Rural Connectivity Improvement Project: Initial Environmental
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Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (RRP BAN 47243) Initial Environmental Examination The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Project Number: 47243-004 August 2018 People’s Republic of Bangladesh: Rural Connectivity Improvement Project Prepared by [Author(s)] [Firm] [City, C [Implementing Agency] Prepared by the Local Government Engineering Department, Ministry of Local Government for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 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 on ADB’s 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. Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 47243-004 August 2018 People’s Republic of Bangladesh: Rural Connectivity Improvement Project Prepared by the Local Government Engineering Department, Ministry of Local Government for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Contents A. Project Background ........................................................................................................ i B. Characteristics of existing roads .................................................................................... i C. Rural Connectivity Improvement Project ....................................................................... ii D. Policy and Legal Framework ........................................................................................ iii E. Environmental baseline ................................................................................................ iii F. Initial environmental examination .................................................................................. v G. Consultations, Public Consultations and Disclosure ..................................................... vi H. Grievance and Redress Mechanism ........................................................................... vii I. Conclusion .................................................................................................................. vii J. Key Recommendations .............................................................................................. viii I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 A. Project Background ...................................................................................................... 1 B. Rural Connectivity Improvement Project ...................................................................... 2 C. Rural Road Construction Proposal ............................................................................... 2 D. IEE Objectives ............................................................................................................. 4 E. Extent of IEE ................................................................................................................ 4 F. Study Approach and Methodology ............................................................................... 5 1. Reconnaissance Survey and Initial Consultations ........................................................ 5 2. Primary Data Collection ............................................................................................... 5 3. Secondary Data Collection ........................................................................................... 5 4. Public Consultations .................................................................................................... 5 5. Other Tools, Additional Surveys and Studies ............................................................... 6 6. Assessment of Potential Impacts ................................................................................. 6 7. Preparation of the Environment Management Plan ...................................................... 6 G. Structure of IEE Report ................................................................................................ 6 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................... 7 A. Location of the Project ................................................................................................. 7 B. Project’s environmental category ................................................................................19 C. Characteristics of existing roads .................................................................................20 D. Improvement/Strengthening Proposal .........................................................................21 E. Design and Construction Method ................................................................................21 F. Climate Resilient Rural Road Design ..........................................................................23 G. Traffic..........................................................................................................................29 H. Construction Material ..................................................................................................30 i I. Cost and Implementation Schedule ............................................................................30 III. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................31 A. Regulatory Requirements for the Rural Road Upgrading ............................................31 B. Permissions and Clearance Required for the Project ..................................................33 C. ADB Safeguard Policy (ADB Safeguards Policy Statement, 2009) ..............................34 D. Good Environmental Management Practices under RCIP ...........................................35 IV. DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT ..............................................................................37 A. Administrative Boundary and Geography ................................................................... 38 B. Physical Environment ................................................................................................. 38 1. Climate and Meteorology ............................................................................................38 2. Physical Geography ....................................................................................................45 3. Cyclones and Storm Surges .......................................................................................53 C. Environmental Quality ................................................................................................ 55 4. Groundwater Quality ...................................................................................................64 D. Biological Environment ............................................................................................... 65 5. Ecologically Critical Areas ...........................................................................................69 E. Socio-Cultural Environment ........................................................................................ 71 6. Land Use and Land Type ............................................................................................84 F. Agriculture Resources ................................................................................................ 98 V. IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................... 102 A. Identification and Assessment of Environmental Impacts .......................................... 103 B. Climate Change Impacts and Risks .......................................................................... 125 1. Climate Change Projection ....................................................................................... 125 2. Effect of prolonged submergence on rural roads ....................................................... 127 3. Natural Hazards and Climate Risks .......................................................................... 128 4. Climate Change Adaptation Cost .............................................................................. 130 VI. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE.................................. 132 A. Consultation Method and Information Disclosure ...................................................... 132 B. Institutional Level / Stakeholders Consultative Workshop ......................................... 132 C. Participants to the Transect Walk .............................................................................. 133 D. Results of Public Consultation .................................................................................. 133 E. Information Disclosure .............................................................................................. 135 F. Public Consultation and Communication Plan for future ............................................ 135 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................................. 137 ii A. Environmental Management Plan ............................................................................. 137