the whole MFF, the environmental staff for the project implementation team must be appointed prior to the outset of the implementation design stage to ensure compliance with the statutory obligations under the BEPAct. It is also recommended that the QESCO progress recruitment of some further in house capability such as an Environmental and Social Unit (similar to the capability that is present in WAPDA and that as soon as possible potentially suitable staff are nominated to be trained and man the unit at least on an inaugural basis. Due to the lack of in-house capability, at this stage in environmental issues, the project
Page 31 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination implementation unit must address all environmental aspects in the detailed design. It is recommended that the project management unit (PMU) will have one technical manager (senior environmental specialist) assigned to address all environmental aspects in the detailed design and contracting stages. In addition, there will be an environmental specialist(s) to cover the implementation of environmental mitigation measures in the project packages. Both shall be members of the supervising consultant‘s team. 128. The environmental specialists will:
. Work in the PMU with QESCO to ensure all statutory environmental submissions under PEP Act and other environmentally related legislation are thoroughly implemented; . Work in the PMU with QESCO to ensure all environmental requirements and mitigation measures from the environmental assessment of Subprojects are included in the contract prequalification and bidding documents; . Work with QESCO to execute any additional IEE and IEE requirements needed due to fine tuning of the subprojects and that environmental performance targets are included in the contracts prior to project commencement; . Work in the PMU with QESCO to ensure all environmental requirements and mitigation measures from the IEEs and IEEs and environmental performance criteria are incorporated in the Subproject contracts or variations and that the EMP is effectively implemented; . Work with management consultant, supervising consultant and contractors to manage and monitor the implementation of the project EMP. . Overall implementation of the EMP will become QESCO‘s responsibility. Other parties to be involved in implementing the EMP are as follows:
129. Contractors: responsible for implementing all measures required to mitigate environmental impacts during construction; 130. Government agencies: such as provincial environmental agencies, and bureaus, at the local level, will be responsible for monitoring the compliance with implementation of environmental conditions related to statutory approvals of subprojects in their areas. 131. QESCO Board of Directors: responsible to ensure that sufficient timely resources are allocated to process the environmental assessments and to monitor implementation of all construction and operational mitigation measures required to mitigate environmental impacts. 132. Considering that other government agencies that need to be involved in implementing the EMP, training workshops should be conducted at every six months or twice each year, for the first 2 years (and annually thereafter) to share the monitoring report on the implementation of the EMP, to share lessons learned in the implementation and to decide on remedial actions, if unexpected environmental impacts occur. 133. The monitoring plan (Table – 5.2) was designed based on the project cycle. During the preconstruction period, the monitoring activities will focus on (i) conducting baseline monitoring; (ii)
Page 32 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination checking the contractor‘s bidding documents, particularly to ensure that all necessary environmental requirements have been included; and (iii) checking that the contract documents‘ references to environmental mitigation measures requirements have been incorporated as part of contractor‘s assignment and making sure that any advance works (protection of specimens and transplantation, design of power transmission etc.) are carried out in good time. Where detailed design is required (e.g. for power transmission lines and avoidance of other resources) the inclusion and checking of designs must be carried out. During the construction period, the monitoring activities will focus on ensuring that environmental mitigation measures are implemented, and some performance indicators will be monitored to record the Project‘s environmental performance and to guide any remedial action to address unexpected impacts. Monitoring activities during project operation will focus on recording environmental performance and proposing remedial actions to address unexpected impacts. The potential to use local community groups contacts for monitoring should be explored as part of the activities in setting up the Environmental and Social Unit which should have regular meetings with the NGOs as a matter of good practice and to discuss matters of mutual concern. 134. At this stage, due to the modest scale of the new power transmission lines and by generally keeping to non-sensitive and non-critical areas the construction and operational impacts will be manageable and no insurmountable impacts are predicted providing that the EMP is implemented to its full extent and required in the contract documents. However experience suggests that some contractors may not be familiar with this approach or may be reluctant to carry out some measures. In order that the contractors are fully aware of the implications of the EMP and to ensure compliance, it is recommended that the cost of environmental measures be treated separately in the tender documentation and that payment milestones are linked to environmental performance, while the carrying out of the EMP. 135. The effective implementation of the EMP will be audited as part of the loan conditions and the executing agency must be prepared for this. In this regard, QESCO (the EA) must be prepared to guide the design engineers and contractors on the environmental aspects.
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Table 5.1: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
Environmental Timing to implement Locations to implement Resp mon Objectives Mitigation Measures recommended Resp Imp MM concern MM MM MM DESIGN STAGE Before the commencement of To minimize damage to 1. Ensure that minimal flora is damaged Flora and Fauna sensitive 1. Flora and Fauna construction ES SMEC ES QESCO flora and fauna 2. Ensure that fauna especially bird nesting’s are not damaged locations activities/during design stage Before the ES QESCO If lines or substation are To minimize hydrological 1. Hydrological flow in areas where it is sensitive, such as water courses or commencement of with the ES 2. Hydrological relocated near water and drainage impacts bridges and culverts. construction SMEC ES QESCO Impacts courses, culverts or bridges during constructions. 2. Design of adequate major and minor culverts facilities will be completed activities/during design (Design in the design stage reports stage Consultant) 1. Conduct detailed acoustic assessment for all residential, school, (other 1. During detailed sensitive structures) within 50m of DGS and line. design stage. No later ES QESCO Ensure cumulative noise Noise sensitive locations 2. If noise at sensitive receiver exceeds the permissible limit, the than pre-qualification or with the ES ES QESCO impacts are acceptable identified in the 3. Noise barriers construction activities should be mitigated, monitored and controlled. tender negotiations. SMEC and ES in construction and IEE/EIA/EMP or as required 3. If noise at sensitive receiver exceeds the permissible limit, the design to 2. Include acoustic (Design SMEC operational phase. / approved by PEPA. include acoustic mitigation (noise barrier or relocation of noisy equipment) specification in the Consultant) and monitoring. contract. 