Tranche 2 | 47273-005
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Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 47273-004 /005 /006 Loan Numbers: Tranche 2 – 3221 /3222 Tranche 3 – 3325 /3326 Tranche 4 – 3610 March 2019 SRI: Integrated Road Investment Program —Improvement, Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Pelmadulla (0.0km) – Padalangala (66.0km) section of Pelmadulla – Embilipitiya – Nonagama (A018) Road This Initial Environmental Examination prepared by the Road Development Authority, Ministry of Highways and Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development for the Asian Development Bank. 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 Ministry of Highways and Road Development Road Development Authority SRI: Integrated Road Investment Program Road Management Contract Rehabilitation of Pelmadulla – Padalangala Section of Pelmadulla – Ambilipitiya – Nonagama (A018) Road Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Final Report November 2018 Prepared & Submitted by Environmental and Social Development Division Road Development Authority Submitted to Asian Development Bank TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. vi I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 A. Background ....................................................................................................................................... 1 B. Objectives of the proposed project ................................................................................................... 3 C. Objectives of the Initial Environmental Examination ......................................................................... 4 D. Approach, Methodology and Personnel Involved ............................................................................. 4 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT...................................................................................................... 7 A. Location of the project ....................................................................................................................... 7 B. Need for the Project .......................................................................................................................... 7 C. Analysis of Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 8 1. No Project Alternative ................................................................................................................... 8 2. With Project Alternative ................................................................................................................. 8 D. Magnitude of Operations ................................................................................................................... 9 1. Proposed improvement ................................................................................................................. 9 2. Project activities ............................................................................................................................ 9 3. Extraction of Construction Material ............................................................................................. 12 III. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................. 13 A. Legal Framework ............................................................................................................................ 13 1. National Environmental Act and other applicable regulation ...................................................... 13 2. Environmental Protection License (EPL) .................................................................................... 19 3. International Agreements and Conventions ................................................................................ 19 B. Policy Framework ............................................................................................................................ 20 1. ADB Safeguards Policy Statement, 2009 ................................................................................... 20 IV. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................ 23 A. Existing land use along the road ..................................................................................................... 23 B. Physical Environment ...................................................................................................................... 28 1. Climate, land use, terrain and soil ............................................................................................... 28 2. Hydrology .................................................................................................................................... 30 - ........................................................................................................................................................... 31 3. Air Quality and Noise .................................................................................................................. 32 4. Occurrence of Natural Disasters in the Project Area and climate change considerations ......... 34 C. Ecological Environment ............................................................................................................... 34 D. Socio - Economic Environment ....................................................................................................... 36 3. Poverty Situation ......................................................................................................................... 39 4. Drinking water ............................................................................................................................. 40 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES.......... 43 A. Pre-construction phase ................................................................................................................... 43 1. Natural hazards aggravated by the project and impacts to the road due to natural hazards ..... 43 2. Relocating Utility Supply Lines .................................................................................................... 43 B. Construction phase ......................................................................................................................... 44 1. Increase of local air pollution, noise and vibration ...................................................................... 44 2. Deterioration of surface water quality due to silt runoff, emissions and spoil from labour camps and yards ............................................................................................................................................. 45 3. Drainage issues .......................................................................................................................... 47 4. Social and Environmental Impacts due to Establishment of Labour Camps .............................. 47 5. Disruption to Traffic/Transportation ............................................................................................. 47 6. Biological impacts ....................................................................................................................... 48 7. Impacts Due to Extraction and Transportation of Construction Materials .................................. 49 8. Alteration of surface water hydrology of waterways.................................................................... 50 9. Requirement of lands for the road upgrading ............................................................................. 50 10. Safety of Workers and Public .................................................................................................. 50 11. Impact to Access ..................................................................................................................... 51 C. Operational Phase .......................................................................................................................... 51 12. Impacts on water resources .................................................................................................... 51 13. Disposal of unsuitable material ............................................................................................... 52 14. Extraction of material for repairing and maintenance works ................................................... 52 15. Pedestrian and commuter safety ............................................................................................ 52 16. Air quality and noise ................................................................................................................ 52 17. Ecological Impacts .................................................................................................................. 53