Uttaranchal State Road Investment Program Report (2006)

8/9/2019 Uttaranchal State Road Investment Program Report (2006)

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CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS(as of 13 July 2006)

Currency Unit Indian rupee/s (Re/Rs)Re1.00 = $0.0216

$1.00 = Rs46.24

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB Asian Development Bank

BM bituminous macadamBWLS Binsar Wildlife SanctuaryCO2 carbon dioxideCOD chemical oxygen demanddB(A) decibels measured in the audible human rangeDOF Department of ForestDoGM Department of Geology and MinesDR district road

EA executing agencyEIA environmental impact assessmentEMP environmental management planGSB granular sub-baseIEE initial environmental examinationLVR light vehicle roadMDR major district roadMoEF Ministry of Environment and ForestsMoRD Ministry of Rural Development

MoSRTH Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and HighwaysNGO nongovernment organizationNH national highwayNOx nitrogen oxideNO3 nitrateODR other district roadPC Premix CarpetPIU project implementation unit

PM particulate matterPMU project management unitPWD Public Works DepartmentROW right-of-wayRSPM respirable suspended particulate matterSDBC semi dense bituminous concreteSPCB State Pollution Control Board


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WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

g/m micrograms per cubic meter of airkm kilometerkm2 square kilometermg/l milligram per literm metermm millimeterMW megawatt

NOTES

(i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government and its agencies ends on 31 March.

(ii) In this report, $ refers to US dollars.


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CONTENTS

PageMAPS

I. INTRODUCTION 1II. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT 1III. ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR ASSESSMENT 2IV. SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE SAMPLE

SUBPROJECTS 3A. Environmental Classification of the Subproject 3B. Description of Activities of Project 1 4C. Description of the Environment of the Sample Subprojects 6D. Alternative Analysis 11E. Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures 12F. Environmental Management Plan 14G. Public Consultation and Disclosure 15

V. ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA FOR SUBPROJECTS 16VI. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW FRAMEWORK 16

A. Environmental Assessment Requirement 16B. Review Procedure for Environmental Assessment of Subprojects and

Responsibilities of PWD and ADB 18C. Environmental Due Diligence to Ensure Compliance with ADBs Environment

Policy 19D. Public Disclosure 19E. Staffing Requirements and Budget 19

VII. CONCLUSION 20APPENDIXES

1. Environmental Management Plan 212. Environmental Monitoring Plan 29


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I. INTRODUCTION

1. The state government of Uttaranchal (SGOU) has requested the Asian DevelopmentBank (ADB) to finance the Uttaranchal State Roads Investment Program (Investment Program)based on the Uttaranchal Road Master Plan. This loan financing will be provided by using themultitranche financing facility that will cover seven Projects, and will be completed in 10 years.The total cost of the Investment Program is estimated at $830 million equivalent, of which $550million will be financed by ADB and $280.0 million will be financed by the state. Each Project willcontain an infrastructure development component under which approximately 10,800 kilometers(km) of roads will be improved. The first Project (Project 1) will cover about 573 km of roadsconsisting of state highways, major district roads, other district roads, village roads, and light

vehicle roads.

2. The investment program includes various types of project activities and locations, so itsenvironmental classification ranges from an A project to a B project in accordance withADBs Environment Policy.1 The environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the first yearprogram has been prepared to cover rehabilitation and improvement of the road connectingAlmora to Bageshwar, and the road connecting Barechina to Sheraghat, that pass through theBinsar Wildlife Sanctuary (BWLS). These project roads are subject to environmental clearance

from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF). The initial environmental examination(IEE) has been prepared for the rest of subproject roads for the first year program. The EIAstudies were carried out from July 2005 to April 2006 by Public Works Department (PWD)consultants and ADBs technical assistance consultant on behalf of Uttaranchal state PWD. TheEIA and IEE reports, including the environmental management plan (EMP), were prepared inaccordance with relevant laws and government regulations, and ADBs Environment PolicyandEnvironmental Assessment Guidelines.

3. This SEIA has been prepared for the use of ADB and contains a general overview of the

investment program, a brief description of associated environmental impacts, an assessment ofsector impacts, and an environmental assessment and review framework. The SEIA is based onthe following reports: (i) the EIA for the road connecting Almora to Bageshwar, and roadconnecting Barechina to Sheraghat, and; (ii) the IEE reports for the state highways, majordistrict roads, other district roads, village roads, and light vehicle roads of the first year program.

II. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT

4. The main objective of the USRIP is to improve road connectivity within the state as partof the SGOU Infrastructure Vision program to double income per capita and halve the proportionof the population below the poverty line. It is expected that improvement of the road network willfacilitate efficient, safe, comfortable, and reliable intra-state transport, which will increase peopleand businesses in both rural and urban areas of the state. This would mean greater mobility andaccessibility to educational and health services, employment opportunities, markets and rawmaterials


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proposed investment program will be executed by utilizing ADBs multitranche financing facilitymodality and implemented in seven Projects. The Project 1 investment development component

will cover improvement and rehabilitation of 573 km of roads. The total cost of this initialinvestment development component is 73 million. PWD will be the Executing Agency. TheInvestment program will be implemented over 10 years.

6. USRIP will also have an infrastructure management component. The main objective ofthe capacity building component is to increase sustainability of the investment infrastructure byassisting the PWD to: (i) restructure and adopt improved operational procedures; and (ii)increase staff skills. Assistance for restructuring will enable the planning unit at PWDheadquarters to start developing policies, setting performance targets, and programming and

budgeting to ensure road network quality and consistency. Assistance will also be provided toestablish a Road Board comprised of representatives of PWDs upper management, transportusers, automobile associations, transport operators and road builders to increase stakeholderparticipation, transparency and accountability. Revisions to operating manuals for planning,design, construction and maintenance in line with the vision and mission of PWD will also beundertaken as part of this component. To increase staff skills to execute tasks under therevised organizational structure and operational procedures, training will be provided as part ofthis component in detailed project report preparation and review, construction supervision andquality assurance, financial management and use of the Management Information and ProjectManagement System. Workshops will be organized to increase awareness and skills of statecivil works contractors on preparation and bidding for performance based contracts, qualitycontrol, overall construction, equipment and labor management, and environmental and socialsafeguard compliance.

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR ASSESSMENT

7. No special study was undertaken to assess issues and challenges in affected sectors of

the proposed investment program. However, it is expected to generate impacts transcendingproductive and crucial sectors of the state including tourism, mineral, forestry, agriculture, andthe environment.

8. Tourism in Uttaranchal is a rapidly developing industry and has become a major sourceof income and employment. The state is rich in cultural and natural resources, providingnumerous opportunities and destinations for pilgrimages, fairs and festivals, adventure sports,wildlife, and nature parks. Minerals are also available on a large scale. Talca soft mineralused in cosmetic, paint, and the paper industryis found in Almorah and Pithoragarh.

Limestone is found in Kumaon and Garhwal. Gypsum is found in Dehradun, Nainital, andGarhwal. Iron ores occur in Nainital and Garhwal. The states vast forests and forestation ofeconomically important tree species provide the potential for development of industries engagedin manufacturing wood-based products. Improvement of roads and connectivity will allowpeople, resources, and goods to move freely, thereby increasing the productivity of theseunderlying economic activities.


