Environmental Impact Assessment February 2013 NEP: SASEC Road Connectivity Project East-West Highway (Nadaha) – Koshi Bridge (Chatara) – East West Highway Prepared by the Department of Road, Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management for the Asian Development Bank. This environmental impact assessment 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. ii CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 4 February 2013) Currency unit – Nepalese rupee (NR) NR1.00 = $0.0117467403 $1.00 = NR85.130000 ABBREVIATIONS AADT – average annual daily traffic AC – asphaltic concrete ADB – Asian Development Bank ADF – Asian Development Fund ADT – average daily traffic AIDS – acquired immune deficiency syndrome amsl – above mean sea level AP – affected people ARI – acute respiratory infection B.S – Bikram Sambat BZMC – Buffer Zone Management Committee CBO – community-based organization CBR – California bearing ratio CBS – Central Bureau of Statistics CDMA – code division multiple access CF – community forest CFUG – community forest user group ch – chainage CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CMVC – classified manual vehicle counts CO – carbon monoxide COI – corridor of impact CR – critically endangered CSUWN – Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wildlife in Nepal DBST – double bituminous surface treatment DCP – dynamic cone penetrometer DDC – district development committee DFID – Department for International Development, UK DG – diesel generating DFO – District Forest Office DH – district hospital DHO – District Health Office DNPWC – Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation DOF – Department of Forest DOHM – Department of Hydrology and Meteorology DOLIDAR – Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads DOR – Department of Roads DP – displaced person DSC – design and supervision consultant DUDBC – Department of Urban Development and Building Construction EA – executing agency iii EAG – Environmental Assessment Guidelines EFDRP – Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation Project – ADB EIA – environmental impact assessment EMG – Environmental Management Guidelines EMP – environmental management plan EMoP – environmental monitoring plan EN – endangered EPA – Environment Protection Act EPR – Environment Protection Rules ES – environment specialist ESMF – Environmental and Social Management Framework EWH – East-West Highway FGD – focus group discussion FIDIC – Fédération International Des Ingénieurs-Conseils FM – frequency modulation FS – feasibility study FUG – forest user group FY – fiscal year GESI Gender Equity and Social Inclusion GESU – Geo-Environmental and Social Unit GHG – greenhouse gas GON – Government of Nepal HFT – Himalayan Frontal Thrust HH – household HMGN – His Majesty Government of Nepal HIV – human immunodeficiency virus IA – implementing agency ICIMOD – International Center for Integrated Mountain Development IEE – initial environmental examination IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature ISRC – Intensive Study and Research Center JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency KTWR – Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve LC – least concern LR – lower risk LPG – liquefied petroleum gas LRMP – Land Resource Mapping Project MCT – Main Central Trust MFSC – Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation MHH – midhill highway MoEST – Ministry of Environmental Science and Technology MoPPWTM – Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management MRM – Mahendra Raj Marg NAAQS – Nepal Ambient Air Quality Standard NEP – Nepal NGO – nongovernment organization NOx – nitrogen oxide NPC – National Planning Commission iv NPWC – National Parks and Wildlife Conservation NT – near threatened NTFP – nontimber forest product NTNC – National Trust for Nature Conservation OD – origin-destination OHS – occupational health and safety PD – project directorate PPE – personal protective equipment PIP – Priority Investment Plan PIU – project implementation unit PPTA – project preparation technical assistance RCC – reinforced cement concrete RCP – Road Connectivity Project - ADB RCSP – Road Connectivity Sector Project - ADB REA – rapid environmental assessment RIP – Road Improvement Project - DOR RNDP – Road Network Development Project - ADB ROW – right-of-way RRRSDP – Rural Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Sector Development Project - ADB RSDP – Road Sector Development Project - WB SC – supervision consultant SD – surface dressing SDC – social development consultant SPS – ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 SRCP – SASEC Road