Initial Environmental Examination June 2021 NEPAL: Electricity Grid Modernization Project - Additional Financing Main Report - Part 4 of 4 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. 184 If any have been lost or damaged, immediately undertake maintenance work required to repair. During inspections of power lines count fauna carcasses encountered, if any, record species and assess cause of death (e.g., electrocution/collision). 269. Required cost for purchase of the bird divertors will be included in the contractor's cost, the contractor will also be required to install them. 270. In relation to measures NEA can support to promote and enhance the conservation aims of the Chure Conservation Area for Dumkibas Substation, NEA in association with BCN or similar organization specialized in bird conservation can support bird conservation awareness raising activities for local communities in the project areas. Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 2016 Vol. 14 (1-2) 15 (Pelecanus crispus), Relict gull (Larus relictus) called ‘fl appers’ (Clydesdale L td, K empston, and Great bustard (Otis tarda) and, in addition Bedford, United K ingdom), and Swan-Flight to these species, Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), Diverter™ , hereafter called ‘spirals’ (Ampirical Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata), Solution L L C, Mandeville, L ouisiana State, Short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus) and USA) (Figure 2A). Two sizes of fl apper were Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) do also occur installed – small fl appers were designed to fi t (Purevsuren et al., 2013). wires of 6-16 mm diameter and large fl appers to fi t wires of 16-70 mm diameter. This is the Materials and Methods fi rst time that BFDs have been installed in Mongolia. Flappers were designed to rot185ate, To mitigate the impacts of power lines, BFDs fl ap, and whistle in response to wind and wire were installed in April and May 2012 at 10 m movement, to refl ect light, and to glow for up to intervals along the OT-GS power transmission 10 hours after the sun has set (Figure 2B). Spirals Figure 52: Schematic of Typical Design and configuration of Markers to Reduce line, alternating between BirdMark™ , hereafter were designed to be highly visible but immobile Bird Collision (A) (B) (C) Figure 2. Schematic of the installation pattern of Bird Flight Diverters (A) and photos of a fl apper (B) and a (A). Schematic of thes pinstallationiral (C) insta lpatternled on p oofw eBirdr line Flightin Sou tDivertors,hern Gobi, M (B).ong ophotolia. a flapper and (C). photo of a spiral installed on transmission line Source: Dashnyam et al. Malfunction of bird flight diverters (Mongolian Journal of Biological Science, Volume 12(1-2), 2016), BirdMark™ 271. For EGMP-AF project components, it is proposed to place bird diverters at maximum 10m apart on entire 10.46 km length of the Kohalpur-Nepalgunj transmission line on which birds may be prone to collision. It is estimated that about 1,046 bird divertors will be required to effectively mitigate adverse impact on birds from 10.46 km length of the Kohalpur-Nepalgunj 186 transmission line. Considering the average cost of $51 per divertor, the total cost is estimated at $53,346 plus installation costs. Table 50 presents the details of the bird divertor requirements. Table 50: Locations of Bird Diverters/Markers and Estimated Cost Maximum Number of Total Cost of Location for Bird Divertors/ Distance Spacing Bird Bird Divertor District/Municipality Markers (m) (m) Markers Markers ($) Banke / Baijanath Kohalpur-Nepalgunj 10460 10 1,046 53,346 RM, Kohalpur and Transmission Line Janaki RM (c) Socioeconomic Environment (i) Physical Cultural Resources 272. There are number of temples and other physical cultural resources in the project areas, however, none are anticipated to be directly adversely affected by the project components with the potential exception of a Pati/traditional resting place, Saraswati Temple and old well on the underground cable route alignment near Lagankhel Substation. To avoid impacts on these resources the cable alignment need to be fixed on the other side of the road in this location for which space is available. 273. For Kohalpur-Nepalgunj transmission line the Shree Gawat Mata Mandir (Janaki Municipality Ward-5, Bakaspurwa) is within about 50m of the transmission line; there will be no direct impact but given its proximity users should be consulted and kept informed about the construction. The same applies to users of the physical cultural resources along the road alignment of the Chobar-Lagankhel underground transmission line within Kathmandu Valley where a number of resources are found. 274. Nepal is a country where civilization has existed for thousands of years and encountering physical cultural resources in construction related excavations is a distinct possibility. During construction, with many small construction sites along the line alignment, there is potential to unearth or discover objects of a cultural nature that will need to be protected. Hence it is important to have a procedure in place to ensure that there is a mechanism in place to handle any physical cultural resources finds. In particular, the Chobhar Lagankhel transmission line is set in Kathmandu prone to chance finds, which are of archeological, scientific, and cultural importance. 275. Mitigation. The following mitigation will be adopted: • NEA will ensure that all project components are sited and designed to avoid significant damage to physical cultural resources. Contractor will confirm during detailed route surveys that except for the Pati/Saswati Temple and old well near Lagankhel Substation no other physical cultural resources of local importance fall within the right of way of transmission lines. • For the Pati/traditional resting place, Saraswati Temple and old well on the underground cable route alignment near Lagankhel Substation the cable alignment will be routed on the other side of the road to maximize the distance between construction works and these resources. 187 • To inform the alignment review for Kohalpur-Nepalgunj transmission line NEA and Contractor to consult with communities who utilize Shree Gawat Mata Mandir (Janaki Municipality Ward-5, Bakaspurwa) with about 50m of the transmission line to seek their views on the routing and reflect their concerns in the detailed design, consultations are to be documented. • To inform the alignment review for Chobar-Lagankhel underground transmission line NEA and Contractor to consult with communities who utilize the physical cultural resources within at least 50m of the transmission line to seek their views on the routing and reflect their concerns in the detailed design, all consultations are to be documented. • Contractor to strictly locate all temporary construction facilities at least 100m from any identified physical cultural resource e.g., temple. • Contractor will undertake a detailed pre-construction structural and photographic record of all physical cultural resources along the route of the underground transmission line. • If monuments are used by community and access must be restricted to ensure health and safety Contractor to notify affected communities well in advance, and time works to avoid any such restrictions during important festivals etc. • Contractor to provide appropriate remedial measures for underground works in limestone areas in Chobhar. • Contractor will be responsible for repairing at their cost any damage to physical cultural resources. • Contractor to develop a chance find procedure (CFP) for NEA approval prior to commencement of any works, including enabling works, to address the event any physical cultural resources are found during works with involvement of Department of Archaeology, Nepal. The CFP is to be implemented as soon as any physical cultural resources are encountered during construction activities strictly ensuring no chance finds are tampered with. • NEA will obtain written approval from the Department of Archaeology on the Chobar- Lagankhel Transmission Line. • NEA will organize for a Department of Archaeology officer to monitor and supervise on a full-time basis all construction works on the Chobar-Lagankhel Transmission Line adjacent to physical cultural resources for their duration to ensure no damage is caused. • Department of Archaeology must be informed of and agree to construction schedule in order that they can facilitate on-site supervision. • Prior to the start of any works, NEA and Contractor to provide trainings and awareness raising activities to all workers to inform them of (i) presence of and precautions to be taken for works on the Chobar-Lagankhel Transmission Line; and (ii) chance find procedures. • Contractor must immediately stop work if requested by Department of Archaeology officer and before resuming works agree and implement appropriate corrective action for dealing with unanticipated impact or non-compliance. (ii) Health and Safety 276. Construction and operation may affect human health and safety