National Highway Authority Pre–Feasibility Study and Feasibility Study of Shounter (Neelum Valley AJ&K) – Rattu (Astor Valley G&B) Road Tunnel Environmental Impact Assessment Report April 2017 Dohwa Engineering Co., Ltd. Republic of Korea in association with Prime Engineering & Testing Consultants (Pvt) Ltd. Pakistan Environmental Impact Assessment Report TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 1 REVIEW OF IEE & EIA REGULATIONS, AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR .............................................. 2 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 2 PROJECT LOCATION ...................................................................................................................... 3 PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES.................................................................................................... 3 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 3 THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THIS EIA ARE TO: ............................................................................ 4 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................... 4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMICAL BASELINE STUDIES ................................................. 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT SEISMICITY .......................................................................... 5 WATER RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................... 5 CLIMATE ....................................................................................................................................... 5 FLORAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROJECT AREA ................................................................................ 5 FAUNAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROJECT AREA ............................................................................... 6 REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS .......................................................................................................... 6 INSECTS, BUTTERFLIES AND VECTORS .......................................................................................... 6 BIRDS AND FOWL (AVIFAUNA) COMMUNITIES .............................................................................. 6 AQUATIC ECOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 6 SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................. 7 POPULATION ................................................................................................................................. 7 ECONOMY ..................................................................................................................................... 7 LIVESTOCK.................................................................................................................................... 7 POTENTIAL PROJECT IMPACT AND MITIGATION ............................................................................ 7 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) .......................................................................... 11 CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION: .................................................................................................. 12 1.1 PROJECT TITLE AND PROJECT PROPONENTS .......................................................................... 12 1.1.1 Project Title ................................................................................................................... 12 1.1.2 Project Proponent .......................................................................................................... 12 1.2 EIA CONSULTANTS ............................................................................................................... 12 1.3 THE AJK ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 2000 ............................................................ 13 1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS ................................................................ 13 1.4.1 Overview of EIA ........................................................................................................... 13 1.4.2 Objective of EIA ........................................................................................................... 13 1.4.3 Scope of EIA ................................................................................................................. 13 Pre-Feasibility Study and Feasibility Study of Shounter - Rattu Road Tunnel i Environmental Impact Assessment Report 1.4.4 Spatial Scope ................................................................................................................. 14 1.5 EIA METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 14 1.5.1 Defining Project Scope: ................................................................................................ 14 1.5.2 Data Collection: ............................................................................................................ 14 1.5.3 Baseline Data Collation: ............................................................................................... 14 1.5.4 Stakeholder Consultation .............................................................................................. 15 1.5.5 Evaluation of Alternatives ............................................................................................ 15 1.5.6 Impact Assessment and Mitigation ............................................................................... 15 1.6 ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT ............................................................................................ 17 1.7 CONTACT DETAILS ................................................................................................................ 17 CHAPTER 2 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................... 18 2.1 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION ................................................................................................ 18 2.2 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, 2005 .......................................................................... 18 2.2.1. National Conservation Strategy ................................................................................... 19 2.3 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION .......................................................................... 19 2.3.1. Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 .............................................................. 19 2.3.2. Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Review of IEE and EIA Regulations, 2000 .................................................................................................. 20 2.3.3. Review of IEE & EIA Regulations, Azad Jammu & Kashmir .................................... 20 2.3.4. The National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) ............................................ 20 2.3.5. Land Acquisition Act, 1894 ......................................................................................... 22 2.3.6. Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 ..................................................................................... 22 2.3.7. The Forest Act 1927 ..................................................................................................... 22 2.3.8. Cutting of Trees (Prohibition) Act, 1975 ..................................................................... 22 2.3.9. Antiquities Act 1975 .................................................................................................... 22 2.3.10. Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 ......................................................................................... 23 2.3.11. Highways Safety Ordinance, 2000 ............................................................................. 23 2.3.12. Motor Vehicle Rules, 1969 ........................................................................................ 23 2.4 FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE INSTITUTION IN PAKISTAN AND AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR ................................................................................................ 23 2.5 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES ............................................................................ 24 2.5.1 The Pakistan Environmental Assessment Procedures, 1997 ........................................ 24 2.6 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS & TREATIES ........................................................................ 24 2.6.1 Convention on Biological Diversity ............................................................................. 24 2.6.2 The Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979 ......... 25 2.6.3 The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Ramsar 1971 ................... 25 2.6.4 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ......................................................................................................................... 25 Pre-Feasibility Study and Feasibility Study of Shounter - Rattu Road Tunnel ii Environmental Impact Assessment Report 2.6.5 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List ........................................................................................................................