Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 30232 January 2008 NEP: Decentralized Rural Infrastructure and Livelihoods Project Prepared by [Author(s)] [Firm] [City, Country] Prepared by District Development Committee, Mugu for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Prepared for [Executing Agency] [Implementing Agency] The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS.......................................................................................................................................IV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (NEPALI)…………………………………………………………………....VI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................................IX SALIENT FEATURES............................................................................................................................... XII 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 BACKGROUND: ....................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 RELEVANCY OF THE PROPOSAL ...........................................................................................................................1 1.3 NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PROPONENT ..........................................................................................................2 1.4 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL: ...............................................................................................................................2 1.5 CONSTRUCTION APPROACH ................................................................................................................................3 1.6 OBJECTIVES .........................................................................................................................................................3 1.7 METHODOLOGY ADOPTED FOR IEE STUDY:........................................................................................................3 2. REVIEW OF RELATED POLICY, LEGISLATIONS, STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND INSTITUTIONS.............................................................................................................................................. 7 3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION .............................................................................. 10 3.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................................10 3.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................................................11 3.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ..........................................................................................13 4. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES: ................................................................................................................ 17 4.1 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES:..................................................................................................................................17 4.2 ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: ......................................................................................................................................17 4.3 ALTERNATIVE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION APPROACH:..................................................................................18 4.4 ALTERNATIVE SCHEDULE & PROCESS:.............................................................................................................18 4.5 ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES: ..............................................................................................................................18 4.6 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVES:..................................................................................................................................18 5. IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS............................................................... 19 5.1 BENEFICIAL IMPACTS ........................................................................................................................................19 5.2 ADVERSE IMPACTS ............................................................................................................................................21 6. MITIGATION MEASURES............................................................................................................... 27 6.1 BENEFIT AUGMENTATION MEASURES ..............................................................................................................27 6.2 ADVERSE IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES ....................................................................................................28 7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................................ 32 7.1 INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR ROLES......................................................................................................................32 7.2 REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION ..................................................................................................................33 7.3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ..........................................................................................................33 7.4 MITIGATION COST .............................................................................................................................................36 7.5 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING........................................................................................................................37 8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................... 42 8.1 CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................................................................42 8.2 RECOMMENDATION ...........................................................................................................................................42 9.1 MISCELLANEOUS ........................................................................................................................ 43 ii List Of Tables Table 1. 1 Project Activities Of The Proposed Gamgadhi - Talcha - Rara Road ................................... 2 Table 3.1: Types Of Soil Recorded By Survey Team During Field Study.............................................. 10 Table 3.2: Rivers And Kholsi In The Alignment....................................................................................... 11 Table 3.3 List Of Plant Species Recorded During The Field Survey ..................................................... 11 Table 3.4: Non Timber Forest Product Found In The Road Alignment And Project Area ................. 12 Table 3.5: Local & Scientific Name Of Some Mammals Found In Project Area. ................................. 12 Table 3.6: Local & Scientific Name Of Some Birds Found In Project Area. ......................................... 13 Table 3.7 Influenced Population And Households................................................................................. 13 Table 3.8 General Characteristic Of The Vdc Along The Alignment Within ZoI................................ 13 Table 3.9: The Alignment Access To School &Campus ........................................................................... 14 Table 3.10: Vdc Wise Food Sufficiency For Influenced Household ......................................................... 15 Table 5.1. Evaluation Of Identified Environmental Impacts.................................................................. 25 Table 7.1 Framework Of Implementing Environmental Management Plan ....................................... 34 Table 7.2. Cost Estimate For Environmental Enhancement And Mitigation Measures....................... 37 Table 7.3 Environmental Monitoring Cost............................................................................................... 38 Table 7.4 Framework For Monitoring Environmental Issues ................................................................ 40 LIST OF FIGURE Figure 7.1 Environmental Management Organization Structure ............................................................ 33 ANNEXES Annex I Terms of Reference for IEE study Annex II Summary of the Consultations & Meetings Annex III Deed of enquiry (muchulka) Annex IV Notices Published & Pasted Annex V Recommendation letters from the concerned VDCs or Municipality Annex VI Photographs, Checklists, Questionnaires, Maps etc. Map-1: Map of Nepal showing sub project district Map-2: Map of Mugu district showing Sub project Map-3: Topographical map of Gamgadhi – Talcha – Rara Road sub project Annex VII List of Persons and institutions consulted. Annex VIII Abstract of cost iii ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank MLD Ministry of Local Development AP Affected Person NGO Non-Governmental Organization BG Building Group NRs Nepali Rupees Ch Chainage NTFPs Non timber forest products CBO Community Based Organization OP Operational Plan CDC Compensation Determination