FDPR - Vol - IVA - R1-EIA and EMP Report PDF

CLIENT
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways,

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY
National Highways & Infrastructure Development
Corporation Ltd.
CONSULTANCY SERVICES
FOR PREPARATION OF
FEASIBILITY STUDY AND
DETAILED PROJECT REPORT
FOR TWO / FOUR LANE
BRIDGE INCLUDING
APROACHES OVER RIVER
BRAHMAPUTRA BETWEEN
DHUBRI ON NORTH BANK
AND PHULBARI ON SOUTH
BANK IN THE STATE OF
ASSAM / MEGHALAYA ON NH-
127B (LENGTH: 20km)
FINAL DETAILED PROJECT REPORT

Volume IVA- EIA and EMP Report
June 2018
PROJECT
CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR PREPARATION OF FEASIBILITY STUDY AND
DETAILED PROJECT REPORT FOR TWO / FOUR LANE BRIDGE INCLUDING
APPROACHES OVER RIVER BRAHAMPUTRA BETWEEN DHUBRI ON NORTH BANK
AND PHULBARI (ON SOUTH BANK) IN THE STATE OF ASSAM / MEGHALAYA ON NH-
127B (LENGTH: 20km) ON EPC MODE UNDER JICA
CLIENT
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Government of India
IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS & INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD.
TITLE – FINAL DETAILED PROJECT REPORT (Volume-IVA)
DOC. NO. DELD15021-CAL-40-PH04-S-1042

AECOM
1st Floor, Tower - C,
DLF IT Park - 1, Block - AF,
8, MAR Road, New Town,
Rajarhat, Kolkata – 700156, WB, India.
Telephone: +91 033 40319600
Fax: +91 033 40319623
www.aecom.com
REV. MODIFICATION/ PREPARED CHECKED APPROVED CLIENT

DATE
NO. PURPOSE OF ISSUE INITIAL SIGNATURE INITIAL SIGNATURE INITIAL SIGNATURE INITIAL SIGNATURE
AG/SB/
31.01.18 R0 For Approval JDM AK/NB
RG
Inclusion of Dolphin
30.06.18 R1 AM SB/RG AK/NB
Report
DATA SHEET NOTE NO. REV. NO.

DHUBRI S-1042 R1
Quality Information
Client: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Contract No. (if any): NIL
Government of India
Project Title: CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR Project No.: DELD15021

PREPARATION OF FEASIBILITY STUDY
AND DETAILED PROJECT REPORT FOR
TWO / FOUR LANE BRIDGE INCLUDING
APPROACHES OVER RIVER
BRAHMAPUTRA BETWEEN DHUBRI ON
NORTH BANK AND PHULBARI (ON
SOUTH BANK) IN THE STATE OF
ASSAM/MEGHALAYA ON NH-127B
(LENGTH: 20km) ON EPC MODE UNDER
JICA
Document No.: DELD15021-CAL-40-PH04-S-1042 Controlled Copy No.:
SharePoint Ref.:
Document Title: Final Detailed Project Report
Covering Letter/Transmittal Ref. Date of Issue: 30th June 2018
No.: CCU/TRA/DELD15021/NB:jp/2510
Revision, Review and Approval Records
AM SB/RG NB/AK
R1 Inclusion of Dolphin Report
30/06/2018 30/06/2018 30/06/2018
JDM AG/SB/RG NB/AK
R0 For Approval
31/01/2018 31/01/2018 31/01/2018
Prepared by / Reviewed by / Approved by /
Revision Description
date date date
CONTENTS
Description
Page No
Chapter
VOLUME – IVA: EIA & EMP REPORT
1.0 Introduction 1-22

1.1 Background of the Project 1
1.2 Purpose and Objective of the Study 9
2.0 Scope of the Study 23-24

2.1 Geographical Extent 23
2.2 Principles of the Study 23
3.0 Baseline Conditions of the Natural and Social Environment 25-64

