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Initial Environmental Examination Environment Assessment Document Project Number: 40648 October 2012 Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT) Prepared by Department of Tourism, Government of Himachal Pradesh The 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. IEE: Forest Rest House Improvement and Camping Site Development at Dhameta & Nagrota Suriyan. Page 1 Environmental Assessment Document Draft Initial Environmental Examination Document Stage: Draft IEE document submitted to ADB for Approval Project Number: HPTDB/5/1 October 2012 (Revsd.) Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT) - Himachal Pradesh Package No. HPTDB/5/1 Forest Rest House Improvement and Camping Site Development at Dhameta & Nagrota Suriyan. Prepared by Government of Himachal Pradesh This IEE 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. IDIPT(HP) IEE HPTDB/5/1 IEE: Forest Rest House Improvement and Camping Site Development at Dhameta & Nagrota Suriyan. Page 2 Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 3 A. Background ................................................................................................................................ 3 B . Purpose of the IEE .......................................................................................................................... 4 C. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ............................................................. 4 D. Report Structure .................................................................................................................................... 5 II. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMPONENTS ................................................................. 6 A. First PFR sub-projects ............................................................................................................... 6 1. Pong Reservoir and Wetlands ..................................................................................................... 6 2. Masroor temples .......................................................................................................................... 8 3. Chintpurni and Kangra gateway center / Cluster destination ....................................................... 8 4. Parking Facility near Gupt Ganga & Bajreshwari Temples. .............................................................. 8 5. Shimla Heritage Route ................................................................................................................. 8 6. Forest Rest House Improvement and Camping Site Development at Dhameta & Nagrota Suriyan 8 III. DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................ 11 A. Environment Profile ................................................................................................................. 11 1. Climate ....................................................................................................................................... 13 2. Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 14 3. Soils ............................................................................................................................................ 14 4. Land Use .................................................................................................................................... 14 5. Soil ............................................................................................................................................. 14 6. Water Quality.............................................................................................................................. 14 7. Groundwater............................................................................................................................... 15 8. Vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 15 9. Ecological resources .................................................................................................................. 15 10. Fisheries ..................................................................................................................................... 15 11. Demographic profile ................................................................................................................... 15 12. Industries profile ......................................................................................................................... 15 13. Physical Infrastructure Services ................................................................................................. 15 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ...................................... 17 A. Land Acquisition and Resettlement ....................................................................................... 17 B. Environmental Impacts ............................................................................................................ 17 1. Location Impacts ........................................................................................................................ 17 2. Design Impacts & Pre Construction Impacts ............................................................................. 17 3. Construction Impacts ................................................................................................................. 18 4. O & M Impacts............................................................................................................................ 18 C. Environmental Management Plan........................................................................................... 18 V. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE .................................... 23 A. Process for Consultation followed ......................................................................................... 23 B. Plan for continued public participation ................................................................................. 23 C. Institutional Arrangements ..................................................................................................... 23 D. Monitoring Plan ........................................................................................................................ 25 E. Capacity Building ..................................................................................................................... 26 VI. FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................... 29 VII. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................... 30 IDIPT(HP) IEE HPTDB/5/1 IEE: Forest Rest House Improvement and Camping Site Development at Dhameta & Nagrota Suriyan. Page 3 I. INTRODUCTION A. Background 1. The Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT) envisages an environmentally and culturally sustainable and socially inclusive tourism development, in the project states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. The expected Impact of the Project in the four states is sustainable and inclusive tourism development in priority State tourism sub circuits divided into marketable cluster destinations that exhibit enhanced protection and management of key natural and cultural heritage tourism sites, improved market connectivity, enhanced destination and site environment and tourist support infrastructure, and enhanced capacities for sustainable destination and site development with extensive participation by the private sector and local communities. 2. The improvements proposed around the Pong dam lake include the following: development of interpretation Centre and tourist amenities at the Pong dam site, infrastructure improvements, camping facilities, development of jetties, watch towers, development of trails, landscaping etc in Ranser and Karu islands, development of camping sites at Dhameta and Nagrota Suriyan, capacity building of communities in villages around Pong on ecotourism and tourism value chains-based development. 3. The implementation of the improvements proposed in the Forest Rest Houses Improvement and Camping Site Development at Dhameta & Nagrota Suriyan as per the Procurement Plan are as follows: Twin-bed Swiss Tents(both sites) Forest rest house at Dhameta Cottages (both sites) Built-up area of Kitchen/Dining Space (both sites) Access pathway area Tentative landscaping feature along access steps / pathway including site signage’s Snake pits Drinking Water Storage Tank with pumping system Septic Tank & Soak Pit Lighting system Rain harvesting tank. As per the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Environmental Assessment Guidelines, and in line with the EARF for the project, all the sub-project components for the Pong Dam destination are categorized as ‘B’ and an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) prepared. This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) assesses the environmental impacts due to implementation of the Package No. HPTDB/5/1.