Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination for SH-42: Rahatgarh–Khurai–Khimalsa Road Project Number: 43063 November 2010 IND: Madhya Pradesh State Roads Project III Prepared by Government of Madhya Pradesh for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The 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. Table of Contents Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………………vi 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. Project Background/Rationale .......................................................................... 1 1.2. Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) and Environmental Assessment ................................................................................................................. 2 1.3. Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................... 2 1.4. Extent of IEE .................................................................................................... 3 1.5. IEE Content ..................................................................................................... 3 1.6. Team Composition and Acknowledgements .................................................... 3 1.7. Methodology .................................................................................................... 3 1.7.1. Information/ data Sources ............................................................................ 4 1.7.2. Public Consultation ...................................................................................... 5 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 6 2.1. Country’s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements for the Project ...... 6 2.2. Environmental Clearance Process ................................................................... 7 2.3. Administrative Structure and the Interactive framework ................................... 9 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 10 3.1. Project Location ............................................................................................. 10 3.2. Characteristics of the Existing road ................................................................ 12 3.3. Category of the Project .................................................................................. 14 3.4. Need for the Sub-Project ............................................................................... 15 3.5. Existing and Projected Traffic ........................................................................ 15 3.6. Key Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Activities ............................................ 16 3.7. Material required and Sourcing ...................................................................... 21 3.8. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost ................................................... 23 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 24 4.2. Physical Environment .................................................................................... 25 4.2.1. Meteorology and Climate ........................................................................... 25 4.2.2. Air and Noise Quality ................................................................................. 26 4.2.3. Topography and Geomorphology ............................................................... 27 4.2.4. Geology/Soil .............................................................................................. 28 4.2.5. Seismicity ................................................................................................... 29 4.2.6. Land use .................................................................................................... 30 4.2.7. Hydrology and Drainage ............................................................................ 32 4.2.8. Groundwater .............................................................................................. 33 4.2.9. Surface water ............................................................................................. 34 4.3. Ecological Resources .................................................................................... 35 4.3.1. Terrestrial Ecology ..................................................................................... 35 4.3.2. Aquatic Ecology ......................................................................................... 41 4.4. Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................ 41 4.4.2. Infrastructure Facilities ............................................................................... 42 4.4.3. Population and Communities ..................................................................... 43 4.4.4. Literacy ...................................................................................................... 44 4.4.5. Occupational Status ................................................................................... 45 4.4.6. Structures or sites of historical, archaeological, paleontological, or architectural significance ............................................................................ 46 5. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ITS MITIGATION MEASURES 47 ii 5.1.1. Climate ...................................................................................................... 47 5.1.2. Natural Hazard ........................................................................................... 48 5.1.3. Air Quality .................................................................................................. 48 5.1.4. Noise ......................................................................................................... 49 5.1.5. Impact on Land and Soil ............................................................................ 51 5.1.6. Groundwater .............................................................................................. 54 5.1.7. Siltation and Surface Water Quality of Rivers and Other Water Bodies ...... 54 5.1.8. Hydrology and Drainage ............................................................................ 55 5.2. Impact on Biological Environment .................................................................. 56 5.2.1. Terrestrial Ecology ..................................................................................... 56 5.2.2. Aquatic Ecology ......................................................................................... 63 5.2.3. Fauna ........................................................................................................ 63 5.3. Management of Construction Debris/Waste ................................................... 64 5.4. Socio-Economic Impact ................................................................................. 64 5.4.1. Positive Impacts ......................................................................................... 65 5.4.2. Anticipated Negative Impacts ..................................................................... 65 5.4.3. Obstruction and Disruption of Traffic .......................................................... 68 5.4.4. Transportation and Storage of Materials .................................................... 68 5.5. Cumulative and Induced Impact ..................................................................... 70 6. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 71 6.1. Consultation Method and Information Disclosed ............................................ 71 6.2. Compliance with Relevant Regulatory Requirements ..................................... 71 6.3. Consultation with Executing Agency .............................................................. 72 6.4. Beneficiaries’ Comments ............................................................................... 74 7. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND GRIEVANCE REDDRESS MECHANISM 77 7.1. Environmental Management Plan .................................................................. 77 7.1.1. Social Development and Indigenous People Development Program (IPDP)77 7.1.2. Emergency Response Plan ........................................................................ 77 7.2. Environmental Monitoring Program (EMoP) ................................................... 77 7.2.1. Monitoring schedule and performance indicator ......................................... 78 7.2.2. Authorities and their Responsibilities for Implementation of EMoP ............. 79 7.3. Institutional Setting and Proposed Implementation Arrangement ................... 79 7.3.2. Institutional / Capacity Building .................................................................. 82 7.4. Grievance Redress Mechanism ..................................................................... 84 8. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 86 8.1. Conclusions ................................................................................................... 86 8.2. Key Recommendations: ................................................................................. 87 List of Tables Table 1.1 : Road Sections under MP State Highways III Project .................................... 1 Table 1.2 : Primary and Secondary Information Sources ................................................. 4 Table 2.1 : Permissions/Clearances Required for the Sub-Project .................................. 6 Table 4.1 : Summary of Important Features of the Project Districts ............................... 24 Table 4.2 : Monthly Rainfall data (mm) in the project districts for the last six