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agriculture activities in productive areas. Therefore, the use of agrochemicals in these areasmust be monitored.

10. Most of the investment program roads are small in terms of physical intervention scale.However, they could generate short-term and immediate impacts, mainly environmental, andassociated with construction works. The design approach integrates technical, environmental,social, economic, and institutional priorities. Environmentally responsible designs will beadopted to avoid unnecessary disturbance to human settlements and important ecologicalcommunities. The states legal and institutional framework is available to ensure that theinvestment program is implemented in an environmentally sound manner. However,enforcement and resources need to be strengthened.

IV. SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTOF THE SAMPLE SUBPROJECTS

A. Environmental Classification of the Subproject

11. The environmental assessment studies cover all subprojects included in Project 1 of theprogram23 subprojects with a total length of approximately 573 km comprising statehighways, major district roads, other district roads, village roads, and light vehicle roads. All the

subprojects will involve only rehabilitation and improvement of existing roads, so they willgenerally be classified B in accordance with ADBs Environmental Assessment Guidelines(2003). However, two subprojects pass through BWLS, so detailed EIA studies were carried outto identify impacts from rehabilitation and improvement works to the sanctuary. Table 1 showsthe environmental assessment study for each subproject.

Table 1: Environmental Assessment Studies for All Subprojects in the Project 1

Items Road Section DistrictRoadType

Length(km)

ExistingROW (m)

EnvironmentalStudy

1 KuwaKafnalParhi Uttarkarshi ODR 47.55 3.04.0 IEE

2 NaugaonPurola Uttarkashi ODR 17.89 6.07.0 IEE

3KalsiChakrata Dehradun MDR 41.57 6.07.0 IEE

4FatehpurLansdowne Pauri ODR 21.81 6.07.0 IEE

5 PathrakhkalGethichhedaDodalUmrasu

Pauri ODR 17.99 6.07.0 IEE

6 PauriKhirsuSrinagar Pauri ODR 18.00 6.07.0 IEE

7Nand PrayagGhat Motor Road Chamoli ODR 18.49 6.07.0 IEE

8 RudraprayagPokriKaranprayag

Chamoli ODR 14.51 6.07.0 IEE

9JakholiGuptkashi Motor Road Rudraprayag ODR 13.08 6.07.0 IEE


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Items Road Section DistrictRoadType

Length(km)

ExistingROW (m)

EnvironmentalStudy

14NathuakhanSuyalbadi Nainital VR 29.00 3.5 IEE

15RaniketMohan Almora MDR 70.20 3.03.8 IEE

16 Udiyari bendKanda (BerinagBageshwar)

Pithoragarh MDR 25.70 3.754.0 IEE

17ThalUdiyari bend (Berinag) Pithoragarh SH-6 22.00 3.5 IEE

18 PulaiDholaChamdeval SilingMotor Road

Champawat VR 6.50 3.5 IEE

19 LohaghatChoumel Motor Road Champawat VR 7.50 3.5 IEE

20TuligarhBhairav Mandir Champawat VR 6.30 3.5 IEE

21KakraliThuligarh Champawat VR 13.00 3.5 IEE

22 AlmoraBageshwar section ofSH-37

Almora

BageshwarSH 72.90 3.5 EIA

23 BarechhinaSeraghat section ofSH-6

Almora SH 42.30 3.5 EIA

EIA = environmental impact assessment, IEE initial environmental examination, km = kilometer, m = meter, MDR =major district road, ODR = other district road, ROW = right of way, SH = state highway, VR = village road.

B. Description of Activities of Project 1

1. Subproject Activities

12. The proposed subprojects will rehabilitate and improve the existing road network (statehighways, major district roads, other district roads, village roads, and light vehicle roads) in thestate of Uttaranchal. These roads are the primary means of the movement of people and goodsin this hilly state. The improvement work mostly includes strengthening existing roads onexisting formation width with minor widening and improvement of shoulders. The brief scope ofsubprojects detail activities for each type of roads is as follows.

a. State Highways

13. The condition of the state highways is fair except some patches that have deteriorated.

Surface undulations with bumpy riding quality were noticed in most parts of the roads. Thecondition of the shoulder along the entire roads varies from fair to poor and at some sections, isnot well defined. Roadside drains are in poor condition. The existing carriageway width variesfrom 3.75 meters (m) to 4.5 m.

14. The following proposals are adopted in the design in view of the existing road conditions:


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(iii) For reconstruction sections, the following combination is considered minimum:(25 mm SDBC + 50 mm BM + 150 mm WBM + 100 mm GSB).

(iv) Overlays with 20 mm PC are adopted.(v) For reconstruction sections, the following combination is considered 20 mmPremix carpet (PC) + 150 mm WBM + 100 mm GSB).

(vi) The road more or less follows the existing alignment and profile.

b. Major District Roads/Other District Roads

15. The existing condition of major district roads and other district roads is fair to poor. Theaverage carriageway width varies from 3.0 m to 4.0 m. The existing traffic is low in these roads.

In some sections, the road is completely deteriorated, and undulations and poor surface qualitywere observed in most of the roads. The existing shoulders are very weak and roadsidedrainage is poor.

16. The following provisions are adopted in the design:

(i) Most of the roads were kept as single lane except three roads in Udham SinghNagar district where widening to an intermediate lane is proposed. Therefore,only these three roads will require widening of the right-of-way (ROW).

(ii) Overlay over existing BM + SDBC roads, overlay is given in 25 mm SDBC only.(iii) For reconstruction sections, the following combination is considered (25 mm

SDBC + 50 mm BM + 150 mm WBM + 100 mm GSB).(iv) For overlay over PC roads, overlay is given in 20 mm PC only.(v) For reconstruction sections, the following combination may be considered:

(20 mm PC + 225 mm WBM + 100 mm GSB).(vi) Roads more or less follow the existing alignment and profile. Local depressions

are corrected by BM/WBM/GSB.

c. Village Roads/Light Vehicle Roads

17. The existing condition of village roads and light vehicle roads is fair to poor. Most of theroads have poor riding quality with surface undulations. In some sections, the road quality isnon-motorable. The existing traffic is very low on these roads. The carriageway width variesfrom 3.0 m to 3.5 m. Roadside drainage is also very poor.

18. The following arrangements are adopted for village roads and light vehicle roads:

(i) All construction works will be carried out by mechanized means.(ii) Pavement composition in reconstruction stretches will follow the existing

adjoining pavement crust, subject to the minimum requirements stated above.(iii) V-shaped drains are generally provided.(iv) Usage of locally available suitable materials will be maximized.


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C. Description of the Environment of the Sample Subprojects

20. This description covers project areas and affected areas. The field observation rangesfrom 100 m to 150 m from the central line of the road for village roads and light vehicle roads;and 100 m to 500 m for statehighways, major district roads, and other district roads.

1. Physical Environment

a. Atmosphere and Climate

21. The states climate is moderate and tropical characterized by a hot and dry summer,

humid monsoon or rainy season, short pleasant post-monsoon, and cool and dry winter. Theclimate of the area is conditioned to some extent by the proximity of the Himalayas in the north.

