Environmental Compliance Monitoring Report

Semi-Annual Report

Loan Number: G0357/0358 NEP Project Number: 44214-024 January 2020

Nepal: Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco-Regions (BCRWME) Project

Prepared by the Government of for the Asian Development Bank.

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Environmental Monitoring Report

Semiannual Report July-December, 2019

Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco-Regions (BCRWME) Project Project Number: 44214-024, Loan/Grant Number: GO357/0358-NEP

Prepared by Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco- Regions (BCRWME) Project for the Government of Nepal and the Asian Development Bank

Government of Nepal Department of Forests and Soil Conservation Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco-Regions (BCRWME) Project (ADB Loan/Grant No.: GO357/0358-NEP)

Semiannual Environemntal Monitoring Report of BCRWME Sub-projects (July to December 2019)

Preparaed By BCRWME Project Project Management Unit

January, 2020

ABBREVIATION

ADB : Asian Development Bank BCRWME : Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco- Regions BOQ : Bills of Quantity CDG : Community Development Group CFUG : Community Forest User Group CO : Community Organizer CPC : Consultation, Participation and Communications (Plan) CS : Construction Supervisor DDR : Due Diligence Reports DFO : Division Forest Office DFSC : Department of the Forests and Soil Conservation DSCO : District Soil Conservation Office EARF : Environmental Assessment and Review Framework EIA : Environmental Impact Assessment EO : Environment Officer FAC : Feasibility Approval Committee FTT : Field Technical Team GRC : Grievance Redress Committee GoN : Government of Nepal Ha : Hectare IEE : Initial Environmental Examination MoFE : Ministry of Forests and Environment NCB : National Competitive Bidding NDF : Nordic Development Fund NES : National Environmental Specialist O& M : Operation and Maintenance PAM : Project Administrative Manual PCR : Project Completion Report PIU : Project Implementation Unit PMIC : Project Management Implementation Consultant PMU : Project Management Unit PS : Post Support REA : Rapid Environmental Assessment RVT : Reservoir Tank SES : Senior Environment Specialist SEMR : Semiannual Environment Monitoring Report SP : Subproject SPPR : Subproject Preparation Report SWMC : Sub-watershed Management Committee VDC : Village Development Committee WMA : Watershed Management Associate WME : Watershed Management Engineer

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Building climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco-Regions Project being implemented by the Department of the Forests and Soil Conservation with grant assistance from Asian Development Bank, Nordic Development Fund and Government of Nepal intends to improve access to and reliability of water supplies to communities living in watershed vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The project has considered environment safeguard to address environmental issues of subprojects implementation. The project has an environmental assessment review framework that specifies subprojects selection procedures, subproject’s environment categorization, environment assessment procedure, community consultation, grievance redress mechanism and mechanism for environment monitoring and reporting. There are 108 SPPRs (Batch I-8, Batch II-20, batch II-40 and Batch IV-40) and all of them are category C projects. The environmental safeguard requirements of GoN and ADB are satisfactorily addressed in SPs planning and implementation stages. The project has adopted procedural requirements such as environmental screening, SPs categorization, due diligence report inclusion, community consultation, voluntary land donation documents during sub-project preparation report (SPPR) preparation and approval process. No violations of local traditions and culture, no resettlement of indigenous people, worker’s safety, avoidance of under aged workers, community consultations, slope stabilization through engineering and bioengineering measures, minimizing trees cutting (if unavoidable), quarry site management, spoil management are considered during implementation of SPs. The project has designated a government deputed soil conservation officer as an environment office xr. The project has also the provision of intermittent inputs of senior environment specialist (SES). Environment compliance status of the subprojects has been reported in July-December, 2019. Preparation of 108 DDRs and inclusion of 515 numbers of voluntary land donation documents were already completed. About 378 subproject level meetings and 1077 ward level consultations were conducted during planning stage. Quarry site management, burrow pit management, spoils management, soil erosion and landslide control are adopted in SPs implementation. For 108 subprojects, aabout 3944 m of brush layering, 144 m of check dam and 172 m of live fencing were done till reporting period. Bamboos are planted in an area of 121 ha for bio-engineering purpose to control erosion. To stabilize the land, 6357 units (2×1×1 m3 or 3×1×1 m3 per unit) of gabion wall are used to protect water sources. It is reported that 38840 winter plantation, 123374 fruit trees and 1345709 fodder species, 258404 forestry species were planted in 108 SPs till December, 2019. Cultivation of 1432379 numbers of grasses is reported. To increase the ground recharge, the SPs have also constructed 11230 recharge pits, 157 recharge ponds, 21 conservation ponds. About 12837 ha of catchment restoration by plantation is also done. No involuntary land acquisition, resettlement issues, social conflicts, child labour were noticed during SPs implementation. No safeguard grievance is received till date; however, the PIU has received the grievances of inadequate monitoring by project. The SPs have great environment benefits in terms of catchment management, ground water recharge, surface water management, water source protection, land stabilization and erosion control. Caring of planted trees, considering grazing alternatives, safety measures and coordination with other government bodies should also be considered during implementation stage. Preparation of environment safeguard guidelines, training on safeguard monitoring and reporting to project staffs and preparation of environment code of practices were not completed. The project is now planning to prepare project completion report which needs to include environmental safeguard information.

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Table of Contents

Abbreviation ...... i Executive Summary ...... ii 1. Background ...... 1 2. Environment Safeguard in The BCRWME Project ...... 2 3. Construction Approach ...... 2 4. Overall Environmental Safeguard Status ...... 3 5. Compliance Status with Environmental Covenants ...... 3 6. Institutional Arrangement ...... 4 6.1 Environment Monitoring and reporting mechanism ...... 4 7. Compliance with Environmental Safeguard Measures ...... 5 7.1 During Planning and Approval Phase ...... 5 7.1.1 Environment Screening and SP categorization, environment assessment ...... 6 7.1.2 Project Procedural Requirement ...... 6 7.1.3 Rapid Environment Assessment and Due Diligence Report ...... 6 7.1.4 Environmental officers ...... 6 7.1.5 Grievance redress mechanism and Environment safeguard desk ...... 6 7.1.6 Community consultation and downstream users’ consent ...... 7 7.1.7 Land Donation ...... 7 7.1.8 Environment benefits by SPs ...... 7 7.2 During Implementation Stage ...... 7 7.2.1 Quarry Site and Burrow Pit Management ...... 7 7.2.2 Soil erosion, landslide control ...... 8 7.2.3 Excess Spoil and excavated top soil management ...... 8 7.2.4 Tree cutting and plantation ...... 8 7.2.5 Grazing land management ...... 9 7.2.6 Catchment management ...... 9 7.2.7 Water source protection ...... 9 7.2.9 Irrigation Pond and Cattle Ponds ...... 10 7.2.8 Impact in Forest ...... 10 7.2.10 Environment sanitation ...... 11 7.2.11 Downstream water use ...... 11 7.2.12 Worker’s safety and Work Camp ...... 11 7.2.13 Land acquisition and impacts to indigenous people ...... 11 7.2.14 Child labor ...... 11