1. Create waste management policy and plan to identify sufficient locations Ensure adequate for, storage and reuse of transformers and recycling of breaker oils and 1.Prior to detailed ES QESCO disposal options for all QESCO ESU. Locations disposal of transformer oil, residually contaminated soils and scrap metal design stage no later with the ES ES QESCO waste including approved by EPA and 4. Waste disposal ―cradle to grave‖. than pre-qualification or SMEC with the ES transformer oil, QESCO and local waste 2. Include in contracts for unit rates for re-measurement for disposal. tender negotiations (Design SMEC residually contaminated disposal authorities. 3. Designate disposal sites in the contract and cost unit disposal rates 2. Include in contract. Consultant) soils, scrap metal. accordingly. Include mitigation in During designing stage 5. Temporary 1. Identify locations where drainage or irrigation crossing RoW may be Locations based on ES QESCO ES QESCO preliminary designs for no later than pre- drainage and affected by works. drainage or irrigation with the ES with the ES erosion control and qualification or tender erosion control 2. Include protection works in contract as a payment milestone(s). crossing RoW near DGS. SMEC SMEC temporary drainage. negotiations. 1. Include EMP Matrix in tender documentation and make contractors 1. During tender Ensure requirements responsible to implement mitigation measures by reference to preparation. and recommendations of EIA/IEE in contract. 2. No later than pre- Noise sensitive locations ES QESCO ES QESCO environmental Include preparation of EMP review and method statement WM plan, qualification or identified in the 6. Contract clauses 2. with the ES with the ES assessment are TD and EC Plan in contract as a payment milestone(s). tender negotiations IEE/EIA/EMP or as required SMEC SMEC included in the 3. Require environmental accident checklist and a list of controlled 3. In bidding / approved by PEPA. contracts. chemicals / substances to be included in the contractor’s work documents as method statement and tender documentation. evaluation criteria. CONSTRUCTION
STAGE To ensure the proper 1. Consideration of weather conditions when particular construction Prepare a thorough 1. Locations of each 1. Hydrology And implementation of any activities are undertaken. drainage management construction activity to be ES SMEC Drainage requirements mentioned 2. Limitations on excavation depths in use of recharge areas for material plan to be approved by listed by the CSC engineer. ES Contractor and Aspects in EPA conditions of exploitation or spoil disposal. CSC one month prior 2. Special locations are ES QESCO approval letter in relation 3. Use of landscaping as an integrated component of construction activity to a commencement of identified on the site by the
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Environmental Timing to implement Locations to implement Resp mon Objectives Mitigation Measures recommended Resp Imp MM concern MM MM MM to Hydrology of the as an erosion control measure. construction contractor to minimize project. 4. Minimizing the removal of vegetative cover as much as possible and disturbances. providing for it s restoration where construction sites have been cleared of Proper timetable 3. A list of locations of such areas. prepared in irrigation channels / drains consideration with the to be compiled and included climatic conditions of in the contract. the area, the different construction activities mentioned here to be guided. Induction course for all 1. QESCO ESU environmental specialist to monitor and progress all site agents and above environmental statutory and recommended obligations. including all relevant To ensure that the CSC QESCO staff / new contractor and workers All staff members in all 2 Conduct special briefing for managers and / or on-site training for the project staff before understand and have categories. Monthly 2. Orientation for contractors and workers on the environmental requirement of the project. commencement of QESCO ES, ES QESCO the capacity to ensure induction and six month Contractor, and Record attendance and achievement test for contractors site agents. work. Contractor with the ES the environmental refresher course as Workers and ES SMEC SMEC . requirements and necessary until contractor 3. Agreement on critical areas to be considered and necessary mitigation At early stages of implementation of complies. measures, among all parties who are involved in project activities. construction for all mitigation measures. construction 4. Continuous progress review and refresher sessions to be followed. employees as far as reasonably practicable. Compile temporary drainage management plan one month before commencement of works. 1. Proper installation of temporary drainage and erosion control before works within 50m of water bodies. To prevent adverse 2. Proper maintenance and management construction of TD and EC 1.ES
water quality impacts measures, including training of operators and other workers to avoid Contractor
due to negligence and pollution of water bodies by the considerate operation of construction
ensure unavoidable machinery and equipment. 2. Contractor
impacts are managed 3. Storage of lubricants, fuels and other hydrocarbons in self-contained has to check 3. Water quality effectively. Ensure dedicated enclosures >50m away from water bodies. water quality 1. 50m from water bodies 2. adverse impacts on 4. Proper disposal of solid waste from construction activities. and report to ES SMEC 1 month prior to Relevant locations to be water quality caused by QESCO. and ES 5. Cover the construction material and spoil stockpiles with a suitable construction. determined in the detailed construction activities QESCO material to reduce material loss and sedimentation and avoid stockpiling project design. are minimized. near to water bodies. review 6. Topsoil stripped material shall not be stored where natural drainage will results be disrupted. 7. Borrow sites (if required) should not be close to sources of drinking water. CONTROL ALL DUSTY MATERIALS AT SOURCE. 1.Construction sites within Contractor To minimize dust 1. All heavy equipment and machinery shall be fitted in full compliance with 100m of sensitive receivers. should effectively and avoid the national and local regulations.(Relevant regulations are in the Motor 2. A list of locations to be maintain complaints due to the QESCO ES 4. Air quality vehicles fitness rules and Road Act). During all construction. included in contract and acceptable airborne particulate / ES SMEC 2. Stockpiled soil and sand shall be slightly wetted before loading, other sensitive areas standard. matter released to the particularly in windy conditions. identified by the CSC along atmosphere. 3. Fuel-efficient and well-maintained haulage trucks shall be employed to the ROW during works. ES SMEC to
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Environmental Timing to implement Locations to implement Resp mon Objectives Mitigation Measures recommended Resp Imp MM concern MM MM MM minimize exhaust emissions. supervise 4. Vehicles transporting soil, sand and other construction materials shall be activities. covered. Limitations to speeds of such vehicles necessary. Transport through densely populated area should be avoided. 5. To plan to minimize the dust within the vicinity of orchards and fruit farms. 6. Spraying of bare areas with water. 7. Concrete plants. to be controlled in line with statutory requirements should not be close to sensitive receptors. Contractor 1. Review requirements for piling and use of powered mechanical should 1.Construction sites within equipment within 100m of SRs. maintain the 100m of sensitive receivers. 2. Review conditions of buildings and conduct public consultation with SRs acceptable
