Initial Environmental Examination November 2018 Sri Lanka: Railway Efficiency Improvement Project Prepared by the Project Management Unit, Colombo Suburban Railway Project, and Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 14 October 2018) Currency unit – Sri Lanka Rupee/s (SLRe/SLRs) SLRe1.00 = $0.005891 $1.00 = SLRs169.74 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank CBO – community-based organization CEA – Central Environmental Authority CMC – Colombo Municipal Council CMESD – Chief Mechanical Engineers Sub Department CMR – Colombo Metropolitan Region CSRP – Colombo Suburban Railway Project DMU – diesel multiple unit DPD – Deputy Projects Director DSD – Divisional Secretary Division EIA – environmental impact assessment EMoP – environment monitoring plan EMP – environment management plan EPL – environmental protection license FGD – focus group discussion GND – Grama Niladhari Division GRC – grievance redress committee GRM – grievance redress mechanism IEE – initial environment examination IEER – initial environment examination report kmph – kilometer per hour LPG – liquid petroleum gas MOTCA – Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards NEA – National Environmental Act OH&TCC – Operation Headquarter and Train Control Center PAA – Project Approving Agency PIC – Project Implementing Consultant PM – respirable particulate matter PMU – project management unit REA – rapid environment assessment REIP – railway efficiency improvement project SDS – Social Development Specialist SLR – Sri Lanka Railways SLGRTTC – Sri Lanka German Railway Technical Training Center SPS – Safeguard Policy Statement SSEMAP – Site Specific Environmental Management Action Plan TOR – terms of reference TSPM – total suspended particulate matter UDA – Urban Development Authority WHO – World Health Organization 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 ............................................................................................................... i I. Introduction and Project Background ............................................................................ 1 A. Objective of the Proposed Project ......................................................................... 2 B. Objective of this Initial Environmental Examination ............................................... 2 C. Approach and Methodology for this Study ............................................................. 2 II. Policy, Legal, and Administrative Framework ............................................................... 4 A. Applicable National Laws, Regulations, Standards and Requirements .................. 4 B. ADB Policy on Environmental and Social Safeguards ........................................... 6 C. International Agreements and Conventions ........................................................... 8 III. Description of the Project ........................................................................................... 10 A. Location of the Project ........................................................................................ 10 B. Need of the Project ............................................................................................. 10 C. Analysis of Alternatives ....................................................................................... 16 D. Project Activities .................................................................................................. 16 E. Project Implementation Schedule ........................................................................ 18 IV. Description of the Environment ................................................................................... 20 A. Existing Land Use Within Each Subcomponent ................................................... 20 B. The Physical Environment ................................................................................... 26 C. Biological Environment ........................................................................................ 40 D. Social and Economic Environment ...................................................................... 42 V. Screening of Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................... 47 A. Location Impacts ................................................................................................. 47 B. Design and Preconstruction Impacts ................................................................... 49 C. Impacts During Construction ............................................................................... 55 D. Operational Impacts ............................................................................................ 65 E. Beneficial Impacts ............................................................................................... 67 F. Climate Change Adaptation ................................................................................ 67 VI. Institutional Requirements, Environmental Management Plan and Capacity Building . 70 A. Institutional Arrangements ................................................................................... 70 B. Environmental Management Plan ....................................................................... 70 C. Monitoring and Reporting .................................................................................... 71 D. Capacity Building on Environment Safeguards .................................................... 72 VII. Grievance Redress Mechanism .................................................................................. 73 VIII. Information Disclosure, Consultation, and Participation .............................................. 76 IX. Findings and Recommendations ................................................................................ 80 X. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 81 LIST OF ANNEXES Annex 1: Rapid Environmental Assessment Checklist ........................................................ 82 Annex 2: Preliminary Design Drawing Of New Training Wing .............................................. 85 Annex 3: Preliminary Design Drawing for Malapalla Medium Rise Housing Scheme (Layout of Upper Floors) ..................................................................................................... 86 Annex 4: Preliminary Design Drawing for Malapalla Medium Rise Housing Scheme (Layout of Ground Floor - Parking) ...................................................................................... 87 Annex 5: Meeting Minutes Between Officials Of Mot&CA, CSRP And UDA ........................ 83 Annex 6: Cabinet Approval for Divesting the Land .............................................................. 83 Annex 7: Extract of Site Survey Plan of OH&TCC ............................................................... 89 Annex 8: Extract of Site Survey Plan of Malapalla Site ........................................................ 90 Annex 9: Sampling Locations with Respect To OH&TCC Site ............................................. 91 Annex 10: Sampling Locations with Respect To School Lane Underpass Site .................... 92 Annex 11: Sampling Locations with Respect To New Workshop and Training Wing ........... 93 ........................................................................................................................................... 93 Annex 12: Sampling Locations with Respect to the Site for Medium Rise Building for Housing Units ..................................................................................................................... 94 Annex 13: List of Flora and Fauna Observed within the Sites for the Six Subcomponents of REIP ............................................................................................................................... 95 Annex 14: Proposed Institutional Structure ......................................................................... 97 Annex 15: Environmental Management Plan ...................................................................... 98 Annex 16: Environmental Monitoring Plan ......................................................................... 124 Annex 17: Summary of One-On-One Interviews ............................................................... 128 Annex 18: Scanned Copy of Information Flyer .................................................................. 130 ......................................................................................................................................... 131 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Applicable National Laws and Regulations for the Project ....................................... 4 Table 2: Names of the DSDs, GNDs, and Local Authorities within which the Proposed Project Components Involving Civil Works are Located ...................................................... 10 Table 3: Tentative Project Implementation Schedule for the Six Subcomponents with Civil Works Under REIP