22. The climate in the mountainous region depends on elevation, slope, and type of landcover. Average summer temperatures are from 12.6C to 18.7C, whereas winter ranges arefrom 2.9C to 11.5C. Rainfall peaks during July (15.5 mm average) followed by August (14.1mm average). High relative humidity occurs during the monsoon season and the maximumrelative humidity observed during July and August (95.599.2%) can make the surrounding arearather uncomfortable. A lot of mist, fog, and dew appear at the mountainous areas during themonsoon.

b. Air Quality

23. The pristine environment and sparse population mean that most parts of the state havevery good air quality. Air pollution mainly originates in the larger urban and industrial areas suchas Dehradun, Roorkee, and Almora. The main sources of air pollution are vehicle exhausts andindustries.

24. Ambient air quality was monitored along sample subprojects. The air quality monitoringresults showed that the concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) ranges from 77micrograms per cubic meter of air (g/m) at Kafli Gair to 189 g/m at Bageshwar. Theconcentration of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) ranges from 23 g/m at KafliGair to 62 g/m at Bageshwar. The concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2) ranges from 12g/m at Basauli to 24 g/m at Bageshwar, while nitrogen oxide (NO x) ranges from 20 g/m atKafli Gair to 45 g/m at Bageshwar.

25. Ambient air quality along all the subproject roads conforms with National Ambient AirQuality Standards. All the parameters monitored were found within permissible limits.Improvement in road surface will reduce the concentration of these parameters in theatmosphere as traffic growth on these roads is not expected to increase significantly.

c. Noise Level


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study area is 50.867.6 decibels measured in the audible human range (dB[A]). Nighttimeequivalent noise level is 38.446.6 dB(A). A maximum of 70.2 dB(A) of instantaneous noiselevel was observed at Dhaul Chinna on BarechhinaSeraghat road during daytime and aminimum of 37.1 dB(A) at Basauli on AlmoraSeraghat Road at night. In general, the ambientnoise scenario within the study area slightly exceeds the noise level standards prescribed by theCentral Pollution Control Board.

d. Topography, Geology, and Soil

28. Uttaranchal has hilly and mountainous terrains that cover approximately 90% of thegeographical area. Based on land elevation, the state is classified as terairegion (less than 300

meters above mean sea level (msl), lower hilly region (300600 m), upper hilly region (6002,400 m), high altitude region (2,4004,500 m), and upper high altitude region (above 4,500 m).Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar are the only plain districts in the state. The subprojects areais divided into two physiographic zones. The non-montane zone consists of plains where the soilis fertile and has good water retention capacity. The montane zone consists of sub-Himalayas,mid-Himalayas, and greater Himalayas (virtually covered with snow year-round).

29. The Himalayan tract of the KumaonGarhwal region exposes a wide variety of rocksranging in age from Himalayan pre-Cambrian to Quaternary. Schists, schistose phyllites,granulites, migmatites, limestone, quartzite, etc. are the major rocks in region. The area isclassified as high seismic zone V.

30. The region experiences very severe soil erosion. Soils of the Uttaranchal Himalayas ingeneral are quite shallow, gravelly, and impregnated with unweathered fragments of parentrocks.

31. Two kinds of landslides exist along the highway: (i) debris slides, which are movements

of debris material along slopes; and (ii) rock falls, which are movements of rock strata causedby the highly jointed nature of the rocks.

e. Surface and Ground Water

32. The state has a long network of perennial and seasonal streams. It is well drained bynumerous rivers and rivulets (locally known as Gad, Dadhera, and Naula). There are three mainriver systems: (i) BhagirathiAlaknanda basinGanges basin, (ii) YamunaTons basin, and(iii) Kali system.

33. The Ganges system drains the major part of the region covering the whole of theGarhwal (except the western part of Uttarkashi district) and the western part of GarhwalHimalayas from an altitude of 7,138 m meet at Devprayag and flows as the Ganges thereafter.The main stream is the Bhagirathi. The main tributaries to the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, or toone another ultimately contributing to the waters of the Ganges are the Alaknanda Saraswati


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Yamuna River flows out of the hill areas through the Doon valley and the Shivaliks, intoHaridwar district; it is joined in the Doon valley by several streams.

35. Drainage of the greater part of the Pithoragarh district and the eastern parts of Almoraand Nainital districts (i.e., most of the Kumaon region) is affected by the Kali River system. Ingeneral, the main rivers of the region, particularly in Garhwal, pass through very deep valleysbecause of their erosive power and huge water volume. Besides these main river systems,glaciers, lakes, innumerable streams, and rivulets and springs constitute the important waterresources of the region.

36. The water of the rivers studied was in quite a healthy and clean state in the monitored

section. It was not significantly affected by extraneous pollution. Observed values of pH (8.18.3), dissolved oxygen (7.17.4 milligrams per liter (mg/l), biological oxygen demand (4.05.0mg/l), nitrate nitrogen (0.50.85 mg/l) and oil and grease (below detection limit) clearly reflectthe absence of any significant pollution.

2. Ecological Resources

a. Aquatic Ecology

37. Catch data from the major rivers are not available, and studies are sporadic andpreliminary in nature. The Golden mahseer (Tor putitora), one of the main game and food fish inthe central Himalayan region, has decreased significantly. Fish migrate considerable distancesupstream in the search of suitable spawning grounds. Stocks of the Himalayan mahseer arealso depleting and it is now considered an endangered species. According to availablestatistics, the Himalayan mahseer contributes significantly only in one rivercomprising 32.8%of the catch from Nayar River, 9.7% from Song River, and 0.83.1% from other rivers.

b. Flora

38. The mountains, meadows, lakes, and dense forests support exotic wildlife and plant life.Sixty-four percent of the states land area is covered by forests classified into reserved forests,protected forests, and unclassified forests. Discussion with forest officials in Khalsi regionrevealed that the states forest cover is changing rapidly because local communities are clearingthe hills for agricultural activities. Dense forests cover 19,023 km2 (77%)2 and open forestaccounts for only 4,915 km2. However, the actual forest cover of dense canopy is only 34%.

39. The vegetation of the Himalayan region is broadly divided on the basis of topography asforests and bugyal (high altitude grasslands or meadows situated above the level of trees andshrubs). These are the alpine pastures. The states vegetation is characterized by varyingaltitudinal zones as follows:

(i) Subtropical forest zone extends up to 1 200 m Sal (Shorea robusta) is the


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vegetation of broad-leaved species such as oak are found. Birch, silver fir andburans follow at the upper limits of the oak forests.

(iii) Subalpine and alpine forest zone extends above 2,120 m and hosts varietiesof conifers such as silver fir, blue pine, spruce, cypress, deodar, and birch, amida dense undergrowth of shrubs.

(iv) Alpine bush land and meadows follow the third zone and are found up to4,200 m. Birch and juniperare major species in this zone.

