E2200 v3 Environment and Social safeguard , I Public Disclosure Authorized Assessment Report of , The Second Phase Four-lane Highway Wid~ning Project Route 201: A.Sikhio - Chaiyaphum I, (A.Sikhio -- B.Nongbuakhok)i . Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized February 2009 By Public Disclosure Authorized Environment Group Bureau of Planning Department of Highways Table of Content Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Project Description 3 3 Environment and Social Background 7 4 Social Safeguard Screening 16 5 Impact Assessment and Mitigation Measure 20 6 The Environmental Management Plan 26 7 The Monitoring Plan 36 8 Public Involvement 43 9 Conclusion 46 ANNEX I: Resettlement Impacts Data 47 ANNEX II: Picture of the Public Involvement Process 48 1. INTRODUCTION The Ministry of Transport by the Department of Highways planned to ~den the pJary routes linking the Bangkok Metropolitan Area to each region in order to cope with;the rapid inc~ease of the need for transportation. The plan included a total distance of 1 ,891 kilom~ters and wa~ completed I . I in 1999. The second phase of widening for further primary routes were p~oposed and ~pproved in principle to enhance provincial link within the region in 1995. This plan included a tot~1 length of 4,366 kilometers. As shown in Figure 1, this project is a part of the secol[ld phase of Jidening for further primary routes and is located in Nakhon Ratchasima province as p~rt of Route 2d1. This project comprises two parts: • . • Part 1: KM 1+400 - KM 25+500 (Route 201) and KM 0+700 - KiM 7+948 CBYlass) • Part 2: KM 25+500 - KM 52+300 . ; .' • I I I . i I The widening would be undertaken mostly on both sides of the currE)nt route that! is 58.148 kilometers of a two-lane asphaltic concrete highway. I The purpose of the environment and social safeguard assessment report Is ~ Identify environmental and social issues associated with the project required for fI World BanK loan. The environment and social safeguard assessment report presents key inforrnation on the ~roject and . background data on location, including findings during field visit, identi1ic~tion of potential impacts and required mitigations, and a proposed action plan to be executed by DOH rUring the implementation of the project. I 2 DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC 0/' LAOS KAMPUCHEA GULF OF THAILAND NETWORK 1 - NETWORK. NE1'WORK3 - >JETWORK< NETWORK 5 NETWORKS N"TWORKS - NE1'WORK9 NETWORK 10 14EW':OR~" i1 - NE'TWORK12 MALAYSIA Figure 1; The second phase four-lane highway widening project 3 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2.1 Type of Project . I According to World Bank's project classification, this project has been cat~orized as a pategory B project since: . : I : ~~: :~:~::: ::~~:i~:~~~:::::~:::::~:h~~~hl::::::~i::~::tway;· l: • The project related impacts are site specific, and the mitigatiob can be dev loped and implemented . 2.2 Need for the Project The widening ~iII fCicilitate the traffic along the existing two-lane highway; ~roviding add,tional road capacity to cope with the rapid increase of traffic across the region. In addition, it is antiGipated that the. highway-widening project would stimulate economic activity and gr9wthof the ntrtheastern region. ' I 2.3 Project Location i.~ The highway widening is proposed for route 201, beginning at the KM 1+400 of Route 2 1 and' KM 0+700 of Bypass at Amphoe Sikhio, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.: The project is in the . I , ' northeasterly direction to the end at Route 201 KM 52+300, Ban Nongbuakhok, Tamboni Nong Bua Takiad, Amphoe Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, as sh<iwn in Fi9urel2: Project Location. 2.4 Description of the Project The project objective is to enhance the existing network highway capaqity, 'which cohseqUentlY results in road safety improvement and economic growth stimulation. l[he project p~oposed to widen 58.148 kilometers of roadway and bridges along Route 201andB~pass, startin~ from the existing two-lane configuration to four~lane. The widening would b.e car\iedout mostly on both sides of the existing route, which is a two-lane asphaltic concrete and wIll be within t~e existing right of ways (ROW) throughout. General condition of the road surface is fair paved Wit~ asphaltic concrete and there are fifteen concrete bridges at water body crossing. irhe proposed widening i ' schemes are shown in Figure 5. .! I KM. Left (m.) Right (m.) i, I Total m.) , l! i 1+400 52+300 20.00 20.00 . I 40.60 0+700 2+823 (Bypass) , i 30.00 30.00 I 60·tO 3.435 - 7+948 (Bypass) i 2.823 - 3+435 (Bypass) 45.00 45.00 90.do 4 Figure 2: Project Location F;gure 3: Beg;nn;ng ofthe project (KM 1+400 of Route 201 and KM 0+700 of BypasrJ Figure 4: End of Project (KM 