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7.2.15 Employment and wage discrimination ...... 11 7.2.16 Violation of laws and regulation of GoN ...... 11 7.2.17 Field Visits by project team and SES ...... 12 7.2.18 Safeguard Training to Project Team (COs/CSs/FTTs/Environment Officer) ...... 12 7.2.19 Safeguard monitoring and reporting system ...... 12 7.2.20 Grievance redress mechanism ...... 12 7.2.21 Replication of good practices ...... 12 8. Corrective action and recommendation ...... 13

List of Table

Table 1: Plantation Status of the Project (Excluding plantation status of Post Support) ...... 9 Table 2: Detail of Catchment Restoration Works till December, 2019 ...... 10 Table 3: Detail of Civil Works till December, 2019 ...... 10 Table 4: Issue, corrective action, recommendation and responsible agency ...... 13

List of Figure

Figure 1: BCRWME Project Area in Far Western Province ...... 1 Figure 2: Institutional arrangement for environment safeguard compliance ...... 5

Annexes

Annex 1: Planning stage (Annex 1a) and Implementation stage (Annex 1b) environmental compliance status (As of December, 2019) and Compliance status in terms indicators, issues and mitigation measures (Annex 1 c)

Annex 2: Status of compliance with loan and grant covenants (As of December, 2019)

Annex 3: Photographs

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1. BACKGROUND

Building climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco- Regions (BCRWME) Project being implemented by the Department of the Forests and Soil Conservation (DFSC) with grant assistance from ADB, Nordic Development Fund and Government of Nepal intends to improve access to and reliability of water supplies to communities living in watershed vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Access and reliability to water resources will be improved through a participatory program of integrated watershed management with interventions in upland areas to increase surface water storage and ground water recharge. The project will support communities to manage catchment areas for development and protection of their water sources (springs and streams). This will include (i) protection of the area surrounding the water source and preparation and implementation of the water source catchment management plans, (ii) treatment of gully erosion and slope/landslide stabilization that threatens the water sources, water infrastructure, and beneficiary communities (iii) construction of water collection chambers, spring boxes or infiltration galleries; (iv) construction of conservation pond and storage for irrigation and livestock, and (v) construction of drinking water storage tanks and tap stands. The project will also provide participating communities with education and facilitate programs on water conservation practices (including micro-irrigation), methods for maintaining soil moisture in agriculture, grazing and fodder management, and ways to regenerate vegetative cover. A total of 108 sub-projects under the project are being implemented in six districts of the Lower West Seti and Budhi Ganga watersheds of the Far Western Province of Nepal.

As per Safeguard Policy Statement of ADB (2009), the BCRWME Project is classified as environmental category “B” Project, the semiannual environmental monitoring report has been prepared for the July to December, 2019.

Figure 1: BCRWME Project Area in Far Western Province

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2. ENVIRONMENT SAFEGUARD IN THE BCRWME PROJECT

The major objectives of the ADB on the environment are to incorporate environmental component in development planning and integrate environmental safeguards across ADB operations. The project has considered environmental component to address environmental issues during SPs implementation. The project has an environmental assessment review framework (EARF) that specifies sub-project (SP) selection procedures, SP’s environment categorization, environment assessment procedure, community consultation, grievance redress mechanism, institutional arrangement for environment management. In order to address environmental issues, the project has adopted/included formats of Rapid Environment Assessment (REA) checklist and Environment Due Diligence Reports (DDRs) to be included during Sub-project Preparation Report (SPPR) with compliance to both ADB’s and GoN’s environmental requirements. Environment is considered during selection of schemes, subprojects and community actions, SPPRs preparation, approval of SPPRs by Feasibility Approval Committee (FAC), agreement to Community Development Group (CDG) and SPs’ monitoring and reporting.

All SPs are screened for environmental impact and due diligence reports (DDRs) are prepared and included in the SPPRs during planning stage. The project has the provision of grievance redress committee (GRC) and designated environment officers (EOs). To ensure the safeguard compliance, the project has also the provision of intermittent inputs of senior environment specialist (SES) in Project Management Unit (PMU). Initially, the SES was engaged to train the project team and monitor the quality of environmental screening reports, SPs categorization, due diligence reports and environment management practice. Now, the SES is responsible for the preparing of semiannual environmental monitoring reports and project completion report along with biannual environment monitoring. The SES developed reporting formats to include in semiannual environment monitoring report. Besides the SES, environment compliance monitoring of SPs will also be carried out by experts of PMIC and PMU/PIU team.

3. CONSTRUCTION APPROACH

The approach adopted a community-driven subproject ensuring a high level of public awareness and their involvement in planning, implementation, operation, maintenance, protection and benefit sharing of activities related to water access and reliability. The project applies the community contract to execute, manage and supervise the SPs in close supervision and technical guidelines from the PMU/PIU and PMIC. A Consultation, Participation and Communications Plan (the CPC Plan) has been incorporated into project implementation guidelines. An Item rate contract is adopted for civil works. Local materials for civil works such as boulder, sand, coarse aggregates etc. were managed by the community as per requirement in the Bills of Quantities (BOQs) of contract. Materials for civil works such as cement, steel bars, GI wire/ boxes, barbed wire, HDP, GI pipes, pipe fittings etc. are procured by the PMU/PIU (earlier DSCO) from the market/factory under the guidance and supervision of responsible PMIC technicians/engineers. Similarly, material required for catchment restoration works are procured by concerned PMU/PIU through standard ADB’s shopping methods and community

2 contract is adopted in labor works only. Community participation/contribution is 20% of the catchment restoration works (vegetative works).

4. OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD STATUS

The environmental safeguard requirements of GoN and ADB are satisfactorily addressed in SPs planning and implementation stages. The project has adopted procedural requirements such as environmental screening, SPs categorization, DDR inclusion, community consultation, voluntary land donation documents during SPPRs preparation and approval process. The SPPRs have also included provision of catchment restoration practices such as fodder/grass cultivation, trees plantation, recharge pit, conservation pond, brush layering, check dam etc. Similarly, the SPPRs also include the water source protection measures such as gabion wall, stabilization of slopes and gullies, construction of drinking water storage tank, irrigation pond, cattle pond etc.

There are 108 SPPRs (Batch I-8, Batch II-20, batch II-40 and Batch IV-40) and all of them are category C projects. None of these SPs requires environment assessments (i.e. IEE and EIA). No violations of local traditions, culture and no resettlement of indigenous people, worker’s safety, avoidance of under aged workers, written consent for utilizing water sources, slope stabilization through engineering and bioengineering measures, minimizing trees cutting (if unavoidable), quarry site management and spoil management are considered during implementation of SPs. The project itself is a climate resilient project and has also included the environment management related activities. The SPs has also included the activities to increase surface water storage, enhance soil water and ground water recharge, stabilize slopes and gullies and reduce erosion in their agreed activities.

