1. Metro Colombo Urban Development Project Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental Screening Report for Construction of bank protection walls of Beira Lake and Rehabilitation of McCallum lock gates Final Report December 2011 Uni‐Consultancy Services University of Moratuwa Public Disclosure Authorized 1 Table of Contents 1. Project Identification 3 2. Project Location 3 3. Project Justification 5 4. Project Description 7 5. Description of the Existing Environment 11 6. Public Consultation 19 7. Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures 7a. Screening for Potential Environmental Impacts 21 7b. Environmental Management Plan 29 8. Conclusion and Screening Decision 43 9. Screening Decision Recommendation 52 10. EMP implementation responsibilities and costs 53 11. Details of Persons Responsible for the Environmental Screening 55 Annexes 1. Photographs of some of the important locations along project roads 2 URBAN UPGRADING WORK Metro Colombo Urban Development Project Environmental Screening Report 1. Project Identification Project title 1. Construction of bank protection walls of the Beira Lake and 2. Rehabilitation of McCallum lock gates Project Urban Development Authority Proponent 2. Project Location Location Location of the project is shown in the Figure 1. Definition of The project area is along some stretches of the Beira Lake banks as shown in Project Area Figure 1 and the McCallum Lock Gates located next to the Convention Centre (DR Wijewardena Mawatha). (The geographical The bank protection wall to be constructed commences from the end of Fire extent of the Department premises of the Air Force and continues up to Hyde Park Corner, the project & areas other portion of the proposed protection wall commences from Northern Bank of affected during the West Lake and continues up to Western Bank of the West Lake. Total length construction) of the proposed walls is 2.5 Km. Adjacent land See “Other features” in Section 5.2 and features 3 Fig 1: Location map showing the areas where protections walls will be constructed. The location of the McCallum Lock Gate is shown in green 4 3. Project Justification Need for the project Beira Lake is the only water body located within the city of Colombo with an extent of 65 hectares. It was originally created by the Portuguese as a defensive measure and later used as means of water transport system and recreational purposes during the Dutch (What problem is the and the British periods. With the decline of its importance as a project going to solve) transport route, this Lake was neglected and the surrounding area was converted into many other uses. Considering the importance of rehabilitation of the lake as a public property, a master plan was prepared in 1996 by the UDA with the help of the German Government. The linear park development is also included in the Beira Lake Development Master Plan which will be undertaken subsequently under the MCUDP. Being the only water body in the city of Colombo the Lake has much potential but its usage by the public at present is rather limited due mainly to non-availability of access to the lake and poor maintenance. The lake has been used only as a back yard property of the buildings located by the Beira Lake banks. Therefore, the UDA has decided to implement the proposed project to unlock its vast potential for recreation and water front development comprising of two stages. Stage I of the project has been selected considering the following: 1. Protecting the lake banks from collapse and erosion 2. Minimizing lake pollution 3. Increasing cultural/historic attractions of the lake The proposed project which includes only bank wall protection and rehabilitation of historic McCallum gates will pave the way for the next stage of lake development (that is the linear park and nodal parks) which will (a) increase recreation and thereby improve public health and (b) create a conducive environment to attract future investors and thereby making a positive contribution to the city economy. Purpose of the project The lake acts as a predominant landmark which relates the historical, social and physical evolution of the city and as such the (what is going to be purpose of the project is to facilitate its preservation, enhancement 5 achieved by carrying out the and public use. As stated before the proposed interventions project) (considered in this report) are a part of a larger Beira Lake Development plan and will facilitate the implementation of Linear parks and Nodal parks in the subsequent stage by strengthening and supporting the lake banks. In addition, the bank protection walls will help minimize incoming pollution by unauthorized sewer and waste water