Environmental and Social Assessment of Kakarbhitta-Pathalaiya Road Section, including Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya of EWH Public Disclosure Authorized Government of Nepal Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Department of Roads Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) Report Of Kakarbhitta – Pathalaiya Road Corridor, including Kamala -Dhalkebar Public Disclosure Authorized – Pathalaiya Road Segment, of Mahendra Highway (MRM) CONTRACT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: NIRTTP-DOR-S-QCBS-2 Submitted to: Department of Roads, Foreign Cooperation Branch, NIRTTP And Public Disclosure Authorized Geo-Environment and Social Unit (GESU), Chakupat, Lalitpur Kathmandu, Nepal Prepared by: JV of Environment & Resource Management Consultant (P) Ltd.; Group of Engineer’s Consortium (P) Ltd. And Udaya Consultancy (P.) Ltd. Public Disclosure Authorized January 2020 i Environmental and Social Assessment of Kakarbhitta-Pathalaiya Road Section, including Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya of EWH Table of Contents Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................ vii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................ viii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose of this Document ........................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Structure of the Report ................................................................................................................ 3 1.4 Methods adopted to prepare the ESA Report ............................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 2: Regulatory and policy network for ESA process in Nepal ................................................ 4 2.1 Legal requirements in Nepal ....................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Legal and institutional framework for EIA and IEE process in Nepal ....................................... 5 2.3 International agreements and treaties .......................................................................................... 7 2.4 World Bank Environment and Social Framework ...................................................................... 8 World Bank ESF Policy, Directives and Standards – Extent of Relevance ......................................................... 8 2.5 Analysis of legal and institutional issues and gaps in implementation of social and environmental plans ........................................................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER 3: Project Description .......................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Motivation of the Project .......................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Site Description ......................................................................................................................... 18 3.3 Project Area of Influence .......................................................................................................... 18 3.5 Description of the Project Area................................................................................................. 18 CHAPTER 4: Baseline Conditions ......................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Physical Environment and Selected Valued Environmental Components (VECs) .................. 21 4.1.1. Topography and Geomorphology ..................................................................................... 22 4.1.2. Natural Drainage and Watershed Management ................................................................ 23 4.1.3. Soils ............................................................................................................................... 25 4.1.4 Land Use ................................................................................................................................ 27 4.1.5. Atmosphere (Air and Noise, Solid Waste Management etc.) ........................................... 27 4.2 Biological Environment and Selected Valued Environmental Components ............................ 30 4.2.1. Environmentally Sensitive Areas ...................................................................................... 30 ii Environmental and Social Assessment of Kakarbhitta-Pathalaiya Road Section, including Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya of EWH 4.2.2. Terrestrial Habitat ......................................................................................................... 41 4.2.3. Aquatic Habitat ................................................................................................................. 46 4.2.4. Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................ 48 4.3 Socio-economic and Cultural Environment and Selected Valued Social Components (VSCs) ......................................................................................................................................................... 53 4.3.1. Land and Resource Use .................................................................................................... 53 4.3.2. Population, Infrastructure and Services ............................................................................ 55 4.3.3. Economy and Well-being ................................................................................................. 57 4.3.4. Community Life ................................................................................................................ 58 CHAPTER 5: Analysis of Alternatives .................................................................................................. 61 5.1 Existing Issues and Predicted Impacts in the Project Area on Valued Components ................ 61 5.2 Alternative 1: “Do Nothing” ..................................................................................................... 62 5.3 Alternative 2: Upgrades of Existing Road to 4-lane Highway ................................................. 64 5.4 Site-specific Alternatives .......................................................................................................... 69 5.4.1. New Bridge Construction ................................................................................................. 69 5.4.2. By-pass Area in the Populated Urban Centers .................................................................. 70 5.4.3. Alternative Roads in Environmentally Sensitive Areas.................................................... 70 5.4.4. Coordinated Linear Structure Plans and Mitigation Measures ............................................. 70 5.4.5. Summary of Additional Adjustments to Design ................................................................... 71 CHAPTER 6: Significant Environmental Impacts ................................................................................. 78 6.1 Beneficial Issues ....................................................................................................................... 78 6.1.1. Construction Stage ................................................................................................................ 78 6.1.2. Operation Stage ..................................................................................................................... 79 6.2 Adverse Issues .......................................................................................................................... 82 6.2.1. Physical and Chemical Environment .................................................................................... 82 6.2.2. Biological Environment ........................................................................................................ 90 CHAPTER 7: Social Impacts................................................................................................................ 105 7.1 Socio-economic and Cultural Environment ............................................................................ 105 7.2 Adverse Impacts on Socio-economic Environment ........................................................... 106 7.3 Management Issues............................................................................................................. 109 7.5 Enhancement and Other Issues ............................................................................................... 110 CHAPTER 8: Assessment OF CUMULATIVE Impacts ............................................................... 111 8.1 Specific assessment of the Road Segments along the KP Corridor ....................................... 111 iii Environmental and Social Assessment of Kakarbhitta-Pathalaiya Road Section, including Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya