Strategic Road Improvement Project: East-West Highway (Nadaha)
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Environmental Impact Assessment "DRAFT" NEP: Strategic Road Improvement 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. ii CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 26 September 2012) Currency unit – Nepalese rupee (NR) NR1.00 = $0.0117164616 $1.00 = NR85.350000 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 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 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 DSC – design and supervision consultant DUDBC – Department of Urban Development and Building Construction EA – executing agency EAG – Environmental Assessment Guidelines EFDRP – Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation Project – ADB EIA – environmental impact assessment iii 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 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 KWTR – 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 NPWC – National Parks and Wildlife Conservation NT – near threatened NTFP – nontimber forest product OD – origin-destination iv 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 SRIP – Strategic Road Improvement 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 mg milligram mm – millimeter µS – milliho ppb – parts per billion pph – persons per hectare ppm – parts per million v 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 Strategic Roads Improvement 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 G. Information Disclosure and Public Consultation 7 II. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 8 A. Government of Nepal Environmental Policies, Laws, and Institutions 8 B. ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 13 C. Key Environmental Institutions in Road Development 14 D. International Conventions and Treaties for Biodiversity Protection 17 E. Permissions and Clearance Required for the Project 19 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATEGIC ROADS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: EWH- KOSHI BRIDGE-EWH ROAD 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 35 E. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost 37 F. Need for the Project Road 38 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 39 A. Physical Resources 39 B. Land Use Patterns 41 C. Hydrology and Drainage 42 D. Ecological Resources 48 E. Economic Development 53 F. Social and Cultural Resources 56 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 58 A. Assessment of Impacts and Risk 58 B. Beneficial Impacts 59 C. Environmental Impacts during the Pre-Construction Stage 60 D. Environmental Impacts during the Construction Stage 61 E. Environmental Impacts during Operation Stage 72 F. Induced and Cumulative Impacts 76 VI. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 77 A. “With” and “Without Project Analysis 77 B. Alignment Options Considered During Feasibility Stage of EWH 78 vii VII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 81 A. Consultation Method and Information Disclosed 82 B. Consultations Highlights 82 C. Information Disclosure 83 VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 84 A. Environmental Management Plan 84 B. Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMoP) 84 C. Institutional Arrangement to Implement the EMP 85 D. Grievance Redress Mechanism 86 IX. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 89 X. SELECTED REFERENCES 91 APPENDIXES: 1. Rapid Environmental Assessment Checklist 94 2. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary and its Buffer Zone 99 3. Environmental Management Plan 107 4. Environmental Monitoring Plan 121 5. Guidelines for Borrow and Quarry Areas Management 127 6. Workers‟ Safety in Common Operation and During Construction Housekeeping Practices 131 7. Public Consultation 143 8. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nepal 157 9. Ambient Noise Level Limits for Nepal 159 10. Nepal‟s Drinking Water Quality Standards 160 11. Photolog 163 viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. INTRODUCTION 1. The proposed Strategic Roads Improvement Project (SRIP) will finance improvements of two strategic high-priority highways and three feeder roads, a total of 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); (iii) Halesi-Diktel Road (35-km intermediate-lane mid-hill highway); (iv) Mechipul- Chandragadhi-Birtamod Road (12-km double-lane feeder road); and (v) Manthali-Ramechhap Road (13-km single-lane feeder road). 2. This EIA report covers the EWH (Nadaha)-Koshi Bridge (Chatara)-EWH project road which is the only subproject categorized as A due to the potential for irreversible