No safeguard grievances were reported during the reporting period of July to December, 2019. The project has prepared and adopted monitoring and reporting formats for safeguard compliance monitoring. The project is strengthening environmental compliance monitoring and reporting by structured formats, follow ups, feedbacks, orientations to the project team. Senior environment specialist, watershed management engineers/associates, environment officers (assigned by PMU), FTTs and CO/CS are involved in environment compliance monitoring of SPs. The project has focused on statistical information of environment related issues from civil work and catchment restoration work. The project has also considered the recommendations of mission team such as training to CO/CS on safeguard, GRC formation as per restructuring of local government, inclusion of environment sections in other reports and environment component in project completion report.

5. COMPLIANCE STATUS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL COVENANTS

There are 4 loan and grant covenants for environment safeguard specified for the project. Compliance with environment requirements, human resource to implement safeguard compliance, provision of environment safeguard in bidding and contract documents and safeguard related monitoring and reporting are included in the environment safeguard covenants. For social safeguard, the project has also provisioned the voluntary land donation, no involuntary resettlement of indigenous people and grievance redress mechanism.

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Environmental safeguard related activities are in compliance with grant covenants as regular follow up actions are being taken according to approved PAM and EARF. (Refer Annex 2)

6. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT Regarding to the institutional arrangement, the project has established PMU in Dadeldhura under Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DFSC). MoFE has appointed a Class-II officer from the DFSC as a Project Director to head the PMU. The PMU is responsible for coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the SPs including environment safeguard compliance monitoring. The PMU comprises government deputed staffs, mid-level technician and team of consultants (PMIC, NDF-1 and NDF-II)) to implement the SPs. Similarly, the project has also established project implementation unit (PIU) in Achham along with team of PMIC to implement, monitor of SPs including environment safeguard compliance and is also responsible for supervising FTTs. The PIU has designated a soil conservation officer as an environment officer (EO). To ensure the safeguard compliance during planning and implementation stages, the project has the provision of intermittent inputs of SES in PMIC.

At SP level, community development groups (CDGs) is established to link users of each scheme. A subproject implementation committee, comprised of the chairpersons of each CDG, will be established for each SP. PMU/PIU (earlier DSCOs) have engaged one CO and two CSs to monitor and supervise SP implementation. CO will assist the FTTs in community mobilization, organization of the CDGs and interactions with the communities during source scheme verification, implementation of the agreed measures, the post support (PS) for the catchment management and O&M activities. The CSs will assist the FTTs with the day to day supervision of the construction, bio-engineering and vegetative restoration works that will be implemented under shopping contracts or community contracts.

With the changed context of local government, the project has to reform grievance redress committee (GRC) both in PMU/PIU and SP level where the grievances from stakeholders are documented, redressed and reported.

6.1 ENVIRONMENT MONITORING AND REPORTING MECHANISM

The SES and designated EO takes overall responsibility of environment management of the project. The FTT supported by EO screens the SPs on the basis of environment and social criteria. The EO will clear the REA screening and prepare the DDRs. The SES reviews the REAs and DDRs to ensure that subprojects have been categorized accurately. Similarly, the SES will endorse these DDRs during planning stage. WME under the support of PMU engineers integrate environment issues of DDRs in design and contract documents. The CDGs Implement required environmental measures and EOs supervise implementation of environmental measures during construction. The SES supports capacity development of project team of environmental planning, monitoring and reporting. Each PMU/PIU has a team of COs, CSs, FTTs and watershed experts (WMA/WRE) to monitor the SPs’ environmental compliance status. The SES also prepares environmental monitoring report on the basis of biannual field visit. The EOs will review the compliance status prepared by them and forwards it to the SES. The SES

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reviews and makes necessary recommendation and compiles them to incorporate in quarterly, semiannual and annual report as per requirement.

Existing environment safeguard monitoring and reporting mechanism is given in following chart.

• Supervise field implementation team • Monitor social and environmental • Monitor environment and social safeguard PIU PMU Safeguard requirements/status requirements/ status • Document/redress grievances • Agreement with CDG • Manage project staffs and experts • Appointing Environment Officer

SPs Environment CDG/COs/CS/ Safeguard Compliance PMIC/NDF FTTs

• Screen environment requirements & • SPPRs preparation prepare DDR Senior Environment • Monitoring of SPs & training • Assess environment compliance • Supervise CO/CS/FTT Specialist • Report to Environment Expert/Expert • Check received report (WMA/WME) • Report to PMU/SES • Document/redress grievance

• Review compliance status both in planning & implementation stage • Sub-projects visits, feedbacks, follow ups, design monitoring and reporting formats, prepare environment safeguard guidelines. organize training, • Prepare EMR and necessary reports

Figure 2: Institutional arrangement for environment safeguard monitoring and reporting 7. COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES

Compliance status of environmental safeguard measures of 20 SPs for both planning and implementation stage is provided in Annex 1a and Annex 1b respectively (as prescribed formats by ADB). Both qualitative and quantitative information on planning and implementation stages are collected/updated by field team (CO/CS/FTT/WME/WMA), checked by environment officer and sent to the senior environment specialist/PMU on biannual basis.

7.1 DURING PLANNING AND APPROVAL PHASE

The project has followed the ADB’s safeguard and the GoN’s procedural requirement during planning stage. The planning stage safeguard indicators such as SP selection, environment screening, environment categorization, DDR inclusion, government permits, community consultation, GRC formation and environment related management activities are acquired from approved SPPRs, PAM, EARF and contract document. Besides safeguard training, safeguard indicators such as impact to indigenous people, voluntary land donation, water source utilization and grievances are also considered in planning stage. Planning Stage safeguard

5 compliance status of 20 SPs is given in Annex 1a. Similarly, the planning stage compliance statuses in terms of issues and mitigation measures are provided in Annex 1c.

7.1.1 Environment Screening and SP categorization, environment assessment

Indicators such as forest permission for catchment protection, land donation, impact to downstream users, ecologically sensitive area, cultural aspects and indigenous people are assessed during SP selection. All the contracted SPs under the project are category “C” project and do not require EIA/IEE level of assessment. As per PAM/EARF, the SPs under the project if not requiring an IEE study will be subjected to preparation of environment DDR.

7.1.2 Project Procedural Requirement

The project procedural requirements such as submission of voluntary land donation documents, community consultation minutes, environmental screening of SPs and field verification by technical team are considered during SPPRs preparation. These SPPRs will be reviewed by Feasibility Approval Committee (FAC). The project procedural requirements were adopted for all 108 contracted SPs.

