DRAFT Government of Nepal Ministry of Physical Planning and Works Department of Roads Public Disclosure Authorized ROAD SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (New Project Preparation and Supervision Services) (IDA GRANT NO: H339 – NEP) INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION STUDY REPORT FOR UPGRADING OF CHHINCHU (POKHARE)-DEVISTHAL-JAJARKOT (Chainage: km 26+000– km 107+200) Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized MMM Group Ltd. (Canada) in JV with Public Disclosure Authorized SAI Consulting Engineers (P) Ltd. (India) in association with ITECO Nepal (P) Ltd. (Nepal) & Total Management Services (Nepal) August 2010 Initial Environmental Examination Study Report August 2010 Chhinchu (Pokhare)-Devisthal To Jajarkot Section TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE INSTITUTION PREPARING THE REPORT 1-1 1.1 Proponent and Address .................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.1 Name of Proposal ................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1.2 Proponent and Address ....................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.3 Consultant ............................................................................................................ 1-1 2. SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSAL ................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Objective of the Proposal .................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Relevancy of the Proposal ................................................................................ 2-1 2.3 Anticipated Impacts by the Proposed Project .................................................... 2-1 2.3.1 Impact on Land Use ............................................................................................. 2-1 2.3.2 Impact on the Environment, Impact on Human Life, and Population Pressure .. 2-1 2.4 IEE Study Methodology .................................................................................... 2-2 2.4.1 Desk Review ........................................................................................................ 2-3 2.4.2 Collection and review of secondary sources of information from various sources2-3 2.4.3 Initial interaction and consultation with the local community and district level stakeholders ..................................................................................................... 2-3 2.4.4 Preparation of project specific checklist .............................................................. 2-3 2.4.5 Field Survey ......................................................................................................... 2-3 2.4.6 Compilation of existing information, impact identification and prediction ............ 2-3 2.4.7 Mitigation Measures and Monitoring Plan ........................................................... 2-4 2.4.8 Public consultation and disclosure ...................................................................... 2-4 2.4.9 The Final Report .................................................................................................. 2-4 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL ............................................................. 3-1 3.1 Type of Proposal .............................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1 Salient Features ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Type of Goods to be Delivered ............................................................................ 3-2 3.1.3 Proposal’s Capacity ............................................................................................. 3-2 3.1.4 Materials To be Used ........................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.5 Potential Emission Resulting from Implementation of the Proposal .................... 3-3 3.1.6 Energy to be Used ............................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.7 Detail on the Technology ..................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.8 Manpower Requirement ...................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.9 Resources Requiremention of the proposal ........................................................ 3-3 4. DETAILED PARTICULARS OF THE AREA WHERE THE PROJECT IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED ...................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Physical and Cultural Environment ................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Road Environment ............................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Topography .......................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.3 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................ 4-2 4.1.4 Landslide and Slope Stability ............................................................................... 4-3 4.1.5 Source of Construction Materials......................................................................... 4-3 4.1.6 Land Use .............................................................................................................. 4-5 4.1.7 Climate ................................................................................................................. 4-5 4.1.8 Hydrology ............................................................................................................. 4-5 4.1.9 Air, Noise and Water Quality ............................................................................... 4-6 4.1.10 Religious Activities ............................................................................................... 4-6 4.2 Biological Environment ..................................................................................... 4-6 4.2.1 Conservation Status ............................................................................................ 4-6 Road Sector Development Project, (IDA Grant No: H339-NEP) New Project Preparation & Supervision Page ii Initial Environmental Examination Study Report August 2010 Chhinchu (Pokhare)-Devisthal To Jajarkot Section 4.2.2 Vegetation ............................................................................................................ 4-6 4.2.3 Community Forests .............................................................................................. 4-6 4.2.4 NTFP .................................................................................................................... 4-7 4.2.5 Useful Plants ........................................................................................................ 4-7 4.2.6 Terrestrial Wildlife ................................................................................................ 4-7 4.2.7 Protected and Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna .................................... 4-8 4.3 Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................... 4-8 4.3.1 Population and Demography ............................................................................... 4-8 4.3.2 Ethnic Group ........................................................................................................ 4-9 4.3.3 Migration .............................................................................................................. 4-9 4.3.4 Settlement and Housing Patterns ...................................................................... 4-10 4.3.5 Occupation and Livelihoods ............................................................................... 4-10 4.3.6 Agriculture and Food security ............................................................................ 4-10 4.3.7 Human Resources ............................................................................................. 4-11 4.3.8 Literacy and Education ...................................................................................... 4-11 4.3.9 Health Status ..................................................................................................... 4-12 4.3.10 Water Supply and Sanitation ............................................................................. 4-12 4.3.11 Energy and Electricity ........................................................................................ 4-13 4.3.12 Markets .............................................................................................................. 4-14 4.3.13 Income and Expenditure .................................................................................... 4-14 4.3.14 Status of Women & Disadvantaged Group ........................................................ 4-14 5. REVIEW OF ACTS, REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES ............................... 5-1 5.1 INTERIM CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL (latest amendments) ............................ 5-1 5.2 PLANS AND POLICIES .................................................................................... 5-1 5.3 Acts and Rules ................................................................................................. 5-1 5.3.1 Local Self-Governance Act, 1999 ........................................................................ 5-1 5.3.2 Labor Act, 1992 (first amendment 1998) and Rule, 1994 ..................................