To minimize ground to establish less sensitive time for works involving piling and schedule standards 1 month prior to 2. A list of locations to be QESCO ES 5. Ground Vibration vibrations during works accordingly. construction. included in contract and / SMEC ES construction. 3. Non-percussive piling methods to be used wherever practicable. other sensitive areas 4. Percussive piling shall be conducted in daylight hours. ES SMEC to identified by the CSC along 5. Hammer- type percussive pile driving operations shall not be allowed at supervise the ROW during works. night time. relevant activities. 1. Review requirements for use of powered mechanical equipment within 100m of SRs. Contractor 2. Conduct public consultation with SRs to establish less sensitive time for should works and schedule works accordingly. 1.Construction sites within maintain the 3. All heavy equipment and machinery shall be fitted in full compliance with 100m of sensitive receivers. acceptable the national and local regulations and with effective silencing apparatus to To minimize noise standards minimize noise. 1 month prior to 2. A list of locations to be QESCO ES 6. Noise increases during 4. Heavy equipment shall be operated only in daylight hours. construction. included in contract and / SMEC construction. 5. Construction equipment, which generates excessive noise, shall be other sensitive areas ES SMEC to enclosed or fitted with effective silencing apparatus to minimize noise. identified by the CSC along supervise 7. Well-maintained haulage trucks will be used with speed controls. the ROW during works. relevant 8. Contractor shall take adequate measures to minimize noise nuisance in activities. the vicinity of construction sites by way of adopting available acoustic methods. SCHEDULE WORKS IN SENSITIVE AREAS (e.g. NEAR RIVERS) FOR 1. Locations based on Prevent adverse water DRY SEASON history of flooding problems quality impacts due to 1. In the short-term, temporary drainage and erosion control plan to be indicated by local 1 month prior to negligence and ensure presented with tender. Temporary drainage and erosion control plan one authorities. construction because unavoidable impacts are month before commencement of works to protect all areas susceptible to the area can be subject managed effectively. erosion. (Permanent drainage works shall be in the final design). 2. A list of sensitive areas to unseasonal heavy 2. Installation of TD and EC before works construction within 50m of water during construction to be QESCO ES 7. Soil Erosion / rain Plan before and ES Contractor To minimize soil erosion bodies. prepared by the detail / Surface Run-off during construction (cut and ES SMEC due to the construction 3. Clearing of green surface cover to be minimized during site preparation. design consultant in SMEC ES and fill, land activities of towers, 5. Meaningful water quality monitoring up and downstream at any tower site consideration with the cut reclamation etc.) while stringing of conductors during construction within a river or stream bed. Rapid reporting and and fill, land reclamation, considering the climatic and creation of access feedback to CSC. borrow areas etc. conditions. tracks for project 5. Back-fill should be compacted properly in accordance with QESCO vehicles. design standards and graded to original contours where possible. 3. Locations of all rivers, 6. Cut areas should be treated against flow acceleration while filled areas streams, culverts, irrigation
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Environmental Timing to implement Locations to implement Resp mon Objectives Mitigation Measures recommended Resp Imp MM concern MM MM MM should be carefully designed to avoid improper drainage. channels, roads and roads. 7. Stockpiles should not be formed within such distances behind excavated or natural slopes that would reduce the stability of the slopes or cause slippage. 8. Measures shall be taken to prevent ponds of surface water and scouring of slopes. Newly eroded channels shall be backfilled and restored to natural contours. 9. Contractor should arrange to monitor and adjust working and adopt suitable measures to minimize soil erosion during the construction period. Contractor’s TD and EC plan should be endorsed and monitored but CSC after consulting with concerned. authorities. 10. Replanting trees to be done before the site is vacated and handed back to QESCO with appropriate trees (other vegetation cover as appropriate) to ensure interception of rainwater and the deceleration of surface run-off. (consider also for future trances if civil works) 1. List of borrow areas to be To minimize disruption 1. Use only EPA licensed sites for raw materials in order to minimize prepared with tender stage and contamination of the adverse environmental impacts. contractors method surroundings, 2. Measures to be taken in line with any EPA license conditions, statement and updated one 8. Exploitation, minimize and or avoid recommendations and approval to be applied to the subproject activities month prior to construction. Handling, adverse environ-mental using the licensed source including: ES Contractor month prior to starting 2.List of routes of transport Transportation and impacts arising out of (i) Conditions that apply for selecting sites for material exploitation. and SMEC to QESCO ES of works. Update of construction material is to Storage of construction material (ii) Conditions that apply to timing and use of roads for material transport. agree format / SMEC ES monthly. be prepared for the contract Construction exploitation, handling, (iii) Conditions that apply for maintenance of vehicles used in material of reporting and agreed one month prior materials transportation and transport or construction. to construction. storage by using (iv) Conditions that apply for selection of sites for material storage. 3. Map of locations of sources that comply with (v) Conditions that apply for aggregate production. storage is prepared by the EPA license conditions (vi) Conditions that apply for handling hazardous or dangerous materials contractor. such as oil, lubricants and toxic chemicals. 1. Waste management plan to be submitted to the CSC and approved by QESCO ESU one month prior to starting of works. WMP shall estimate the 1.Dumping: amounts and types of construction and decommissioning waste to be A list of temporary 1.Contractor generated by the project. One month prior to stockpiling areas and more 2. SMEC ES 2. Investigate ways and means of reusing/recycling decommissioned starting of works. permanent dumping areas and QESCO material from the project within PEPCO without any residual environmental Update monthly to be prepared at the ESU should impact. contract stage for supervise and 3 Identifying potential safe disposal sites close to the project, or those agreement take action to designated sites in the contract. ensure that Minimize the impacts 4 Investigating the environmental conditions of the disposal sites and 9.Decommision and contractor’s QESCO/ from the disposal of recommendation of most suitable and safest sites. Waste Management complete ES SMEC construction waste. 5. Piling up of loose material should be done in segregated areas to arrest relevant washing out of soil. Debris shall not be left where it may be carried by water activities to downstream flood plains, dams, lagoons or other water bodies. A list of temporary according to 6. Used oil and lubricants shall be recovered and reused or removed from stockpiling areas and more EIA / IEE / the site in full compliance with the national and local regulations. One month prior to permanent dumping areas EMP 7. Oily wastes must not be burned. Disposal location to be agreed with local starting of works. to be prepared at the requirement & authorities/EPA. Update monthly contract stage for NEQS. 8. Waste breaker insulating oil to be recycled, reconditioned, or reused at agreement (in W M Plan) DISCO’s facility. 9. Machinery should be properly maintained to minimize oil spill during the