7.1.3 Rapid Environment Assessment and Due Diligence Report

For planning stage, all subprojects are screened for environmental impact, and due diligence reports (DDRs) are prepared. The FTTs conducted environmental screening; the staff designated as Environment Officer checked each completed REA before it is finalized; DDRs are also prepared and included in the all 108 SPPRs.

7.1.4 Environmental officers

Earlier, one of the DSCO’s staff had been designated as environment officer in Doti and Dadeldhura. Due to restructuring of local bodies there is no existence of DSCO. Now, the PIU has appointed environment officer. The EO is responsible for monitoring and reporting of environment safeguard and coordination with the SES.

7.1.5 Grievance redress mechanism and Environment safeguard desk

As per PAM/EARF, the project needs to form the grievance redress committee (GRC) for project level and subproject level to document, redress and report of received grievances. Till date, for project level, project director will be the main responsible person to redress the grievances received. Similarly, for SP level, CDG is responsible to redress the grievances received. Grievances will be received verbally or written and will be resolved by GRC in both SP level and PMU level. Environmental safeguard desk has been established in PMU Dadeldhura. Due to the restructuring of government body, the project should revise the GRC. This is under the process of formation.

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7.1.6 Community consultation and downstream users’ consent

The project has assessed the community consultation minutes for all SPPRs during evaluation. Thus, all the contracted SPs have included community consultation minute. Besides few suggestions, these minutes also include resource utilization consent from downstream users committee. About 378 subproject level meetings and 1088 ward level consultations (n=108 SPs) were conducted during planning stage.

7.1.7 Land Donation

The SPs require land for activities such as civil works and catchment protection measures. The land is private, government/public or community owned. For each land acquisition, the SPs require voluntary land donation paper. All the SPs i.e. 515 persons have submitted voluntary land donation papers in 108 SPs (Project data format).

7.1.8 Environment benefits by SPs

The SPs have great environment benefits in terms of catchment management, ground water recharge, surface water management, water source protection, land stabilization and erosion control mechanism. Bank protection, landslide stabilization and gully erosion control will utilize gabions and bio-engineering methods. Other features of subprojects could include intakes, reservoir, sediment traps, drainage works, drop structures, division structures, and outlets which may increase water quality. Cattle pond, irrigation ponds are also considered by the SPs. Therefore, with an aim to manage and conserve watersheds, the environmental benefits of the project outweigh minor adverse impacts incurred during construction.

7.2 DURING IMPLEMENTATION STAGE

Besides monitoring of planning stage indicators, COs/CSs/FTTs of the respective districts use the environment monitoring formats to collect the information on quarry site management, spoil management, safety gears, grazing land, cut trees, trees plantation, grass cultivation, catchment management, gully control measures, landslide protection measures, recharge pits, cattle ponds and irrigation ponds. The safeguard issues observed by the expert during field visit are also included in implementation stage safeguard status. Considering the issues and mitigation measures as provided in EARF, and SPs specific issues during field visit, a summary of compliance status of implementation stage is provided in Annex 1b. Similarly, the implementation stage compliance statuses in terms of issues and mitigation measures are provided in Annex 1c.

7.2.1 Quarry Site and Burrow Pit Management

The majority of SPs’ civil structures are small-scale, extraction of sand, gravel and boulder is very low. Stones are used for gabion wall to protect source. An average of 120 m3 of stone is used in gabion wall per subproject. These stones are collected with an approval of the rural municipality. During civil construction, all raw materials were collected from the immediate area or location specified by the designated engineers to avoid the issues of material

7 transportation and haphazard collection. As the project has the provision of re-grade the quarry sites, no adverse impact due to quarrying and burrow pit is seen.

7.2.2 Soil erosion and landslide control

Soil erosion and landslide issues occur during construction and land preparation for SPs’ activities. Earthworks and trenching are generally done manually and concrete and cement masonry structures erected using local skilled labour. Most aspects of the proposed works engage a limited number of workers to lay piping, construct forms for reinforced concrete structures and prepare ground for planting soil stabilizing grasses and shrubs. The project has recommended to plant shrubs and grass on exposed slopes after construction. Thus, landslide and soil erosion issues due to construction activities are not significant. The project has encouraged SPs to adopt landslide stabilization, erosion control, gully area treatment and bioengineering practices. About 3944 m of brush layering, 144 m of check dam and 172 m of live fencing were done till reporting period. Bamboos are planted in an area of 121 ha for bio- engineering purpose to control erosion (Refer Table 2). To stabilize the land, the project has also adopted measures such as gabion wall. 6357 units of gabion walls (Major) and masonry wall (minor) are used to protect source water (Table 3). During the field visit, it came to know that few of the structures are located in slope land which need to be stabilized to avoid possible damage to the structure. It is observed that the irrigation pond of the Toli SP subsides due to lack of land stabilization measures (Photo below).

Photo: Gabion wall at Source ProtectionPhoto: gabion wall protection Photo: Damage to irrigation Malatikot, Achham source, MalatiKot, Achhamm pond, Toli, Bajura 7.2.3 Excess Spoil and excavated top soil management

All the generated spoils from minor construction activities are managed by SPs themselves. These spoils are used in back filling. As the top soil is very important, it is recommended to use excavated top soil for final dressing of the sites and suggested to plant soil stabilizing shrubs to prevent from erosion during rainfall.

7.2.4 Tree cutting and plantation

During the land preparation for civil construction activities and recharge pit construction, trees are cleared by few SPs. For catchment restoration work, the SPs has provision of summer and winter trees plantation on both in private and public land which includes fruit trees plantation,

8 fodder trees plantation which will compensate these minor numbers of cut trees. Besides restoring upslope catchment, these plantations will help to generate income of community people, fodder for animal. The SPs are recommended to care the planted trees until they grow. It is reported that 38840 winter plantation, 123374 fruit trees and 1345709 fodder species, 258404 forestry species were planted in 108 SPs till December, 2019 (Table 1).

7.2.5 Grazing land management

To prevent the possible damage of the catchment area, the project has the provision of prohibiting animal grazing in catchment area. Few SPs have practiced grass/fodder cultivation. Cultivation of 1432379 numbers of grasses is reported till the reporting period (Table 1). Communities are encouraged to stall feeding by sufficient grass/fodder cultivation. Rotational grazing and acceptable grazing area should be defined for grazing type’s alternatives.

7.2.6 Catchment management

The project has supported trees cultivation, grass cultivation for catchment improvement which add the greenery as well. Brush layering, check dam and live fencing are adopted to protect catchment area. To increase the ground recharge, the SPs have also constructed 11230 recharge pits, 157 recharge ponds, 21 conservation ponds. About 12837 ha of catchment restoration by plantation is also done (Table 2).