40. AmloraBageshwar and BarechhinaSeraghat roads pass for a considerable lengththrough reserve forests of Almora division. The forest flora of the study area mainly comprisesoak (Quercus leucotrichophora) and pine trees (Pinus roxburghii, Pinus wallichiana). Other

species found in this region are tilonj (Quercus dilitata), kharsu (Quercus semecarpifolia), utis(Alnus nepalensis), deodar (Cedrus polycarpos), etc., which belong to subalpine and alpinezones. At least a dozen varieties of the rhododendrons bloom in Kumaon. A sample analysisalong the project roads found that the average tree density varies from 40,000 to 80,000 treesper km2. Oak, Chir(Pinus roxburghii), Banj (Quercus semicarpifolia), Kafal (Myrica sapida) arethe dominant species in these sections. Analysis of vegetation based on sampling inundisturbed areas show similar results, as tree density is 4,0008,000 trees/km2.

c. Fauna

41. Uttaranchal state is rich in biodiversity and is represented by biogeographic zones 2BWestern Himalaya and 7B Siwaliks.3 The state is home to more than 200 species of mammalsand over 400 species of avifauna. The cat family is abundant in these mountains and includesthe tiger, panther, civet cat, leopard cat, and jungle cat. Relatives of the domesticated doginclude the Himalayan silver fox and the jackal. Various species of deer, including musk deerand barking deer, roam in the forest. Sambhar, gural, black bear, and the porcupine can also beseen. The flying mammal, the bat, is also prevalent. The chipmunk, rhesus monkey, and flying

squirrel are among the most common animals in this region.

42. Over 400 varieties of birds have been recorded in the Himalayan region. The shore, aforest host, the jewel thrush, black-headed oriole, black-headed yellow bulbul, rosy minivet,laughing thrush, golden backed woodpecker, and the blue flycatcher are common. Winteringwaterfowl include the goosander, brahminy duck, and green shank. Grey-headed fishing eaglesmay also be seen by the river edge. After ascending over 1,500 m, the woodpecker, thrush, andwarbler become more common. At 2,0003,000 m, the grosbeak, rock thrush, crested black tit,and redheaded laughing thrush are abundant.

43. In AlmoraBageshwar and BarechhinaSeraghat road locations, leopard (Pantherapardus fusca), ghural (Memorhaedus goral),kakar (Muntiacus muntjak), jangli suar (Sus-scrofacristatus),langur (Presbyits entellus),andbandar (Macaques mulatto) are reported as importantspecies.


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terraced/semi-terraced and plain, and covers about 11.5% of the total area. The net irrigatedarea of the state is 3.42 lakh hectares, which is about 43% of the net sawn area.

53. During 20012002, the contribution of agriculture to the net state domestic product wasabout 30% and engaged about 58% of the total workers.

54. The states road network comprises 1,327 km of national highways; 418 km of statehighways; 1,372 km of major district roads; 6,830 km of other district roads; about 5,192 km ofvillage roads; and 2,633 km of light vehicle roads. Road density per 100 km2 of area in Garhwalzone is 30 km and 37 km in Kumaon zone.

55. During 20032004, there were 178 large- and medium-scale industries with totalinvestment of Rs5,00,700 lakhs, providing employment to about 44,000 employees. Small-scaleindustries are another important sector in Uttaranchal and have about 129,782 employees.

56. Tourism is one of the strong pillars of the states economy. The state has high growthpotential for tourismnature, wildlife, adventure, or pilgrimage. It received 10.5 million domestictourists in 200001, 11.6 million in 200102, and 12.9 million in 200203, registering averagegrowth of 10.7% over the period.

57. Uttaranchal has estimated hydropower potential of about 20,200 megawatts (MW) butonly 1,130 MW has been tapped. Some 4,170 MW projects are under implementation and3,800 MW projects are allotted to central and state governments and the private sector.

58. No archaeological, historical sites or protected monuments are located along theproposed alignment of the subprojects roads.

D. Alternative Analysis

1. No Investment program

59. Without the investment program, roads will continue to deteriorate because of worseningdrainage structures, and existing and possible landslides (leading to continued or increaseddeposition of sediment in water bodies). Roads that were not designed to carry heavy traffic willdeteriorate as traffic increases and loads get heavier. Without the investment program, theambient concentrations of gaseous pollutants and noise will rise gradually in step with increasesin the population and vehicles in the area. In addition, increasing traffic along project roads willextend the travel time and raise vehicular emissions.

60. No capital costs will be incurred and no project-specific institutional strengthening will beavailable. However, high maintenance costs will continue.

2. Alternative Modes of Transport


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3. Alternative Alignments

62. No separate alternative alignment was considered for roads under consideration as theproposed investment program for improvement of existing roads will be carried out within theavailable formation width.

63. For both roads that pass through BWLS, there is no possible realignment because thearea is forested and located in a hilly and mountainous location. Construction of new roadswould cause more damage to the environment. It should be noted that the roads were in usewhen the Government established BWLS.

E. Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

1. Impact Due to Siting and Design of the Subproject

64. The Program will rehabilitate existing roads. No new alignments will be constructed.Most of the project roads pass through forest areas, which are a combination of reserve forestsand protected forests. Since almost all roads have a formation width as required by the standardroad, there will be no land clearing or tree cutting, except for roads in Udham Singh Nagar

districts of Kumaon Zone (DhakiaGulaoMukundpur, JaitpurDhatoliKharmesha, andZafarpurGularbhoj) where widening to intermediate lane will be required. These roads arelocated in the plain areas but part of them will pass through reserve forest; land clearing willinvolve cutting around 7,500 trees but they are all common species in the project area. Hydro-ecological impacts, such as reductions in infiltration, are not expected.

65. Two roads will border or pass through BWLS tourism zone: (i) 11.50 km of AlmoraBageshwar section of SH-37; and (ii) 2.75 km of BarechhinaSeraghat section of SH-6. Impactswill occur during construction but no irreversible environmental impacts are expected because

these roads are located in BWLS tourist zone and no widening will be required.

66. Almost all the roads are located in hilly areas, so long-term impacts related to erosion orlandslide might occur. Therefore, it is very important to handle potential impacts carefully duringconstruction. The detailed engineering design has identified areas prone to erosion and includesland stabilization as part of the construction works.

67. Although most of the roads pass through forest area, traffic on the project roads is low.

As a result of road improvement, traffic is expected to increase slightly. Given the current lowtraffic and modest traffic growth forecast, the subproject is unlikely to significantly contributedirectly, or indirectly, to deforestation, forest degradation, or depletion.

68. There are no major cultural/historical sites along the project roads, which would beaffected by the proposed improvement. However, a few small temples/shrines are in the corridorof impact These structures will not be disturbed for improvement purposes but precautions


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(i) Loss of vegetation cover because of land clearing and tree cutting along theroads. However, most of the subproject roads will be improved within the existingformation width and there will be no land clearing except for three subprojectroads in the first year, i.e., roads in Udham Singh Nagar districts of KumaonZone (DhakiaGulaoMukundpur, JaitpurDhatoliKharmesha, and ZafarpurGularbhoj) where widening to intermediate lane is proposed and requires cuttingof about 7,415 trees. The process to request permission to fell these trees hasbegun. Loss of trees will be compensated according to forest regulations.

