Environmental Monitoring Report Project Number: 40515-013 Semi-annual Report January to June 2017 2696-BAN(SF): Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement Project Prepared by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh 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. Mott MacDonald Plot 77, Level 6 Block-M Road 11 Banani Dhaka Dhaka 1213 Bangladesh T +880 (2) 986 1194 F +880 (2) 986 0319 mottmac.com/international- development Local Government Engineering Department Sustainable Rural Infrastructure (LGED) RDEC Bhaban (Level-6) Improvement377583 1 project0 (SRIIP) Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla C:\Users\RAN58195\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet nagar Dhaka-1207, Files\Content.Outlook\8QF6OYF8\377583-Semi-Annual Environmental Report2017.docx Mott MacDonald Bangladesh D & SC Semi-Annual Environmental Report under SRIIP for the Period of January 2017 – June 2017 Euroconsult Mott MacDonald bv is a member of the Mott MacDonald Group. Registered in The Netherlands no. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) 09038921 Mott MacDonald | Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement project (SRIIP) D & SC Semi-Annual Environmental Report under SRIIP for the Period of January 2017 – June 2017 Contents Executive summary 8 1 Project Background 10 1.1 Introduction 10 1.2 Project Location and Components 10 1.3 Physical Progress of Project Activities 11 1.4 Scope of Monitoring Works 11 1.5 Reporting Period 11 1.6 Environmental Classifications and Responsibilities 11 1.6.1 Environmental Category 11 1.6.2 Environmental Clearances 11 1.7 Institutional Setup and Responsibilities 11 1.8 Environmental Monitoring Requirements 12 2 Environmental Monitoring and Compliance 13 2.1 Qualitative and Quantitative Monitoring Data 13 2.2 Monitoring Parameters/Indicators 13 2.3 Field Visit 13 2.4 Monitoring Result 15 2.5 Compliance with Environment Related Project Covenants 1 2.5.1 Compliance with National Environmental Laws 1 2.5.2 Compliance with ADB Guidelines 1 3 Result of Environmental Monitoring and Compliance Measures 2 3.1 Monitoring Result Compared against the Objective of the Environmental Safeguard 2 3.2 Disclosure of Monitoring Information, Workshop, Local Meeting, Construction with public 2 4 Conclusion and Recommendations 3 4.1 Overall Progress of Implementation of Environmental Safeguard Measures 3 4.2 Problems Identified and Actions Recommended 4 4.3 Recommendation 4 Appendices 6 A. Status of project and EMP Implementation 7 B. Photos from Field Visit in Gaibandha and Bogra 8 377583 | 1 | 0 | 1 November 2017 C:\Users\RAN58195\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\8QF6OYF8\377583-Semi-Annual Environmental Report2017.docx Mott MacDonald | Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement project (SRIIP) D & SC Semi-Annual Environmental Report under SRIIP for the Period of January 2017 – June 2017 Executive summary This Semi - Annual Report presents the progress of environmental impacts in different subprojects implemented under SRIIP during the period from January to June 2017. The focus of this report is on environmental issues incurred due to implementation of the ―Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement Project (SRIIP)‖. The project is in its last phase of execution under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) with assistance of the Design and Supervision Consultancy Team led by Euroconsult Mott MacDonald along with Institutional Supports and Management Consultancy Team of Hifab International. The project is a tripartite program financed by the Government of Bangladesh, the ADB and KfW. Aim of the SRIIP implementation is to reduce poverty and raise incomes through economic capacity development of the inhabitants in 21 districts of three divisions located in north-west and south-west Bangladesh The SRIIP aimed at upgrading 678.00 km of Upazila roads, 173.00 km union roads, cross drainage structures, such as bridges and culverts with a total length of 4500 meters, 88 growth centres/ markets, and improvement /construction of 37 bridges. Further the project also has initiated the implementation of 3-Pilot Performance based road maintenance and management system contracts, 3- Pilot Renewable Energy System in 3-markets and 3-Pilot Rural Water Supply System in 3-Markets in 3-Project Divisions. The subprojects under implementation went through a rigorous selection process for meeting the selection criteria (general and technical), and through environmental and social safeguard screening of the proposed infrastructures. In other words the document tracks the progress of the Contractor at 6 monthly intervals in relation to environmental safeguard matters from the start of the Works in 2014 to the substantial Completion of the Works and their Taking Over by the Employer on 31st Dec 2017. Most of the construction work has been completed and the project will be handed over to LGED on 31st Dec 2017 and the one-year Defect Notification Period commenced on 1st Jan 2018. It will continue until 31st Dec 2018 and during this period the remaining non-compliant issues will be rectified. The scope of land acquisition and resettlement is identified based on subproject selection and field visits to each subproject. Detail designs of the proposed infrastructures have considered reduced land acquisition and resettlement impacts also the environmental impacts. An Environmental Management Plan was prepared for the project. The Monitoring of Environmental Management Plan has been done in this report for the period January 2017 to June 2017. Site inspection was made to monitor the Environmental Management Plan. With the exception of the lack of adequate air quality measurements, the failure by the Contractor to start the monitoring program when work was initiated, the monitoring program was successful. It should be noted that this success was largely due to the efforts of the Contractor‘s environmental monitor who began to bring the work into compliance. The steady assistance of the Engineer with not only written instructions but training workshops and guidance in the field played an important part in the high level of compliance during this last 6-month period. The high level of compliance with and implementation of the environmental mitigative measures was the result of the close collaboration of the Contractor, the Engineer and LGED. The ADB/KW‘s arms- length oversight and periodic inputs proved valuable by pushing LGED to implement the EMP and all environmental contract clauses. No substantial negative impact was found. Some problems were identified and action has been recommended for compliance. There were four recommendations for the issues identified during the the June 2017 inspection, namely: Page 8 of 29 Mott MacDonald | Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement project (SRIIP) D & SC Semi-Annual Environmental Report under SRIIP for the Period of January 2017 – June 2017 1. The contractors of all on-going projects must ensure that the sampling of the critical parameters for water quality and noise quality is carried out fully in line with the sampling program so that correct results can be obtained enabling further mitigation measures to be determined and initiated if required 2. The onsite construction supervision and management of the contractor should be strengthened so that actions taken especially on the issue, improvement of health and safety, can be maintained and not lost over time. It will be necessary to increase the training and awareness in the health and safety issues for the construction workers with regular and repeated sessions pressured & delivered by specialized personnel. 3. The overall management of camps and worksites must be further improved in line with the best practices for occupational health and safety so that these areas of the site can be made fully compliant. 4. Regarding measurement of the environmental quality parameters, the contractors need to establish the output required quantitatively credible values namely. Page 9 of 29 Mott MacDonald | Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement project (SRIIP) D & SC Semi-Annual Environmental Report under SRIIP for the Period of January 2017 – June 2017 1 Project Background 1.1 Introduction Rural infrastructure development continues to be high priority for the Government of Bangladesh. The underpinning strategic thrust is on improving the quality- of- the life of rural people. The Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement Project (SRIIP) has been formulated for the development of rural infrastructure, which is the main objective of the project. This project includes the improvement of all- weather Upazila and Union roads to provide access to Growth Center Markets (GCMs), Rural Markets (RMs) and higher road networks. These improved roads also provide rural people better access to markets, social and basic services in upgrading their living standards. The development of infrastructure in the GCMs and RMS would create an opportunity for buyer and sellers a healthy and safe environment.