3.1 Natural Environment 25
3.2 Living Environment 40
3.3 Socio- economic Environment 53
4.0 Legal Framework 65-89

4.1 Major Laws And Regulations Relevant to the Project 65
4.2 JICA’s Guidelines for Environment and Social Considerations 67
4.3 World Bank’s Environment Safeguard Policy 69
4.4 Safeguard Policy of Asian Development Bank 72
4.5 Comparison of JICA/WB/ADB Guidelines and EIA 73
Regulations of India
4.6 Central Level Institutions 77
4.7 State Level Institutions 78
4.8 Requirements of Environment Clearance 79
4.9 Environmental Standards of India 80
5.0 Analysis of Alternatives 90-98

5.1 Alternatives Subject to Analysis 90
5.2 Criteria for Analysis of the Alternatives 91
5.3 Results of the Analysis of Alternatives 92
5.4 Comparison of Bridge Alignment Options 95
6.0 Scoping Analysis 99-109

6.1 Procedures of Scoping of Analysis 99
6.2 Scoping Matrix: Preliminary Analysis of the Environmental 99
Impacts
6.3 TOR of Natural and Socio-economic Environment Survey 105
7.0 Anticipated Environmental Impacts & Mitigation Measures 110-148

7.1 Impact on Living Environment 110
7.2 Natural Environment 111
7.3 Major Impacts On Social Environment 136
7.4 Others 136
7.5 Public Consultation 136
(i)
Description
Page No
Chapter
8.0 Analysis of Alternatives 148-155
8.1 Impact Analysis 148
8.2 Project Benefits 158
9.0 Environmental Management Plan (EMP) 156-189

9.1 Environment Monitoring Programme 156
9.2 Institutional Arrangement 159
9.3 Grievance Redress Mechanism 160
9.4 Monitoring Forms 160
9.5 Environment Management Budget 163
9.6 EMP Implementation Schedule 187
LIST OF ANNEXURE
Annexure-1 - Peer Review of EIA covering Dolphin part. 191
(ii)
LIST OF TABLES
Description Page No.
Table 1.1: Details of Environmental Features 6-8

Table 1.2: List of the affected villages falling along the proposed project
11
Alignment
Table-1.3: Summary of Recommended Design Standard 12-13
Table 1.4: Project Corridor characteristics 15
Table-1.5: Water requirement for the Project 16
Table-1.6: Raw Material Requirement 17
Table 1.7: Potential Environmental Impacts on Valued Ecosystem Components 20-22
Table-3.1: Meteorological Data Parameters at Dhubri district (March 2016) 30
Table 3.2: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Chagal Chora 41
Table 3.3: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Savodri 41
Table 3.4: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Motichora 42
Table 3.5: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Chaitarchar 42
Table 3.6: Value of the Noise along the proposed project locations 45
Table 3.7: Showing Test Results of Ground / Surface Water Samples 46-47
Table 3.8: Showing Test Results of Soil Samples 48
Table 3.9: Details of Available Sources, Location and Distance for Borrow soils 49
Table 3.10 Landuse Classification in the Study Area 50
Table 3.11: Human Development Index 54
Table 3.12: Human Development Index 56
Table 4.1: Relevant Environmental Legislations and Implementing Agencies 66
Table 4.2: Key Statutory Clearances to be obtained by the Contractor 67
Table 4.3: Applicable Safeguards Policies of the World Bank 69

Table 4-4: Comparison between JICA Guideline and Laws in India regarding
74-77
EIA
Table 4-5: Applicable Environmental Clearance 80
Table 4-6: Standards for Ambient Air Quality 81-82
Table 4-7: Water Quality 82
(iii)
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4-8: Water quality standard for international EHS Guideline 83
Table 4-9: Fuel Quality 83
Table 4-10: Noise Standard for Diesel Generator 84
Table 4-11: Vehicle Emission Standards (1991 to Date) 84
Table 4-12: Noise Emission Standards 85
Table 4-13: Ambient Noise Standards 85
Table 5-1: Criteria for the Evaluation of the Alternatives 91-92
Table 5.2: Analysis of alternatives 94-95
Table 5:3: Location of Nodes for the Bridge Alignment Alternatives 96
Table 6-1: Scoping Matrix for the Proposed Bridge Option 100-105
Table 6-2: TOR of Natural and Socio-economic Environment Survey 106-109

Table 7.1: Impact on Environment Attribute due to project intervention and
116-132
Environment Management
Table 7.2: Potential Environmental Impacts on Valued Ecosystem Components 133-135
Table 7.3: Site discussion at different location 140
Table 7.4: People’s Perception about Environment Degradation 140
Table 8-1: Scoping and Survey Result 148-153
Table-9.1: Environmental Monitoring Program 157-158
Table 9-2: Environmental Clearance 161
Table 9-3: Monitoring Forms 162
Table 9-4: Resettlement 163
Table 9.5: Environmental Management Plan for Pre construction stage 166-169
Table 9.6: Environmental Management Plan for Construction Stage 170-183
Table 9.7: Environmental Management Plan for Operation Stage 184-185
Table 9.8: Costs of EMP during Construction and O&M 186
(iv)
LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1: Location map of Project 8
Figure 1-2: Typical Cross Section at Bridge Approaches 15
Figure 1-3: Cross-Section of Main Span 15
Figure 1-4: Cross Section of Viaduct Span 16
Figure 2-1: Satellite Image Showing Proposed Construction of Two / 23

Four Lane Bridges including Approaches Over River Brahmaputra
Figure 3-1: Site Specific Windrose Diagram of Dhubri District 30
Figure 3-2: Mineral Map of Assam 32
Figure 3-3: Mineral Map of Meghalaya 32
Figure 3-4: Agriculture/Forest Map of Assam 33
Figure 3-5: Agriculture/Forest Map of Meghalaya 33
Figure 3-6: River and Hydrogeological Map of Dhubri District 36
Figure 3-7: Hydrogeological & River Map of Meghalaya 37
Figure 3-8: Soil Map of Assam & Meghalaya 39
Figure 3-9: Seismic Zone Map of India 40
Figure 3-10: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village Chagal 43

Chora
Figure 3-11: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village 43

Motichora
Figure 3-12: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village Savodri 43
Figure 3-13: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village 44

Chaitarchar
Figure 3-14: Ambient Noise results/concentration at all Locations 45
Figure 3-15: Landuse Landcover Map of Assam 51
Figure 3-16: Landuse Landcover Map of Meghalaya 51
Figure 3-17: Landuse Landcover within 5Km of the Study area 52
Figure 3-18: Total Population in Dhubri District 54
(v)
Figure 3-19: Total Worker Population in Dhubri District 54
Figure 3-20: Literacy rate in South Salmara Mankachar District 56
Figure 3-21: Total Worker Population in West Gharo District 58
Figure 3-22: Total Worker Population in West Gharo District 59
Figure 3-23: Forest Map of Dhubri / South Salmara Mankachar in Assam 63

and West Gharo District in Meghalaya
Figure 5-1: The Alternative Route connects Dhubri and Phulbari by 90

widening of existing NH-31 B and SH-46 through existing bridge near
Goalpara
Figure 5-2: Alignment of Two / Four lane bridge between Dhubri and 91
Phulbari
Figure 7-1: People expressing their views during interviews 146
Figure 9-1: The organizational framework for implementation of the 159

EMP and EMoP
Figure 9-2: Framework for Presentation of EMP during Construction and 163
O&M
Figure 9-3: Proposed Institutional Framework for EMMP Implementation 164
Figure 9-4: Proposed EMP Implementation Schedule 187
Figure 9-5: Proposed Implementation Graphs 188
(vi)
Feasibility Study and Detailed Project Report
for Two / Four Lane Bridge including Approaches over River Brahmaputra between
Dhubri on North Bank and Phulbari on South Bank in the State of Assam / Meghalaya Final Detailed Project Report – Vol. IVA
on NH-127B (length 20 km) DELD15021-CAL-40-PH04-S-1042-R1
1.0. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Project
In India, roads are one of most important modes of ground transportation as they constitute
85% of passenger transportation and 60% of freight transportation in India. However, the
development of the road network in mountainous regions of the Northeastern Region of
India has been much worse than the rest of the country. This is due to financial and
technical reasons. Thus, the Northeastern Region has suffered greater economic disparity
compared to other regions.
While 63.4% of the roads in India have been paved, only 28.5% of the roads in
Northeastern Regions are paved, out of which only 53% of the national highways are more
than 2lanes. This is because the Northeastern Region is located far from the major areas of
India. Furthermore, the roads leading to neighboring countries have been underdeveloped
due to security concerns.
The severe natural conditions of the Northeastern Region featured by steep mountains and
a prolonged monsoon season have also been obstacles for appropriately developing the
road network. Economic growth in this part of the country has therefore been much
delayed. The regional connectivity of the road network should promote cross-border trade
and commerce and help safeguard India’s international borders. This would lead to the
formation of a more integrated and economically consolidated South and Southeast Asia.
In addition, there would be overall economic benefits for the local population and would
promote the integration of the peripheral areas.
The approximate aggregate length of 10,000km of road in the Northeastern Region has
been identified for development. The development of the road network envisages creating
customized and specialized skills addressing issues like the complexities of geographical
terrains and the extensive coordination with the central and state governments.
The Government of India (GOI) thus launched in recent years the “Special Accelerated
Road Development Program for Northeastern Region” for which improvement of the road
network is of great importance. The GOI stated in their “Twelfth Five Year Plan (from
April, 2012 to March, 2017)” that the improvement of national highways in the
Northeastern Region should interconnect major cities within the region. It is within this
context that the GOI requested that the Government of Japan provides assistance in the
carrying out of the design work of two/four lane bridge including approaches over river
Brahmaputra between Dhubri on the north bank and Phulbari on the south bank in the State
of Assam / Meghalaya on NH-127B (length of 20km).
1.1.1 General
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MORT&H), Government of India/ National

Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) has decided to take up
the development of various NH stretches/corridors in the country where the intensity of
traffic has increased significantly and there is requirement of augmentation of capacity for
safe and efficient movement of traffic. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has
proposed to implement the development projects and accordingly taken up feasibility cum
EIA and EMP Report 1 June 2018

preliminary design of sections to be executed on Design, Build, Finance, and Operation

(DBFO) pattern. In pursue of the above, AECOM Asia Company Limited. have been
appointed as Consultants to carry out the preparation of EIA, SIA & RAP for proposed
Two/Four lane bridges including approaches over river Brahmaputra between Dhubri on
North bank and Phulbari on South bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH- 127 B
(length – 20 Km). The proposed bridge and approaches traverses in District Dhubri &
South Salmara - Mankachar in Assam & West Garo Hills in Meghalaya State.
1.1.2 Identification of the Project Proponent
The project proponent is Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORT&H), /

National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) having its
headquarters address at Parivahan Bhavan, 1, Parliament Street, New Delhi entrusted
AECOM Asia Company Limited having its registered office at 9/F, Infinity Tower C,DLF
Cybercity, DLF Phase 2, Gurgaon, Haryana for the preparation of EIA, SIA & RAP for
proposed of Two / Four lane bridge including approaches over River Brahmaputra between
Dhubri on North Bank and Phulbari on South Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on
NH-127B (Length: 20km) on EPC Mode.
1.1.3 Brief Description Of Nature, Size, Location Of The Project And Its Importance To The
Country
The proposed project is the construction of Two / Four lane bridges including approaches
over River Brahmaputra between Dhubri on North Bank and Phulbari on South Bank in the
state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) on EPC Mode under JICA.
The proposed project is transverse at 89°58'16.99"E & 26°1'34.63"N at Dhubri on North