7.2.7 Water source protection Water source is protected by considering the intake and protection wall around the source. Prevention of gully erosion by check dams and gabion protection and source covering have helped the water source protection. 6357 number of source protection work (n=108 SPs) are done (Refer Table 3). The trees around the water source are retained in water source area. Table 1: Plantation Status of the Project (Excluding plantation status of Post Support) Winter Fruit Fodder Forestry Grass Bamboo Batch District/SPs Plantation Species Species Species Species Species (Nos) (Nos) (Nos) (Nos) (Nos) (Nos) Batch I- 8 Doti-4 0 5978 22763 0 127716 1122 SPs Dadeldhura-4 Bajhang-2 Batch II- Baitadi-6 8574 24651 109070 112610.4 592305 4851 20 SPs Dadeldhura-5 Doti-7 Doti-11 Batch III- Achham-19 22385 40036 2703 0 376482 3788 40 SPs Bajura-7 Baitadi-3 Doti-13 Batch III- Achham-19 7881 52709 1211172 145794 335876 1685 40 SPs Bajura-8 Doti-35 Total of Dadeldhura-9 all Achham-38 134570 38840 123374 258404 1432379 11446 Batches- Bajura-15 9 108 SPs Baitadi-9 Bajhang-2

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Table 2: Detail of Catchment Restoration Works till December, 2019

Batch I PS Batch II PS Batch III PS Total SN Plantings (ha) Batch I Batch II Batch III Batch IV I II III I II I 1 Critrus [ha] 44.50 123.57 266.16 138.54 8.83 30.87 9.69 75.65 55.04 144.9 897.75 2 Nepair [ha] 2.80 45.96 20.13 23.99 3.45 0.35 1 6.92 2.36 7.5 114.46 3 Amriso [ha] 0.38 10.55 45.50 55.80 4.62 4.69 0.71 15.5 1.61 4.61 143.97 4 Okhar [ha] 18.39 29.78 149.75 48.30 1 3.3 0 59.45 0 0 309.97 5 Naspat i[ha] 11.24 31.98 162.22 15.16 0.2 2.73 0 2.84 0 0 226.37 6 Mango [ha] 1.04 1.92 177.44 135.89 33.15 5 12.87 30.75 19.96 136.5 554.52 7Guava (ha) 0 0 0 1.54 0 0 0 0 0 16.5 18.04 8 Bamboo Plantation [ha] 3.9 48.51 44.81 9.21 3.05 1.85 0 3.71 0.89 5.57 121.50 9 Conservation plantation [ha] 47.5 43.29 362.86 58.52 0.22 0 0 2.2 1.5 2.92 519.01 10 Fodder plantation [ha] 34.4 39.29 398.81 134.35 9.11 4.23 2.3 13.1 6.66 11.3 653.55 11 Stylo Seed Sowing [ha] 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.00 12 Rudrakche Plantation [ha] 0 0 9.03 16.7 0 0 0 0 0 0.22 25.95 13 Landslide treatment [ha] 2.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.10 14 Onfarm conservation [ha] 60.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60.90 16 Other Plantations[ha] 0 0 1 4.47 0 1.8 0 4.47 0 3.36 15.10 Total (ha) 227.15 378.85 1637.71 642.47 63.63 54.82 26.57 214.59 88.02 333.38 3667.19 1 Brush Layering [m] 1469 0 1145 0 300 250 300 15 65 400 3944 2 Bamboo / Brushwood Checkdam [m] 145 0 0 620 0 60 36 119 133 1113 3 Live fencing (m) 172 0 0 3502 35 0 500 2900 3600 1300 12009 Total (m) 1786 0 1145 4122 335 250 860 2951 3784 1833 17066 1 Recharge Pit [Nos.] 0 0 0 2625 100 225 232 1055 2438 4555 11230 2 Recharge pond ( Nos) 0 0 0 20 0 0 14 0 18 105 157 3 Cosnservation pond (Nos) 0 0 0 1 0 0 7 0 5 8 21 4 Tunnel / polyhouse (Nos) 0 0 0 527 6 28 14 34 97 524 1230 5 Vegetable Farming [CDG,No] 0 0 11 40 8 20 40 20 20 40 199 Total (Nos) 0 0 11 3213 114 273 307 1109 2578 5232 12837 7.2.9 Irrigation Pond and Cattle Ponds Besides providing drinking water to the community, the project has also supported 399 irrigation ponds, 49 cattle ponds which benefit community to grow vegetable and crops and cattle drinking (Refer Table 3). 7.2.8 Impact in Forest

No civil work was done in forest land. It is also reported that no single tree was removed from the forest area. During the catchment restoration in community forest, the SP has received the permits from CFUG. The SPs and project should also coordinate with Division Forest Offices (DFO) during such work.

Table 3: Detail of Civil Works till December, 2019

Batch IV Batch I PS Batch II Ps Batch III SN Structures (No.) Batch I Batch II Batch III Total I II III I II III I II I 1 Intakes 154 374 473 113 157 270 95 10 3 16 16 50 1461 2 Ferro-cement tanks (RVT) 36 67 118 61 96 157 18 2 1 3 3 18 423 3 Sedimentation tanks(RVT) 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 Spring Development/ Fences[Nos] 51 154 60 72 86 158 0 0 0 0 0 8 431 5 Collection chambers 33 46 49 85 79 164 51 0 2 3 2 14 364 6 Source protection work 876 1184 1442 250 490 740 71 129 112 417 322 1064 6357 8 Tap stands 41 55 60 153 198 351 12 2 2 38 46 208 815 9 Irrigation ponds 33 68 112 53 77 130 19 1 0 6 4 26 399 10 Cattle ponds 16 1 0 8 11 19 0 0 0 1 0 12 49 11 Conservation ponds 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 14 Intrrruption chamber 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 15 Other works 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Total Structures 1249 1949 2330 795 1194 1989 266 144 120 484 393 1400 10324 16 Pipelines (m) 27233 144216 177835 62595 122455 185050 350 2700 2611 17090 22567 86296 349284 Total Pipeline [m] 27233 144216 177835 62595 122455 185050 350 2700 2611 17090 22567 86296 349284

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7.2.10 Environment sanitation

According to the nature of SPs, construction wastes are common which are managed later. There are plastic covers, scrap of chocolates, tobacco and biscuits etc. seen around few taps stands, the reservoir tank and ponds which needs to be cleaned. This issue should be considered during PS.

7.2.11 Downstream water use

Community consultations with downstream community and formation of CDG have mitigated the potential social conflict. SPs have allocated budget for construction of intake, reservoir tank, RVT, irrigation pond, cattle pond etc. Few SPs are provided budget for drip irrigation, sprinkle. These infrastructures are also used by downstream community as well. Till reporting period, 378 subproject level consultations and 1077 ward level consultations were conducted.

7.2.12 Worker’s safety and Work Camp

The construction activities are minor in the SPs and most of the construction activities are completed. Workers’ safety concern during construction is included in contract paper. The SP should make the provision of protective gears like gloves, shoes, helmets etc. during construction. It is suggested that safety gears and first aid box should be provisioned in on- going construction activities or PS activities. The contract document also contains safe working place. Local people with CDG are used, thus, provision of construction work camp is non- significant.

