Updated-Environmental-And-Social-Impact-Assessment-For-Indicative-Feeder-Roads-In
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RTDA/ Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project –Project ID: P 126498, P158092 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of selected feeder roads in Gatsibo district REPUBLIC OF RWANDA Public Disclosure Authorized RWANDA TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RTDA) Public Disclosure Authorized FEEDER ROADS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (FRDP) UPDATED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA) Public Disclosure Authorized FOR REHABILITATION, UPGRADING AND MULTI-YEAR MAINTENANCE WORKS OF INDICATIVE FEEDER ROADS Public Disclosure Authorized GATSIBO DISTRICT, 83KM (3 LOTS) May 2020 0 RTDA/ Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project –Project ID: P 126498, P158092 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of selected feeder roads in Gatsibo district EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A significant proportion of Rwanda rural population whose livelihoods depend on agriculture lacks access to rural transport facilities, including feeder roads that strongly hampers the agricultural development and prevent them to increasing access to markets, enhancing their competitiveness and improve their incomes and livelihoods. The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), has launched the Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project (FRDP) in order to reduce post-harvest loss and the high transport price in the project areas by developing roads that improve agricultural marketing in the area. Later, the project was transferred to the Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA). The FRDP has initially received funding from IDA of the World Bank to rehabilitate, upgrade and maintain 270 km of feeder roads in four parent Districts, namely Rwamagana, Gisagara, Karongi and Nyamasheke. Under the same project, the Government of Rwanda recieved additional financing for the rehabilitation of 450 km of feeder roads in other six Districts; Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Nyaruguru, Gakenke, Nyabihu and Rutsiro. To overcome the above and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Specifically Goal 9 which is about “to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”, Rwanda Vision 2020, the Government of Rwanda launched the Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project (FRDP) to develop agricultural marketing roads and reduce transport cost in the areas. Therefore, The Government of Rwanda (GoR) in partnership with International Development Association (IDA), acting as an Administrator of the Rwanda Feeder Road Development Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) has received a grant toward development of feeder road in six districts including Gatsibo. In line with this application, the feasibility study conducted in April 2018 identified 11 feeder roads with 177km of length in Gatsibo District. The identified feeder roads are: Gabiro-Rwangingo-Gatungo-Ngarama-Bugamba-Nyagahita (FR1), Finance-Rwimbogo- Munini-Gikobwa (FR2), Muhura- Gasange- Njume- Kiramuruzi (FR3), Mugera- Nyabicwamba-Gatungo-Nyagihanga-Karungeri (FR4), Ndatemwa-Gisenyi-Ruwafu (FR5), Rwangingo-Kigasha-Ngarama (FR7), Kiramuruzi-Bwunyu-Nyamarebe (FR8), Kiramuruzi- Rwabagenzi- Nduba (FR9), Kabarore- Nyabikiri- Nyamatete (FR11), Kabarore-Kabeza- Marimba- Nyabicwamba (FR12), Rugarama-Kanyangese-Matunguru- Byimana- Gihomvu (FR13). The average carriageway width of the indicative feeder ranges from 3.5 to 4 m and will be upgraded to 6m width. The project plans to construct/rehabilitate different culverts, bridges and drainage masonries. During the feasibility study of the above feeder roads in Gatsibo District, the corresponding environmental and social impacts assessment (ESIA/ESMP) has been done to identify environmental and social impacts that would be associated with their rehabilitation and i RTDA/ Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project –Project ID: P 126498, P158092 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of selected feeder roads in Gatsibo district upgrading works. This feasibility study of ESIA has been conducted by Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats Pvt. Ltd. (ICT) in association with ALN Ltd. With the available Additional Finance from World Bank and Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for Rwanda feeder roads development Project (FRDP), five priority feeder roads with 83km of length have been selected for rehabilitation and upgrading works. The selected feeder roads are Muhura- Gasange- Njume- Kiramuruzi (FR3), Mugera- Nyabicwamba-Gatungo-Nyagihanga-Karungeri (FR4), Rwangingo-Kigasha-Ngarama (FR7), Kiramuruzi-Bwunyu-Nyamarebe (FR8) and Kabarore-Kabeza-Marimba- Nyabicwamba (FR12). Towards the rehabilitation of the selected 5 feeder roads, it has been divided into 3 lots and