Environmental Impact Assessment Project Number: 43253-026 June 2019 India: Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program – Project 2 Vijayanagara Channels Main Report Prepared by Project Management Unit, Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. for the Asian Development Bank. This is an updated version of the draft originally posted in June 2018 available on https://www.adb.org/India:Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water This environmental impact assessment 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. KARNATAKA NEERAVARI NIGAM LTD Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program ADB LOAN No. 3172-IND VIJAYANAGARA CHANNELS FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT Volume 2a: Environmental Impact Assessment Project Management Unit, KISWRMIP Project Support Consultant SMEC International Pty. Ltd. Australia in association with SMEC (India) Pvt. Ltd. May 2019 VNC Feasibility Study Report Volume 2a: Environmental Impact Assessment Report DOCUMENTS/REPORT CONTROL FORM Report Name VNC Feasibility Study Report - Vol 2a: Environmental Impact Assessment Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Project Name Investment Program- Consultancy Services for Project Support Consultant (PSC) Project Number 5061164 Report for Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) REVISION HISTORY Approved for Revision # Date Prepared by Reviewed by Issue by Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 1 9 August 2017 Srinath Anekal Dr Balachandra Kurup/ SM/MA Mahmood Ahmad Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 2 19 December 2017 Srinath Anekal Dr Balachandra Kurup/ SM/MA Mahmood Ahmad Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 3 22 June 2018 Srinath Anekal SM/MA Dr Balachandra Kurup Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 4 30 June 2018 Srinath Anekal SM/MA Dr Balachandra Kurup Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 5 06 August 2018 Srinath Anekal SM/MA Dr Balachandra Kurup Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 6 29 January 2019 Srinath Anekal SM/MA Dr Balachandra Kurup Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 7 2 March 2019 Srinath Anekal SM/MA Dr Balachandra Kurup Dr Srinivas Mudrakartha/ 8 26 April 2019 Srinath Anekal SM/MA Dr Balachandra Kurup ISSUE REGISTER Distribution List Date Issued Number of Copies KNNL 29 January 2019 10 SMEC Staff 29 January 2019 2 Associate 29 January 2019 1 Office Library (Shimoga) 29 January 2019 1 SMEC Project File 29 January 2019 1 SMEC COMPANY DETAILS Dr Hasan A. Kazmi #387, Udyog Vihar, Phase-2, Gurgaon – 122002, Haryana Tel +91 124 4552800 Fax +91 124 4380043 Email [email protected]; Website: www.smec.com i Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program VNC Feasibility Study Report Volume 2a: Environmental Impact Assessment Report CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Project Background ......................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Purpose of the EIA .......................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Extent of the EIA ............................................................................................................. 9 1.4 Scope of Study and Activities.......................................................................................... 9 1.5 Report Structure .............................................................................................................. 9 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................................ 10 2.1 ADB Policy .................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 National Legal Framework ............................................................................................ 12 2.3 Overall Institutional Framework .................................................................................... 17 2.3.1 Project Level Institutional Framework ................................................................... 18 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ..................................................................................... 20 3.1 Project Rationale ........................................................................................................... 20 3.2 Description of the Existing VNC System ....................................................................... 20 3.3 Project Location and Layout.......................................................................................... 26 3.3.1 Hampi World Heritage Area................................................................................... 26 3.3.2 Otter Conservation Reserve .................................................................................. 29 3.3.3 Increased Habitation in the Command Areas ....................................................... 32 3.4 Master Plan of 2003 and Proposed Modernization (Rehabilitation) Measures ............ 32 3.5 Details of the Existing Drainage System ....................................................................... 33 3.6 Channel Condition Surveys........................................................................................... 33 3.7 Key Issues in the Vijayanagara Anicuts and Channels ................................................ 34 3.8 Existing (Pre-Modernisation) Cropping Pattern ............................................................ 38 3.9 Proposed (Post-Modernization) Cropping Pattern and Cropped Area ......................... 40 3.10 Engineering Designs and Cost Estimates .................................................................... 41 3.10.1 Conveyance Channels .......................................................................................... 41 3.10.2 Channel Structures ................................................................................................ 42 3.11 Components of the Project ............................................................................................ 53 3.12 Need of the Project........................................................................................................ 53 3.13 Project Category ............................................................................................................ 55 3.14 Status of Clearances ..................................................................................................... 56 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ......................................................... 57 4.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 57 4.2 Biological Environment .................................................................................................. 67 4.2.1 Major ecological features of the study area .......................................................... 67 4.2.2 Salient Features of the RBA .................................................................................. 69 4.3 Salient Features of the Tree Survey ............................................................................. 74 4.4 Structures or sites of Historical, Archaeological, Paleontological or Architectural Significance ................................................................................................................................. 84 4.5 Climate Change ............................................................................................................. 84 4.6 Socio-Economic Environment ....................................................................................... 91 4.6.1 Key Features of the Social-Safeguard Due Diligence Study ................................ 94 4.6.2 Strip Maps ............................................................................................................ 101 ii Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program VNC Feasibility Study Report Volume 2a: Environmental Impact Assessment Report 5. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................. 106 6. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ............. 110 6.1 Screening of Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................. 110 6.2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures during the Project .................................................. 122 6.2.1 Impacts and Mitigation Measures during Pre-Construction ................................ 122 6.2.2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures during Construction ....................................... 129 6.2.3 Impact due to Operation, and Mitigation Measures ............................................ 174 6.3 Description of Planned Mitigation Measures .............................................................. 175 7. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ...................................................................... 178 7.1 General