7.2.13 Land acquisition and impacts to indigenous people

As the project has the provision of voluntary land donation, no involuntary land acquisition issue arises due to SPs implementation. No negative impact to the life of indigenous people was reported yet. It is found that the indigenous people are also benefitted positively in terms of employment and drinking water facilities.

7.2.14 Child labor

No child below 18 years is employed as a labour in any SP activity. The SPs’ contract documents also include the prohibition of child labours in SP activities.

7.2.15 Employment and wage discrimination

No wage discrimination for women performing similar nature of work is reported yet. The contract document has also assured the no wage discrimination.

7.2.16 Violation of laws and regulation of GoN

The project/SPs have followed the rules and regulation of GoN during their implementation.

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7.2.17 Field Visits by project team and SES

All SPs of implementation stages have been visited by PMIC consultant, experts, PMU/PIU staffs and technical persons. The project has helped in capacity building of the CDG members through training and orientation program. However, the project should orient the community and CDG members about the importance of catchment restoration work. During field visit, the watershed management experts has also instructed the FTT, CO and CS about supervision of the construction quality and maintaining the safe environmental condition there. The SES has also visited subprojects of Bajura and Achham during this reporting period. The SES collected the information and recommended measures to care the plants and structures. Meeting regarding to PCR and SEMR were shared to the project team as well.

7.2.18 Safeguard Training to Project Team (COs/CSs/FTTs/Environment Officer)

The senior environment specialist was responsible for training the environment officers and project team. Immediately after orientation program conducted at PMU Dadeldhura, FTT were given training on environmental issues and details of the data to be collected. The appointed COs were also provided training about the environmental issues and their mitigation measures. It seems that the safeguard training of the project team is inadequate. It has now been a common consensus that CO/CS level of safeguard training session will be included during the other regular trainings.

7.2.19 Safeguard monitoring and reporting system

The SES has prepared and shared environment monitoring and reporting formats. The capacity for environment monitoring and reporting of the project team should be enhanced. CSs have also been instructed to monitor the environmental condition at site to gather the environmental issues and have been instructed to fill up the checklist and forward it to the FTT and finally at PMIC office to check the environmental issues and whether need to be addressed them.

7.2.20 Grievance redress mechanism

Subprojects have been implemented through the consensus of local people. During planning stage, the SP will form the community development group and the concern of local people has been taken in to consideration. Till December, 2019, no major environmental grievances were reported. However, the PIU has received the grievances of inadequate monitoring by the project. The project is under the process of formation of grievance redress committee by involving PIU staffs and CDGs and municipalities representatives.

7.2.21 Replication of good practices The project has supported recharge pits, conservation pond for catchment restoration works which are also replicated by Rural Municipalities. Capacity enhancement of conservation ponds by RM and Province Government are also reported during this reporting period.

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Photo 1: Capacity enhancement of Conservation pond in by Photo 1: Capacity enhancement of conservation pond in Ban Chaurpati RM Achham by Far west Province Government

8. CORRECTIVE ACTION AND RECOMMENDATION The project has beneficial impacts for water source protection and catchment improvement. However, the project should strengthen environmental monitoring and reporting mechanism as provisioned in planning stage. Similarly, caring of planted trees, considering grazing alternatives, safety measures and coordination with other government bodies should also be considered during implementation stage. Recommendations given during Review Mission which were also proposed in previous semi-annual report (January-June, 2019) such as preparation of environment safeguard guidelines, training on safeguard monitoring and reporting to project staffs, preparation of environment code of practices were not performed as the most of the activities are completed and project completion report (PCR) preparation time is approaching.

The project is now planning to PCR. The project has focused on quantitative information of environment aspects from civil work and catchment restoration work such as cattle pond, irrigation pond, tree loss, additional plantation, grass/fodder cultivation, land stabilization work, recharge pit, conservation pond, brush layering and grievances etc. Field visits should also include the safeguard monitoring and reporting mechanism as per EARF/PAM. The project needs to include environmental safeguard information so that the project could receive safeguard information in upcoming PCR.

Table 4 : Issue, corrective action, recommendation and responsible agency Responsible SN Issues Corrective Action & Recommendation Agency Quality information on Include safeguard information of PCR PMU/PIU/SES/P 1 safeguard issues formats MIC Grievance Redress Committee 2 Form GRC in Project Level and SP level PMU/PIU (GRC) Include environment section in Environment 3 Knowledge Products to be developed by SES/PMIC/NDF Section/Environment Window NDF and environment window in MIS Quantitative information of the Orient field staffs about formats SES/EO/CO/CS 4 environmental issues on PCR Monitoring and reporting mechanism /FTT

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Annexes

Annex 1: Status of Environmental Safeguards during Planning (Annex 1 a) and Implementation stage (Annex 1 b) and Compliance status in terms indicators, issues and mitigation measures (Annex 1 c)

Annex 2: Status of compliance with loan and grant covenants

Annex 3: Photographs

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Annex 1a: Status of Environmental Safeguards during Planning Stage

Environment mgmt Related activities Environment Safeguard Public Environmental Environmenta DDR is Environment Voluntary Consent for Water category of EARF is REA is Training to GRM monitoring and Permits consultation Management Cost l screening is prepared and Help Desk Land Downstream Impact on distribution Erosion/Landsl Watershed Catchment S. N. Name of Subproject the / prepared included in FTTs/Cos established coordination from DoF minute Trees/Fodder/Fru Provision of Ground Water included carried out? included in Etablished Donation Water Use Forest (Y/N) system is ide Protectionn Conservatio Restoration subproject (Y/N) SPPR (Y/N) (Y/N) (Y/N) mechanism (Y/N/NA) included its/Shrubs channel & Recharge separately if yes (Y/ N) SPPR (Y/N) (Y/N) (Y/N/NA) (Y/N) defined (Y/N) measures n practices Practices (A/B/C/FI) established (Y/N) (Y/N) Plantation (Y/N) Spillway (Y/N) practice (Y/N) Give Cost, No=0 (Y/N) (Y/N) (Y/N)

Dadeldhura 1 Manilek VDC YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 185,220.86 2 Municipality YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 259,557.17 3 Asigram YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 107,355.13 4 Belapur YCYYYYYYYYYN NA YYYYYYY NA 5 Ganeshpur YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 226,571.22 6 Kailpalmandu YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 141,674 7 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 116,513 8 Mastamandau YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 261,527 9 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 12,259 1 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA YYYYYYYY NA 2 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 269,059 3 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 223,264 4 Shikharpur YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 98,959 5 Shivaling YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 214,020 6 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 77,508 7 Siddheswor YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 125,131 8 Sikash YCYYYYYYYYYN NA YYYYYYYY NA 9 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 241,816 Bajhang District 1 YCYYYYYYYYYN NA YYYYYYYY NA 2 Syandi YCYYYYYYYYYN NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 223,521