(ii) Construction work will involve dismantling existing base and bitumen. It isproposed that spoiled material will be reused as much as possible. However,

remaining spoiled material will need to be disposed of. In areas of forests andsanctuaries, it is necessary to consult forest/sanctuaries management to findplaces and way to safely dispose of spoiled material. Since part of two subprojectroads in the first year will be within BWLS (AlmoraBageshwar and BarechhinaSeraghat), consultation with the wildlife warden will be carried out to identify safedisposal sites. No disposal areas will be located nearby water bodies.

(iii) Earthwork to replace the base and resurfacing works will create dust, noise, andcontaminated air. These impacts will be significant, particularly in locations of

settlements, so sprinkle water will be required during this period.

(iv) Other environmental impacts include (a) temporary reduction in water quality ofnearby streams during construction; (b) possible erosion and landslides; (c) landdegradation caused by borrow pits; (d) wildlife poaching, particularly in protectedareas and forest areas, i.e., BWLS roads areas; and (e) other environmentalimpacts related to disposal of excess soil, placement of construction workercamps, and placement or storage of construction materials.

70. To minimize these impacts, construction works will be carried out in an environmentallysound manner by (i) balancing cut and fill; (ii) excavatortipper combination instead ofbulldozers; (iii) log and boulder barriers to control slipping of excavated materials;(iv) bioengineering techniques for slope stabilization aside from training walls; (v) stringentinspection to avoid illegal firewood collection from surrounding forests, and provision bycontractors of kerosene or gas for cooking; and (vi) provision by contractors of strict controlsand penalties for wildlife poaching, and (vii) no temporary worker camp or storage materialshould be located along roads within or bordering BWLS.

71. Excavated materials will not be disposed of near water bodies or streams, in forests, oron agriculture land. To reduce dust, the contractor will be required to sprinkle water continuouslywhen earthwork is carried out in inhabited areas. Construction worker camps will be providedwith water and sanitation. Contracts will be covered in packages, so detailed mitigationmeasures to be implemented by the contractor will be clearly described in the biddingdocument Each contractor will be required to submit a site EMP that describes (i) how the


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72. During construction, laborers/workers will be hired from local communities or other partsof the state as far as possible to avoid social conflict. If workers are hired from other states, theworkers camp will be provided with an adequate supply of water, toilet facilities, and self-management of solid waste, thereby minimizing resource conflicts.

73. During construction work in BWLS, the contractor will coordinate with BWLS staff andschedule construction work to minimize the impact on wildlife movement. Appropriate measureswill be adopted in consultation with sanctuary authorities.

74. For the village road and light vehicle road, the construction work will involve minimalimpacts because there will be no widening, and civil work will be limited to resurface the road

with thin bitumen. In addition, construction materials, except for asphalt, will be provided fromlocal resources so no environmental impact is expected. In this context, the standardmanagement plan used for rural roads in other states will be adopted.

3. Operational Phase

75. The most serious impact during the operation stage of these subprojects will benegligence of mitigation measures. This leads to (i) improper disposal of spoiled materials, (ii)failure to provide slope stabilization in areas prone to erosion and landslides, and (iii) failure tomaintain bioengineering and tree planting along the road alignment or to rehabilitate borrow andquarry areas. Therefore, regular monitoring will be needed to ensure implementation of allrequired mitigation measures. Other environmental concerns related to the operation of roadsinvolve air pollution and water pollution. No adverse impacts on air and water quality areexpected during the operation of the project roads as the number of vehicles will not increasedrastically. A reduction in dust because of resurfacing will be a positive impact as well as betteraccess.

F. Environmental Management Plan

76. The summary EMP (Appendix 1) and environmental monitoring plan (Appendix 2) willguide the environmental measures to be carried out by PWD with support from the projectmanagement unit (PMU), project implementation units (PIUs), contractors, and other partiesconcerned with mitigating possible environmental impacts of the subprojects.

77. PWD, through the PMU, will ensure that (i) all mitigation measures that need to beincorporated into the project design are passed on to the engineering consultants, (ii) the

bidding document for the contractor contains all the required mitigation measures to beimplemented during the construction period and the obligations for the contractor to implementthe EMP during the construction period, (iii) the environmental clearance is obtained before anycivil work contract is granted, (iv) implementation of the EMP is monitored regularly and theannual report on implementation of the EMP is well documented, (v) there is coordination withother parties and government agencies in implementing the EMP at all stages of the


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clauses for contract conditions and specifications. IEE and EIA reports will be made availablefor potential bidders.

G. Public Consultation and Disclosure

79. As part of ADBs public consultation requirements, extensive consultations were carriedout from the beginning of the environmental assessment studies to fulfill ADB requirements forcategory A projects. The process of consultation and findings are described below.

80. In preparing the IEE study for the year one roads, consultations with local communitieswere carried out along all the subproject roads in July and August 2005. Most of the

communities that will be affected by the subprojects were pleased with the proposedimprovement of project roads; no negative concerns were raised. More than 100 peopleincluding local community members, government officials, representatives of nongovernmentorganizations (NGOs), and relevant professionalswere consulted during preparation of theIEE.

81. Two stages of consultations were carried out from January to March 2006 during the EIAprocess of two subprojects (i.e., AlmoraBageshwar and BarechhinaSeraghat) with over 104representatives of local communities, officials from government organizations, relevant NGOs,

and professionals from the private sector. The first consultations were held with localcommunities through formal and informal discussions during the fieldwork. The secondconsultation was performed through a series of informal meetings with local communities duringthe fieldwork. Table 2 summarizes the public consultations.

Table 2. Public Consultation and Disclosure

Consultations Subproject Road

Section

Venue and Date No. of

ParticipantsFirst consultation AlmoraBageshwar

(Almora district)Basoli village on 19 July 2005 20

Bhetuli village on 21 August 2005 10

Kaparkahan village on 21 August 2005 08

AlmoraBageshwar(Bageshwar district)

Hiraguni village on 19 July 2005 06

Bilona-shera village on 20 August 2005 15

BarechhinaSeraghat(Almora district)

Dhoulchhina village on 17 July 2005 09

Jamradi village on 25 August 2005 10

Secondconsultation

AlmoraBageshwar(Almora district)

Village Basoli on 22 March 2006 27


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82. The key concerns expressed by the local communities were the stress on localresources and infrastructure in communities near the construction camps, and the possibility offriction between residents and migrant workers. These concerns have been incorporated into

the management plan.

83. Discussions with representatives from government agencies concerned were carried outthrough officials meetings. The discussion focused on (i) procedures and formalities forprocessing relevant clearances from the Wildlife Board, DOF, MOEF, and local administrationoffices; (ii) identifying responsible parties for the implementation and monitoring of variouscomponents of project activities, particularly environmental impacts; (iii) appropriate engineeringdesigns and road construction methods as well as concepts and methods for environment-

friendly road construction; and (iv) possible environmental impacts and mitigation measures.

84. The Wildlife Conservation Office, Forest Department, particularly the BWLS staff, feltthat the subprojects would not have any serious implications for the sanctuary. The existingroad has been operating in sanctuary areas for many years. Their concerns were mostlyfocused on how to avoid or minimize the environmental impacts of construction. The wildlifewarden suggested that the selection of sites for construction camps, storage of constructionmaterials and machinery, and disposing of spoiled materials should be done in closeconsultation with BWLS officials. So, follow-up consultations should be carried out during the

implementation stages.