Connectivity Project SRN – Strategic Road Network STD – sexually transmitted disease TA – technical assistance TMO – transport management office TOR – terms of reference TPPF – Transport Project Preparatory Facility - ADB WECS – Water and Energy UN – United Nations UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization VDC – village development committee VU – vulnerable ZOI – zone of influence WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ºC – degree Celsius cm – centimeter dBA – decibels A km – kilometer KWH – kilowatt-hour KVA – kilovolt ampere m – meter v mg milligram mm – millimeter µS – milliho ppb – parts per billion pph – persons per hectare ppm – parts per million GLOSSARY Bikram – Nepalese calendar year that runs from mid-April to mid-April. Sambat Unless otherwise stated, year ranges written in the form (B.S) 2011/012 denote a single calendar year. NOTES (i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government ends on 15 July. FY before a calendar year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends, e.g., FY2012 ends on 15 July 2012 (ii) In this report, "$" refers to US dollars. This environmental impact assessment 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. vi CONTENTS Page Executive Summary viii I. INTRODUCTION 1 A. The SASEC Road Connectivity Project (SRIP) 1 B. Category of Project 5 C. Purpose and Scope of the EIA 5 D. EIA Report Content 5 E. Methods in Conducting the EIA 6 F. Sources of Information and Data 6 II. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 8 A. Government of Nepal Environmental Policies, Laws, and Institutions 8 B. SPS 13 C. Key Environmental Institutions in Road Development 14 D. International Conventions and Treaties for Biodiversity Protection 17 E. Permissions and Clearances Required for the Project 19 III. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT 20 A. The East-West Highway (EWH)–Koshi Bridge (Chatara)-EWH Road 20 B. Characteristics of the Existing Road 25 C. Key Upgrading Activities 33 D. Materials Required and Sourcing 36 E. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost 39 F. Need for the Project Road 40 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 41 A. Physical Resources 41 B. Land Use Patterns 43 C. Hydrology and Drainage 44 D. Ecological Resources 52 E. Economic Development 71 F. Social and Cultural Resources 75 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 78 A. Assessment of Impacts and Risk 78 B. Beneficial Impacts 79 C. Environmental Impacts During Pre-Construction Stage 80 D. Environmental Impacts During Construction Stage 81 E. Environmental Impacts During Operational Stage 91 F. Induced and Cumulative Impacts 95 G. Bio-Engineering 96 H. Climate Change Consideration 97 VI. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 102 A. “With” and “Without Project Analysis 102 B. Alignment Options Considered During Feasibility Stage of EWH 103 VII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 107 A. Consultation Method and Information Disclosed 107 B. The Consultations 107 C. Information Disclosure 125 VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 126 A. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) 126 B. Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMoP) 127 C. Institutional Arrangement to Implement the EMP 128 vii D. Environmental Management Costs 131 E. Grievance Redress Mechanism 131 IX. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 135 X. SELECTED REFERENCES 137 APPENDIXES: 1. Rapid Environmental Assessment Checklist 139 2. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary and its Buffer Zone 144 3. Environmental Management Plan 152 4. Environmental Monitoring Plan 166 5. Guidelines for Borrow and Quarry Areas Management 171 6. Workers‟ Safety in Common Operation and During Construction Housekeeping Practices175 7. Public Consultation 187 8. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nepal 201 9. Ambient Noise Level Limits for Nepal 202 10. Nepal‟s Drinking Water Quality Standards 204 11. Photolog 207 viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. INTRODUCTION 1. The proposed SASEC Road Connectivity will finance improvements of two strategic priority highways and three feeder roads, totalling 186 km, in the eastern region of Nepal. These roads are important to provide an alternate road for the East-West Highway (EWH) and improve access to rural and hilly areas as well as to non-connected district headquarters. The project roads under SRIP are: (i) EWH (Nadaha)-Koshi Bridge1 (Chatara)-EWH (61-km two- lane highway); (ii) Leguwaghat-Bhojpur Road (66-km intermediate-lane mid-hill highway); and (iii) Halesi-Diktel