Note: EIA- Environmental Impact Assessment; IEE- Initial Environmental Examination; DDR- Due Diligence Report; REA- Rapid Environment Assessment; GRM- Grievance Redress Mechanism

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Annex 1 b: Status of Environmental Safeguard during Implementation Stage (Till June, 2019)

Grazing Location of Fodder Area of Total Use of practice is Alternative Fodder Fruits plant Catchmen Gully Water Nos of No of Location Quarry & Quarry Site Excess Spoil is Excavated Waste Winter Winter Forestry Forestry Trees FRUIT Shrubs/Grass brush Catchment Irrigation Irrigation Gully Area Conservat Landslide No of Nos of Safety seen in Animal Cut tree trees/grass planted- Grass Species t Control Source grievances grievances Name of SPs/Address (private/ Burrow Pit Management managed Top Soil is generation Plantation Plantation Species Species Planted- plantation Cultivation layering/Bioe management pond command Treatmen ion Pond Stabilizatio grievances Schem Gears catchment Grazing (Nos) plantation Survived Number managem Measures Protection document under public/both) area within (Y/N/NA) (Y/N) used (Y/N) (Y/N) (Nos) (Ha) (Nos) (Ha) Survived (Ha) Area (Ha)* ngineering area (Ha) (Nos) area (Ha) t (Ha) (Nos) n (Nos) resolved es (Y/N) protection Practice (Y/N) (Ha) (Nos) ent (Nos) (Nos) (Nos) ed processing 100 m (Y/N) (Nos) work (Ha) area (Y/N) Dadeldhura Manilek Private 25 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0.00 3520 1.41 4565 1.83 1869 6.75 6563 0.44 840 8.40 493.10 3 0 0 1 37 0 0 0 0 0 Amargadhi Municipality Private 29 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0.00 5500 2.20 10313 4.13 3382 12.21 50470 3.36 1704 17.04 2614.56 10 10 0 3 29 0 5 0 0 0 Asigram Private 23 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0.00 1936 0.77 0 0.00 1220 4.40 46876 3.13 300 3.00 2717.28 3 2 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 Belapur Private 22 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 11400 4.56 379 1.37 19063 0.23 900 9.00 1212.6 2 6 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 Ganeshpur Private 34 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0 0 0 688 6.88 720 2.60 20316 1.35 180 1.80 424.19 3 12 0 1 24 0 2 0 0 0 Kailpalmandu Private 22 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0.00 4840 1.94 10852 0.00 516 1.86 0 0.00 100 1.00 634.03 5 10 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 Koteli Private 14 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0 0 0 12375 4.95 1494 5.39 27349 1.82 200 2.00 340.48 0 0 0 3 22 0 0 0 0 0 Mastamandau Private 21 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 150 0.00 31250 2.08 280 2.80 172.15 4 25 0 0 55 0 6 0 0 0 Nawadurga Private 22 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0 0 0 6600 2.64 500 1.81 7814 0.52 140 1.40 254.12 2 7 0 1 48 0 0 0 0 0 Baitadi NA N Chaukham Private 17 NYYYN NA N N 0 1585 10.16 0 0.00 0 0 2414 8.71 98231 6.55 0 0.00 2034.08 3 8 0 0 32 0 1 0 0 0 Dhungad Private 19 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 578 0.00 0 0.00 0 2.09 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 1377.15 3 6 0 0 67 0 1 0 0 0 Gajari Private 25 NYYYN NA N N 0 1062 6.81 8236 3.29 0 0.00 441 1.59 6625 0.44 12 0.12 1960.87 7 7 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 Shikharpur Private 8 N Y Y Y N NA N N 0 0 0.00 9652 3.86 0 0.00 43 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 237.56 2 4 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 Shivaling Private 15 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0 2341 8.45 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1316.79 1 2 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 Siddhapur Private 21 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 23431.5 9.37 1828 7.14 127803 8.52 0 0.00 1045.16 3 5 0 0 36 0 0 0 0 0 Siddheswor Private 17 NYYYN NA N N 0 242 1.55 20722.4 8.29 220 0.09 0 0.00 3734 0.25 0 0.00 252.56 3 6 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 Sikash Private 20 NYYYN NA N N 0 379 2.43 0 0.00 3465 1.39 3032 6.28 53360 1.86 995 9.95 2900.02 1 2.2 0 1 24 0 0 0 0 0 Thalakanda Private 17 NYYYN NA N N 0 0 0 2224 0.00 0 0.00 0 8.03 0 0.00 0 0.00 775.04 5 10 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 Bajhang NA N Deulek Private 24 NYYYN NA N N 0 2630 16.86 0 0.00 0 0 3904 14.09 42638 2.84 0 0.00 663.48 2 5 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 Syandi Private 17 NYYYN NA N N 0 2133 13.67 10507 4.20 0 0 2612 9.43 97423 6.49 0 0.00 608 2 2 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 Total 412 NA 0 8031 629.48 69478 34.42 83910 35.83 24506 91.67 639515 39.90 5651 57 22033.22 64 129.2 0 10 553 0 15 0 0 0 Y: Yes, N: No, NA: Not Applicable, Nos: Number, Ha: Hector

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Annex 1 C: Compliance status in terms of Indicator, issues and mitigation measures

