Initial Environment Examination Project Number: 41614-036 May 2018 Part A: Main Report (Pages 1 – 79) and Annexures IND: Assam Power Sector Enhancement Investment Program - Tranche 4 Submitted by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, Guwahati This report has been submitted to ADB by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, Guwahati and is made publicly available in accordance with ADB’s Public Communications Policy (2011). It does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB. This report is an updated version of the IEE report posted in August 2014 available on https://www.adb.org/projects/documents/assam-power-sector-enhancement-investment- program-tranche-4-iee This addendum to initial environment examination 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. Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 41614 February 2018 IND: Assam Power Sector Enhancement Investment Program – Tranche 4 Prepared by: Assam Power Distribution Company Limited Government of Assam The 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. Table of Contents 0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 5 Background .................................................................................................................... 6 Scope of Work and Methodology Adopted ..................................................................... 6 2 POLICIES LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................................. 8 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................... 12 3.1 Type of Project ............................................................................................................. 13 3.2 Justification for the Project ........................................................................................... 13 3.3 Location ........................................................................................................................ 14 3.4 Details of Subproject for Changed Subproject Location from Original Scope: ............. 21 3.5 Size and the Magnitude of the Operation ..................................................................... 24 3.5.1 Tezpur Electrical Circle (Sonitpur District) ............................................................ 24 3.5.2 Dibrugarh Electrical Circle .................................................................................... 26 3.5.3 Sivasagar Electrical Circle .................................................................................... 27 3.5.4 Golaghat Electrical Circle ..................................................................................... 28 3.5.5 Tinsukia Electrical Circle ....................................................................................... 29 4 DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................... 32 4.1 Location of Assam ........................................................................................................ 32 4.2 Physical Resources ...................................................................................................... 32 4.3 Ecological Resources ................................................................................................... 34 4.4 Socio-Economic Environment ...................................................................................... 41 4.5 Economic Development ............................................................................................... 41 4.5.1 Land use pattern ................................................................................................... 41 4.5.2 Agriculture/Horticulture ......................................................................................... 41 4.5.3 Industries .............................................................................................................. 42 4.6 Social and Cultural Development ................................................................................. 43 4.6.1 Population ............................................................................................................. 43 4.6.2 Education .............................................................................................................. 43 4.6.3 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................... 44 4.6.4 Health Environment .............................................................................................. 45 4.7 Historical, Cultural and Archaeology Sites/Places ........................................................ 46 4.8 Environmental Monitoring During Implementation Stage: ............................................ 47 4.8.1 Air Quality Monitoring Results: .............................................................................. 47 4.8.2 Water Quality Monitoring Results: ........................................................................ 47 4.8.3 Noise Level Monitoring Results: ........................................................................... 48 5 SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ................................................................................................................................ 49 5.1 Environment Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................ 49 5.2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures Needed during the Design / Preconstruction Phase ............................................................................................................ 49 i 5.3 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures Needed during Construction ........... 51 5.4 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures Needed during Operation ................ 52 6 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE ROUTES ............................................................................ 57 6.1 APDCL’S Approach for Route Selection ...................................................................... 57 6.2 Alternatives for Line Alignment ..................................................................................... 57 6.3 Reasons for the final selection ..................................................................................... 58 7 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAMME ............................................................................................................................ 59 7.1 Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMoP) ....................................................................... 63 7.2 Critical Environmental Review Criteria ......................................................................... 63 7.3 Environmental Management Plan Budget Costs .......................................................... 64 8 INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................... 65 8.1 Institutional Requirements ............................................................................................ 65 9 GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM .............................................................................. 68 9.1 Awareness of Stakeholders .......................................................................................... 68 9.2 Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) ........................................................................ 68 10 PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ........................................ 70 10.1 Information Disclosure .................................................................................................. 70 10.2 Consultation and Participation ...................................................................................... 70 10.3 Public Consultation ...................................................................................................... 70 10.4 Public Consultation during Implementation stage: ....................................................... 71 10.5 Public Consultation for Change in Scope of Subproject: .............................................. 73 11 FIELD-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE ......................................................... 76 12 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................. 78 13 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................. 79 ANNEXURES .......................................................................................................................... 80 Annexure 1: Indian Regulations Applicable for Power Sector Projects ................................... 81 Annexure 2: Project Component Details ...............................................................................