Initial Environmental Examination P46377-PAK TA 8406-PAK July 2015 PAK: Provincial Road Improvement Program: Rehabilitation of the Mirwah to Naukot Road Prepared by the Engineering Consultant International Pvt. Ltd. (ECIL) for the Sindh Works and Services Department and 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. 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. Sindh Provincial Road Improvement Project (RRP PAK 46377) Initial Environmental Examination June 2015 TA 8406-PAK: Provincial Road Improvement Program: Rehabilitation of the Mirwah to Naukot Road Prepared by the Engineering Consultant International Pvt. Ltd (ECIL) for the Sindh Works and Services Department and Asian Development Bank. Draft Report I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 12 A. The Project .................................................................................................................... 12 B. Purpose and Scope of the IEE ....................................................................................... 12 C. Regulatory Framework and Environmental Classification .............................................. 14 1. Pakistani Regulations ................................................................................................. 14 2. ADB Safeguard Policy and Project Classification ....................................................... 14 D. Methodology .................................................................................................................. 15 1. Baseline Physical, Environmental and Social Data ..................................................... 15 2. Literature Review/Baseline ......................................................................................... 15 3. Impact Identification ................................................................................................... 16 4. Mitigation Measures and Environmental Management Plan ....................................... 16 II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION................................................................................................. 17 A. Project Description ......................................................................................................... 17 B. Existing Condition of Project Road ................................................................................. 17 C. Re-Construction & Rehabilitation to be Undertaken ....................................................... 17 1. Scope of Work ............................................................................................................ 17 2. Reconstruction of existing carriageway ...................................................................... 17 3. Rehabilitation (Overlay) .............................................................................................. 20 4. Rectification of Bridges ............................................................................................... 21 5. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Culverts ............................................................ 21 D. Construction Materials ................................................................................................... 22 III. DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................. 24 A. Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 24 1. Topography ................................................................................................................ 24 2. Soils ........................................................................................................................... 24 3. Climate ....................................................................................................................... 24 4. Air Quality and Noise .................................................................................................. 25 5. Hydrology ................................................................................................................... 26 6. Seismicity ................................................................................................................... 27 7. Archaeological and Cultural Resources ...................................................................... 27 B. Ecological Resources .................................................................................................... 28 C. Flora .............................................................................................................................. 28 ii Initial Environmental Examination Draft Report D. Fauna ............................................................................................................................ 28 1. Mammals ................................................................................................................... 28 2. Reptiles ...................................................................................................................... 29 3. Birds ........................................................................................................................... 29 E. Ecosystems ................................................................................................................... 29 F. Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................................ 30 1. Road Transport .......................................................................................................... 30 2. Structures Affected ..................................................................................................... 30 3. Drinking Water ........................................................................................................... 30 4. Industrial and Commercial Activities ........................................................................... 31 5. Employment and Income Sources in Project Area ...................................................... 31 6. Demography .............................................................................................................. 32 IV. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ................ 33 A. Design and Pre-Construction Phase Impacts ................................................................. 33 1. Lack of Environmental Capacity ................................................................................. 33 2. Lack of Integration of IEE/EMP Requirements into Construction Bid Documents ....... 33 3. Loss of Vegetation and Trees ..................................................................................... 33 4. Top Soil Erosion ......................................................................................................... 34 5. Disturbance to Archaeological and Cultural Sites ....................................................... 34 6. Material Haul Routes .................................................................................................. 34 7. Consultation Plan with affected roadside landowners ................................................. 35 8. Contractor’s Environmental safeguards Capacity ....................................................... 35 B. Construction Phase Impacts .......................................................................................... 35 1. Dust Generation: Transport of Materials ..................................................................... 35 2. Dust Generation: Quarry and Batch Plant Operations ................................................ 36 3. Topsoil Erosion .......................................................................................................... 36 4. Emissions from Vehicles Exhaust............................................................................... 36 5. Disposal of Spoil and Solid Waste .............................................................................. 37 6. Noise and Vibration .................................................................................................... 37 7. Quarry /Borrow Material ............................................................................................. 38 8. Contamination of Water Resources (Surface and Ground) ......................................... 38 9. Damage / disturbance to Utilities Services ................................................................. 39 iii Initial Environmental Examination Draft Report 10. Traffic Disturbance .................................................................................................. 40 11. Health and Safety Concerns ................................................................................... 40 12. Interruption/ Contamination of Water channels ....................................................... 41 13. Burden on Local Resources .................................................................................... 41 14. Inadequate Camp Site Good Housekeeping ..........................................................