Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 30232 September 2007 NEP: Decentralized Rural Infrastructure and Livelihoods Project Prepared by [Author(s)] [Firm] [City, Country] Prepared by District Development Committee, Baitadi for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Prepared for [Executing Agency] [Implementing Agency] The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS...........................................................................................................................................I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (NEPALI)……..…………………………………………………………......II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (ENGLISH).......................................................................................................V SALIENT FEATURE.................................................................................................................................VIII 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 RELEVANCY OF THE PROPOSAL...................................................................................... 1 1.3 NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PROPONENT..................................................................... 2 1.4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL .................................................................................... 2 1.5 CONSTRUCTION APPROACH ........................................................................................... 5 1.6 OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 METHODOLOGY ADOPTED ............................................................................................. 5 2.0 REVIEW OF RELEVANT ACTS, REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES............... 9 3.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION..........................................................13 3.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................13 3.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT .........................................................................................15 3.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT......................................................16 4.0 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES........................................................................................20 4.1 NO ACTION OPTION .......................................................................................................20 4.2 PROPOSAL ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................20 4.3 ALTERNATIVE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION APPROACH.............................................20 4.4 ALTERNATIVE SCHEDULE AND PROCESS.......................................................................21 4.5 ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES ...........................................................................................21 5.0 IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS..........................................22 5.1 BENEFICIAL IMPACTS....................................................................................................22 5.2 ADVERSE IMPACTS........................................................................................................24 6.0 MITIGATION MEASURES..........................................................................................28 6.1 MITIGATION MEASURES DURING PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE.....................................28 6.2 BENEFIT AUGMENTATION MEASURES ..........................................................................28 6.3 ADVERSE IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES................................................................30 7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN............................................................34 7.1 INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR ROLES.................................................................................34 7.2 REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION..............................................................................35 7.3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .......................................................................36 7.4 MITIGATION COST .........................................................................................................39 7.5 IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................................39 7.6 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ...................................................................................40 Shreebhavar-Hat Road, Baitadi Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..........................................................44 8.1 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................44 8.2 RECOMMENDATION.......................................................................................................44 9.0 MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................................45 Tables Table. 1 Project Activities Of The Proposed Shreebhavar-Hat Road ........................................... 2 Table 3.1 Topography, Geology And Soil Type Along The Road.................................................13 Table 3.2 Summary Of Streams Along The Road Alignment........................................................14 Table 3.3 Summary Of Land Use Pattern Along The Road Alignment.........................................14 Table 3.4 Community Forests Along Road Alignment..................................................................15 Table 3.5 Settlements And Population Within The Zoi Of Road Alignment.................................16 Table 5.1 Evaluation Of Identified Environmental Impacts...........................................................27 Table 7.1 Framework Of Implementing Environmental Management Plan .................................36 Table 7.2. Cost Estimate For Environmental Enhancement And Mitigation Measures.................39 Table 7.3 Environmental Monitoring Cost.....................................................................................41 Table 7.4 Framework For Monitoring Environmental Issues ........................................................42 Figures Figure 1. Map Of Nepal Showing The Location Of Shreebhavar Road In Baitadi District............ 3 Figure 2. Map Showing The Alignment Of Shreebhavar-Hat Road In Baitadi District ................ 4 Figure 3. Map Showing The Alignment Of Shreebhavar-Hat Road .............................................. 4 Figure 7.1Environmental Management Organization Structure.....................................................36 ANNEX Annex I Terms of Reference for IEE study Annex II Abstract of cost Annex III DRILP Environmental Checklist Annex IV Public notice Annex V Deed of enquiry (muchulka) Annex VI Name of the organizations Annex VII List of persons contacted Annex VIII Recommendation letters from Municipality and VDCs Annex IX a. Distribution of household by major occupation b. Summary of public services and infrastructures according to settlement c. Land holding pattern of settlements within ZoI d. Number of households belonging to different food security category Annex X List of tress Annex XI Minimization of slope cutting and preservation of vegetation cover Annex XII Photographs Shreebhavar-Hat Road, Baitadi Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank GIS Geographical Information System AP Affected Person Ha Hectare BG Building Group Hh Household Ch Chainage IEE Initial Environmental Examination CBO Community Based Organization Km Kilometer CDC Compensation Determination LDO Local Development Officer Committee LEP Labour based, environment friendly CEA Country Environmental Analysis and participatory CF Community Forest LRMP Land Resource Management Project CFUG Community Forest Users Group M meter CISC Central Implementation Support Consultants MoPE Ministry of Population and CITES Convention on International Trade in Environment Endangered Species of Flora and MoEST Ministry of Environment, Science Fauna and Technology DADO District Agriculture Development Ml Milliliter Office MLD Ministry of Local Development DDC District Development Committee NGO Non-Governmental Organization DFO District Forest Office/Officer NRs Nepali Rupees DG Director General NTFPs Non timber forest products DISC District Implementation Support OP Operational Plan Consultants PAM Project Administrative DIT District Implementation Team Memorandum DoLIDAR Department of Local PCU Project Coordination Unit Infrastructure Development and RES Rapid Environmental Screening Agricultural Roads RIDP Rural Infrastructure Development DPO District Project Office Project DRCC District Road Coordination RP Resettlement Plan Committee RS Resettlement Survey DSCO District Soil Conservation Office SF Social Funding DTO District Technical Office SA Social Appraisal DRILP Decentralized Rural Infrastructure and SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Livelihood Project Cooperation DTMP