Initial Environment Examination Project Number: 47229-001 January 2016 IND: Uttarakhand Emergency Assistance Project (UEAP) Package: UEAP/PWD/C-76 Submitted by Project implementation Unit –UEAP (Roads and Bridges), Dehradun This initial environment examination report has been submitted to ADB by the Project implementation Unit – UEAP (Roads and Bridges), Dehradun and is made publicly available in accordance with ADB’s public communications policy (2011). It does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB. This 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 December 2015 India: Uttarakhand Emergency Assistance Project Protection/Treatment work on Chronic Landslide Zone on Khairna-Ranikhet Motor Road (UEAP/PWD/C-76) in District Almora of Uttarakhand Prepared by State Disaster Management Authority, Government of Uttarakhand, for the Asian Development Bank. i ABBREVIATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank ASI - Archaeological Survey of India BOQ - Bill of Quantity CTE - Consent to Establish CTO - Consent to Operate DFO - Divisional Forest Officer DSC - Design and Supervision Consultancy DOT - Department of Tourism CPCB - Central Pollution Control Board EA - Executing Agency EAC - Expert Appraisal Committee EARF - Environment Assessment and Review Framework EC - Environmental Clearance EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EMMP - Environment Management and Monitoring Plan EMP - Environment Management Plan GoI - Government of India GRM - Grievance Redressal Mechanism IA - Implementing Agency IEE - Initial Environmental Examination IST - Indian Standard Time LPG - Liquid Petroleum Gas MDR - Major District Road MoEF&CC - Ministry of Environment and Forests & Climate Change NAAQS - National Ambient Air Quality Standards NDBR - Nanda Devi Biospher Reserve NDNP - Nanda Devi National Park NH - National Highway ODR - Other District Road OM - Operations Manual PIU - Project Implementation Unit PMU - Project Management Unit PWD - Public Works Department REA - Rapid Environmental Assessment RSPM - Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter SDMA - State Disaster Management Authority SH - State Highway SPCB - State Pollution Control Board SPM - Suspended Particulate Matter SPS - Safeguards Policy Statement SRTC - State Road Transport Corporation UCADA - Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority UEAP - Uttarakhand Emergency Assistance Project UEPPCB - Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board UJS - Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan VR - Village Road ii WEIGHTS AND MEASURES cm - centimeter Crore – 100 lakhs = 10,000,000 Lakh – 100 thousand = 100,000 Km – Kilometer Kph - Kilometer per hour Lpd – liters per day M – Meter mg/l – milligrams per liter Mm – Millimeter MSL - Mean sea level µ - 10-6 meter µg/m3 – micrograms per cubic meter µS/cm - micro Siemens per centimeter NTU - Nephalo turbidity unit Ppm – parts per million iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT S.No. DESCRIPTION Page No. 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 2 CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION 6 Project Background/Rationale 6 Uttarakhand Emergency Assistance Project (UEAP) 6 Purpose of the Environmental Assessment 7 Extent of IEE 7 IEE Content 8 Methodology 8 Public Consultation 9 3 CHAPTER- 2- POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 10 4 CHAPTER-3 DESRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 15 Project Location 15 Proposed Category of the Project 15 Key Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Activities 16 Project Implementation Schedule 18 5 CHAPTER 4- DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 21 Physical Environment 21 Geography 21 Geology 22 Physiography 23 Pedology 23 Climate and Meteorology 23 Air quality and Noise Quality 26 Hydrology 27 Mineral Resources 28 Seismology 28 Ecology 29 Socio-Economic Profile 37 Social and cultural development 37 Land use pattern 39 Health 40 Literacy 41 Cultural and Archeological Resources 41 Economic Development 42 Transportation and Communication 42 Industrial Development 43 Agriculture 44 Fisheries 47 Energy and electric power potential 47 Aesthetic and tourism 47 6 CHAPTER- 5 ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND 49 MITIGATION MEASURES Negative Impacts related to Project Locations, Preliminary Planning & 49 Design Impact and Mitigation Measure during Planning and Design Phase 49 Impacts during Construction Phase 49 Impacts on the Physical Environment and Mitigation Measures 50 Impacts on Water Quantity 50 Disfiguration of Landscape by Road Embankments, Cuts, Fills, and 51 Quarries. Loss of productive soil 51 iv Compaction and Contamination of Soil 51 Impacts on Environmental Quality 51 Noise and Vibration from Civil Works 52 Impacts on the Socio-Economic 52 Encroachment on Historical and Cultural areas. 