Environmental Monitoring Report Annual Report July 2017 Sri Lanka: Southern Road Connectivity Project Prepared by Road Development Authority for the Government of Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank This environmental monitoring report 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 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 6 2. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS ......................................................................... 8 3. CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS .......................................................................................... 11 5. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATIONS AND COMPENSATION MEASURES .... 20 6. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ........................................................... 32 7. PUBLIC COMPLAINTS............................................................................................. 37 8. STATUS OF COMPLIANCE TO LOAN AGREEMENT ........................................................ 39 9. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 41 2 ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome CEA Central Environmental Authority CP Contract Package EMAP Environmental Management Action Plan EMOP Environmental Monitoring Plan EMP Environmental Management Plan EO Environmental Officer EPL Environmental protection License ES Environmental Specialist GAP Gender Action Plan GRC Graveness Redress Committee GSMB Geological Survey and Mining Bureau HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IEE Initial Environmental Examination IML Industrial Mining Licenses LA Local Authority NHSP National Highway Sector Project PIC Project Implement Consultant PD Project Director PMU Project Management Unit RDA Road development Authority RE Resident Engineer ROW Right-of-way SRCP Southern Road Connectivity Project TL Team Leader 3 CP 01- Ratmalana - Mirihana , and Moratuwa Piliyandala Road CP 02- Kesbewa - Pokunuwita , and Kiriulapana - Godagama Road CP 03- Matugama - Southern Expressway Road Figure 1. Location map of selected road sections to be developed under SRCP 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is the 2nd annual report on environmental safeguards compliance of the three (3) subprojects under the Southern Road Connectivity Project (SRCP), Loan No: 3027-SRI funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB). The reporting period is from May 2016 to April 2017. The three sub projects under SRCP are; 1. Ratmalana - Mirihana Road B389, and Moratuwa Piliyandala Road B295. CP 01, and total length is 4.69km 2. Kesbewa - Pokunuwita Road B084, and Kiriulapana - Godagama Road A004. CP 02, and total length is 16.45km 3. Mathugama - Southern Expressway B157. CP 03, and total length is 12.06km 4. CINEC Junction to Ambathale Junction Link road. CP04, Total length 1.83 km CP 01 project is nearing at its’ completion; while the construction works of CP02 and CP03 project’s had already begun recently towards the latter part of 2016 and the project works are currently being progressed. The construction works of CP04 have still not started. Due to the adverse weather conditions that prevailed, heavy showers and floods were experienced during the initial stage of the reporting period (April-May 2016). However, the weather was mostly dry throughout the latter part of the reporting period and was favourable for construction activities. The baseline sampling of the selected environment parameters were collected and reports were submitted to the PMU by CP-02 and CP 03 respectively, while only operational period sampling is planned to be collected in CP-01. Moreover, the contractors have obtained the relevant licences and approvals that were required to execute the construction activities. No major environmental impacts were observed during the reporting period, because CP 01 road works are almost completed and the works of other projects’ have just started. Nevertheless, we have observed few shortcomings on safety matters which were however rectified then there. 5 1. INTRODUCTION Sri Lanka is an island, blessed with lush green forest and year around temperate climate. It has hilly terrain in middle and south west part with surrounding flat law terrain. The South-West part of the country experiences more rainfall and defined as Wet Zone, and while other parts mostly North- West and South-West parts received less rainfall defined as Dry Zone of the country. For administrative purposes, the island has been divided into seven administrative divisions. The Central Government is situated in Colombo District, where the parliament is situated in. Considering the strength of each province in terms of economic and political, the Southern and the Western Provinces are ranked amongst the first level of administrative divisions of the island. These two provinces have vital economic development compared to the other five provinces of Sri Lanka. These two provinces contribute over 60% of the country’s GDP while other provinces contribute the rest. The southern Province's capital is Galle, while Colombo is the capital of the western province. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of the Southern region but recently the economic activities witnessed some degree of diversification viz tourism and related economic activities such as hotels, boutiques, villas, handicrafts, travel guiding, and tour organizing. The majority of people are well educated and enjoy decent healthcare facilities and other common amenities. A vast majority of the people are keen to enter the newly created economic space through the Southern highway network which links all the strategically important townships along the way. These townships are poised to boost new economic development opportunities in the area which are also situated in close proximity to famous tourist destinations. In view thereof, the southern road connectivity project will help improve the connectivity between expressway network and the local transport network in southern region. Accordingly, it is proposed to develop 33.5 km of national highways linking with the three interchanges of the southern expressway. 6 The proposed development will not only improve the expressway connectivity but would also help manage the future traffic volumes. Southern Road connectivity project will improve five priority national highways which provide connectivity to three interchanges of Southern Expressway. The priority roads are selected according to the current road condition and capacity, traffic demands, and readiness for improvement. The road will be widened, upgraded and realigned as necessary to meet the projected traffic demand for the next 20 years. The pavement is designed for life up to 10 years that could be extended to 15-20 years with proper maintenance and excess axle load control. Bridges, drainage structures and culverts will be improved and replaced as required. Road safety audit will be incorporated into the engineering designs and monitored during construction period. The details of the selected roads are furnished below; Table 1.1 The detail of SRCP road projects Contract Road Name Route No Length (Km) Package Ratmalana - Mirihana Road B389 2.14 CP1 Moratuwa Piliyandala Road B295 2.55 Kesbewa - Pokunuwita Road B084 14.38 CP2 Kiriulapana - Godagama Road A004 1.79 CP3 Matugama - Southern Expressway B157 10.37 1.1 Report Purpose The monitoring process of the environmental safeguards compliance of the project is entrusted to Project Management Unit and Environmental & Social Development (ESD) Unit of RDA. This Annual report is prepared by Project Management Unit to present the situation of environmental safeguard of the ongoing projects and the monitoring results to the ADB. 7 2. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS 2.1 Recruitment of Project Implementing Consultant The MG Consultants (Pvt.) Limited has been selected as the consultancy firm for the SRCP on 12th March 2015. The cabinet approval has also been granted, and the consultant has mobilized on 8th June 2015 and contract is in progress. The PIC office operates in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka and it occupies Team Leader and his technical staff. 2.2 Project Implementing Consultants’ (PIC) role in environmental safeguards compliance The Team Leader (TL), Residential Engineer (RE) with the Environmental Specialist (ES) of PIC is responsible for assessment of the contractors proposed methods in relation with the stipulated EMP. The TL will advise and assist the RE in co-ordination and meetings with external agencies and bodies with direct concerns in the project. Further, the RE gives direction and instructions to the contractor to mitigate the possible adverse effects on the environment caused by construction activities. In the event that some sections of sub project’s roads run through the environmentally sensitive areas, the contractors should strictly follow all the rules and regulations laid down by various authorities governing these areas while the construction activities are going