Bank and Phulbari on South bank transverse at 90°1'49.99"E & 25°52'12.03"N at an
Elevation of 35 to 42 m above Sea level. Proposed Location Map is given in Figure1
below.
The climate along the proposed project is subtropical humid climate. The average annual
rainfall of the Dhubri District is 2,363 mm and 3300 mm in West Gharo District. The
variation in the rainfall from year to year is not large. The climate of the district is largely
controlled by South west monsoon activates from May and continues up to September-
October with about 65% rainfall occurring during the monsoon. The monthly evapo-
transpiration is about 40% of the rainfall, the highest in August, and lowest in January.
July/August is the hottest month when the maximum temperature is about 30°C.
December/January is the coldest month, as the mean daily minimum temperature is
recorded at 10 °C.
All major utilities will follow the Two/Four Lane Bridge construction as the proposed
project connects two major Town / District such as Dhubri District in the State of Assam
and West Garo District in the State of Meghalaya.

1.1.4 Salient features of the project
Salient features of the project are as under:
§ Proposed section of the bridge traverses between Dhubri on North Bank and
Phulbari on South Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length:
20km)
§ Project aims at making Two / Four bridge over river Brahmaputra.
§ Proposed bridge length is 18.36 Km
§ Proposed ROW is 60 meter.
§ Proposed C.D works is 1 Nos Box Culvert(3mx3m)
§ No Sanctuary or National Park is located within 10 km radius of the proposed
project.
§ There are no major temples, schools or a Primary health centre is going to be
affected due to the proposed bridge.
§ The proposed bridge passes through a number of villages, few of them are
Chagalchora, Bhasani Char Part-1, Adabari part-2, Aironjongla, Aminer Char,
KotiaraglaGaon, Boushkata Char, Chaitar Char Part -2, Dhanabkuti Village, and
Phulwari. List of the affected villages are given in Table 1.2.
§ There will be a temporary impact during construction on water species that are
present in the Brahmaputra River along the project alignment.
§ There is no major wildlife migrant route within the study area, which could be
affected.
§ There is no historical monument which is protected by Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) is affected due to proposed project.
1.1.5 Project Influence Area
The Environmental Impact Assessment study is carried out considering likely potential
impacts on physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural resources within
approximately 100 m each side of the project road. The important ecological sensitive area
up to 10 Km from the project road have also been covered in screening .This is in
accordance with the commonly accepted international standards. The 100 m study area is
considered adequate for the assessment of most physical and social effects arising from
project development. However, it is also recognized that a number of potential (positive
and negative) impacts could also have effects beyond this boundary, such as effects on road
linkages, employment effects, and some community activities. The important ecological
sensitive area up to 10 Km from the project road has also been covered in Environmental
Impact Assessment report.
Baseline environmental data play a key role in identification of environmental parameters

likely to be affected due to the project. The environmental baseline data comprise the
features present within a strip of 10 km on either side of the existing road. This area is
referred to as study area in the report. It includes environmental features such as forest
areas, conservation areas, water bodies (rivers, lakes and ponds), industries, wildlife and,
places of historical importance, tourism etc. The data / features documented here under
have been collected through field investigation, interaction with local population and desk
research and published data sources. As mentioned, project road is situated in the district of
Assam & Meghalaya, hence can be described as influenced districts along this project road