52 Impacts on Occupational Health and safety 52 Impacts on Community Health and Safety 53 7 CHAPTER-6 INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND 55 PARTICIPATION Public Participation during the Preparation of the IEE 55 Future Consultation and Disclosure 56 Consultation during Detailed Design 56 Consultation during Construction 57 Project Disclosure 57 Public Disclosure 57 8 CHAPTER- 7 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING 57 PLAN AND GRIEVANCE AND REDRESS MECHANISM Environmental Management Plan 57 Institutional Arrangement 58 UEAP, SDMA (PMU) 59 UEAP, IA FPIU 59 Environmental Expert Consultant (FPIU) 60 The Contractor 60 Environmental Monitoring Programme 62 Performance Indicators 86 Environmental Budget 88 Grievance and Redress Mechanism 90 9 CHAPTER -8 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 91 v LIST OF FIGURES SL. NO FIGURES PAGE NO. FIGURE- III.1 Location of Project site 15 FIGURE- III.2 Line Diagram showing Scheme of Toe Protection 17 FIGURE- III.3 Isometric View of Proposed Concrete Filled Fabric Foam 17 FIGURE- III.4 View of execution of High Tensile Steel Wire Mesh 18 FIGURE- III.5 Proposed Protection Works on Chronic Landslide Zones on Khairna- 19 Ranikhet Road FIGURE- III.6 Typical cross section of proposed work and treatment plan 20 FIGURE- IV.1 Divisions and districts in Uttarakhand 21 FIGURE- IV.2 Soil Characteristics of district Almora 23 FIGURE- IV.3 Seismic Zonetion map of India 29 FIGURE- IV.4 Forest types in Uttarakhand 30 LIST OF TABLES SL.NO TABLES PAGE NO. TABLE II.1 Applicable Environmental National and State Requirements for UEAP 10 TABLE IV.1 Availability of Important Minerals (million ones) 28 TABLE IV.2 District-Wise Forest Cover, Uttarakhand 31 TABLE IV.3 Predominant Top-Canopy (tree) species according to altitude 32 TABLE IV.4 Wildlife in Uttarakhand 33 TABLE IV.5 National parks in Uttarakhand 33 TABLE IV.6 Wildlife sanctuaries in Uttarakhand 33 TABLE IV.7 List of Major Flora 34 TABLE IV.8 List of Major Fauna 35 TABLE IV.9 District demographic Scenario as per Census-2011 39 TABLE IV.10 Land utilization in Uttarakhand 40 TABLE IV.11 Land use pattern-Almora 41 TABLE IV.12 Health indicators of Uttarakhand 40 TABLE IV.13 Health infrastructure of Uttarakhand 41 TABLEI IV.14 Transportation of Uttarakhand state. 43 TABLE IV.15 Industrial development of Uttarakhand state 43 TABLE IV.16 Industrial scenario in Almora 44 TABLE IV.17 Area under principal crops and productivity in Uttarakhand 44 TABLE IV.18 Ecological sub-regions and altitude-wise major agriculture crops 45 TABLE IV.19 Mode of irrigation and drainage system in Uttarakhand 46 TABLE IV.20 Agriculture scenario in Almora 47 TABLE VII.1 Environmental management and Monitoring Plan 62 TABLE VII.2 The performance indicators and Monitoring Plans 86 TABLE VII.3 Environmental monitoring for Air, Water, Noise and Soil 88 TABLE VII.4 Environmental Budget 89 vi LIST OF APPENDIX SL.NO TABLES Page No. Appendix-A Vanpanchayat Sarpanch NOC 92 Appendix-B Rapid environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 95 Appendix-C Public Consultation Record 100 Appendix-D Grievance Redressal Cells 101 Appendix-1 Disposal Site Management 102 Appendix-2 Environmental Standards 104 Appendix-3 Typical Bitumen Disposal Pit 108 Appendix-4 Oil Interceptors 109 Annexure-5 Workers Safety in Common Operation and during Constructions 110 Annexure-6 Enhancement Measures 119 Annexure-7 Guidelines for the Management of road Section through Forest Areas 120 Annexure-8 Arrangement for Traffic during Construction 122 Annexure-9 General Guidelines for Contractor’s Construction Water Management plan 127 Annexure-10 Environment Friendly Construction Methodology 128 Annexure-11 Borrow areas Management 132 Annexure-12 Soil erosion and Sedimentation Control 135 Annexure-13 Locating Quarries, Rehabilitating Quarries and Guidelines for Stone 136 Crushers Annexure-14 Storage, Handling, use and Emergency Response for Hazardous Chemic 139 Annexure-15 Selection and Management of Construction camp 141 This initial environmental examination is a document of the State Disaster Management Authority, Government of Uttarakhand. 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