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Environmental Timing to implement Locations to implement Resp mon Objectives Mitigation Measures recommended Resp Imp MM concern MM MM MM construction. 10. Machinery should be maintained in a dedicated area over drip trays to avoid soil contamination from residual oil spill during maintenance. 11 Solid waste should be disposed at an approved solid waste facility and not by open burning which is illegal and contrary to good environmental practice. 1. Identify location of work camps in consultation with local authorities. The location shall be subject to approval by the QESCO. If possible, camps shall not be located near settlements or near drinking water supply intakes. 2. Cutting of trees shall not b permitted and removal of vegetation shall be minimized. 3. Water and sanitary facilities (at least pit latrines) shall be provided for employees. Worker camp and latrine sites to be backfilled and marked upon vacation of the sites. 4. Solid waste and sewage shall be managed according to the national and To ensure that the local regulations. As a rule, solid waste must not be dumped, buried or 10. operation of work camps burned at or near the project site, but shall be disposed of to the nearest Work Camp does not adversely sanitary landfill or site having complied with the necessary permits of local UPDATE Once a Location Map is prepared by QESCO Operation and Contractor affect the surrounding authority permission. month the Contractor. ESU / CSC Location environment and 5. The Contractor shall organize and maintain a waste separation, (if required) residents in the area. collection and transport system. 6. The Contractor shall document that all liquid and solid hazardous and non-hazardous waste are separated, collected and disposed of according to the given requirements and regulations. 7. At the conclusion of the project, all debris and waste shall be removed. All temporary structures, including office buildings, shelters and toilets shall be removed. 8 Exposed areas shall be planted with suitable vegetation. 9.QESCO and Construction Supervising Consultant shall inspect and report that the camp has been vacated and restored to pre-project conditions. 1. Tree location and condition survey to be completed one month before tender. 2. The route for the distribution line should be selected so as to prevent the loss or damage to any orchard trees or other trees. Use of higher towers to be preferred to avoid trees cutting. 3. Clearing of green surface vegetation cover for construction, borrow of Tree survey to be completed soil for development, cutting trees and other important vegetation during one month before tender at 11. Loss of Trees To avoid negative Route design and site construction should be minimized by careful alignment. Written technical relevant Locations with a and Vegetation impacts due to removing identification (1 & 2) Justification for tree felling included in tree survey. Map to be compiled prior to Cover of the Areas of landmark, sentinel during design stage SMEC ES and QESCO ES 4. At completion all debris and waste shall be removed and not burned. tender by the design for Towers and and specimen trees as and other matters ES Contractor / SMEC ES 5. The contractor’s staff and labour will be strictly directed not to damage consultant / QESCO ESU Temporary Work- well as green vegetation during construction of any vegetation such as trees or bushes outside immediate work areas. during detailed design and space and surface cover. relevant activities Trees shall not be cut for fuel or works timber. CSC to update as 6. Land holders will be paid compensation for their standing trees in necessary. accordance with prevailing market rates (LARP). The land holders will be allowed to salvage the wood of the affected trees. 7. The contractor will plant three (3) suitable new trees outside the 30 meter corridor of the transmission line in lieu of one (1) tree removed. 8. Landscaping and road verges to be re-installed on completion.
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Environmental Timing to implement Locations to implement Resp mon Objectives Mitigation Measures recommended Resp Imp MM concern MM MM MM 9. Compensatory planting of trees/shrubs/ornamental plants (at a rate of 3:1) in line with best international practice. 10. After work completion all temporary structures, including office buildings, shelters and toilets shall be removed. 1. Providing induction safety training for all staff adequate warning signs 12. Safety in health and safety matters, and require the workers to use the provided Prior to ES To ensure safety of Location to be identified by Precautions for the safety equipment. commencement and ES Contractor QESCO/ workers the CSC with contractor. Workers during construction ES SMEC 2. Providing workers with skull guard or hard hat and hard toe shoes. Minimize disturbance of The most important vehicular traffic and locations to be identified and 1. Submit temporary haul and access routes plan one month prior to 13. pedestrians during Prior to and throughout listed. Relevant plans of the QESCO start of works. ES Contractor Traffic Condition haulage of construction the construction. Contractor on traffic ESU / CSC materials and 2. Routes in vicinity of schools and hospitals to be avoided. arrangements to be made equipment. available. 1. Potential for spread of vector borne and communicable diseases from labour camps shall be avoided (worker awareness orientation and To ensure minimum appropriate sanitation should be maintained). Complaints of public to impacts from ES Contractor 14.Social Impacts Complaints of the people on construction nuisance / damage close to be solved as soon as All subprojects all tranches ES QESCO construction labour 2. ES QESCO ROW to be considered and responded to promptly. possible force. on public health. 3. Contractor should make alternative arrangements to avoid local community impacts. Awareness training for all To ensure that QESCO Capacity building activities were taken by Environmental Officer in Tranche 15. Institutional Initiate preconstruction management and senior officials are trained to 1. Environmental Management Unit (EMU) was setup with in QESCO under QESCO & Strengthening and and continue beyond staff in QESCO at senior QESCO ESU understand and to Director Operations in Tranche 1. Development of strengthening plan for ADB Capacity Building project completion. engineer and above in PMU appreciate EMP the EMU should be taken up with resources. and related units. OPERATIONAL
STAGE Minimize air quality No significant Impacts Tranche 1.Monitor designs and plans for all future all subprojects in future ES QESCO QESCO 1. Air Quality Operational phase impacts tranches. tranches ESU Minimize noise impacts No significant Impacts Tranche 1. Acoustic designs checking and plan for Operational phase all subprojects in future ES QESCO QESCO 2.Noise all future tranches. tranches ESU Minimize improper Continue waste management arrangements in operational phase of all Operational phase all subprojects in future ES QESCO QESCO 3. Waste disposal waste disposal subprojects and QESCO activities. tranches ESU 3. Compensatory Maintain survival of Employ landscaping contractor to monitor, water and feed replacement Operational phase all subprojects in future ES QESCO QESCO tree planting trees planted saplings and replace dead specimens as necessary. tranches ESU 4.Landslides and Avoid landslips and loss No significant Impacts in Tranche 1. Review designs checking and plan for Operational phase all subprojects in future ES QESCO QESCO soil erosion of productive land all future tranches. tranches ESU Minimize water quality No significant Impacts in Tranche 1. Review designs checking and plan for Operational phase all subprojects in future ES QESCO QESCO 5. Water quality impacts all future tranches. tranches ESU Monitor impacts from Operational phase ES QESCO QESCO 6 Crops and maintaining tree all subprojects in future ESU Track growth of large trees under the conductors. vegetation clearance under tranches transmission lines Ensure no Necessary signboards with limits of height clearances to be placed all along Operational phase QESCO 7. Social safety all subprojects in future encroachments / the line. ES QESCO ESU Impacts tranches construction under the Identify and prevent any illegal encroachments under the DXLs..
