Public Disclosure Authorized Government of Nepal Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Department of Roads Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) Report Of Public Disclosure Authorized Kakarbhitta – Pathalaiya Road Corridor, including Kamala - Dhalkebar – Pathalaiya Road Segment, of Mahendra Highway (MRM) CONTRACT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: NIRTTP-DOR-S-QCBS-2 Submitted to: Public Disclosure Authorized Department of Roads, Foreign Cooperation Branch, NIRTTP And Geo-Environment and Social Unit (GESU), Chakupat, Lalitpur Kathmandu, Nepal Prepared by: JV of Environment & Resource Management Consultant (P) Ltd.; Group of Engineer’s Consortium (P) Ltd. And Public Disclosure Authorized Udaya Consultancy (P.) Ltd. January 2020 Table of Contents Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. vii List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. viii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1: Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose of this Document ..................................................................................................2 1.3 Structure of the Report .......................................................................................................3 1.4 Methods adopted to prepare the ESA Report ....................................................................3 CHAPTER 2: Regulatory and policy network for ESA process in Nepal .......................................4 2.1 Legal requirements in Nepal ..............................................................................................4 2.2 Legal and institutional framework for EIA and IEE process in Nepal ..............................5 2.3 International agreements and treaties .................................................................................7 2.4 World Bank Environment and Social Framework .............................................................8 World Bank ESF Policy, Directives and Standards – Extent of Relevance .............................................. 8 2.5 Analysis of legal and institutional issues and gaps in implementation of social and environmental plans ...............................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 3: Project Description .................................................................................................17 3.1 Motivation of the Project .................................................................................................17 3.2 Site Description ................................................................................................................18 3.3 Project Area of Influence .................................................................................................18 3.5 Description of the Project Area ........................................................................................18 CHAPTER 4: Baseline Conditions ................................................................................................20 4.1 Physical Environment and Selected Valued Environmental Components (VECs) .........21 4.1.1. Topography and Geomorphology ............................................................................22 4.1.2. Natural Drainage and Watershed Management .......................................................23 4.1.3. Soils ......................................................................................................................25 4.1.4 Land Use .......................................................................................................................27 4.1.5. Atmosphere (Air and Noise, Solid Waste Management etc.) ..................................27 4.2 Biological Environment and Selected Valued Environmental Components ...................30 4.2.1. Environmentally Sensitive Areas .............................................................................30 4.2.2. Terrestrial Habitat ................................................................................................41 4.2.3. Aquatic Habitat ........................................................................................................46 4.2.4. Threatened and Endangered Species .......................................................................48 4.3 Socio-economic and Cultural Environment and Selected Valued Social Components (VSCs)....................................................................................................................................53 4.3.1. Land and Resource Use ...........................................................................................53 4.3.2. Population, Infrastructure and Services ...................................................................55 4.3.3. Economy and Well-being ........................................................................................57 4.3.4. Community Life .......................................................................................................58 CHAPTER 5: Analysis of Alternatives .........................................................................................61 5.1 Existing Issues and Predicted Impacts in the Project Area on Valued Components .......61 5.2 Alternative 1: “Do Nothing” ............................................................................................62 5.3 Alternative 2: Upgrades of Existing Road to 4-lane Highway ........................................64 5.4 Site-specific Alternatives .................................................................................................69 5.4.1. New Bridge Construction ........................................................................................69 5.4.2. By-pass Area in the Populated Urban Centers .........................................................70 5.4.3. Alternative Roads in Environmentally Sensitive Areas ...........................................70 5.4.4. Coordinated Linear Structure Plans and Mitigation Measures ....................................70 5.4.5. Summary of Additional Adjustments to Design ..........................................................71 CHAPTER 6: Significant Environmental Impacts ........................................................................77 6.1 Beneficial Issues ..............................................................................................................77 6.1.1. Construction Stage .......................................................................................................77 6.1.2. Operation Stage ............................................................................................................78 6.2 Adverse Issues .................................................................................................................81 6.2.1. Physical and Chemical Environment ...........................................................................81 6.2.2. Biological Environment ...............................................................................................89 CHAPTER 7: Social Impacts.......................................................................................................104 7.1 Socio-economic and Cultural Environment ...................................................................104 7.2 Adverse Impacts on Socio-economic Environment ..................................................105 7.3 Management Issues ....................................................................................................108 7.5 Enhancement and Other Issues ......................................................................................109 CHAPTER 8: Assessment OF CUMULATIVE Impacts ......................................................110 8.1 Specific assessment of the Road Segments along the KP Corridor ..............................110 8.2 Scenario-based Analysis of Environmental and Social Impacts ....................................110 CHAPTER 9: Environmental and Social Management Plan .................................................123 9.1 Management Strategy/Plan ………………………………………………………………….123 9.2 Objectives of Environmental and Social Management Plan ..........................................124 9.3 Summary of Potential Environmental and Social Impacts ............................................125 9.3.1 Construction Phase.................................................................................................125 9.3.2 Operations Phase ....................................................................................................126 9.3.3 Environmental and Social Safeguards ...................................................................126 9.4. Mitigation Measures .....................................................................................................126 9.4.1. Design Phase ..........................................................................................................127