discharges by the communities living near by as well as in upstream areas which has caused considerable pollution in the lake. Alternatives considered No other alternative is considered as the proposed project is envisaged to be needed and timely. (different ways to meet the project need and achieve the project purpose) 6 4. Project Description Proposed start date The tender documents for the project are expected to be ready by15/02/2012. Construction period is estimated to be 30 months for bank protection and 12 months for McCallum gate restoration. Proposed completion It will take minimum 32 months to finish the project from the date of date opening bid documents. Estimated total cost See Table 1. Present land Sri Lanka Ports Authority ownership Description of the Package I - Construction of Bank Protection Wall project Package II - Rehabilitation of McCallum Lock Gates (with supporting Package I material such as maps, drawings etc Construction of Bank Protection wall attached as required) Fig. 2. Cross section of the bank protection wall 7 The Bank Protection wall (See Fig. 2) commences from the end of the Air Force Fire Department premises and continues up to Hyde Park Corner, the other portion of the protection wall commences from Northern Bank of the West Lake and continues up to Western Bank of the West Lake. Total length is 2.5 km. Package II Rehabilitation of McCallum Lock Gate McCallum Lock Gate which has historical value will be rehabilitated. These gates are located in between Colombo Fort and the East Beira Lake. The area will be landscaped and opened up for public use. Project Management Agency: The agency responsible for design and supervision is the UDA. Team However the design of wall has been sub contracted to SLLRDC as they are experienced in this type of work while the design and construction of McCallum Gates are to be done by SLPA. With regard to environmental safeguards, day to day compliance will be monitored by the Environmental Officer at the UDA (appointed to MCUDP unit within UDA) while overall supervision support will be provided by the Environmental Specialist at the PMU. Contact person: Mrs. Priyani , Development Officer, UDA Nature of the consultation and input received: Meeting and consultation at design office and site were done. Design drawings, master plans and other relevant information were too gathered. 8 Table 1. COST ESTIMATE FOR BEIRA LAKE RESTORATION PROJECT McCALLUM LOCK GATE AND BANK PROTECTION Item Description Unit Qty. Rate Amount (Rs.) (Rs.) McCallum Lock Gate 1 Preliminaries Item 6,000,000.00 2 Site preparation Item 200,000.00 3 Paving m2 3,800.0 4,000.00 15,200,000.00 4 Landscaping and Greenery m2 1,500.0 1,500.00 2,250,000.00 5 Planting Trees and tree troughs Nos Nos. 18.0 35,000.00 630,000.00 6 New Structures m2 214.0 10,000.00 2,140,000.00 7 Furniture S-6 Nos. 30.0 5,000.00 150,000.00 - S4 Nos. 10.0 15,000.00 150,000.00 8 Illumination - Lamps Nos. 60.0 80,000.00 4,800,000.00 9 Railing m 625.0 6,000.00 3,750,000.00 10 Access to the site - Staircases and ramp Pro. Sum 2,000,000.00 11 Demolition of Buildings Pro. Sum 500,000.00 12 Restoration of Old Buildings Pro. Sum 550,000.00 13 Drainage Pro. Sum 1,000,000.00 14 Sanitary Pro. Sum 6,000,000.00 15 Under Passes m 60.0 40,000.00 2,400,000.00 16 Foot Bridge m 75.0 200,000.00 15,000,000.00 Lock Gate Restoration (Engineering Work 17 Approx) Pro. Sum 10,000,000.00 TOTAL 72,720,000.00 Allow for 10% Contingencies 7,272,000.00 Project Cost 79,992,000.00 Allow for 7% Price Escalation 5,599,440.00 GRAND TOTAL 85,591,440.00 9 Bank Protection - 2.5 Km Construction of Gabions and Rubble Retaining Wall 400,000,000.00 Drainage and wall illumination (Conduting only) Pro. Sum 89,000,000.00 GRAND TOTAL 489,000,000.00 Note 1. Foot Bridge (15 Rs.Mn.) And Under pass (2.4 Rs.Mn) were taken out from the package of “Foot Bridges” and Nodal Parks” 2. Added amount for price escalations(5.6 Rs.Mn) and contingencies(7.2 Rs.Mn) 10 5. Description of the existing environment 5.1 Physical features – Ecosystem components Topography and terrain The topography of Sri Lanka is marked by great diversity caused by long years of faulting and erosion of the landscape. The central mountainous region with the highest elevations covered by virgin forests and grasslands rises up to about 2,500 m above mean sea level. The surrounding plains, which rise to about 50 to 100 m above sea level, are largely used for agriculture and homesteads, but still have virgin scrubland where the population distribution is lower. This general topography of the country can be divided into three distinct geographical areas or well marked peneplains featuring the coastal belt, the plains, and the central highlands.