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Environmental Timing to implement Locations to implement Resp mon Objectives Mitigation Measures recommended Resp Imp MM concern MM MM MM transmission line. No violation of clearance spaces.
ADB = Asian Development Bank, AP = affected people, DDS = detailed design stage, EIA = Environmental Impact Assessment, EMP= environmental management action plan, EPA= Environmental Protection Agency, = Environmental and Social Implementation , GSS = Grid Substation, IOL = Inventory of Losses, LAC = Land Acquisition Collector, LARP = land acquisition and resettlement plan, MM = mitigating measure, NGO = nongovernment organization, PCB = Polychlorinated Biphenyls, PEPAct = Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 (as regulated and amended), REA = Rapid Environmental Assessment, ROW = right of way, RRP = Report and Recommendation of the President, SF6 = sulfur hexafluoride, SR = sensitive receiver, TD = temporary drainage, VDC = Voluntary District Committee, WB = World Bank.
Notes: Based on EIA/IEE reports to be revised at DDS, RAP, SIA and other engineering considerations may change. ADB checks that processes have been completed and signed off by concerned Government entity before moving to construction stage.
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TABLE 5.2: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN FOR TRANCHE - III
Sr. No. Monitoring Parameter Monitoring Locations Timing Responsibility
Design Phase
Audit project bidding documents to ensure IEE Prior to issuance of bidding PEPCO through environmental 1.1 and EMP is included. - documents. officer.
Monitor final site selection and its Prior to PEPCO‘s approval of PEPCO through environmental 1.2 environmental compliance with EMP. - contractor‘s survey. officer.
Monitor performance of environmental trainings and briefings for the environmental Ongoing, prior to and during PEPCO through environmental 1.3 - awareness of project staff and PEPCO. implementation of works. officer.
Construction Phase
Construction sites, PEPCO through environmental 2.1 Observation of soil erosion During routine monitoring campsites officer. At wells and surface water bodies near grid station and construction Before mobilization Contractor/PEPCO campsites Water Quality 2.2
Selected local wells Monthly Contractor/PEPCO Selected locations at nearby surface water Monthly Contractor/PEPCO bodies
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Sr. No. Monitoring Parameter Monitoring Locations Timing Responsibility
Construction Phase (Contd...)
Water Consumption Construction sites, 2.3 Daily Contractor/PEPCO campsites Checks for any damage to water course, 2.4 groundwater wells Construction sites During routine monitoring PEPCO
Construction sites, Before mobilization Ambient air quality campsites 2.5 Contractor/PEPCO Construction sites, Once every two months campsites Construction sites, Checks for exhaust emissions During routine monitoring campsites 2.6 Contractor/PEPCO Construction sites, Checks for dust emissions During routine monitoring campsites, project roads Fortnightly or during the At nearby communities construction activities causing 2.7 Noise Contractor/PEPCO noise.
At nearby communities 2.8 Public concerns Throughout field activities PEPCO
Operation/Maintenance Phase
Selected sites for Compensatory tree planting 3.1 plantation of trees After construction phase PEPCO
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Note: LAFC = Land Acquisition Compensation Fixation Committee. DDS=Detailed design stage. Based on EIA/IEE reports to be revised at DDS, RAP, SIA and other Sr. No. Monitoring Parameter Monitoring Locations Timing Responsibility
Operation/Maintenance Phase (Contd...)
Land under the 3.2 Crops and vegetation transmission line During routine maintenance PEPCO
Population along 3.3 Social safety impacts During routine maintenance PEPCO transmission line
Observations during routine maintenance inspections of facilities. Inspections will include As per PEPCO inspection monitoring implementation of operational PEPCO 3.4 Project site schedules. mitigation measures versus environmental
criteria specified in EMP, waste management and operational noise.
Monitoring any decommissioning activity on During the life of project. 3.5 basis of environmental guidelines. Project site PEPCO engineering considerations may change, EIA=environmental impact Assessment. EMP=, Environmental management action plan = Environmental management plan, EPA= Environmental Protection Agency,. TD = Temporary drainage. EC = Erosion control. NGO = non-government organization.
ADB * = ADB checks that processes have been completed and signed off by DISCO‘S before moving to construction stage.
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6. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
6.1 Approach to Public Consultation
136. This section outlines QESCO‘s approach to and past experiences of stakeholder consultation, identifies the concerned groups of stakeholders, and describes the consultation process carried out as part of the study. The public consultation (PC) process with various stakeholders has been approached so as to involve public and other stakeholders from the earliest stages. Public consultation has taken place during the planning and design, and viewpoints of the stakeholders have been taken into account and their concerns and suggestions for possible improvements have been included where appropriate. Much of the PC process to date has revolved around concerns for the mitigation of construction impacts and the possible side effects from the proximity of high voltage power lines and the DGS station and its equipment. 137. Land for the DGS is under possession of QESCO, after the necessary procedure of purchase, from the management. An LAR Due Diligence Report for the SP is documented separately. It is expected that the public consultation process will continue through all stages of the subproject in order to accommodate stakeholders' aspirations and to orient the stakeholders positively towards the project implementation and where possible to harness cooperation over access issues in order to facilitate timely completion. 138. The public consultation process has commenced in the initial feasibility stages (prior to construction) in order to disclose the project information to the stakeholders and record feedback regarding the proposed project and preferences. The stakeholders involved in the process were the project management, land owners in and around the Khuzdar -Quetta, sp which represents the population likely to be impacted by the DGS and DGL and some members of the local administration.
6.2 Public Consultation Process
139. The public consultation (PC) process with various stakeholders has been approached so as to involve public and other stakeholders from the earliest stages. Public consultations have taken place during the field visit for IEE study data collection. The viewpoints of the stakeholders have been taken into account and their concerns and suggestions for possible improvements have been included, where appropriate. Much of the PC process to date has revolved around concerns for the mitigation of construction impacts and the possible side effects from the proximity of high voltage power lines. 140. There is also ongoing consultation for land acquisition and resettlement (LARP) and the completion of the Resettlement Plan (RP) is documented separately. It is expected that this process will continue through all stages of the subproject in order to accommodate stakeholders' aspirations and to orient the stakeholders positively towards the project implementation and where possible, to harness cooperation over access issues in order to facilitate timely completion.
