MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS NATIONAL HIGHWAY AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THE PREPARATORY STUDY FOR NORTH EAST NETWORK CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (PHASE-3) IN INDIA PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK FOR DHUBRI-PHULBARI BRIDGE IN THE STATE OF ASSAM / MEGHALAYA ON NH-127B (LENGTH OF 20KM) ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT MAY 2018 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (JICA) PADECO CO. LTD. NIPPON ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. PREPARED BY: ENVIRO INFRA SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD 301, 302, & 305, SHREE RAM BUSINESS CENTRE, PLOT NO. INS-12, SECTOR-9, VASUNDHARA, GHAZIABAD – 201012 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the project ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 Outline of the project .................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Purpose and Purpose of the Study ............................................................................... 3 1.4 Scope of the Study ...................................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Geographical Extent ............................................................................................ 3 1.5 Principles of the Study ................................................................................................ 4 CHAPTER 2 Baseline Condition of the Natural and Social Environment ........................... 6 2.1 Natural Environment ................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1 Climate ................................................................................................................ 6 2.1.2 Land Use ............................................................................................................. 7 2.1.3 Geology and Geography.................................................................................... 10 2.1.4 Geohydrology .................................................................................................... 12 2.1.5 Ecology ............................................................................................................. 15 2.2 Living Environment .................................................................................................. 15 2.2.1 Water Quality .................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2 Air Quality ........................................................................................................ 16 2.2.3 Noise and Vibration ........................................................................................... 18 2.2.4 Soil Quality ....................................................................................................... 19 2.3 Socio-economic Environment ................................................................................... 20 2.3.1 Assam State ....................................................................................................... 20 2.3.2 Meghalaya State ................................................................................................ 24 CHAPTER 3 Legal Framework .............................................................................................. 27 3.1 Major Laws and Regulations Relevant to the Project ............................................... 27 3.1.1 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 .......................................................... 27 3.1.2 Notification of the Environmental Impact Assessment of Development Projects .............................................................................................................. 27 3.1.3 Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 ............................................................................ 28 3.1.4 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 ................................................................... 29 3.1.5 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (amended in 1988) ................................. 29 3.1.6 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 ............................. 29 3.1.7 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 ................................. 29 3.1.8 The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 ........................................................................... 29 3.1.9 The Land Acquisition Act, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 ............ 30 3.2 JICA/WB/ADB’s Guidelines for Environment and Social Considerations .............. 30 3.2.1 JICA Environmental and Social Guidelines ...................................................... 30 3.2.2 World Bank’s Environment Safeguard Policy ................................................... 31 3.2.3 Safeguard Policy of Asian Development Bank ................................................. 32 3.3 Comparison of JICA/WB/ADB Guidelines and EIA Regulations of India .............. 33 3.4 Central Level Institutions .......................................................................................... 36 3.5 State Level Institutions .............................................................................................. 37 3.6 Requirements of Environmental Clearance ............................................................... 38 3.7 Environmental Standards of India ............................................................................. 39 CHAPTER 4 Analysis of Alternatives .................................................................................... 47 4.1 Alternatives Subject to Analysis ............................................................................... 47 4.2 Criteria for Analysis of the Alternatives .................................................................... 48 4.3 Results of the Analysis of Alternatives ..................................................................... 49 4.3.2 Comparison of bridge alignment options .......................................................... 51 CHAPTER 5 Scoping Analysis ................................................................................................ 54 5.1 Procedures of Scoping Analysis ................................................................................ 54 5.2 Scoping Matrix: Preliminary Analysis of the Environmental Impacts ...................... 54 5.3 TOR of Natural and Socio-economic Environment Survey ...................................... 59 CHAPTER 6 Anticipated Environmental Impacts ............................................................... 63 6.1 Impacts on the living environment ............................................................................ 63 6.1.1 Survey Results ................................................................................................... 63 6.1.2 Anticipated Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................. 72 6.2 Natural Environment ................................................................................................. 77 6.2.1 Survey Results ................................................................................................... 77 6.2.2 Anticipated Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................. 88 6.3 Major Impacts on Social Environment...................................................................... 91 6.4 Impact Analysis ......................................................................................................... 95 CHAPTER 7 Environmental Management Plan and Monitoring Plan ............................ 101 7.1 Environmental Management Plan ........................................................................... 101 7.2 Environment Monitoring Program ...........................................................................115 7.3 Institutional Arrangement .........................................................................................119 7.4 Grievance Redress Mechanism ................................................................................119 7.5 Monitoring Forms ................................................................................................... 120 7.6 Environmental Management Budget ....................................................................... 125 CHAPTER 8 Stakeholder Consultation ............................................................................... 126 8.1 1st Round Consultation ............................................................................................ 126 8.2 2nd Round Consultation ........................................................................................... 131 CHAPTER 9 Conclusion and Recommendations ................................................................ 136 9.1 Key issues / Concerns Identified ............................................................................. 136 9.2 Summary of Key Benefits from the project ............................................................ 136 9.3 Recommendations/conclusion ................................................................................. 138 9.3.1 Recommendations ........................................................................................... 138 9.3.2 Conclusion....................................................................................................... 138 Figure 1-1 Project Location ..........................................................................................................