Initial Environmental Examination (Draft)
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Initial Environmental Examination (Draft) August 2013 IND: Rural Connectivity Investment Program – Project II Assam Prepared by Assam Rural Road Development Agency for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS as of 16 August 2013 Currency unit – Indian rupee (Rs) Rs 1.00 = $ .01628 $1.00 = Rs 61.4250 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank BIS – Bureau of Indian Standards CD – Cross Drainage CGWB – Central Ground Water Board CO – Carbon Monoxide COI – Corridor of Impact DM – District Magistrate EA – Executing Agency EAF – Environment Assessment Framework ECOP – Environmental Codes of Practice EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMAP – Environmental Management Action Plan EO – Environmental Officer FEO – Field Environmental Officer FGD – Focus Group Discussion FFA – Framework Financing Agreement GOI – Government of India GP – Gram panchyat GSB – Granular Sub Base HA – Hectare HC – Hydro Carbon IA – Implementing Agency IEE – Initial Environmental Examination IRC – Indian Road Congress LPG – Liquefied Petroleum Gas MFF – Multitranche Financing Facility MORD – Ministry of Rural Development MORTH – Ministry of Road Transport and Highways MOU – Memorandum of Understanding NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards NC – Not Connected NGO – Non-governmental Organization NOx – Nitrogen Oxide NRRDA – National Rural Road Development Agency PIU – Project Implementation Unit PIC – Project Implementation Consultants PRIs – Panchyati Raj Institutions PMGSY – Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana POL – Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants PPTA – Project Preparation Technical Assistance ROW – Right-of-Way RPM – Respirable Particulate Matter RRP – Report and Recommendation of the President SRRDA – State Rural Road Development Agency SBD – Standard Bidding Documents SO2 – Sulphur di-Oxide SPM – Suspended Particulate Matter TA – Technical Assistance TOR – Terms of Reference TSC – Technical Support Consultants UG – Upgradation WBM – Water Bound Macadam MPRRA – Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Agency ZP – Zilla Parishad WEIGHTS AND MEASURES km – kilometer m – meter NOTE In this report, "$" 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 1 A. Project Background ..................................................................................................... 1 B. Project Roads Identification and Location .................................................................... 1 C. Rural Road Construction Proposal ............................................................................... 2 D. ADB Safeguard Policies and Category of the Project................................................... 2 E. Objectives and Approach for Environmental Assessment ............................................ 3 F. IEE Methodology and Content .................................................................................... 3 G. Legal Framework and Legislative Requirements: ........................................................ 4 H. Acknowledgement ....................................................................................................... 5 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 6 A. General........................................................................................................................ 6 B. Sample Roads Selected in Assam State...................................................................... 6 C. Project Description ...................................................................................................... 6 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 10 A. Background ............................................................................................................... 10 B. Physical Environment ................................................................................................ 10 C. Biological Environment / Ecological Resources ......................................................... 18 D. Socioeconomic Environment ..................................................................................... 21 IV. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ITS MITIGATION MEASURES 29 A. Common Impacts during Design and Construction Phase ......................................... 29 B. Common Impacts during Operation Phase ................................................................ 38 C. Road Specific Impacts ............................................................................................... 39 V. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN, INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND GRIEVANCE ADDRESS MECHANISM 40 A. Environmental Management Plan .............................................................................. 40 B. Environmental Monitoring Plan .................................................................................. 40 C. Institutional Arrangements and Responsibilities ......................................................... 41 D. Institutional Environmental Responsibilities ............................................................... 41 E. Environmental Assessment and Review Framework (EARF) for RCIP ...................... 45 F. Capacity Building ....................................................................................................... 46 G. Consultation and Information Disclosure .................................................................... 46 H. Grievance Redress Mechanism ................................................................................. 47 VI. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 48 A. General...................................................................................................................... 48 B. Compliance with Relevant Regulatory Requirements ................................................ 48 C. Beneficiaries’ Comments ........................................................................................... 48 VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 51 A. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 51 B. Key Recommendations .............................................................................................. 52 List of Tables Table II.1 : Summary of District Wise Rural Roads .................................................................... 6 Table II.2 : ROW Requirement .................................................................................................. 7 Table III.1 : Maximum observed Ambient Air Quality during 2008 .............................................12 Table III.2 : Ambient Air Quality Status of Assam in Previous Years .........................................12 Table III.3 : Land Use Pattern in the State .................................................................................16 Table III.4 : Hydro geological Conditions of Project District / Assam .........................................18 Table III.5 : Mammals Recorded In Guwahati City And Forest Area ..........................................19 Table III.6 : List of Fauna ..........................................................................................................19 Table III.7 : List of Protected Areas in Assam ............................................................................20 Table III.8 : Demographic Profile ...............................................................................................22 Table III.9 : Demographic, Socioeconomic and Health profile of Assam State ..........................22 as compared to India figures .....................................................................................................22 Table III.10 : Salient Environmental Features of Sample Roads ................................................25 Table IV.1 : List of Sample Subproject Roads Prone to Flood and Erosion ...............................29 Table VI.1 : Addressal of Issues and Concerns under the Project .............................................50 List of Figures Figure II.1 : Cross-section of Rural Roads .................................................................................. 9 Figure III.1: Climate Map of Project Districts –Assam ................................................................11 Figure III.2: Physiography of Project Districts –Assam ..............................................................13 Figure III.3: Geomorphology & Landforms Maps of Project Districts –Assam ............................13 Figure III.4: Geological Map of Assam ......................................................................................13 Figure III.6: Hazard and Seismic Zone Map ..............................................................................15 Figure III.5: Soil map of Assam .................................................................................................15 Figure III.7: Landuse of Assam .................................................................................................16 Figure III.8: Drainage Map of Project Districts of Assam ...........................................................18 Figure III.9: Protected Areas of Assam