Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination for SH-78 (Bihta–Sarmera Subproject) Project Number: 41629 July 2010 IND: Bihar State Highways II Project Prepared by Bihar State Road Development Corporation for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................... i 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Project Background/Rationale........................................................................... 1 1.2. Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) and Environmental Assessment................................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Purpose of the Study......................................................................................... 2 1.4. Extent of IEE ..................................................................................................... 2 1.5. IEE Content ....................................................................................................... 2 1.6. Methodology...................................................................................................... 3 1.6.1. Information/ data Sources ............................................................................. 3 1.6.2. Public Consultation........................................................................................ 4 1.7. Organizational Setting of Implementing Agency................................................ 4 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK........................................ 6 2.1. Country’s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements for the Project. ..... 6 2.2. Environmental Clearance Process .................................................................... 7 2.3. Administrative Structure and the Interactive framework.................................... 9 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................ 10 3.1. Project Location............................................................................................... 10 3.2. Characteristics of the Existing road................................................................. 10 3.3. Category of the Project.................................................................................... 11 3.4. Need for the Subproject .................................................................................. 11 3.5. Project Components........................................................................................ 12 3.6. Existing and Projected Traffic.......................................................................... 12 3.7. Key Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Activities ............................................ 13 3.8. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost .................................................... 17 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT............................................................... 19 4.1. Physical Environment...................................................................................... 19 4.1.1. Meteorology and Climate............................................................................. 19 4.1.2. Natural Hazards........................................................................................... 19 4.1.3. Air and Noise Quality................................................................................... 20 4.1.4. Landforms/Physiography and Topography.................................................. 21 4.1.5. Geology ....................................................................................................... 29 4.1.6. Soil............................................................................................................... 29 4.1.7. Land use...................................................................................................... 30 4.1.8. Groundwater................................................................................................ 31 4.1.9. Surface water .............................................................................................. 32 4.2. Ecological Resources...................................................................................... 36 4.2.1. Terrestrial Ecology....................................................................................... 36 4.2.2. Aquatic Ecology........................................................................................... 37 4.3. Economic Development .................................................................................. 38 4.3.1. Industries..................................................................................................... 38 4.3.2. Infrastructure Facilities ................................................................................ 38 4.4. Social and Cultural Resources ........................................................................ 40 4.4.1. Population and Communities....................................................................... 40 4.4.2. Health Facilities ........................................................................................... 41 4.4.3. Literacy........................................................................................................ 41 4.4.4. Occupational Status and Migration.............................................................. 42 4.4.5. Current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by Indigenous Peoples........................................................................................................ 42 4.4.6. Structures or sites of historical, archaeological, paleontological, or architectural significance ............................................................................. 43 5. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ITS MITIGATION MEASURES 44 5.1. Impact on Physical Environment ..................................................................... 44 5.1.1. Climate ........................................................................................................ 44 5.1.2. Natural Hazard ............................................................................................ 44 5.1.3. Air Quality.................................................................................................... 45 5.1.4. Noise ........................................................................................................... 47 5.1.5. Impact on Land and Soil.............................................................................. 48 5.1.6. Groundwater................................................................................................ 52 5.1.7. Impact on Surface Water Bodies................................................................. 53 5.1.8. Siltation and Surface Water Quality of Rivers and Other Water Bodies...... 53 5.1.9. Hydrology and Drainage.............................................................................. 55 5.2. Impact on Biological Environment ................................................................... 56 5.2.1. Terrestrial Ecology....................................................................................... 56 5.2.2. Aquatic Ecology........................................................................................... 57 5.3. Management of Construction Debris/Waste.................................................... 58 5.4. Socioeconomic Impact .................................................................................... 59 5.4.1. Positive Impacts .......................................................................................... 59 5.4.2. Anticipated Negative Impacts...................................................................... 59 5.4.3. Obstruction and Disruption of Traffic ........................................................... 62 5.4.4. Transports and Storage of Materials ........................................................... 63 6. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE............................ 65 6.1. Consultation Method and Information Disclosed............................................. 65 6.2. Compliance with Relevant Regulatory Requirements ..................................... 65 6.2.1. Consultation with Executing Agency ........................................................... 66 6.2.2. Consultation with other Government Departments...................................... 66 6.2.3. NGO Consultation ....................................................................................... 67 6.3. Beneficiaries’ Comments................................................................................. 68 6.4. Integration of Comments into the IEE.............................................................. 71 6.5. Public Disclosure............................................................................................. 71 7. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND GRIEVANCE ADDRESSAL MECHANISM........................................................................................................... 74 7.1. Environmental Management Plan ................................................................... 74 7.1.1. Other Mitigation Plans ................................................................................