85. The second consultation was carried out to share the findings of the environmentalimpact studies. Aside from consultations with local communities, consultations with relevantgovernment agenciessuch as wildlife wardens, forest officials, and Pollution Control Boardofficialswere also undertaken. A workshop was also held on 10 th April 2006 at Dehradun,attended by a wide range of professionals from various government and private sectoragencies, including representatives from districts and NGOs. No objections were raised about

the subprojects or environment related concerns.

V. ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA FOR SUBPROJECTS

86. The subprojects will be selected from PWDs priority list as part of SGOUs InfrastructureVision program by taking into consideration the following criteria.

(i) The subprojects should avoid, as much as possible, passing through anydesignated wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, other sanctuaries, or areas with

national or international significance (e.g., protected wetlands designated by theWetland Convention).

(ii) The subproject should avoid, as much as possible, passing through any culturalheritage site designated by the national authorities or the United NationsEducational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).


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Projects.In addition, the road improvement and rehabilitation activities require compliance withthe Forest (Conservation) Act as amended in 1980; Forest (Conservation) Rules, 1981; TheWildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

(amended 1988); The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (as amended in 1987);and The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

88. These acts and regulations require the following:

(i) All improvement and road rehabilitation within the purview of environmentalassessment notification and located in the protected areas/reserve forest areasrequire environmental clearance from MOEF in the form of an approved EIA.

(ii) Forest clearance from the DOF is required to carry out work within the forestareas, diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose, and felling of roadsidetrees. Cutting of trees needs to be compensated by afforestation according toForest Department requirements.

(iii) Placement of hot-mix plants, quarrying and crushers, and batch mixing plantsrequires a No Objection Certificate (Consent to Establish and Consent toOperate) from the State Pollution Control Board prior to establishment.

(iv) Permission from the Ground Water Board is required for extracting water forconstruction purposes.

89. Based on the Government and ADBs environment policies, the follow-up subprojectswill be subject to the following requirements:

(i) The requirement for environmental assessment of each subproject depends onits potential impacts. Based on these potential impacts, a subproject will beclassified in accordance with the Governments and ADBs environmentalassessment guidelines, using ADBs rapid environmental assessment.

(ii) For each category A subproject, an EIA including an environmentalmanagement and monitoring plan is required. For each category B subproject,an IEE including EMP is required.

(iii) A subproject will be categorized as an A subproject if the subproject:(a) requires a complex mitigation measure that needs to be prepared through

an in-depth assessment of the impacts and detailed study to preparemitigation measures;

(b) will generate impact to the ecologically sensitive area, particularly if thesubproject (1) passes through or is located less than 100 m from any

designated wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, other sanctuaries,botanical garden, or area of international significance (e.g., protectedwetland designated by the Wetland Convention); (2) is located less than300 m from the coastline; or (3) passes through any cultural heritage sitedesignated by UNESCO; and

(c) involves the establishment of a bypass or realignment passing through


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B. Review Procedure for Environmental Assessment of Subprojects andResponsibilities of PWD and ADB

1. PWDs Responsibilitiesin implementing the follow-up subprojects covers at leastthe following:

(i) Prepare environmental screening checklist and classify subprojects inconsultation with Forest Department and/or Wildlife Conservation Department.

(ii) Prepare terms of reference to conduct IEE or EIA study based on theenvironmental classification of the subprojects.

(iii) Hire an environmental consultant to prepare IEE or EIA report, including EMP

and SEIA, for public disclosure.(iv) Undertake initial review of the IEE and EMP or EIA, SEIA, and EMP reports toensure their compliance with the Governments and ADBs requirements.

(v) Obtain necessary permits (e.g., environmental clearance, forest clearance, andwater board clearance) from relevant government agencies; and ensure that allnecessary regulatory clearances will be obtained before commencing any civilwork of the subproject.

(vi) Submit to ADB the IEE or EIA and SEIA, including EMP reports and allclearances certificate and its conditions from relevant government agencies, for

ADBs consideration in approving follow-up actions for the subprojects.(vii) Ensure that the EMP, which includes required mitigation measures to be

incorporated during the construction stage, are included in the bidding document.(viii) Ensure that contractors have access to the EIA or IEE and EMP report of the

subprojects.(ix) Ensure that contractors understand their responsibilities to mitigate

environmental problems associated with their construction activities.(x) Ensure and monitor that the EMP, including the environmental monitoring plan, is

properly implemented.(xi) Prepare and implement an environmental emergency program, in consultationwith relevant government agencies and ADB, in case unpredicted environmentalimpacts occur during the project implementation stage.

(xii) Review the environmental classification, revise accordingly, and identify whethersupplementary IEE or EIA study is required in case the subproject needs to berealigned during project implementation. If this is required, prepare the terms ofreference for undertaking supplementary IEE or EIA and hire an environmentconsultant to carry out the study.

(xiii) Submit annual reports for IEE and semiannual reports for EIAs on implementingEMPs, including an implementation environmental emergency program (if any),to the State Pollution Board, MOEF, and ADB.

2. ADB Responsibilities in implementing the follow-up subprojects covers at leastthe following:


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(iv) Provide assistance to PWD, if required, in carrying out its responsibilities toimplement the investment program.

C. Environmental Due Diligence to Ensure Compliance with ADBs EnvironmentPolicy

90. ADB must be given access to undertake environmental due diligence for all subprojects,if needed. However, PWD has the main responsibility for undertaking environmental duediligence and monitoring the implementation of environmental mitigation measures for allsubprojects. The due diligence report, as well as monitoring implementation of the EMP as partof the annual report, needs to be documented systematically.

D. Public Disclosure

91. In the context of disclosing environmental documentation to the public, PWD and ADBagree on the following:

(i) PWD is responsible for ensuring that public consultations, particularly withaffected persons, are undertaken adequately during preparation of IEEs andEIAs for the remaining subprojects.

(ii) PWD is responsible for ensuring that all environmental assessmentdocumentation, including the environmental due diligence and monitoringreports, is properly and systematically kept as part of PWD records on eachsubprojects.

(iii) All environmental documents are subject to public disclosure and should bemade available to the public, if requested.

(iv) For category A subprojects, the SEIA needs to be made available to the publicand posted on ADBs website at least 120 days before the approval of the

respective subproject(s). The SEIA has to be reviewed by ADB before it isdisclosed to the public.

E. Staffing Requirements and Budget

92. At present, the executive engineer in the PWD division offices has been assigned toprocess environment-related clearances for all projects within PWD. The overall monitoring ofexecution of PWDs project is carried out by the chief engineer at department level and by thedivision office at the district level. However, there are no official terms of reference to manage

environmental concerns associated with PWDs activities. Therefore, with ADBs requirement tomainstream environmental and social concerns in its development program, PWD has yet toinstitutionalize the environmental and social concerns in its organization.

