Environmental & Social Impact Assessment
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ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT HVDS SUB-PROJECT OF COOCHBEHAR DISTRICT UNDER WBEDGMP Document No.: IISWBM/ESIA-WBSEDCL/2019-2020/007 Version: 1.2 July 2020 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR HVDS SUB-PROJECT OF COOCHBEHAR DISTRICT UNDER WBEDGMP WITH WORLD BANK FUND ASSISTANCE Document No.: IISWBM/ESIA-WBSEDCL/2019-20/007 Version: 1.2 WEST BENGAL STATE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY LIMITED Vidyut Bhavan, Bidhan Nagar Kolkata – 700 091 Executed by Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management, Kolkata – 700 073 July, 2020 CONTENTS ITEM PAGE NO. LIST OF FIGURE LIST OF TABLE LIST OF ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i-xiv 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1-7 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Need of ESIA 1 1.3 Objectives of the Study 2 1.4 Scope of the Study 2 1.5 Engagement & Mobilization of Consultant for the Study 4 1.6 Structure of Report 5 2.0 PROJECT DETAILS 8-23 2.1 National & State Programs in Power Section 8 2.1.1 Country and Sector Issue 8 2.1.2 West Bengal Power Sector 8 2.2 Project Overview 10 2.3 Proposed Project Development Objectives and Benefits 14 2.4 Project Site Scenario 15 2.4.1 Location 15 2.4.2 Consumer Details 17 2.4.3 Annual Load Growth 19 2.5 Project Description and Key Performance Indicators 20 2.5.1 Implementing Agency 20 2.5.2 Co-Financing 20 2.5.3 Project Components 20 2.5.4 Key Performance Indicators 23 3.0 POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 24-32 3.1 Legal and Regulatory Framework 24 3.2 World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) 28 3.3 Environmental and Social Risk Classification 31 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE 33-58 4.1 Project Location 33 4.2 Environmental Baseline 34 4.2.1 Geology 34 4.2.2 Geomorphology 34 4.2.3 Hydrogeology 34 4.2.4 Soil 36 4.2.5 Land Use and Land Cover 37 4.2.6 Climate 38 4.2.7 Air Quality 39 4.2.8 Ambient Noise 43 4.2.9 Forest Cover 43 4.2.10 Flora and Fauna 44 4.3 Social Baseline 49 ITEM PAGE NO. 4.3.1 Demography 49 4.3.2 Economy 54 4.3.3 Transport 55 4.3.4 Places of Interest 56 4.3.5 Infrastructure 57 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL RISKS & IMPACTS AND 5.0 59-89 MITIGATION MEASURES 5.1 Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation 59 Measures 5.1.1 Impact on Air Quality 74 5.1.2 Impact on Water Resource 74 5.1.3 Impact on Drainage Pattern 74 5.1.4 Impact on Soil 75 5.1.5 Impact on Forest/ Vegetation 77 5.1.6 Impact on Wildlife 77 5.1.7 Impact of Hazardous & Other Waste 77 5.1.8 Occupational Health & Safety 79 5.1.9 Community Health & Safety 79 5.1.10 Impact due to Construction Labour Camp 80 5.2 Potential Social Impacts and Mitigation Measures 84 5.2.1 Positive Social Impact 84 5.2.2 Negative Social Impact 85 6.0 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 90-92 6.1 Analysis of With or Without Project Scenario 90 6.2 Cable Route Alternatives 91 7.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 93-110 7.1 Objectives of Public Consultation 94 7.2 Legal Requirement 94 7.3 Approach to Public Consultation 94 7.4 Impacts & Benefits of HVDS Sub-Project 96 7.5 Information Disclosure 109 8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 111-121 8.1 Environmental and Social Management Plan 111 8.2 Estimated Budget for Implementation and Supervision 120 of ESMP INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS & GRIEVANCE 9.0 122-131 REDRESSAL MECHANISM 9.1 Institutional Arrangement 122 9.1.1 Capacity Building 122 9.1.2 Roles and Responsibilities 123 9.1.3 Monitoring Frequency and Responsibility 124 9.2 Grievance Redressal Mechanism 129 9.2.1 Project Steering Committee 129 9.2.2 Grievance Redressal Committee 130 9.2.3 Court of Law 131 ITEM PAGE NO. 9.2.4 Grievance Redress Mechanism 131 9.2.5 GRM Budget 131 APPENDIX 1.1 Terms of Reference (ToR) for ESIA Study for Sub-projects Under WBEDGMP APPENDIX 3.1 Environmental Regulations & Policies Applicable to Sub-projects Under WBEDGMP APPENDIX 3.2 Social Regulations & Policies Applicable to Sub-projects Under WBEDGMP APPENDIX 3.3 Comparative Assessment of National & State Environmental & Social Regulations with World Bank’s ESSs APPENDIX 7.1 Checklist & Questionnaires Used for Public Consultation for ESIA Study for HVDS Sub- project at Cooch Behar District under WBEDGMP APPENDIX 7.2 Detail of Public Consultations Meeting for ESIA Study for HVDS Sub-project at Cooch Behar District under WBEDGMP APPENDIX 7.3 Detail of Public Consultations& Stakeholder Disclosure Meeting for ESIA Study for HVDS Sub-project at Cooch Behar District under WBEDGMP APPENDIX 9.1 Detail of PIU-WBSEDCL Setup for Implementation of Sub-projects Under WBEDGMP APPENDIX 9.2 ESMP Supervision Checklist APPENDIX 9.3 Grievance Redressal Procedure of WBSEDCL LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AE Assistant Engineer BP Bank Procedures CE Chief Engineer CEA Central Electricity Authority CGRF Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum CMVR Central Motor Vehicle Rules CO2 Carbon Dioxide CPCB Central Pollution Control Board CPRI