Initial Environmental Examination June 2012 Sri Lanka: Northern Road Connectivity Project – Additional Financing Northern Provincial Roads Prepared by Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 5 June 2012) Currency unit – Sri Lankan rupee (SLR) SLR1.00 = $0 .0076917160 $1.00 = SLR 130.010000 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank ADT – average daily traffic AC – asphalt concrete AP – affected person BIQ – basic information questionnaire CEA – Central Environmental Authority CEB – Ceylon Electricity Board CSC – construction supervision consultant DA – Department of Archeology DBST – double bitumen surface treatment DoAS – Department of Agrarian Services DoF – Department of Forestry DoI – Department of Irrigation DS – Divisional Secretary DSD – Divisional Secretariat Division DWLC – Department of Wild Life Conservation EA – Executing Agency EIA – environmental impact assessment EMP – environmental management plan EMoP – environmental monitoring plan EMS – environment method statement EO – Environment Officer ES – Environment Specialist GN – Grama Niladhari GND – Grama Niladhari Divisions GRC – Grievance Redress Committee GRM – Grievance Redress Mechanism GSMB – Geological Survey and Mining Bureau IEE – initial environmental examination LA – local authority MENR – Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources MLGPC – Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils MoD – Ministry of Defense MSL – mean sea level NEA – National Environmental Act NGO – nongovernment organization NP – north province NPRDD – Northern Provincial Road Development Department NRCP (PC) – Northern Road Connectivity Project (Provincial Component) PAA – Project approving authority PD – Project Director PDoI – Provincial Department of Irrigation PHI – Public Health Inspector PIU – Project Implementation Unit PRDA – Provincial Road Development Authority PRDD – Provincial Road Development Department RE – Resident Engineer REA – rapid environmental assessment ROW – right-of-way RPPF – Road Project Preparatory Facility TOR – terms of reference WEIGHTS AND MEASURES km – kilometer m – meter NOTE In this report, "$" refers to US dollars. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................... vii Chapter 1 - Introduction .............................................................................. 1 1.1. Project Background and the Justification ....................................................... 1 1.2. Extent and Scope of the Study ...................................................................... 1 1.3. Objective of the IEE Report ........................................................................... 2 1.4. Structure of IEE Report .................................................................................. 2 1.5. Applicable Environmental Legislations .......................................................... 3 1.6. Methodology ................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2 - Description of the Project ........................................................ 7 2.1. Type of the project ......................................................................................... 7 2.2. Category of the project- ................................................................................. 7 2.3. Need for the project........................................................................................ 7 2.4. Location .......................................................................................................... 7 2.5. Analysis of Alternatives ................................................................................ 11 2.6. Size and the Magnitude of Operation .......................................................... 11 2.7. Proposed Schedule for Implementation ....................................................... 12 Chapter 3 - Description of the Environment ............................................ 13 3.1. Kilinochchi District ........................................................................................ 13 3.2. Mullaitivu District .......................................................................................... 27 Chapter 4 - Screening of the Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................. 41 4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 41 4.2. Environmental Impacts Associated with Pre Construction and Construction Stages ..................................................................................... 41 4.3. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures Associated With Operation Period .......................................................................................... 50 Chapter 5 - Institutional Requirements and Grievance Redress Mechanism ............................................................................ 52 5.1. Institutional Arrangements ........................................................................... 52 5.2. Capacity Building ......................................................................................... 53 5.3. Grievance Redress Mechanism ................................................................... 54 Chapter 6 - Environmental Management Plan ......................................... 57 6.1. Environmental Management Plan (EMP)..................................................... 57 6.2. Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMoP) ....................................................... 57 Chapter 7 - Public Consultation and Information Disclosure ................ 59 7.1. Public Consultation ...................................................................................... 59 7.2. Consultation Findings................................................................................... 59 7.3. Information Disclosure ................................................................................. 60 Chapter 8 - Conclusion and Recommendations ..................................... 62 v List of Annexures List of Annexures Annex A Topographical maps of subprojects Annex B Environment Management Plan (EMP) Annex C Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMoP) vi Figure 1 Project Location Diagram Executive Summary Introduction 1.1. Project Background and Justification 1. The proposed Northern Road Connectivity Project (Provincial Component) – NRCP (PC) includes Consultancy Services for the Feasibility and Detailed Engineering Design of 51.92km of 7 C class roads located within Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts of Northern Province (NP) with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) under ADB Loan 2080 SF, Road Preparatory Facility-RPPF. 2. The principal objective of the project is to support the rapid infrastructure development programmes currently undertaken in the Northern part of the country. Insufficient maintenance or improvements of the road due the conflict situation in the past has resulted in highly dilapidated conditions of these roads. The existing poor road network in the area has resulted in disturbance to access and maintaining the social services of the people. Therefore overall improvement in the provincial road network will contribute to transport efficiency and lead to increased road safety, investments in fisheries, agriculture, tourism industries and other infrastructure facilities in the area. 1.2. Extent and Scope of the Study 3. The Environmental Assessment was carried out as a requirement of the Feasibility Study for a total of 7 C class provincial roads in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts of NP. The scope of work includes: field data collection, public consultations, assessment of potential environmental impacts, development of preventive and/or mitigation measures for significant impacts, preparation of Basic Information Questioners (BIQs) for Central Environment Authority (CEA) clearance and Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist for ADB categorization, preparation of Environmental Management and Environmental Monitoring Plans (EMoP & EMP) and finally preparation of a consolidated Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) report. 1.3. Objective of the IEE Report 4. The main objective of the consolidated IEE report is the preparation of a comprehensive account on the environment condition of the project affected area of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu district of NP for the ADB to facilitate decision-making. In detail, the IEE report will address the Physical, Ecological, Economical and Social background settings of the project affected area, anticipated environmental impacts, necessary mitigation measures and obtain public views regarding the project. Furthermore the consolidated IEE report focuses on preparation of a suitable EMoP, recommend institutional arrangements for monitoring of the identified environmental impacts and preparation of EMP to implement during the construction