Environmental Impact Assessment (Draft) March 2021 India: Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project Corridor 3 Main Report Prepared by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 1 January 2021) Currency unit – Indian rupees (₹) ₹1.00 = $0.0137 $1.00 = ₹73.094 ABBREVIATIONS ADB : Asian Development Bank AIIB : Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank CBTC : Communication based Train Control CGWB : Central Ground Water Board C&D : construction and demolition CMA : Chennai Metropolitan Area CMDA : Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority CMRL : Chennai Metro Rail Limited CPCB : Central Pollution Control Board CMP : Comprehensive Mobility Plan CMFRI : Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research CRZ : Coastal Regulatory Zone EHS : Environmental, Health, and Safety EIA : Environmental Impact Assessment EMP : Environmental Management Plan EMoP : Environmental Monitoring Plan ESF : Environment and Social Framework ESP : Environment and Social Policy ESHS : Environment, Social, Health and Safety FTA : Federal Transit Administration GoI : Government of India GoTN : Government of Tamil Nadu GC : General Consultants GRM : Grievance Redress Mechanism IMD : India Meteorological Department JICA : Japan International Cooperation Agency KLD : Kilo Litres Per Day MoEF&CC : Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change MDBs : Multilateral Development Banks MRTS : Mass Rapid Transit System NDB : New Development Bank NAAQS : National Ambient Air Quality Standards NBWL : National Board of Wildlife NGT : National Green Tribunal PAP : Project Affected Persons RDSO : Railway Design & Standards Organisation RAP : Resettlement Action Plan SIPCOT : State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu SPV : Special Purpose Vehicle SIA : Social Impact Assessment TNCZMA : Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority TBM : Tunnel Boring Machine TNPCB : Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board WHO : World Health Organization WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 0C - degree Celsius dB(A) - decibel acoustic ha - hectare km - kilometer km/h - kilometer per hour kWe - kilowatt-electric kV - Kilo volt(s) kVA - kilo Volt-Amps kW - kilowatt m - meter mm - millimeter MVA - Megavolt Ampere MW - Megawatt m3 - cubic meter m3/hr - cubic meters per hour mg/l - milligrams per liter m/s - meters per second MTPA - metric tons per annum MW - megawatt ppm - parts per million ppt - parts per thousand rpm - revolutions per minute μg/m3 - microgram per cubic meter NOTES (i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government of India ends on 31 March. FY before a calendar year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends, e.g., FY2020 ends on 31 March 2020. (ii) In this report, "$" refers to US dollars This environmental impact assessment 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Environmental Impact Assessment 5 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 9 2.1. The National (India) Environmental Laws, Policies And Regulations 9 2.2. International and Regional Agreements and Conventions 16 2.3. MDBs’ Requirements Applicable to the Project 17 2.4. Applied Standards 17 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 20 3.1. Rationale 20 3.2. Description of MDB Corridor 3 20 3.3. Associated Facilities 27 3.4. Description of Balance Corridor 3 28 3.5. Implementation Plan, Schedule and Cost 34 4. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE 36 4.1. Data Collection Methodology 36 4.2. Physical Environment 38 4.3. Ambient Environment 49 4.4. Ecological Environment 63 4.5. Socioeconomic Environment 66 5. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 67 5.1. Methodology 67 5.2. Identification of environmental components 67 5.3. Screening of impacts 70 5.4. Impacts - Project Location and Design 75 5.5. Mitigation - Location and Design 80 5.6. Residual Impacts – Location and Design 83 5.7. Impacts - Construction 84 6. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 103 6.1. Introduction 103 6.2. Different Modes of Transport and Need to Increase Public Transport Share 103 6.3. Analysis With and Without Project Scenario 103 6.4. Comparison of Alternative High Capacity Modes 104 6.5. Selection of Alignment 105 7. PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 106 7.1. Consultations 106 7.2. Identification of Stakeholders 106 7.3. Public Consultations 106 7.4. Information Disclosure 108 8. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 109 9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 112 9.1. Introduction 112 9.2. Objectives of Environmental Management Plan 112 9.3. Institutional Arrangement 112 9.4. Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Program 114 9.5. Emergency Preparedness and Response System 154 9.6. Training and Capacity Building Programs 163 9.7. Environmental Management Budget and Resources 163 10. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 164 LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1: Summary of All Relevant Environmental Legislation for MDB Corridor 3 ........... 9 Table 2-2: Applicable Permissions and Clearances Required for MDB Corridor 3 ........... 13 Table 3-1: List of stations MDB Corridor 3 ......................................................................... 22 Table 3-2: Salient Features of Chennai Metro MDB Corridor 3 ......................................... 22 Table 3-3: Power Demand ................................................................................................. 24 Table 3-4: Implementation schedule MDB corridor 3 ........................................................ 34 Table 4-1: Environmental Attributes and Data Source ...................................................... 36 Table 4-2: Details of Sampling / Monitoring Locations* ..................................................... 37 Table 4-3: Results of Laboratory Analysis of Soil Sample ................................................. 40 Table 4-4: Geological Formation in the Project Area ......................................................... 44 Table 4-5: Land use in CMA .............................................................................................. 46 Table 4-6: Land use abutting the Alignment ...................................................................... 46 Table 4-7: Monthly Highest Maximum Temperature (Deg C) ............................................ 47 Table 4-8: Monthly Lowest Minimum Temperature (Deg C) .............................................. 47 Table 4-9: Monthly Rainfall (mm) ....................................................................................... 48 Table 4-10: Monthly Mean Relative Humidity at 08:30 hrs (%) ......................................... 48 Table 4-11: Monthly Mean Relative Humidity at 17:30 hrs (%) ......................................... 48 Table 4-12: Ground water level in Chennai District ........................................................... 50 Table 4-13: Results of Laboratory Analysis of Water Sample ........................................... 52 Table 4-14: Ambient Air Quality ......................................................................................... 54 Table 4-15: National and International Ambient Air Quality Standards ............................. 54 Table 4-16: Ambient Noise Level Monitoring Results dBA (by receptors) ......................... 56 Table 4-17: Ambient Noise Limits ...................................................................................... 56 Table 4-18: Baseline Vibration ........................................................................................... 58 Table 4-19: Monitoring Schedule ....................................................................................... 58 Table 4-20: Standards for Vibration ................................................................................... 59 Table 4-21: Guidelines for ESZ Activities .......................................................................... 63 Table 4-22: Predominant Tree Species along the Corridor (Local name- Botanical name) .................................................................................................................................... 65 Table 5-1: Sensitivity of VECs in the project area ............................................................. 68 Table 5-2: Criteria for rating the significance of adverse impacts ...................................... 70 Table 5-3: Screening of environmental impacts ................................................................ 71 Table 5-4: Reduction in Fuel Consumption and pollution .................................................. 76 Table 5-5: Exterior Noise Levels in Metro Stations ............................................................ 77 Table 5-6: Interior Noise Levels in Metro Trains ................................................................ 77 Table 5-7: Emissions due to truck movement during demolition and construction ............ 84 Table 5-8: Organizations Responsible for Utilities and Services ....................................... 86 Table 5-9: Average Noise Levels Generated by Operation of Various Construction Equipment .................................................................................................................