Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of Water Resources Bangladesh Water Development Board Blue Gold Program Final Report on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on Rehabilitation of Polder 30 September 2015 Acknowledgement The Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), a Public Trust under the Ministry of Water Resources, is greatly indebted to the Blue Gold Program (BGP) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for assigning the CEGIS to render consultancy services on Environmental Studies for Blue Gold Program for Polder 30. Mr. Sujoy Chakma, Director, Planning-III, BWDB and Project Coordination Director (PCD) of Blue Gold Program; Mr. Md Masud Ahmed, earlier Director and PCD of BGP; Mr. Md Abul Kausar, Executive Engineer, Planning-III and other officials of BWDB guided and supported CEGIS EIA team in conducting the environmental and social study. Other officials of BGP cooperated with necessary supports during the baseline survey. Mr. Hero Heering, Program Director; Mr. Dirk Smits, Team Leader; and Mr. Alamgir Chowdhury, Deputy Team Leader of BGP provided support with available necessary data and documents on Polder 30 and also contributed with their knowledge and experiences. The EIA team of CEGIS wishes to express gratitude to Engr. Md Waji Ullah, Executive Director, CEGIS for his continuous support, constructive guidance, comments and suggestion during the preparation of the EIA report . The Chief Engineer of Southwest Zone; Superintending Engineer of Khulna O&M Circle; and Executive Engineer and officials of BWDB, Khulna Division-II also provided necessary information and cooperation to the study team during the field visits. The BGP officials of Khulna office extended their cooperation during field visits of the EIA team. During the public consultation meeting the active participation of the local community of the study area was a major contribution for successful completion of this study. CEGIS gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all above mentioned officials/personnel and also others who are not named here in conducting the EIA of Polder 30. i Table of Contents Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................... i Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... iii List of Tables .................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures ................................................................................................................ xi List of Photographs ..................................................................................................... xii List of Maps ................................................................................................................... xiv Abbreviation and Acronyms ..................................................................................... xv Glossary ......................................................................................................................... xix Conversion Units ......................................................................................................... xxi Executive Summary .................................................................................................. xxii 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Rationale of the Study ........................................................................................ 5 1.3 Study Area ............................................................................................................ 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study ...................................................................................... 5 1.5 Scope of Work ...................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 6 1.7 EIA Study Team ................................................................................................... 6 1.8 Report Format ...................................................................................................... 7 2 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework .............................................. 9 2.1 National Policies and Legislations ..................................................................... 9 2.1.1 National Conservation Strategy (NCS) 1992 ........................................... 9 2.1.2 The National Environment Policy, 1992 ................................................... 9 2.1.3 National Environmental Management Action Plan (NEMAP) 1995 ....... 9 2.1.4 Proposed National Wetland Policy (draft 1998) .................................... 10 2.1.5 The National Water Policy, 1999 ............................................................. 10 2.1.6 The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Bangladesh 2004 ...................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.7 Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) ..... 11 2.2 Legal Framework ............................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Water Resource Management Legislation .............................................. 12 2.2.2 Environmental Legislation ......................................................................... 14 2.3 Procedure for environmental clearance ......................................................... 16 2.4 Environmental Quality Standards ................................................................... 18 2.5 Administrative Framework ............................................................................... 19 3 Approach and Methodology .............................................................................. 21 iii 3.1 EIA Process ......................................................................................................... 21 3.2 Project Design and Description ....................................................................... 22 3.3 Environmental and Social Baseline ................................................................ 22 3.3.1 Source and Methodology of Data Collection/Analysis .......................... 22 3.4 Scoping ............................................................................................................... 26 3.5 Bounding ............................................................................................................. 26 3.6 Major Field Investigation ................................................................................. 26 3.7 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ........................................... 27 3.8 Impact Quantification and Evaluation............................................................ 27 3.8.1 Assessment Methodology ......................................................................... 27 3.8.2 Magnitude .................................................................................................... 28 3.8.3 Sensitivity .................................................................................................... 28 3.8.4 Assessment of Residual Impacts ............................................................. 29 3.9 Environmental Management Plan ................................................................... 29 3.10 EIA Report Preparation ..................................................................................... 29 4 Project Description .............................................................................................. 31 4.1 General ................................................................................................................ 31 4.2 Objective ............................................................................................................. 31 4.3 Polder 30 Overview ........................................................................................... 31 4.4 Present Status of Water Management Infrastructures ............................... 32 4.5 Present Status of Drainage Khals ................................................................... 33 4.6 Problems and Issues in the Polder ................................................................. 33 4.7 Proposed Interventions in Polder 30 .............................................................. 34 4.7.1 Re-sectioning of Embankment ................................................................. 37 4.7.2 Repairing of Water Control Structures and Culverts ............................ 37 4.7.3 Temporary Protection ................................................................................ 37 4.7.4 Khal Re-excavation .................................................................................... 37 4.8 Construction Details .......................................................................................... 38 4.8.1 Description of Activities ............................................................................. 38 4.8.2 Construction Schedule ............................................................................... 39 4.8.3 Materials