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141. The public consultation process has commenced in the initial feasibility stages (prior to construction) in order to disclose the project information to the stakeholders and record feedback regarding the proposed project and preferences. The stakeholders involved in the process were the population likely to be impacted along the route of the proposed power lines; the village leaders, school teachers and district administration. 142. QESCO recognizes that consultation is a continuous process that does not stop with the submission or approval of the IEE/EIA but continues into the project execution stage. QESCO values and recognizes the community‘s and all other stakeholders‘ rights, including that of marginalized communities, to information about the project, as well as their right to voice their views and concerns. In keeping with this belief, consultations were conducted in the project area, not only to satisfy the legal requirements of the IEE/EIA process in Pakistan but also to improve and enhance the social and environmental design of the project. 143. Informal and formal meetings were held with primary stakeholders to provide a simple, non- technical description of the project and an overview of the project‘s likely human and environmental impact. This was followed by an open discussion, allowing participants to voice their concerns and opinions. Their feedback and immediate needs were also identified and documented, and the issues and suggestions raised were recorded in field notes. 144. Formal meetings were held with the secondary stakeholders using techniques of face-to- face interviews and telephonic conversations. They were briefed on the IEE/EIA process, the project design, and the potential negative and positive impact of the project on the area‘s environment and communities. It was important not to raise community expectations unnecessarily or unrealistically during the consultation meetings in order to avoid undue conflict with communities or local administrations.
6.3 Results of Public Consultation
145. The consultations identified some potential environmental and social impacts and perceptions of the affected communities. The public consultation result/Response will be included in (Appendix) later on. The project management and the local community support the construction of the DGL, and expressed its anticipation. Residents around the DGL have the view that the DGL and DGS will provide a more stable and uninterrupted power supply in the region, with lesser complaints during storms, with the provision of the DGS in the locality. Poor people requested for unskilled and semi-skilled jobs on priority basis with the contractors during implementation of the project. 146. The following community concerns and observations will be identified during the meetings with locals and data collection process recorded. 147. QESCO, except for the summer season (due to increase in power outages due to shortfall), has a good reputation in the community. The community consultations demonstrated that goodwill towards the project proponent already exists; approval for project activities by the communities was evident. The consultations were considered to be a positive gesture and verbally appreciated.
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148. According to the communities, project activities in the area are expected to improve their well-being by regular power supply and providing employment opportunities. Poor people requested for unskilled and semi-skilled jobs on priority basis with the contractors during implementation of the project. 149. QESCO recognizes that benefits from the project should be distributed judiciously and equitably, especially among primary stakeholders in the project area, and will continue to ensure that this principle is followed in its projects and community development program. 150. Despite the demonstration of goodwill, the communities consulted emphasized that villagers should be informed well in advance of the start of project activities in an area and village elders should be taken into confidence before initiating the work and marking the sites for transmission towers. 151. QESCO recognize the involvement of locals in the project activities. Communities in the project area also emphasized that local villagers should be given priority when employing people for various project-related works and activities. No observation regarding current practice adopted by the project proponent was made. 152. During the meetings with the communities, respondents claimed that in some instances compensation payments for land and damages to crops should not be delayed. According to QESCO‘s policy, compensation will be paid for agricultural land, grazing land, as well as any damage to crops and private property. The compensation process shall be transparent. The QESCO staff accompanying the IEE team explained the procedure of compensation to the locals. The resettlement action plan will elaborate this process further to avoid the delay in compensation. 153. During the data collection process and field visits, in all the target villages, women‘s mobility was cited as a matter in which caution must be exercised. Although no complaints were made, village elders emphasized that QESCO personnel should keep well away from village homes and fields where they see women working. All the work force should be instructed to respect the social norms of the area. The staff of the QESCO is well aware of the social norms of the area and reiterated their commitment to maintaining their distance. The QESCO management is also aware of the sensitivity of the issue and frequently visits the campsites as well as the construction sites to avoid any mishap. The QESCO management ensured that all care would be taken in the implementation of the project. 154. The environmental assessment process under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act only requires the disclosure to the public after the statutory IEE/IEE has been accepted by the relevant EPA to be in strict adherence to the rules. In this IEE, the consultation process was performed to satisfy the ADB requirements. The locations of consultation and people consulted are listed in report. 155. On the basis of the consultations so far, it appears that the project will have no insurmountable environmental and social impacts, but QESCO will have to make sure that compensation and assistance amounts are assessed justly and that skilled and unskilled employment should be preferentially given to the AP as far as is reasonably practicable.
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6.4 Grievance Redress Mechanism
156. In order to receive and facilitate the resolution of affected peoples‘ concerns, complaints, and grievances about the project‘s environmental performance an Environmental Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) will be established the project. The mechanism will be used for addressing any complaints that arise during the implementation of projects. In addition, the GRM will include a proactive component whereby at the commencement of construction of each project (prior to mobilization) the community will be formally advised of project implementation details by Environment Specialist of DISCO, Environment Specialist of SMEC, the design and supervision consultant (DSC) and Environmental Specialist of the contractor (designs, scheduled activities, access constraints etc) so that all necessary project information is communicated effectively to the community and their immediate concerns can be addressed. This proactive approach with communities will be pursued throughout the implementation of each project. 157. The GRM will address affected people's concerns and complaints proactively and promptly, using an understandable and transparent process that is gender responsive, culturally appropriate, and readily accessible to all segments of the affected people at no costs and without retribution. The mechanism will not impede access to the Country‘s judicial or administrative remedies.