Gatsibo district hired Fair Construction Ltd and China Henan International Cooperation (CHICO) as contractors to carry out roads rehabilitation and upgrading works. The average carriageway width of the selected feeder ranges from 3.5 to 4 m and will be upgraded to 6m width. Beyond upgrading the carriage way, construction of drainage masonry, culverts and bridges are among the activities to be performed in this project. Before commencing civil works of roads rehabilitation, the contractors have the responsibility to conduct detailed design and conducting ESIA study by updating the draft ESIA/ESMP with focus on the priority feeder roads selected for rehabilitation and upgrading. The updating of ESIA/ESMP serves to ensure that to ensure that the planned activities are environmentally and socially friendly, and implemented in full compliance with Rwanda’s and the World Bank’s environmental and social policies and regulations. In order to comply with the law on environment No 48/2018 of 13/8/2018 and Ministerial Order N° 004/2008 of 15/08/2008 establishing the list of works, activities and projects that have to undertake an environmental studies and the Ministerial Order No 003/MINIRENA/2015 of 24/04/2015 determining modalities for application, issuance and use of mineral and quarry licenses, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment/ Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESIA/ESMP) was prepared to ensure that the planned activities are environmentally and socially implemented in full compliance with Rwanda's and the World Bank's environmental and social policies and regulations. This Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report was prepared following the environmental assessment of the proposed Design, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance of indicative feeder roads (Lot1,2 and 3) and respective project components in Gatsibo District, planned by Government of Rwanda for appraisal and funding by the World Bank for its implementation. This report is prepared to present the identified environmental and social issues and the respective mitigation measures applicable to the proposed feeder roads project together with the project Environmental and Social Management Plan of the exploitation of the ii RTDA/ Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project –Project ID: P 126498, P158092 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of selected feeder roads in Gatsibo district proposed project subcomponents that will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of: (i) Article 17 of the law on environment related to liquid waste management, article 18: Solid waste management and article 42: Prohibitions in wetlands and protected areas. (ii) Ministerial Order No 003/MINIRENA/2015 of 24/04/2015 determining modalities for application, issuance and use of mineral and quarry licenses. (iii) General guidelines for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in Rwanda. It is proposed that road construction materials be sourced from existing borrow pits located in the vicinity or new construction materials should be created. As mentioned previously, the utilization of the materials sources required for the project will be undertaken in accordance with environmental organic law. In terms of the exploitation of these subcomponents an ESMP for the utilization of quarries, borrow pits, dumpsite and campsite will be compiled in accordance with the mentioned laws and regulations. The purpose of this report is to apply for the ESIA which will identify and assess both social and environmental potential impacts associated with 83km feeder road project through a process of stakeholders and public consultation and environmental investigation. The methodology adopted for the preparation of this report includes the review of feasibility reports and detailed designs, national and international regulations related to environmental and social safeguards, district reports and field observations and measurements as well as discussions with project's expert’s personnel. Public consultation meetings were also conducted to explain the project and determine the beneficiaries' opinions and concerns on the environmental impacts of the rehabilitation of feeder roads in the District. The assessment done indicated that the project area is generally characterized by lowly inclined hills and flat lands separated by valleys in the North, East, West and South East and high mountains in the South West and with a very limited hydrographic network. The findings from the ESIA study revealed that the feeder roads development project in Gatsibo District has both positive and negative impacts. The positive impacts include employment opportunity, skill transfer, enhanced economy in rural areas, increase in social and industrial activity, improved transport system, saving in travel time, reduction in accidents, better drainage system, reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gases. However,