93. To implement this proposed loan, the PMU at the department level will be established byassigning PWDs staff. This PMU will be supported by environmental and social development


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94. The cost of conducting training, undertaking environmental monitoring, hiringenvironmental consultants, and implementing the environmental assessment and reviewframework have been incorporated in the investment program costs.

VII. CONCLUSION

95. The potential environmental impacts generated by the sample subprojects are expectedto be temporary and reversible. The proposed mitigation measures for the sample subprojectsare sufficient. However, for subprojects that are located near or that pass through ecologicallysignificant areas, the environmental impacts could be irreversible and permanent if themitigation measures and the EMP are not strictly implemented. Therefore, continued monitoring

of EMP implementation needs to be carried out properly. A semiannual report on EMPimplementation should be submitted to ADB and relevant government agencies.

96. The land acquisition and resettlement subproject component does not include civil work.ADBs Environment Policydoes not address this particular type of project activity. However, anIEE will be required and will be one of the considerations in approving this subcomponent.

97. The environmental assessment and review framework has been formulated for theupgrading the state road network. This framework was developed to ensure that the investment

program will be implemented in accordance with the environmental policies of ADB and theGovernment.


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Appendix1

2

1

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Responsible Party

Project Stage/Activity

Potentially Negative

Impacts Mitigation Measures Location

Public Participation

and Coordination Implementation Monitoring

A. Location

1. Location ofconstructioncamps andcontractorfacilities

Inappropriate locationsuch as proximity tolocal communitydrinking water source,temple/shrines

Environmentallyunsound use of

community resourcessuch as non-timberforestry products byworkers

Location ofconstruction campsat least 500m awayfrom communityareas, and awayfrom drinking watersources

Inclusion ofinformation onactivities not allowedby constructionworkers in contractdocuments

Constructioncamp sites

Discussions withcommunity group,local PWD staff

PMU in PWD/consultants

PMU in PWD

2. Location of quarrysites

Location in unstableareas or areas notapproved by DOF and

DOGM

Only stable areasand existing or newgovernment

approved sites maybe considered

Quarry sites(Haldwani,Lalkuan, Gola

river, Tanakpur,Rampur, sandfrom river banks)

Approval from DOFand DOGM.

Coordination with

PWD for use ofexisting quarry sites.

If relevant, discussionwith relevant BWLSofficials


PMU in PWD/DOF, DOGM

3. Location of borrowpits

Location in unstableareas or close to village

Location in area withstable soil and awayfrom villages

Borrow sites(AlmoraBageshwar:km 219+000,km 240+000;BarechhinaSeraghat:km 179+100,km 66+000,km 281+500,km 60+000)

Discussion with localPWD office


PMU in PWD


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Appendix1

Responsible PartyProject Stage/Activity

Potentially NegativeImpacts

Mitigation Measures LocationPublic Participationand Coordination Implementation Monitoring

4. Obtainingappropriateclearances/permitsfor sections of theroad throughforest areas,sanctuary areas,location of quarry& blasting sites

Delays in processingclearances, causingdelays in initiation ofconstruction

Processing ofclearances/permitson a timely basis andkeeping in mind thetime requirements forthese clearances

11.50 km sectionof AlmoraBageshwarsection and2.75 km sectionof BarechhinaSeraghat sectionlocated in vicinityof BWLS

Coordination withDOF, SPCB, DOGM,relevant localadministrations


ADB

B. Planning/Project Design1. Pavement Water leakage/seepage

through pavement anddamage of road causedby poor quality design

Excessive production ofsmoke or gaseousemissions caused byheating bitumen, usingfirewood, or diesel

fuelled asphalt mixingplants

Quality designslayer thicknessesand materialcontent

Use of bitumenemulsion wherepossible

All parts ofproject road


PMU in PWD,ADB

2. Walls Improper placement ofgabion or masonryretainingbreast/check/toe wallsleading tounnecessarilycontinued issues oferosion, landslides, andpoor drainage

Correct placement ofgabion retainingbreast/check/toewalls in wet, marshy,and unstable areasand similar masonrywalls in drier areas



PMU in PWD,ADB

3. Determination ofROW width

Unnecessary wideningleading to unnecessarygeometric cuts, soilerosion, and destructionof plant and waterresources

Widths to besupported by trafficanalyses andeconomic justification



PMU in PWD,ADB


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Appendix1

23




4. Drainage structures Poor drainage causedby poorly designed/specified drainagestructures, e.g., unlineddrains

Damage to cross-drainage structuresbecause of inadequacyto support water flows,leading to damage toroad

Unnecessarilyincreasedsedimentation andwaste

Drains lined withcement mortar only

Drainage structuresdesigned inaccordance withanticipated levels ofwater flows



PMU in PWD,

ADB

5. Geometric cuts Excessive excavationleading tounnecessarily largevolumes of earthworks,and generation ofexcessive dust and

sediments deposited innearby water bodies

Designs to be basedwherever possible onfull cut methodrequiring 25% of thevolume of materialremoval associated

with box-cutmethods

Sharp curveswhere geometricadjustment isrequired


PMU in PWD,

ADB

6. Road safety

measures

Inadequate safetymeasures causingaccidents in future

In detailed design,provide site-specificsafety measures thattaken into accountcost and likelyeconomic benefits



PMU in PWD,

ADB

7. Mechanization Poor qualityconstruction because of

lack of properequipment andmachinery causingearly and untimelydamage to the roadsurface and roadfurnitureleading topoor riding surfaces,poor drainage,unnecessary erosion

During detaileddesign, specify

mechanicalconstruction methods Select contractors

based on their abilityto supply/usemachinery requiredfor EFRCconstruction



PMU in PWD,

ADB


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Appendix1




landslides, accidents,

and sedimentation inwater bodies

8. Bioengineering Use of unsuitablebioengineering methodsat various sites

In detailed design,specify variousbioengineeringoptions and followthe MoSRT&Hcodefor road design andMoRD codes andspecification.

Specify the need formonitoring theimplementation ofbioengineering



PMU in PWD,

ADB

C. Construction

1. Establishment andshifting ofconstruction camps

Deforestation andpoaching by laborers

Improper wastedisposal

Loss of aestheticbeauty

Negative impacts onpublic health

Disturbance to nearbysettlements

Unfriendly use ofcommunity resourcessuch as non-timberforestry products byconstruction workers

Leaving dirty and wastematerial after shiftingfrom one camp site toanother

Provision of cookinggas to contractorsstaff

References to theillegality of cuttingtrees, hunting andfishing, and otherprohibited activities incommunity areas tobe included incontract documents

Provision of properwaste disposalfacilities and health

facilities Health screening of

imported workers Prior information to

nearby communitiesand sanctuarywarden posts ofcamp establishment

Ensure clean arealeft behind when


Contractors, PWD PIU in PWD


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Appendix1

25




shifting camp

2. Removal ofvegetation anduprooting of trees

Negative changes inmicro-level wildlifehabitat/environment

Soil erosion Scarring of landscape

Removal of onlynecessary vegetation

Suitablebioengineering andrevegetation of roadshoulders

Compensatory treeplantation


Contractors, DOF PIU in PWD,DOF

3. Cutting of hill slopeand earth removalfrom borrow areas

Soil erosion andlandslides Scarring of landscape

because of improperdisposal of debris

Dust pollution Disruption of local

drainage Siltation in nearby water

bodies and consequent

negative effects onaquatic ecology Noise and disturbance

to wildlife and nearbycommunities

Confine cuttingactivities to dryseason

Use full cut method Disposal of debris at

proper sites or reusematerial forconstruction

Use of appropriatebioengineering

techniquesimmediately aftercutting to maintainstability of slopeabove and belowROW

