Dhaka and Western Zone Transmission Grid Expansion Project (RRP BAN 51137-003) Initial Environmental Examination October 2019 Bangladesh: Dhaka and Western Zone Transmission Grid Expansion Project Prepared by Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Government of Bangladesh for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 24 September 2019) Currency unit – taka (Tk) Tk1.00 = $0.0118 $1.00 = Tk 84.49 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank AIS – air-insulated switchgear AP – affected persons ASl – above sea level BMD – Bangladesh Meteorological Department CAP – corrective action plan CHT – Chattogram Hill Tracts DoE – Department of Environment DPP – development project proposal DPs – displaced persons DSC – design and supervision consultants DWZTGEP – Dhaka and Western Zone Transmission Grid Expansion Project EIA – environmental impact assessment EMF – electromagnetic field EMoP – environmental monitoring plan EMP – environmental management plan EQS – environment quality standards ESMS – environmental and social management system FGD – focus group discussion GIS – gas insulated substation GoB – Government of Bangladesh GRC – grievance redress committee GRM – grievance redress mechanism GSS – grid substation HES – health environment and safety IEC – important environmental component IEE – initial environmental examination ISC – important social component IUCN – International Union for Conservation for Nature LGI – local government institutions LGRC – local grievance redress committee LILO – line-in line-out MoEF – Ministry of Environment and Forest NGO – non-governmental organization PAI – project’s area of influence PAP – project affected persons PCB – polychlorinated biphenyl PCRs – physical cultural resources PDB – Power Development Board PGCB – Power Grid Company of Bangladesh PMU – project management unit PPE – personal protective equipment PSMP – power system master plan RCC – reinforced cement concrete RMA – Resource Management Associates (Pvt) Ltd. RoW – right of way RP – resettlement plan SF6 – sulfur hexafluoride SPS – safeguard policy statement SWTGEP – Southwest Transmission Grid Expansion Project UPI – Union Parishad Institutions WEIGHTS AND MEASURES cm – centimetre ha – hectare km – kilometer (1,000 meters) kV – kilovolt (1,000 volts) kW – kilowatt (1,000 watts) m – meter mm – millimeter MVA – mega-volt ampere MW – megawatt NOTE In this report, "$" refers to United States dollars. 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. 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. Table of Contents Page 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives of the Initial Environmental Examination ...................................................... 3 1.3 Scope of Work............................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 4 1.5 Structure of the Report .................................................................................................. 7 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK .............................................. 8 2.1 Overview ....................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Procedure for Obtaining Site/Environmental Clearance ................................................. 8 2.3 Organizations Related with Enforcement of Environmental Standards .........................10 2.4 National Legislation Relevant to Environment ..............................................................11 2.5 Policy Related with Energy Development .....................................................................13 2.6 Building Construction (Amendment) Act (1990) and Rules (1996) ................................14 2.7 Compliance with International Requirements ...............................................................15 2.8 Compliance with ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 ............................................17 2.9 Compliance with PGCB Health Environment and Safety Requirements .......................19 2.10 Comparison of Environmental Safeguard Principles between ADB and Bangladesh ....19 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .............................................................................. 23 3.1 Project Location ...........................................................................................................23 3.2 Project Components .....................................................................................................24 3.3 Rationale and Detailed Project Description ..................................................................25 3.4 Project Scope ...............................................................................................................26 3.5 Components of Construction Works .............................................................................32 3.6 Construction of Underground (UG) Cable .....................................................................32 3.7 Construction of overhead transmission lines (OHLs) ....................................................35 3.8 Construction of Grid Substations ..................................................................................38 3.9 Work Schedule .............................................................................................................40 4. DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT (BASELINE DATA) .............................................. 42 4.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................42 4.2 Physical Environment ...................................................................................................42 4.3 Biological/Ecological Environment ................................................................................78 4.4 Physical Cultural Resources.........................................................................................94 4.5 Socio-Economic Environment ......................................................................................94 5. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .......... 102 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 102 5.2 Analysis of the Impacts .............................................................................................. 102 5.3 Impact Assessment and Mitigation Measures ............................................................ 111 6. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................. 122 6.1 Transmission and LILO Lines ..................................................................................... 122 6.2 Grid Substations ......................................................................................................... 123 6.3 Evaluation of Alternatives ........................................................................................... 123 7. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION ................. 130 7.1 Consultations with Stakeholders ................................................................................ 130 7.2 Project Stakeholders .................................................................................................. 130 7.3 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 132 7.4 Tools and Process Used ............................................................................................ 132 7.5 Summary of consultations on Environment ................................................................ 135 8. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ....................................................................... 137 8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 137 8.2 Objectives of Grievance Redress Mechanism ............................................................ 138 8.3 Guidelines to Redress Grievances ............................................................................. 138 8.4 Complaints and Grievance Mechanism ...................................................................... 138 8.5 Grievances Redress Committees ............................................................................... 138 8.6 Scope and Jurisdiction of GRC .................................................................................. 140 8.7 Filing Grievance Cases and Documentation ............................................................... 141 8.8 Approval of GRCs and Entitlements of GRC Members ..............................................