Initial Environmental Examination June 2019 NEP: SASEC Mugling–Pokhara Highway Improvement Phase 1 Project Prepared by the Department of Roads, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Government of Nepal for the Asian Development Bank CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 1 June 2019) Currency Unit – Nepalese Rupee (NRe/NRs) NRe 1.00 = $ 0.00895 $1.00 = NRs 111.7567 ABBREVIATIONS AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic ADB Asian Development Bank ADT Average Daily Traffic amsl Above Mean Sea Level AP Affected People BOD Biological Oxygen Demand CBOs Community Based Organization CBS Central Bureau of Statistics CDMA Code Division Multiple Access CFUG Community Forest User Group CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CO Carbon Monoxide COI Corridor of Impact DBST Double Bituminous Surface Treatment DDC District Development Committee DG Diesel Generating DHM Department of Hydrology and Metrology DHO District Health Office DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation DOF Department of Forest DoR Department of Roads DSC Design and Supervision Consultant EA Executing Agency EAG Environmental Assessment Guidelines EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMG Environmental Management Guidelines EMP Environmental Management Plan EPR Environment Protection Rules ES Environmental Specialist FIDIC Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs Conseils GESU Geo-Environment and Social Unit GHG Green House Gas GSM Global System for Mobile Communication IA Implementing Agency IEE Initial Environmental Examination IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas MCT Main Central Trust MoPE Ministry of Population and Environment MoSTE Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment MoPIT Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport NAAQS Nepal Ambient Air Quality Standard NEP Nepal NOx Nitrogen Oxide ODS Ozone Depleting Substances PD Project Directorate PIP Priority Investment Plan PIU Project Implementation Unit PPE Personal Protective Equipment PSA Poverty and Social Assessment REA Rapid Environmental Assessment RoW Right of Way RSSDU Road Sector Skills Development Unit SC Supervision Consultant SDC Social Development Consultant SRN Strategic Road Network TA Technical Assistance TMO Transport Management Office TPPF Transport Project Preparation Facility – ADB TRL Transport Research Laboratory VDC Village Development Committee V-SAT Very Small Aperture Terminal ZOI Zone of Influence WEIGHTS AND MEASURES dBA decibels A KWH Kilowatt-Hour K VA Kilo-Volt- Ampere MLD Millions of Litres Per Day ppb Parts Per Billion pph Persons Per Hectare ppm Parts Per Million NOTES The Nepalese calendar year (B.S) runs from mid-April to mid-April. Unless otherwise stated, year ranges written in the form 2015/016 denote a single calendar year. The fiscal year (FY) of the Government ends on 15 July. FY before a calendar Year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends (For example, FY 2015 begins on 16 July 2014 and ends on 15 July 2015). Acts and Regulations are cited under the name of the ministry from which they originate. The official version of Acts and Regulations is published in the Nepal Gazette (in Nepali). Some Acts and Regulations are published by other Government agencies in English (Unofficial translations). 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. 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. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... I I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 A. Project Background ............................................................................................. 1 B. Project Objectives ............................................................................................... 1 C. Purpose of the IEE Study .................................................................................... 1 D. Extent of IEE Study ............................................................................................. 2 E. Methods Adopted to Prepare the IEE Study Report ............................................ 2 1. Reconnaissance Survey and Initial Consultations ................................... 2 2. Primary Data Collection ........................................................................... 2 3. Secondary Data Collection ...................................................................... 3 4. Public Consultations ................................................................................ 3 5. Other Tools, Additional Surveys and Studies ........................................... 3 6. Assessment of Potential Impacts ............................................................. 3 7. Preparation of the Environment Management Plan.................................. 3 F. IEE Report Content ............................................................................................. 3 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ........................................... 5 A. International Agreements and Commitments ....................................................... 5 B. Country’s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements ................................. 6 1. Plan and Policies ..................................................................................... 6 2. Acts and Rules ........................................................................................ 7 3. Guidelines for the Road Sector .............................................................. 10 4. Other Guidelines and Manuals .............................................................. 11 C. ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 ............................................................ 11 D. Permissions and Clearance Required for the Project ........................................ 11 E. Environmental Clearance Process .................................................................... 13 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................... 14 A. The Project ........................................................................................................ 14 B. Project Location ................................................................................................ 14 C. Proposed Madi Bridge Design Features ............................................................ 15 D. Proposed Seti Bridge Design Features.............................................................. 17 E. Characteristics of the Existing Road .................................................................. 18 F. Environmental Classification of the Proposed Road Widening Work ................. 22 G. Need for the project road ................................................................................... 22 H. Existing and Projected Traffic ............................................................................ 22 I. Improvement/Strengthening Components ......................................................... 22 J. Materials Required and Sourcing ...................................................................... 24 K. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost ....................................................... 25 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ................................................................. 28 A. Physical Resources ........................................................................................... 28 1. Meteorology and Climate ....................................................................... 28 2. Topography and Soils ............................................................................ 29 3. Land Use Pattern .................................................................................. 29 4. Hydrology and Drainage ........................................................................ 29 5. Air, Noise and Water Quality ................................................................. 30 6. Geology/Seismology .............................................................................. 32 B. Ecological Resources ........................................................................................ 33 1. Flora ...................................................................................................... 33 2. Fauna .................................................................................................... 37 3. Freshwater Aquatic System ................................................................... 38 4. Flora and Fauna of Conservation Significance ...................................... 39 5. Biodiversity Conservation ...................................................................... 39 B. Social and Cultural Resources .............................................................................. 40 1. Population and Communities ................................................................. 40 2. Religion and Ethnicity ............................................................................ 40 3. Literacy Rate and Education Level ........................................................