Initial Environmental Examination November 2011 IND: Bihar State Highways II Project – Additional Financing (SH-86: Saraiya-Motipur Subproject) Prepared by Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 30 November 2011) Currency unit – Indian rupee (Rs) INR1.00 = $0.0192104505 $1.00 = INR52.055000 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank BSHPII-AF – Bihar State Highways Project II- Additional Financing BSRDC – Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd. BSPCB – Bihar State Pollution Control Board CGM – Chief General Manager CPCB – Central Pollution Control Board CRRI – Central Road Research Institute DoE – Department of Environment DFO – District Forest Officer DGM – Deputy General Manager DPR – Detailed Project Report EA – Executing Agency EFRC – Environment Friendly Road Construction EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMP – Environmental Management Plan EMoP – Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan EO – Environmental Officer GDP – Gross Domestic Product GoI – Government of India GoB – Government of Bihar GRC – Grievance Redressal Mechanism IEE – Initial Environmental Examination IMD – Indian Meteorological Department INR – Indian Rupees IPP – Indigenous Peoples Plan IRC – Indian Road Congress MDRs – Major District Roads MoEF – Ministry of Environment and Forests MoSRTH – Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways MSL – Mean Sea Level NGO – Non Government Organization NH – National Highway NOx – Oxides of Nitrogen NSDP – Net State Domestic Product PCU – Passenger Car Unit PIU – Project Implementation Unit PPEs – Personal Protective Equipments PWD – Public Works Department R and R – Resettlement and Rehabilitation ROB – Road Over Bridge ROW – Right of Way RCD – Road Construction Department Rs. – Indian Rupees RSPM – Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter RP – Resettlement Plan SC – Supervision Consultant SH – State Highway SO2 – Sulphur Dioxide SPM – Suspended Particulate Matter SPS – ADB‟s Safeguard Policy Statement SOI – Survey of India SPCB – State Pollution Control Board TA – Technical Assistance TCS – Typical Cross Section TOR – Terms of Reference UNDP – United Nation Development Program WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Km – kilometer M – meter NOTE In this report, "$" refers to US dollars. 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. 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 ...................................................................................................... 1 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Project Background/Rationale .......................................................................... 6 1.2. Executing Agency ............................................................................................ 6 1.3. Technical Assistance for Environmental Safeguard ......................................... 6 1.4. Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................... 7 1.5. Extent of IEE .................................................................................................... 7 1.6. IEE Content ..................................................................................................... 7 1.7. Methodology .................................................................................................... 7 1.7.1. Information/ data Sources ............................................................................ 8 1.7.2. Public Consultation ...................................................................................... 9 2. Policy, Legal AND ADMINISTRATIVE Framework .............................................. 10 2.1. Country‟s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements for the Project. ... 10 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ....................................................................... 12 3.1. Project Location ............................................................................................. 12 3.2. Characteristics of the Existing road ................................................................ 12 3.3. Category of the Project .................................................................................. 13 3.4. Need for the Subproject ................................................................................. 13 3.5. Existing and projected traffic .......................................................................... 13 3.6. Key Rehabilitation/Improvement Activities ..................................................... 14 3.7. Project Implementation Schedule and Cost ................................................... 19 4. Description of the environment........................................................................... 20 4.1. Physical Environment .................................................................................... 20 4.1.1. Meteorology and Climate ........................................................................... 20 4.1.2. Natural Hazard: .......................................................................................... 20 4.1.3. Air and Noise Quality ................................................................................. 21 4.1.4. Landforms/Physiography and Topography ................................................. 22 4.1.5. Geology ..................................................................................................... 23 4.1.6. Soil ............................................................................................................. 23 4.1.7. Land use .................................................................................................... 24 4.1.8. Groundwater .............................................................................................. 25 4.1.9. Surface Water ............................................................................................ 26 4.2. Ecological Resources .................................................................................... 28 4.2.1. Terrestrial Ecology ..................................................................................... 28 4.2.2. Aquatic Ecology ......................................................................................... 29 4.3. Economic Development ................................................................................. 30 4.3.1. Industries ................................................................................................... 30 4.3.2. Infrastructure Facilities ............................................................................... 30 4.4. Social and Cultural Resources ....................................................................... 32 4.4.1. Population and Communities ..................................................................... 32 4.4.2. Health Facilities .......................................................................................... 32 4.4.3. Literacy ...................................................................................................... 33 4.4.4. Occupational Status and Migration............................................................. 33 4.4.5. Current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by Indigenous Peoples .................................................................................................................. 34 4.4.6. Structures or sites of historical, archaeological, paleontological, or architectural significance ................................................................................................ 34 5. Anticipated Environmental Impacts and its Mitigation Measures .................... 35 5.1. Impact on Physical Environment .................................................................... 35 5.1.1. Climate ...................................................................................................... 35 5.1.2. Natural Hazard ........................................................................................... 36 5.1.3. Air Quality .................................................................................................. 36 5.1.4. Noise ......................................................................................................... 38 5.1.5. Impact on Land and Soil ............................................................................ 40 5.1.6. Groundwater .............................................................................................. 43 5.1.7. Loss of Drinking water Sources .................................................................. 44 5.1.8. Impact on Surface Water Bodies ................................................................ 44 5.1.9. Siltation and Surface Water Quality of Rivers and other Water Bodies ....... 44 5.1.10. Hydrology and Drainage ............................................................................ 46 5.2. Impact on Biological Environment .................................................................. 47 5.2.1. Terrestrial Ecology ....................................................................................