Initial Environmental Examination Document Stage: Draft Project Number: 41598 ADB Loan Number: 2660 April 2013 India: National Capital Region Urban Infrastructure Financing Facility–Project 1 – Badli-Gurgaon Road Subproject Prepared by Marc Technocrats Private Limited For the Haryana State Roads and Bridges Development Corporation Limited The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. ABBREVIATIONS ADB : Asian Development Bank BIS : Bureau of Indian Standards CBR : California Bearing Ratio CHC : Community Health Centres EC : Environmental Clearance EHS : Environmental Health and Safety EIA : Environmental Impact Assessment EMP : Environmental Management Plan EMS : Environmental Management System EO : Environmental Officer ESMS : Environmental and Social Management System GoI : Government of India GRC : Grievance Redressal Committee HSIIDC : Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation HSRDC : Haryana State Road Development Corporation IA : Implementing Agency IEE : Initial Environmental Examination IRC : Indian Road Congress MDR : Major District Road MoEF : Ministry of Environment and Forest MoRTH : Ministry of Road Transport and Highways MSL : Mean Sea Level NCR : National Capital Region NCRPB : National Capital Region Planning Board NCRUIFF : National Capital Region Urban Infrastructure Financing Facility PHC : Primary Health Centres RoW : Right of Way RPM : Respirable Particulate Matter SC : Supervision Consultant SEIAA : State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority SPM : Suspended Particulate Matter CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION 7 A. Overview 7 B. Environmental Compliance Requirements 7 II. DESCRIPTION OF SUBPROJECT 10 A. Need for the Subproject 10 B. Description of Subproject 10 C. Construction Activities 17 D. Implementation Schedule 17 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 18 A. Physical Features 18 B. Ecological Resources 22 C. Economic Development 24 D. Social and Cultural Resources 25 IV. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 28 V. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 31 VI. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 34 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 35 A. Environmental Impact Mitigation & Monitoring Program 35 B. Training & Capacity Building 43 C. Environmental Management Costs 44 VIII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 45 A. Public Consultations Conducted 45 B. Future Consultation and Disclosure 46 IX. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 47 X. CONCLUSIONS 48 Executive Summary of Initial Environmental Examination Report of Upgradation of Badli- Gurgaon road in Jhajjar /Gurgaon District (Km. 18.100 to Km. 39.000) Proposal The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Report has been prepared for the Upgradation of Badli-Gurgaon road in Jhajjar /Gurgaon District (Km. 18.100 to Km. 39.000). The HSRDC is the implementing agency at the district level under PWD and proponent of the Initial Environmental Examination study for this Badli-Gurgaon road project. Background HSRDC has approached NCRPB for financing the project. It is proposed to fund the project under the National Capital Region Urban Infrastructure Financing Facility (NCRUIFF) supported by Asian Development Bank (ADB). This project covers widening & strengthening of an existing road, including geometric improvements, removing deficiencies and reconstruction of cross drainage structure with new structures Objective The main objective of the IEE study is to identify the impacts of physical, biological, socio- economic and cultural environment of the sub-project area. The specific objectives of the proposed IEE study include: i) Identify the major impacts that may arise as a result of proposed works on biophysical, socio-economic and cultural environment of the project area. ii) recommend practical and site specific environmental mitigation and enhancement measures, prepare and implement environmental monitoring plan for the Subproject, and iii) provide information on the general environmental setting of the sub-project area as baseline data and make sure that IEE is sufficient for the proposed road Subproject Relevancy of the proposal Upgradation of road has several benefits from the project to the people living in the vicinity of project area in terms of easy access, saving of time on travel, easy transportation facilities for people. The widening and strengthening of the proposed road may uplift social and economical status of the local people. Project Description The project road proposed for improvement is a Major District Road, and is an important road of Jhajjar/Gurgaon District. The existing road consists of carriageway width of 10m and 1m to 1.5 wide earthen shoulders on both sides. The present traffic is 17235 pcu at Km. 31/00 the current traffic in the entire stretch of the project road exceeds the DSV. This indicates the immediate requirement of capacity augmentation in form of upgrading carriageway. Sections of the road pass through a few built-up areas with not only inadequate road geometry, but also with various deficiencies such as riding surface distress, weak and unsafe cross drainage structures and safety procedures etc. The project road passes through plain terrain with mild gradients. There are one major drain crossing the existing road, however, there are 19 culverts and 1 Minor Bridges. Beneficial Impacts The development efforts particularly the development of transportation network will have multifold beneficial impacts. The immediate beneficial impacts from road development are apparent in the construction phase like there will be various employment opportunities for the local population, supports for the transfer of construction work skills and technical know-how to the local workers. During operation stage, an improved road access will bring an improvement of food security situation and overall economic and social stability. The road will also provide cheap, safe and fast transport of goods and services from rural areas to urban centers and vice versa. The farmers will be more interested to increase agricultural production due to market accessibility. This will contribute significantly to increase the productivity in rural areas and eventually improve the overall socio-economic condition of the people. There is a possibility of increased economic opportunities and significant growth and extension of the local markets along the road alignment. In addition, construction of road will lead to appreciation of land values particularly near the market and settlement areas. Adverse Impacts The physical adverse impacts during construction will be due to change in land use, slope instability and air, dust and water pollution, quarry sites and spoil disposal. The adverse physical impacts during road operation are slope instability and management, air and noise pollution, and road safety. Likewise, biological impacts are depletion of forest resources. Socio-economic impacts are due to new settlement and market center development, change in social behavior during road operation. Benefit Augmentation and Mitigation Measures Impacts from the proposed road projects can be both beneficial as well as adverse. An effective implementation of benefit maximization measures and adverse impacts mitigation measures would optimize the benefits expected from the project and avoid/minimize the adverse impact from the project. Based on the impact assessment and identification, beneficial augmentation and adverse impact mitigation measures are presented in both constructions as well as in operation stage of the road. Mitigation Measures Spoils should be safely disposed and managed with minimum environmental damage using LEP approach which includes balanced cut and fill volume, re-use of excavated materials and minimum quantity of earth works and adoption of bio-engineering techniques. Adequate slope stabilization measures will be provisioned in design for the stabilization of slopes. Unstable sites, erosion prone area, dense forest area, settlements, fertile farm land will be avoided for quarrying operation. The workers will be provided with helmets, masks, muffles depending on the nature of the construction work. Drinking water facility and temporary pit latrine will be established and disposal of excavated materials in the water bodies will be avoided. Workers will be provided with medicines and group accidental insurance facility. During operation stage, minor landslide and mass wasting will be immediately cleared and slope restored with appropriate technology. Environmental Management Plan Environmental management plan is an important tool to ensure the implementation and monitoring of mitigation measures for minimizing adverse impacts and maximizing the beneficial impacts. Similarly, environmental monitoring generates useful information and improves the quality of implementation of mitigation measures. Conclusion and Recommendation The main objective of the proposed Upgradation of Gurgaon-Chandu-Badli-Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar/Gurgaon District (Section Badli to Gurgaon Km 18.100 To Km 39.000 in Jhajjar/Gurgaon district) is to :- o Reduce time taken to travel on the road with reduced traffic congestion. o Reduce road accidents o Improve ride quality, reduce air pollution Thus ultimately this subproject aims to improve overall socio-economic conditions. This initial environmental examination has been conducted to identify and assess negative impacts. The project involves straightforward