Central Power Research Institute DC District Collector DE Divisional Engineer EE Executive Engineer EEE Electrical and Electronic Equipment EHSGs World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EPA Environment Protection Agency ERP Emergency Response Plan ESA Environmental and Social Assessment ESCP Environmental and Social Commitment Plan ESF Environmental & Social Framework ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan ESMS Environmental and Social Management System ESS Environmental and Social Standard FPIC Free, Prior and Informed Consent GDF Gender Development Framework GHG Greenhouse Gas GoWB Government of West Bengal GoI Government of India GIIP Good International Industry Practice GIS Gas Insulated Switchyard GRC Grievance Redressal Cell GRS Grievance Redress Service HVDS High Voltage Distribution System LMP Labour Management Procedure LVDS Low Voltage Distribution System MoEF&CC Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change MoP Ministry of Power MoU Memorandum of Understanding MVA The Motor Vehicles Act NGO Non-Governmental Organization NOC No Objection Certificate O&M Operation and Maintenance OHS Occupational Health and Safety OP Operational Policy PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls PCCF Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PESO Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation PF Provident Fund PIU Project Implementation Unit RHA Risk Hazard Assessment RPF Resettlement Policy Framework R&R Rehabilitation and Resettlement Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, RFCTLARRA Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act RoW Right of Way SC Scheduled Caste SE Superintendent Engineer SF6 Sulfur Hexafluoride SIA Social Impact Assessment SPCB State Pollution Control Board SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan SESA Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment ST Scheduled Tribe T&D Transmission and distribution TPPF Tribal Peoples Planning Framework WBSEDCL West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited WBEDGMP West Bengal Electricity Distribution Grid Modernization Project ESIA for HVDS Sub-project at Cooch Behar District Under WBEDGMP Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 INTRODUCTION West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) is a power distribution licensee for almost the entire State of West Bengal and accounts for about 80% of the power supply in the State and caters to almost 18.1 million customers. At present grid connectivity has been extended in every nook and corner of the State covering 99% villages (2018-19). To achieve Power for All (PFA) objective, the Government of West Bengal (GoWB) has sought World Bank assistance to support part of their investments in High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS), 33/11 KV GIS, Underground Cabling (UG) across select districts/towns (besides modern technology and institutional capacity building) to facilitate increased availability of power, improve service delivery and reduce system losses. The WBSEDCL has adopted a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for management of possible Environment and Social (E&S) issues to meet the overall requirement of sustainable development. The said ESMF provides for detailed assessment of such issues for planning mitigative measures and Plans for proper management of E&S issues through ESIA and project specific ESMP. Accordingly, ESIA studies for instant subproject of HVDS at Cooch Behar District has been carried out to identify likely E&S impacts and their mitigation measures to protect or enhance the quality of the environment and social settings within the HVDS sub-project influence area that includes: ➢ Anticipate and avoid risks and impacts; ➢ Where total avoidance is not possible, minimize or reduce them to acceptable levels; ➢ Once risks and impacts have been minimized or reduced, mitigate; ➢ Where significant residual impacts remain, compensate for or offset them, where technically and financially feasible. The major steps involved in ESIA studies are as follows: • Collect required primary data through necessary field investigations and surveys to assess likely/identified E&S risks and impacts; • Undertake stakeholder analysis and public consultation; PAGE | i ESIA for HVDS Sub-project at Cooch Behar District Under WBEDGMP Executive Summary • Identify suitable measures for the disposal of various waste/unserviceable materials generated due to the project such as electrical cables, transformers, electric poles, soil and other recyclable/reusable materials; • Plan suitable mitigation measures for significant E&S risks & impacts following mitigation hierarchy. WBSEDCL delineated Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (A Constituent Institute of University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal) to carry out ESIA study of the proposed HVDS sub-project in accordance with the set out scope of work and Terms of Reference (ToR). Accordingly, WBSEDCL officers along with IISWBM team members visited the select area of Cooch Behar District to understand the field condition and initiating the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study.