Initial Environmental Examination Document Stage: Draft Project Number: 42173-016 March 2021 Bangladesh: Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project – Additional Financing Prepared by Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives, Government of Bangladesh for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 3 March 2021) Currency Unit = Bangladesh Taka (BDT) BDT1.00 = $0.0117953182 $1.00 = BDT84.7794 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank AAQ – ambient air quality BOD – biological oxygen demand COD – chemical oxygen demand DMA – District Metered Area DNCC – Dhaka North City Corporation DO – dissolved oxygen DOE – Department of Environment DWASA – Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority EA – executing agency EIA – environmental impact assessment ECA – Environmental Conservation Act ECR – Environmental Conservation Rules ECC – environmental clearance certificate EMP – environmental management plan GOB – Government of Bangladesh GRC – grievance redress committee GRM – grievance redress mechanism IEE – initial environmental examination MOEFCC – Ministry of Environment and Forests, and Climate Change NGO – nongovernment organization O&M – operation and maintenance PMU – project management unit ROW – right-of-way SPS – safeguard policy statement WTP – water treatment plant WHO – World Health Organization WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ha – hectare km – kilometer m – meter mg/l – milligram per liter MLD – million liters per day mm – millimeter km/h – kilometer per hour NOTE In this report, "$" 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. 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, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. CONTENTS Executive Summary I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 A. Background ......................................................................................................... 1 B. Objectives of the IEE Report ............................................................................... 1 C. Methodology ........................................................................................................ 2 D. Report Structure .................................................................................................. 2 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ........................................... 3 A. ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 .............................................................. 3 B. National Environmental Impact Assessment Law ............................................... 6 C. Status of Application for Environment Clearance ................................................ 9 D. Other Relevant National Policies, Acts, Rules and Strategies .......................... 10 E. Legislation Relating to Occupational Health and Safety .................................... 12 F. Relevant International Environmental Agreements ........................................... 13 G. Environmental Standards .................................................................................. 14 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ............................................................................ 18 A. Existing Water Supply Situation and Need for the Project ................................ 18 B. Ongoing Packages Under Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project ......................................................................................................................... 18 C. The Project ........................................................................................................ 18 D. Project Area ....................................................................................................... 20 E. Project Goals and Objectives ............................................................................ 23 F. Implementation Schedule .................................................................................. 23 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT .................................................................. 23 A. Physical Resources in Project Area .................................................................. 23 B. Ecological Resources in Project Area ............................................................... 31 C. Socio-Economic Condition ................................................................................ 35 D. Socio-Cultural Resources .................................................................................. 36 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ........ 38 A. Planning and Design Phase .............................................................................. 38 B. Construction Phase ........................................................................................... 43 C. Operation and Maintenance Phase ................................................................... 57 VI. CONSULTATION, INFORMATION DISCLOSURE AND GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM .............................................................................................................. 57 A. Consultation and Information Disclosure ........................................................... 57 B. Grievance Redress Mechanism ........................................................................ 61 C. Scope and Jurisdiction of GRC ......................................................................... 62 D. Filing Grievance Cases and Documentation ..................................................... 63 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................ 67 A. Institutional Arrangement ................................................................................... 67 B. Environmental Management Plan ..................................................................... 70 C. Capacity Building ............................................................................................... 93 D. Environmental Budget ....................................................................................... 94 VIII. MONITORING AND REPORTING .............................................................................. 96 IX. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONs .............................................................. 97 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Accomplished Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist Appendix 2: Copy of Renewal of Environmental Clearance for DESWSP Appendix 3: Copies of Laboratory Analyses of Environmental Data Sampling Appendix 4: Result of Screening Using Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) Appendix 5: Sample Health and Safety Guideline for COVID-19 Appendix 6: Minutes and Report on Consultation Activities Conducted Appendix 7: Sample Grievance Registration Form Appendix 8: Sample Daily Monitoring Sheet for Contractors Appendix 9: Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report Template EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This initial environmental examination (IEE) report covers the proposed Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project (DESWSP) – Additional Financing (DESWSP-AF or project) and complies with the requirements of ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS), 2009. Principal sources of information used in the IEE process were field observation, followed by terrestrial flora and fauna data and scoping exercises. Supplementary information was taken from direct consultations with stakeholders, including staff of the implementing agency, field visits and site assessment, review of documents and project plans, and designs and reports of similar urban development projects implemented in other areas of Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka City and immediate surrounding vicinities. Subproject Scope. This IEE report has been prepared for Package 3.2, the new package that will be financed by DESWSP-AF. Package 3.2 will complement the existing packages of ongoing DESWSP under ADB Loan No. 3051. Specifically, the Package 3.2 will cover secondary distribution pipeline with aggregate length of 43 km comprising pipes of 0.4-0.8 m diameter that will be connected to selected district metering areas in Dhaka City. Categorization. ADB requires the consideration of environmental issues in all aspects of ADB’s operations, and the requirements for environmental assessment are described in ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS), 2009. Using ADB rapid environmental assessment checklist, the project is classified as Category B for environment per ADB SPS, 2009 as no significant impacts are envisaged. Accordingly, an IEE has been undertaken, which assesses in more detail the likely environmental impacts of the project and provides the corresponding mitigation measures to ensure these impacts are managed to acceptable levels. Environmental Assessment and Management. The IEE has been undertaken and the potential impacts and mitigation measures have been identified through review of the project designs, discussion with the designers, and stakeholder consultation. The IEE has also emphasized the need to incorporate pollution prevention and