6.5 Redress Committee, Focal Points, Complaints Reporting, Recording and Monitoring
158. The Grievance Redress Mechanism, which will be established at the project level is described below: 159. EA will facilitate the establishment of a Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) and Grievance Focal Points (GFPs) at project location prior to the Contractor‘s mobilization to site. The functions of the GRC and GFPs are to address concerns and grievances of the local communities and affected parties as necessary. 160. The GRC will comprise representatives from local authorities, affected parties, and other well-reputed persons as mutually agreed with the local authorities and affected persons. It will also comprise the Contractor‘s Environmental Specialist, SMEC‘s Environmental Specialist and PIU Safeguards/Environmental specialist. The role of the GRC is to address the Project related grievances of the affected parties that are unable to be resolved satisfactorily through the initial stages of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). 161. EA will assist affected communities/villages identify local representatives to act as Grievance Focal Points (GFP) for each community/village. 162. GFPs are designated personnel from within the community who will be responsible for i) acting as community representatives in formal meetings between the project team (contractor, DSC, PIU) and the local community he/she represents and ii) communicating community members‘ grievances and concerns to the contractor during project implementation. The number
Page 47 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination of GFPs to be identified for each project will depend on the number and distribution of affected communities. 163. A pre-mobilization public consultation meeting will be convened by the EA Environment Specialist and attended by GFPs, contractor, DSC, PIU representative and other interested parties (eg. District level representatives, NGOs). The objectives of the meeting will be as follows:
(i) Introduction of key personnel of each stakeholder including roles and responsibilities, (ii) Presentation of project information of immediate concern to the communities by the contractor (timing and location of specific construction activities, design issues, access constraints etc.) This will include a brief summary of the EMP – its purpose and implementation arrangements; (iii) Establishment and clarification of the GRM to be implemented during project implementation including routine (proactive) public relations activities proposed by the project team (contractor, DSC, PIU) to ensure communities are continually advised of project progress and associated constraints throughout project implementation; (iv) Identification of members of the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) (v) Elicit and address the immediate concerns of the community based on information provided above
164. Following the pre-mobilization public consultation meeting, environmental complaints associated with the construction activity will be routinely handled through the GRM as explained below and shown on Figure 6.1:
(i) Individuals will lodge their environmental complaint/grievance with their respective community‘s nominated GFP. (ii) The GFP will bring the individual‘s complaint to the attention of the Contractor. (iii) The Contractor will record the complaint in the onsite Environmental Complaints Register (ECR) in the presence of the GFP. (iv) The GFP will discuss the complaint with the Contractor and have it resolved; (v) If the Contractor does not resolve the complaint within one week, then the GFP will bring the complaint to the attention of the DSC‘s Environmental Specialist. The DSC‘s Environment Specialist will then be responsible for coordinating with the Contractor in solving the issue. (vi) If the Complaint is not resolved within 2 weeks the GFP will present the complaint to the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC). (vii) The GRC will have to resolve the complaint within a period of 2 weeks and the resolved complaint will have to be communicated back to the community. The Contractor will then record the complaint as resolved and closed in the Environmental Complaints Register. (viii) Should the complaint not be resolved through the GRC, the issue will be adjudicated through local legal processes.
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(ix) In parallel to the ECR placed with the Contractor, each GFP will maintain a record of the complaints received and will follow up on their rapid resolution. (x) EA will also keep track of the status of all complaints through the Monthly Environmental Monitoring Report submitted by the Contractor to the DSC and will ensure that they are resolved in a timely manner.
Figure 6.1: Grievance Redress Mechanism
Affected Person through GFP
Contractor Redressed
Not Redressed
Resolve with Implementation (DSC) Redressed Consultant
Not Redressed
Appeal to Grievance Redress Committee Redressed
Not Redressed Grievance Redress Committee Redress Grievance Resolve through Local Legal Process
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7. CONCLUSIONS
7.1 Findings and Recommendations
165. This study was carried out at the planning stage of the project. Primary and secondary data were used to assess the environmental impacts. The potential environmental impacts were assessed in a comprehensive manner. The report has provided a picture of all potential environmental impacts associated with the Project, and recommended suitable mitigation measures. This study recommends that some further follow up studies are undertaken during project processing in order to meet the ADB requirements. 166. There are some further considerations for the planning stages such as obtaining clearance for the project under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (1997) but environmental impacts from the power enhancements will mostly take place during the construction stage. There are also some noise impacts and waste management issues for the construction phase that must be addressed in the detailed design and through environmentally responsible procurement. At the detailed design stage the number of and exact locations for transmission tower enhancements may change subject to detailed surveys but the impacts are likely to be broadly similar at most locations and impacts have been reviewed in the environmental impact section of this IEE report. 167. There are a number of key actions required in the detailed design phase. Prior to construction, QESCO must receive clearance certification from the BEPA and QESCO must complete an EMP that will be accepted by the BEPA and agreed by the contractor prior to signing the contract. The information provided in this report can form the basis of any further submission to BEPA as required in future. 168. Land acquisition, compensation and resettlement is involved and QESCO will have to make sure that compensation and assistance amounts are assessed justly and that skilled and unskilled employment should be preferentially given to the AP as far as is reasonably practicable. 169. However, loss of any trees will be compensated to the concerned parties, if needed. Provisions can be made in LARP, based on the proposed alignments these should not be difficult tasks and can be conducted as the detailed designs are worked out and to dovetail with the existing system and minimize adverse impacts and maximize benefits. A social impact assessment and resettlement action plan (LARP) has been completed in tandem with this IEE for the whole subproject. Studies parallel to this IEE have examined and assessed the overall social and poverty profile of the project area on the basis of the primary and secondary data sources and preparation of a socio-economic profile of the project districts. A social and poverty analysis has been prepared, taking into account socio-economic and poverty status of the project area of influence, including the nature, extent and determinants of poverty in the project area including assessment. In addition, estimation of the likely socioeconomic and poverty reduction impacts of the project should be included. 170. Baseline monitoring activities should be carried out during project detailed design stage to establish the baseline of parameters for checking during the construction stage. The monitoring
Page 50 of 61 Power Distribution Enhancement Multi Tranche Financing Facility - PAK Tranche 3 – Khuzdar-Quetta industrial 132KV DC Transmission line, Initial Environmental Examination schedule (Table – 5.2) recommends monitoring on two occasions at the site location. The results should be integrated with the contract documentation to establish performance action thresholds, pollution limits and contingency plans for the contractor‘s performance. 171. During the commissioning phase, noise monitoring should ensure that statutory requirements have been achieved. Monitoring activities during project operation will focus on periodic recording environmental performance and proposing remedial actions to address any unexpected impacts.
7.2 Summary and Conclusions
172. The expansion of the Khuzdar -Quetta SP is a feasible and sustainable option from the power transmission, engineering, environmental, and socioeconomic points of view. Implementation of the EMP is required and the environmental impacts associated with the subproject need to be properly mitigated, and the existing institutional arrangements are available. Additional human and financial resources will be required by QESCO to complete the designs and incorporate the recommendations effectively and efficiently in the contract documents, linked to payment milestones. The proposed mitigation and management plans are practicable but require additional resources. 173. This IEE, including the EMP, should be used as a basis for an environmental compliance program and be included as an Appendix to the contract. The EMP shall be reviewed at the detailed design stage. In addition, any subsequent conditions issued by BEPA as part of the environmental clearance should also be included in the environmental compliance program. Therefore, continued monitoring of the implementation of mitigation measures, the implementation of the environmental conditions for work and environmental clearance, and monitoring of the environmental impact related to the operation of the Project should be properly carried out and reported at least twice per year as part of the project performance report.
