Initial Environmental Examination May 2015 IND: Rural Connectivity Investment Program – Project 3 Batch 3 Roads, West Bengal Prepared by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENT as of May 2015 Currency unit — Indian rupee (Rs) Rs 1.00 = $ .01572 $1.00 = Rs 63.5981 ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank MORD Ministry of Rural Development MORD Ministry of Rural Development APO Accident Prevention Officer B.T. Black Top BGL Below Ground Level BIS Bureau of Indian Standards BOQ Bill of Quantity C.C. Cement Concrete CD Cross Drainage CGWA Central Ground Water Authority CGWB Central Ground Water Board Ch. Chainage COI Corridor Of Impact CPCB Central Pollution Control Board CTE Consent to Establish CTO Consent to Operate DG Diesel Generating DPR Detailed Project Report EARF Environmental Assessment Review Framework ECOP Environmental Code of Practices EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMOP Environmental Monitoring Plan EMP Environmental Management Plan EO Environmental Officer FEO Field Environmental Officer GDP Gross Domestic Product GOI Government of India GSHAP Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program HC Hydrocarbon HH House Hold IEE Initial Environmental Assessment IRC Indian Road Congress LHS Left Hand Side MCM Million Cubic Meter MFF Multi-Tranche Financing Facility MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forests MoRD Ministry of Rural Development MOSRTH Ministry of Road Transport & Highways NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NGO Non-government organization NOx Nitrogen Oxides NRRDA National Rural Road Development Agency NSDP Net State Domestic Product PIC Project Implementation Consultant PIU Project Implementation Unit PLF Plant Load Factor PM Particulate Matters PMGSY Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna PPE Personal Protective Equipment’s PPTA Project Preparation Technical Assistance RCIP Rural Connectivity Investment Program RHS Right Hand Side ROW Right of way RRS I Loan 2018-IND: Rural Roads Sector I Project RRS II Loan 2248-IND: Rural Roads Sector II RSES ADB’sInvestment Environmental Program Safeguard Division SBD Standard Bidding Documents SDP State Domestic Product SO Sulphur Dioxide 2 SPCB State Pollution Control Board SPS ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement,2009 SRRDA State Rural Road Development Agency STDs Sexually transmitted diseases TDS Total Dissolved Solids TSC Technical Support Consultants UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization WBM Water Bound Macadam WBSRRDA West Bengal State Rural Road Development Agency 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website. 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 A. Background ...................................................................................................................... i B. Description of Project ....................................................................................................... i C. Description of Environment .............................................................................................. ii D. Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ......................................... iii E. Environmental Management Plan and Institutional Arrangements ................................... v F. Public Consultation and Information Disclosure ............................................................... v G. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... v I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 A. Project Background ......................................................................................................... 1 B. Project Road Identification and Location .......................................................................... 1 C. Rural Road Construction Proposal .................................................................................. 2 D. ADB’s Safeguard Policies and Category of the Project .................................................... 3 E. Objectives and Approach for Environnemental Assessment ............................................ 3 F. IEE Methodology and Content ......................................................................................... 3 G. Legal Framework and Legislative Requirements: ............................................................ 4 H. Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................... 6 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ................................................................................ 0 A. General ........................................................................................................................... 0 B. Sample Roads Selected in West Bengal State ................................................................ 0 C. Project Description .......................................................................................................... 1 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................... 5 A. General ........................................................................................................................... 5 B. Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 12 C. Biological Environment .................................................................................................. 20 D. Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................................ 24 E. Salient Environmental Features of Sample Roads ......................................................... 27 IV. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ITS MITIGATION MEASURES ..... 38 A. Common Impacts during Design and Construction Phase ............................................. 38 B. Common Impacts during Post Construction and Operation Phase ................................ 49 C. Socio-Economic Impact ................................................................................................. 51 D. Road Specific Impacts ................................................................................................... 51 V. CLIMATE RISK SCREENING AND ADAPTATION MEASURES ................................... 54 A. Climate Change Projection ............................................................................................ 54 B. Natural Hazards and Climate Risks ............................................................................... 55 C. Climate Change Adaptation Measures .......................................................................... 56 VI. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN, INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND GRIEVANCE ADDRESS MECHANISM .................................................................................... 57 A. Environmental Management Plan .................................................................................. 57 B. Environmental Monitoring Plan ...................................................................................... 57 C. Institutional Arrangements and Responsibilities ............................................................. 58 D. Institutional Environmental Responsibilities ................................................................... 58 E. Environmental Assessment and Review Framework (EARF) for RCIP .......................... 61 F. Capacity Building ........................................................................................................... 63 G. Consultation and Information Disclosure ....................................................................... 63 H. Grievance Redress Mechanism ..................................................................................... 63 VII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ................................... 65 A. General ......................................................................................................................... 65 B. Compliance with Relevant Regulatory Requirements .................................................... 65 C. Beneficiaries’ Comments ............................................................................................... 65 VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................. 68 A. Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 68 B. Key Recommendations ................................................................................................. 69 Appendices Appendix 1: Details of Roads in West Bengal RCIP Batch III (Tranche III) ................................70 Appendix 2: ECOPs of Sample Roads in West Bengal .............................................................72