Initial Environmental Examination
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Initial Environmental Examination September 2014 SRI: Integrated Road Investment Program – Project 2 North Western Province Prepared by Environmental and Social Development Division, Road Development Authority, Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping for the Asian Development Bank CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 12 September 2014) Currency unit – Sri Lanka rupee (SLRe/SLRs) SLRe1.00 = $ 0.00767 $1.00 = SLR 130.300 ABBREVIATIONS ABC - Aggregate Base Course AC - Asphalt Concrete ADB - Asian Development Bank CBO - Community Based Organizations CEA - Central Environmental Authority DoF - Department of Forest DSDs - Divisional Secretary Divisions DWLC - Department of Wild Life Conservation ECOP - Environmental Code of Practice EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EMoP - Environmental Monitoring Plan EMP - Environmental Management Plan EPL - Environmental Protection License ESDD - Environmental and Social Development Division FBO - Farmer Based Organizations GoSL - Government of Sri Lanka GRC - Grievance Redress Committee GRM - Grievance Redress Mechanism GSMB - Geological Survey and Mines Bureau IEE - Initial Environmental Examination LAA - Land Acquisition Act MER - Manage Elephant Range MOHPS - Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping NAAQS - National Ambient Air Quality Standards NBRO - National Building Research Organization NEA - National Environmental Act NWS&DB - National Water Supply and Drainage Board OPRC - Output and Performance - based Road Contract PIC - Project Implementation Consultant PIU - Project Implementation Unit PRDA - Provincial Road Development Authority PS - Pradeshiya Sabha RDA - Road Development Authority ROW - Right of Way TOR - Terms of Reference NOTE In this report, "$" refers to US dollars unless otherwise stated. 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website. 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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... i I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 A. Background................................................................................................................ 1 B. Objectives of the proposed project ............................................................................. 2 C. Objectives of the Initial Environmental Examination ................................................... 3 D. Approach, Methodology and Personnel Involved ....................................................... 3 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................. 5 A. Location of the project ................................................................................................ 5 B. Need of the Project .................................................................................................... 5 C. Analysis of Alternatives .............................................................................................. 6 D. Magnitude of Operations ............................................................................................ 6 III. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................ 9 A. National Environmental Act and other applicable regulation ....................................... 9 B. Policy Framework .................................................................................................... 15 IV. Description of Existing Environment ................................................................................ 19 A. Physical Environment .............................................................................................. 19 B. Ecological Environment ........................................................................................... 22 C. Socio - Economic Environment ................................................................................ 23 V. Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Proposed Mitigation Measures .......................... 28 A. Pre-construction phase ............................................................................................ 28 B. Construction phase .................................................................................................. 28 C. Operational Phase ................................................................................................... 34 D. Positive Impacts of the Project ................................................................................. 35 VI. Institutional Requirements and Environmental Management Plan and Grievance Redress Mechanism ............................................................................................................................ 38 A. Institutional Arrangements ....................................................................................... 38 B. Responsibilities ........................................................................................................ 38 C. Environmental Management Plan and Monitoring .................................................... 43 D. Grievance Redress Mechanism ............................................................................... 44 VII. Public Consultation and Information Disclosure .............................................................. 46 A. One on one consultation .......................................................................................... 46 B. Focus Group Discussions ........................................................................................ 46 C. Disclosure of information.......................................................................................... 49 D. Transect Walk .......................................................................................................... 50 VIII. Conclusion and Recommendations ................................................................................. 51 List of tables Table 1.1: District-wise length of roads in North Western Province Table 4.1: Climatic characteristics of candidate roads Table 4.2: Major rivers in the Northwestern Province Table 4.3: National ambient air quality standards Table 4.4: Population by gender Table 4.5: Distribution of population by the ethnicity Table 4.6: No. of Industrial Establishments (with 5 or more persons engaged) Table 4.7: Literacy rate by district – 2012 Table 4.8: Mean and Median Monthly per capita Household income by district -2009/10 Table 4.9: Poverty Headcount Index of Affected provinces and districts Table 4.10: Type of Household Lighting source-2012 Table 4.11: Source of Drinking water Table 4.12: Type of Toilets – 2012 List of Figures Figure 6.1: GRM Process Figure 7.1: Stages of participatory project preparation List of Appendixes Appendix 1: Details of roads to be upgraded under i Road Program Appendix 2: General Location Maps Appendix 3: Proposed Cross Sections Appendix 4: Land Slide Hazard Maps Appendix 5: Environmental Monitoring Plan Appendix 6.1: Environmental Monitoring Checklist during Design and Pre-Construction Stage Appendix 6.2: Environmental Monitoring Checklist during Construction Stage Appendix 6.3: Environmental Monitoring Checklist during Post-Construction or Operation Stage Appendix 6.4. Sample Environmental Monitoring Checklist Appendix 7. Standard Environmental Monitoring Plan i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. The Integrated Investment Program (iROAD) is proposed by the Road Development Authority (RDA) under Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping (MOHPS) to improve transport connectivity between rural communities and socioeconomic centers. iROAD intends to connect 1,000 Grama Niladari Divisions1 (GNDs) throughout the country as rural hubs and link them to trunk road network to all weather standards, and operating a sustainable trunk road network of at least fair condition. The iROAD will be financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under a Multi tranche Financing Facility (MFF) to have four tranches implemented over ten years. Tranche 2 covers: Sabaragamuwa, Kaluthara District of Western Province, North Western, Central, and North Central Provinces. 2. Roads under Tranche II are located in Puthlam and Kurunegala districts of North Western Province, Kandy, Matale and NuwaraEliya districts of Central Province, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts of North Central Province, Rathnepura and Kagella districts of North SabaragamuwaProvince and Kaluthara district of Western Province. In North Western Province, iRoad program will develop a total of 52 provincial and 62 rural roads with a total length of 760.48km. Out of this, 524.88km and 726.79 km rural roads are located within Kurunegala and Puthlam district. These roads have been selected for financing based on consultations with MOHPS, local authorities, and parliamentarians and a screening criteria on existing road conditions and development needs. 3. The proposed road upgrading will include: improvement and maintenance to all weather standards