Proper restoration ofborrow areas

Provision ofappropriate drainagestructures/facilities

Confine constructionactivities to daytime

Location ofcurves, cut andfill locations,landslide pronelocations(km 202+200,km 205+100,km 207 tokm 208,km 212+500,km 212+800,km 217+300,km 219+300 ofAlmoraBageshwar road)

Inform nearbycommunity areabefore beginningcutting work

Contractor PIU in PWD

4. Quarrying Landslides (rockslides/falls)

Scarring of landscape Disturbance to wildlife

and nearbycommunities fromblasting

Use of controlledblasting and otherenvironment-friendlyquarrying techniques

Blasting only duringdaytime

Quarry sites(Haldwani,Lalkuan, Golariver, Tanakpur,Rampur, sandfrom river banks)

Inform nearbycommunity areasbefore any blastingactivities

Contractors PIU in PWD/DOGM


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Appendix1




5. Crushing of stoneand transport ofstone/materials

Dust pollution affecting

construction laborersand local vegetation

Air pollution frommachinery and vehicleexhausts

Noise pollution anddisturbance to nearbywildlife andcommunities

Water sprinkling of

stone crushing site Proper covers for

vehicles transportingstone and materials

Regular maintenanceof machinery andvehicles

Confine stonecrushing andtransportation

activities to daytime

Stone crushingsites and all partsof project road

Contractors PIU in PWD

6. Road surfacingactivities

Air pollution fromsmoke and gaseousemissions affectinghealth of workers

Traffic delays

Use of bitumenemulsion whereverpossible

Use of diesel fuelledasphalt mixing plantswhen bitumenheating is required

Inform travelers ofschedule of works via

television, radio, andlocal newspapers


Contractors PIU in PWD

7. Construction of lineand cross drainagestructures andbridges

Inadequate capacity Collapse of drainage

structures because ofpoor qualityconstruction

Disruption of localstream/river coursesand aquatic hydrology

Increased sediments inrivers or streams

Quality construction Construction

confined to dryseason

Provision ofappropriate drainagefacilities andriver/stream diversion

structures



8. Construction ofretention walls

Collapse of wallsbecause ofinappropriate quality ofwork, location and typeof wall

Quality constructionand appropriatelocations for eachtype of wall




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Appendix1

27




9. Operation ofmachinery andequipment andgeneral activities oflaborers

Spillage/leakage of

chemicals and oil andcontamination of soiland water resources

Injury to workers/others Respiratory problems

from dust andmachinery emissions

Hearing problems dueto high level of noise

Proper storage and

handling ofchemicals and oil

Provision of workerswith constructionhats, face masks,earplugs, gloves, etc.

Provision of well-equipped first aid kitsand health facilities



10. Water supply Misuse of community

water resources

Independent

arrangements to bemade for waterrequirements so thatsupplies to nearbycommunities remainunaffected

Construction

camps

Discuss water

resources suitable forconstruction andconstruction campuse with localcommunities andvillage groups

Contractors, PWD

field offices

PIU in PWD

D. Operation

1. Movement of

vehicles Air pollution, noise, and

vibrations from

increased number ofvehicles anddisturbance to wildlife

Planting ofappropriate species

surrounding the roadto absorb air pollutionand block noise anddisturbance duringand immediately afterconstruction



Increased waste alonghighway from increasednumbers of travelers

Placing garbage binsand anti-waste signsat appropriatelocations



Increased chances ofillegal hunting, fishing,and felling of trees ingovernment forests andsanctuary

Increased patrollingand monitoring byforestry andsanctuary officials


Local sanctuaryand forestryofficials

Sanctuarymanagementand forestrydepartments


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Appendix1




Increased accidentsand injuries

Installing crash-barriers at black-spots, road safetysigns at otherappropriate locations,and speed breakersin community areasduring construction

All parts of

project road

Contractors, PWD PIU in PWD,local trafficpolice

2. General functioningof road

Damage to ridingsurface and structure ofroadformation of

potholes, waterseepage, and poordrainage

Quality constructionand maintenance



Excessive landslides,erosion caused byimproper maintenanceof bioengineeringworks, wall construction




Damage of drainagestructures andconsequent disruptionsto traffic, failure toenable proper drainage,and increasedsedimentation




ADB = Asian Development Bank, BWLS = Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, DOF = Department of Forests, DOGM = Department of Geology and Mines, EFRC= environmentally friendly road construction, km = kilometer, m= meter, MoRD = Ministry of Rural Development, MoSRTH = Ministry of Shipping, RoadTransport and Highways, PIU = project implementation unit, PMU = project management unit, PWD = Public Works Department, ROW = right-of-way,SPCB = State Pollution Control Board.

Source: EIA Report.


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Appendix2

EnvironmentalFeatures

Aspect to beMonitored

Time and Frequency of Monitoring LocationFinancial

RequirementsResponsible Party

missing line drains Once after completion of constructionactivities

road where work willbe undertaken

division office

Before starting construction activitiesOnce a year during constructionactivities

Total number, type andlengths of crossdrainage structuresincluding bridgesconstructed orstrengthened

Once after completion of allconstruction activities

Full length of projectroad where work willbe undertaken

PMU, PIU, PWDdivision office

Before starting of constructionactivities.

Number of weak crossdrainage structures.

Once after completion of constructionactivities.


construction works

Additional costs only forfield allowances forPWD staff

PMU, PIU, PWDdivision office

Before starting construction activities

Once a year during constructionactivities

d. Geology andSeismology

Number of rock slides

After completion of constructionactivities


Costs for consultantand/or field allowancesand vehicle charges ofPWD and DOGM staff

PMU, PIU, PWDdivision office, DOF,DOGM

2. Ecological Resources


During construction (once a year persection)

a. Flora Average tree density

Once after completion of constructionactivities and thereafter once per yearfor at least 5 years depending onbudget availability

Full length of project

road where work willbe undertaken

PMU, PIU, PWD

division office, DOF,BWLS staff

Once a year during constructionactivities

Number of cases ofillegal tree felling

Once after completion of allconstruction activities


No costs, as it is theresponsibility of thelocal territorial forestryand sanctuary staff

PMU, PIU, PWDdivision office, DOF,BWLS staff

b. Fauna


During construction activities(throughout the year)

i. Leopards Approximate number ofleopard sightings

Number of sightings ofleopard troops

Date of sighting

Location of sighting

Once after completion of constructionactivities and thereafter once every3 years

Full length of projectroad

Sections of projectroads that passthrough BWLS

Daily field allowancesand vehicle forsanctuary, forestry, andPWD staff

PMU, PIU, PWDdivision office, DOF,BWLS staff


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Documents

Uttaranchal State Road Investment Program Report (2006)