APPENDIX - I
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INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MONITORING PLAN
DISCO‘S have established the Environmental and Social Impacts Cell (ESIC) manned by two professionals and support staff. The DISCO‘S instructional arrangement with respect to social and environmental monitoring and implementation is presented as follows:
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
The institutional arrangements of planning and management of the Power Distribution Enhancement Program (or the ADB-funded Power Distribution Enhancement MFF Project) are described as follows:
Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO)
The Project Management Unit (PMU), PEPCO is the focal organization based in Lahore responsible for the Power Distribution Enhancement Program, for keeping liaison with the Government of Pakistan and Asian Development Bank (ADB) on behalf of all the DISCOs, and taking care of disbursement of funds (including ADB loan) and technical assistance through Consultants to, and coordination of the Program planning and management activities of the DISCOs.
Distribution Companies (DISCOs)
The DISCOs included in the ADB-funded MFF Project (the Program) are:
(1) PESCO: Peshawar Electric Supply Company, Peshawar, NWFP; (2) IESCO: Islamabad Electric Supply Company, Islamabad; (3) GEPCO: Gujranwala Electric Power Company, Gujranwala, Punjab; (4) LESCO: Lahore Electric Supply Company, Lahore, Punjab; (5) FESCO: Faisalabad Electric Supply Company, Faisalabad, Punjab; (6) MEPCO: Multan Electric Power Company, Multan, Punjab; (7) QESCO: Quetta Electric Supply Company, Quetta, Baluchistan; and, (8) HESCO: Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, Hyderabad, Sindh.
Technical Assistance (Consultants)
PMU, PEPCO provides technical assistance to all the eight DISCOs through the consultants, based in Lahore:
Organization for LARP Planning, Implementation and Monitoring
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PEPCO Project Management Unit (PMU) (Project Coordination)
Chief Executive
DISCO
Project Implementation Consultant (PIC)
Chief Engineer Development (QESCO Consultants Subprojects)
External Monitoring Consultant (EMC)
Project Director (PD, GSC) (Grid System Construction)
Project
Implementation through GSC
Deputy Manager (E&S) Province Board (Environment and Social of Revenue Safeguard)
DISCO LAC Assistant Manager Assistant Manager District LAC (Social) (Environment)
Staff / Patwaris Qanugo
Distribution Companies (DISCOs)
DISCO as the implementing agency (IA) bears the overall responsibility for the preparation, implementation and financing of all tasks set out in this LARP, as well as inter-agency coordination required for the implementation of the Subprojects. As such, it takes care of the
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Planning & Engineering Directorate
The P&E Directorate is responsible for preparation of PC-1s, for preparation of load forecasts and feeder analysis. The division is responsible for preparation of the Energy Loss Reduction (ELR) work orders. Formerly subproject preparation and keeping liaison with the Government of Pakistan and Asian Development Bank (ADB), as the donor of this MFF Project had also been the responsibility of this division. But lately the activity has been shifted to the Office of Chief Engineer Development.
Chief Engineer Development
The former Projects Division has now been named as the Office of Chief Engineer Development (CE (Dev)), is responsible for the overall planning, management and coordination of the approved Subprojects. The OCED is currently being assisted by the PPTA Consultants (including the Resettlement Experts responsible for LARP/DDR preparation), in preparing the identified Subprojects in line with the ADB Policies, and obtaining approval from the donor ADB. Its major functions include keeping regular liaison with ADB and relevant departments of the federal, provincial and district governments, preparation, updating and implementation of the LARPs and the related monitoring and evaluation activities.
The OCED contains a specially created cell to take care of the safeguards related activities, namely, the Environmental and Social Cell (ESC), headed by a Deputy Manager, and assisted by two Assistant Managers, Environment and Social, respectively. The Assistant Manager Social is responsible for the preparation/updating, implementation and internal monitoring of the Subproject LARPs, with assistance from DISCO LAC and PIC Resettlement Expert.
The Scope of Work to be handled by the ESC far exceeds the physical and professional ability and capabilities of the incumbents. To support the ESC, to carry out its responsibilities, a Monitoring Consultant should be hired. A Project Implementation Consultant (IC) should also be hired who will also have social and environmental experts to assist QESCO in revising and updating the LARP as and when required, and then in implementation of the LARP. The Consultants will be provided full logistic support (including office space and field transport) by the DISCO.
Project Director (GSC)
The Project Director (GSC) is responsible for implementing the approved Subprojects, including construction/improvement of grid stations and transmission lines. This office is headed by the
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Project Director (GSC), and it will establish Project Implementation Units (PIUs), comprising Engineers and Patwaris, at the respective towns of each Subproject. The PD GSC has an in- house Land Acquisition Collector (LAC) to take care of the land acquisition and resettlement activities.
The DISCO LAC, along with field Patwaris, in addition to implementation of the LARP activities, will provide in-field assistance to the Resettlement Experts of ESIC and PIC in updating, revision and internal monitoring of the LARPs. He normally works as an independent entity, but in case of local needs like price updating, grievance redress, etc., may involve the local Union Councils and other leaders at the local levels, and/or the District LACs and Province Board of Revenue for addressing broader level matters and resolving permanent Land Acquisition issues (not applicable to this Subproject). He will be provided technical assistance by the Resettlement Experts included in both ESIC and PIC teams.
District Government
The district government have jurisdiction for land administration, valuation and acquisition. At the provincial level these functions rest on the Province Board of Revenue while at the district level they rest on the District Land Acquisition Collector (District LAC). Within LAC office the Patwari (land records clerk), carry out specific roles such as titles identification and verification required by the QESCO LAC.
Responsibility for Internal and External Monitoring
Land acquisition and resettlement tasks under the Program will be subjected to both internal and external monitoring. Internal monitoring will be conducted by ESC, assisted by DISCO LAC and PIC Resettlement Expert. The external monitoring responsibilities will be assigned to an External Monitoring Consultant (EMC) to be engaged by PMU, PEPCO according to the Terms of Reference (TOR) that have been approved by ADB.
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SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED COSTS FOR EMP
Implementation for Tranche-III
Estimated Cost Activities Description Pak. Rs. US $ Monitoring activities As detailed under EMP 8312500 87,500 As prescribed under EMP and Mitigation measures 2850000 30,000 IEE
Capacity building Program Training for Staff & Management 2137500 22,500
Transport 1 dedicated vehicle 3 years 1974100 20,780
Contingency contingency 722000 7,600 Hard Area + Security Hard Area + Security allowances 4750000 50,000 issues
Total 20,746,100 2,18,380
1 US$ = 95 Pak. Rupees
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