52+300 of Route 201) 6 Construct the new road on the right side with depressed median KM 0+700 to KM.7+948 (Bypass) Improve the road surface without widening . KM 1+400 to KM 6+038 Construct the new road on the both sides with raised median KM 6+038 to KM 52+300 Figure 5: Proposed Widening Schemes 7 I I 3. ENVIRONMENT & SOCIAL BACKGRqUND I 3.1 Environment Background The road passes through alternately flat terrain with most area of cassav:a, corn, and sugar cane I . plantation and some appearance of paddy field. The soil along the project ~Iignment is ~andY loam. The CBR v:alue is about 6%. The land along the proposed highway widehing is gener~Hy flat. No significant erosion and sedimentation problems associated with this project would be antIcipated. Figure 6: Plantation around the roadway Climatic data at Nakhon Ratchasima station are av:ailable for·30 years b~. tween 196111990. The av:erage highest temperature is 36.5 °C in April. Theav:erage lowest te~perature is 1,6.8 °C in January. The climate is tropical monsoonal, with a pronounced wet seasdn from May t~ October. The mean annual rainfall in this region is 1,065.9 mm. The proposed projef.t is not withil· a seismic zone. 'i' ' No data .av:ailable on ambi~nt nOise.lev:el in the project area. Howev:er, 'J'/ht·,ncomparinglwith. other 4-lane roads in adjacent areas, there is no impact of noise on communities nd sensitiv:e receptors. I There are no monitoring results of ambient air quality of the areas arou~d the project highway. Howev:er, the areas are open, which could enhance the dispersion and dilution of air pbHutants if any. In addition, the sensitiv:e receptors, e.g. schools, and hospital are not immediately adjacent to . I the ROW. I I There are fifteen minor creeks crossed by the project highway. Mostly, the water lev:el~ are quite low during dry season and usually indifferent during wet season. The water quality lof creeks crossed is within class three of surface water classification of Ministry of S~ience, Technblogy and 8 Environment i.e. water is suitable for agricultural purpose and can be used for domestic consumption after treatment. The widening of the project road will be within the existing right-of-way. The land adjacent to. the right-of-way of the project is mostly cassava, corn, sugar cane plantation, and paddy field. The species of vegetation found along the existing roadside are not rare, endangered, or endemic species. There are no ecological. resources such as fisheries, aquatic biology, wildlife, or forests. There are fifteen minor creeks crossed by the project highway. All of the existing bridges. will be either enlarged or demolished and reconstructed depending on the conditions of the bridges. The bridges constrwction wouldn't cause serious impact on aquatic ecology as the quality of water bodies crossed by the project highway is classified as class three and the cOl)tractor will. be required to implement the mitigation measures to prevent or miti{;jate impacts on water quality. The existing drainage structures are shown in Figure 7. Figure 7: The Existing Drainage Structure One railroad is crossed by the project roadway at KM 3+214. The project alignment crosses route no. 2161, 2256, 2148, 2217, and the other local. roads. Moreover, Transportation of agricultural products is observed during DOH site visit as presented in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 9, there is a shrine within the existing ROW on the left side between KM 34+000 - 34+500. 9 Figure 8: Agricultural products transportation along the project Figure 9: Shrine within existing ROW 3.2 Social Background 'I In this proposed highway section, there are approximately 5 villages, 5 temples, 9 sch1ols, and 2 public health facilities and other government offices. There are no archeological and historic sites in , ' I the vicinity of the project road. Adjacent to the highway but outside DOH's right-of-way. there are some paddy fields along with cassava, corn, and sugar cane plantation. ; . ,I , r . ; . ; i Th.ere a..•. re .small com. mUnitie.s along both sides of theroaaway. The activ.ities undertal'.en mostly along the roadside close to the intersection are: . ': .,', . ; I , .' The selling of goods; .and :, . , • Smail business such as vehicle repair shop, gas station, and restauranf· I There are large communities at Amphoe Dan Khun Thot along the roadway from KM 38+000 to • . ! 40+000. This area supports many commercial buildings and small enterprises. According.to the site , . I 10 visit, this area is highly developed and populated. This roadway section is four to eight lane undivided highway as presented in Figure 10. Figure 10: Amphoe Dan Khun Thot (KM 38+000 -.KM 40+000) ~, ~ Major income generated locally is from plantation, .props, and small business (e.g.