Initial Environmental Examination (Draft) Project Number: 51137-001 April 2018 Bangladesh: Southwest Transmission Grid Expansion Project Prepared by Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Government of Bangladesh for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 5 December 2017) Currency unit – taka (Tk) Tk1.00 = $0.01213592 $1.00 = Tk82.40 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank AIS – air-insulated switchgear APs – affected persons asl – above sea level BMD – Bangladesh Meteorological Department CHT – Chittagong Hill Tracts DoE – Department of Environment DPs – displaced persons DSC – design and supervision consultants EIA – environmental impact assessment EMF – electromagnetic field EMP – environmental management plan ESMF – environmental and social management framework ESMS – environmental and social anagement system EQS – environment quality standards FGD – focus group discussion GIS – gas insulated switchgear GRC – Grievance Redress Committee GRM – Grievance Redress Mechanism GSS – grid substation HES – health environment and safety IEC – important environmental component IEE – initial environmental examination ISC – important social component IUCN – International Union for Conservation for Nature LGI – local government institutions LILO – line-in line-out MoEF – Ministry of Environment and Forest NGO – non-governmental organization PAPs – project affected persons PCB – polychlorinated biphenyl PDB – Power Development Board PGCB – Power Grid Company of Bangladesh PMU – Project Management Unit PPE – personal protective equipment PSMP – power system master plan RCC – reinforced cement concrete RMA – Resource Management Associates (Pvt) Ltd. RoW – right of way RP – resettlement plan SF6 – sulfur hexafluoride SPS – safeguard policy statement SWTGEP – Southwest Transmission Grid Expansion Project UPI – Union Parishad Institutions WEIGHTS AND MEASURES cm – centimetre ha – hectare km – kilometer (1,000 meters) kV – kilovolt (1,000 volts) kW – kilowatt (1,000 watts) m – meter mm – millimeter MVA – mega-volt ampere MW – megawatt GLOSSARY Adverse Impact – An impact that is considered undesirable. Ambient Air – Surrounding air Aquatic – Growing or living in or near water Bangla – Bengali language Baseline (or – The ‘baseline’ essentially comprises the factual existing) Conditions understanding and interpretation of existing environmental, social and health conditions of where the business activity is proposed. Understanding the baseline shall also include those trends present within it, and especially how changes could occur regardless of the presence of the Project, i.e. the ‘No-development Option’. Bazar – Market Beel – A ‘back swamp’ or depression can be either perennial or seasonal Beneficial Impacts – Impacts, which are considered to be desirable and useful. Biological Diversity – The variety of life forms, the different plants, animals and microorganisms, genes they contain and the ecosystems they form. It is usually considered at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecological diversity Char – Newly accreted land: Land, sometimes islands, within main river channels and nearby mainland or in the estuary, subject to erosion and accretion Ecosystem – A dynamic complex of plant, animal, fungal and microorganism communities and associated non-living environment interacting as an ecological unit Emission – The total amount of solid, liquid or gaseous pollutant emitted into the atmosphere from a given source within a given time, as indicated, for e.g., in grams per cubic meter of gas or by a relative measure, upon discharge from the source Endangered – Species in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely Species if the existing conditions continue to operate. Included among those are species whose numbers have been reduced to a critical level or whose habitats have been so drastically reduced that they are deemed to suffer from immediate danger of extinction Environmental – The measurable changes, in the natural system of Effects productivity and environmental quality, resulting from a development activity Environmental – An estimate or judgment of the significance and value of Impact environmental effects for natural, socio-economic and human receptors Environment – A plan to undertake an array of follow-up activities which Management Plan provide for the sound environmental management of a project/ intervention so that adverse environmental impacts are minimized and mitigated; beneficial environmental effects are maximized; and sustainable development is ensured Environmental – Managing the productive use of natural resources without Management reducing their productivity and quality Erosion – Process in which wind and water removes materials from their original place; for instance, soil washed away from an agricultural field Evaluation – The process of looking back at what has been really done or accomplished. Fauna: A collective term denoting the animals occurring in a particular region or period Field – A field activity that confirms the information gathered through Reconnaissance secondary sources. This field study is essentially a rapid appraisal Flora – All of the plants found in a given area Habitat – The natural home or environment for a plant or animal Household – A household is identified as a dwelling unit where one or more persons live and eat together with common cooking arrangement. Persons living in the same dwelling unit having separate cooking arrangements constitute separate households Important – These are environmental components of biophysical or socio- Environmental economic importance to one or more interested parties. The Component use of important environmental components helps to focus the environmental assessment Khal – Small channel, canal. Land use Types include agriculture, horticulture, settlement, pisciculture and industries Mauza – A Bangla word for the smallest government administrative area corresponding to village revenue unit Mitigation – An action, which may prevent or minimize adverse impacts and enhance beneficial impacts Negative Impact – Negative change from the existing situation due to the Project Public Consultation – A range of techniques that can be used to inform, consult or interact with stakeholders affected / to be affected by a proposal Reversible Impact – An environmental impact that recovers either through natural process or with human assistance (e.g. cutting off fish migration by an embankment might be reversible at a later stage if a proper regulator is built) Stakeholders – Those who may be potentially affected by a proposal, e.g. local people, the proponent, government agencies, NGOs, donors and others, all parties who may be affected by the Project or to take an interest in it Taka – Unit of Bangladeshi currency Terrestrial – Living on land Thana – Sub-district level of government administration, comprising several unions under district Union – Smallest unit of local self-government comprising several villages Upazila – Sub-district name. Upazila introduced in 1982 Zila – Bengali word for district NOTE In this report, "$" refers to United States 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. 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. Table of Contents Page 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Objectives of the Initial Environmental Examination ...................................................... 8 1.3 Study Area .................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Scope of Work..............................................................................................................11 1.5 Methodology ................................................................................................................11 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................ 13 2.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................13 2.2 Procedure for Obtaining Site/Environmental Clearance ................................................13 2.3 Organization Related with Enforcement of Environmental Standards ...........................15 2.4 National Legislation Relevant to Environment ..............................................................16 2.5 Policy Related with Energy Development .....................................................................18 2.6 Building Construction (Amendment) Act (1990) and Rules (1996) ................................19 2.7 Compliance with International Requirements ...............................................................19 2.8 Compliance with ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 ............................................21 2.9 Compliance