SN Indicator Any additional Issues Mitigation Measures Compliance Status Description A. Planning Stage Environment Screening and SP Screening was completed for 1 No Adopted Good Categorization 108 SPs 2 Project Procedural Requirement No Adopted Good Followed in all SPs Rapid Environment Assessment and Due 3 No Adopted Satisfactory Prepared REA, DDR for all SPs Diligence Report 4 Environmental officer No Adopted Satisfactory Appointed in PIU Grievance redress mechanism and 5 GRM Need to form Need improvement Activate GRM and ESD Environment safeguard desk Community consultation and downstream 378 SP level and 1088 ward 6 No Adopted Satisfactory users’ consent level consultation 515 voluntary land donation 7 Land Donation No Adopted Good documents Ground water recharge, 8 Environment benefits by SPs No Adopted Satisfactory surface water management, water source protection etc B. Implementation Stage Approval for stone Written Approval from the project has the provision 1 Quarry Site and Burrow Pit Management Satisfactory collection RM of re-grade the quarry sites Land should be 6357 units of gabion walls 2 Soil erosion and landslide control Land stabilization stabilized to protect Satisfactory (Major) structure Excess Spoil and excavated top soil 3 No should be adopted Satisfactory Top soil management management 38840 winter plantation, caring of planted 123374 fruit trees and 4 Tree cutting and plantation Adopted Satisfactory trees 1345709 fodder species, 258404 forestry species Defining alternative grazing 5 Grazing land management No should be adopted Satisfactory land constructed 11230 recharge pits, 157 recharge ponds, 21 6 Catchment management No Adopted Good conservation ponds. About 12837 ha of catchment restoration by plantation 6357 number of source 7 Water source protection No Adopted Good protection work 399 irrigation ponds, 49 8 Irrigation Pond and Cattle Ponds No Adopted Good cattle ponds 9 Impact in Forest No Adopted Good Coordination Wastes around the Cleaning of the plastic covers, scrap of 10 Environment sanitation tap stand and surrounding, waste need improvement chocolates, tobacco and reservoir tank colection bin biscuits seen 11 Downstream water use No Adopted Good CDG have mitigated Workers’ safety concern Provision of First Aid during construction is 12 Worker’s safety and Work Camp First Aid Box need improvement Box included in contract paper and should be consider in PS Land acquisition and impacts to provision of voluntary land 13 No Adopted Good indigenous people donation No child below 18 years is 14 Child labor No Adopted Good employed as a labour No wage discrimination for 15 Employment and wage discrimination No Adopted Good women performing similar nature of work followed the rules and 16 Violation of laws and regulation of GoN No Adopted Good regulation of GoN Visit by project team 17 Field Visits by project team and SES No Adopted Good including SES Safeguard Training to Project Team Safeguard training to Include safeguard training in 18 should be adopted Satisfactory (COs/CSs/FTTs/Environment Officer) project staffs regular trainings Safeguard monitoring and reporting Lack of environment Reporting format to be Reporting format to be 19 Need improvement system checklist adopted for PCR adopted for PCR GRC should be 20 Grievance redress mechanism Reform GRM Satisfactory Under the reform process established Explore more locations to 21 Replication of good practices No Adopted Good support i

Annex 2: Compliance status with Loan and Grant Covenants (As of December, 2019)

Reference Covenants Compliance Date Status/Remarks

Environment

The Recipient shall ensure, or cause the EA and implementing agencies to ensure, that the Being complied. It is Para 2, Schedule preparation, design, construction, implementation, operation and decommissioning of the Project considered both Throughout the project. 4 and all Project facilities comply with (a) all applicable laws and regulations of the Recipient relating planning and to environment, health, and safety; (b) the Environmental Safeguards; (c) the EARF; and (d) all implementation stage. measures and requirements set forth in the IEEs, and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report.

Involuntary Resettlement and Indigenous People: The Recipient shall ensure, or cause the EA and implementing agencies to ensure, that the Project does not have any Indigenous Peoples Safeguards or Involuntary Resettlement Safeguards impacts, Being complied. It is Para 3, Schedule all within the meaning of ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). Any sub-project which Throughout the project considered in planning 4 requires involuntary resettlement or has Indigenous Peoples Safeguards impact shall be dropped. stage. In the event that the sub-projects do have any such impact, the Recipient shall take all steps required to ensure that the Project complies with the applicable laws and regulations of the Recipient, and with ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement.

The Recipient shall ensure that all voluntary donation of land by beneficiaries is implemented in Para 4, Schedule Being complied. During accordance with the procedures laid out in the Voluntary Land Donation Framework after free, Throughout the project 4 Planning Stage. prior and informed consultation and consent of the affected persons.

Human and Financial Resources to Implement Safeguards Requirements Para 5, Schedule Throughout the project Being complied. 4 The Recipient shall make available, or cause the EA and implementing agencies to make available, necessary budgetary and human resources to fully implement the EARF, any IEE or EMP, and any

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Reference Covenants Compliance Date Status/Remarks additional documents to be prepared in accordance with the EARF.

Safeguards – Related Provisions in Bidding Documents and Works Contracts The Recipient shall ensure, or cause the EA and implementing agencies to ensure, that all bidding documents and contracts for Works contain provisions that require contractors to: (a) comply with the measures and requirements relevant to the contractor set forth in the IEE, the EMP, and any corrective or preventative actions set out in a Safeguards Monitoring Report; (b) make available a budget for all such environmental and social measures; Para 6, Schedule Throughout the project Being complied. 4 (c) provide the Recipient with a written notice of any unanticipated environmental, resettlement or indigenous peoples risks or impacts that arise during construction, implementation or operation of the Project that were not considered in the IEE or the EMP; (d) adequately record the condition of roads, agricultural land and other infrastructure prior to starting to transport materials and construction; and (e) fully reinstate pathways, other local infrastructure, and agricultural land to at least their pre-project condition upon the completion of construction.

Safeguards Monitoring and Reporting The Recipient shall (a) submit semi-annual Safeguards Monitoring Reports to ADB and disclose Para 7, Schedule relevant information from such reports to affected persons promptly upon submission; (b) if any Throughout the project Being complied. 4 unanticipated environmental and/or social risks and impacts arise during construction, implementation or operation of the Project that were not considered in the IEE or the EMP, promptly inform ADB of the occurrence of such risks or impacts, with detailed description of the event and proposed corrective action plan; and (c) report any actual or potential breach of

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Reference Covenants Compliance Date Status/Remarks compliance with the measures and requirements set forth in the EMP promptly after becoming aware of the breach.

Grievance Redress Mechanism As soon as possible during the implementation, the EA shall constitute a special committee in Para 17, Schedule each Project district to receive and resolve complaints and grievances or act upon reports from Throughout the project Being complied. 4 stakeholders on misuse of funds and other irregularities. The committees shall (a) make public the existence of the grievance mechanism, (b) review and address grievances of stakeholders of the Project, in relation to either the Project, any of the service providers, or any person responsible for carrying out any aspect of the Project; and (c) proactively and constructively respond to them.

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Annex-3: Photographs of sample civil and implementation works

Recharge pit in Badimalika RM, Martadi Tap-stands in Trishakti High School Barabis SP, Bajura

Cattle pond in Bajhakakani SP, Doti Water source development wail, Durgamndu SP, Doti

Water Collection chamber & Irrigation pond in Basudevi SP, Doti Irrigation pond in paharpani, Shikharpur SP, Baitadi

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Reservoir tank Kund CMA, Kadamandu SP, Doti Reservoir tank ChipkeCMA, Jijodhamandu SP, Doti

Recharge pit in Bhauni CMA, Siddheshwor SP, Baitadi Gully control at Chaddi khola CMA, Sangau SP, Doti

Catchment restoration Thulaban CMA, Nawadurga SP, Dadeldhura Okhar plantation, Ghodigada CM, A Nandegada SP, Achham

Seedling for distribution to CMA, Nawadurga SP, Dadeldhura Source protection Garkha CMA, Mastamandu SP, Dadeldhura

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Hedge plantation Dharapani CMA, Banlek SP, Doti Brush layering Nuwakot CMS, Sanagau SP, Doti

Gully control Dharapani CMA, Banlek SP, Doti Conservation Pond, Jalapadevi, Sanfebagar

Monitoring SPs of Jalpadevi Achham Failure of irrigation Pond, Toli, Bajura

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