located in the state of Assam & Meghalaya as shown in the Fig 1.1.
1.1.6 Local level features and issues
There are many village level small markets along the road. Venders sell vegetables and
other commodities along the roadsides. Thus blocking the road width available to the
traffic and also making the area prone to accidents. Noise level is some time higher in peak
hours of urban stretches for the road due to traffic movement. Bad condition road surface
leads to air pollution in some stretches. Table 1.2 provides details of list of villages falling
along the project road.
1.1.7 Legal Framework for the Environmental Assessment
Design speed is the basic parameter, which governs the geometric characteristics of the
road. The proposed design speed for different terrain categories as per IRC: 73-1980 are as
follows: Environmental clearance: As per Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate
Change notification no. S.O. 2559 (E) dated 22nd August, 2013, MOEF&CC clearance is
only required for “Expansion of National Highways greater than 100 km involving
additional right of way or land acquisition greater than 40m on existing alignments and 60
m on re-alignments or by-passes.”. As per preliminary assessment, the project section will
not involve land acquisition of 60 m width for a length of approx. 20 km. Hence, it is
envisaged at this stage MOEF&CC clearance is not required for this proposed project.
However, the same will confirmed after finalisation of project parameters.
Forest clearance: During environmental screening survey, it is ascertained that there are no
forest land required for this proposed project. Hence, Forest clearance is not applicable.
However, this will be further verified during preparation of land acquisition plan.
Wild Life Clearance: During environmental screening survey, it is ascertained that there is
no sanctuary/national park exist within the 10 km radius from the project site and
accordingly it is confirmed that wild life clearance will not be applicable.
1.1.8 Over – View of Major Key Project Issues/program identification
The following major activities are involved for the design and construction of proposed
project bridge:
§ Field surveys;
§ Consultation exercises with official and non-official sources; identifying existing
relevant baseline data;
§ Identifying the scope of baseline surveys required;
§ Identifying key issues to be addressed within the EIA,
§ Providing a technical brief for the EIA
1.1.9 Need for the Project Activities
· Proposed Construction of Two / Four lane bridges including approaches/Widening:
In order to meet future traffic requirement, the proposed Construction of Two / Four

lane bridges including approaches to upgrade to achieve high speed of travel with
comfort and safety. Construction scheme is followed to minimise land acquisition
issues.
· Traffic Control and Safety Measures
Road Marking & Traffic Signs:
Pavement markings are proposed as per IRC: 35-1997, “Code of Practice for Road
Marking” with centre-line, edge line, continuity line, stop line, give way lines,
diagonal/chevron markings and zebra crossings. The pavement marking shall be of hot
applied thermoplastic paint with glass beads as per the MORT&H specification for
Road and Bridge Works, 2001(4th Revision, latest reprint). Appropriate bridge safety
measures are provided with stop signs, give-way signs, traffic merging and diverging
signs, lane closure signs, compulsory keep left/right signs or any other signs as per
IRC-67.
Deviation from Standards in Modifying Layout
While developing the intersections design codes and standard drawings of Type design
will be followed.
Provision for Non-Motorised Traffic:
Non-Motorised traffic consists of pedestrians, cycle rickshaw, hand carts, animal

drawn vehicles etc. All such road users create traffic jam and hazardous conditions in
bridges. The best way to ensure safety is to segregate non-motorised vehicles from
motorised ones, but it’s nearly impossible along the bridge.
1.1.10 Expected benefits from the projects
Following are the expected benefits due to the improvement in the project bridge:
§ Better level of service in terms of improved riding quality and smooth traffic flow.
§ Faster transportation will ultimately lead to massive savings in the form of reduced
wear and tear of vehicles, reduced vehicle operating costs (VOCs) and total
reduction in transportation costs etc.
§ With the improvement of road surface, the traffic congestion due to obstructed
movement of vehicles will be minimized and thus wastage of fuel emissions from
the vehicles will be reduced.
§ Increased safety as people shift from boats to surface transport.
§ Enhanced connectivity between rural & urban population which will benefit the all
sections of the society like general population, small-medium-large scale industries,
farmers, businessmen etc.
§ Improved access to higher education facilities & modern health facilities.
§ Strengthening of both rural & urban economies which in turn will improve
economic scenario of the state and country.
§ Improved bridge connectivity helps in better implementation and management of
government schemes.

§ With improvement in economy, more generation of employment opportunities.

§ Overall Environment and social improvement of the region.
1.1.11 Various studies/reports being prepared for the project and how the environment screening
study relates to feeds into the overall project preparation
§ Various studies/reports are being prepared for the project.

§ Inception Report
§ Feasibility Report which includes Environmental & social Screening
§ Environmental Impact assessment & Social Impact Assessment Reports.
§ Detailed Project Report.
§ The environment screening study relates to feeds into the overall project
preparation at various stages.
The various activities / components involved in the project include design process and
construction activities. Some of the major activities likely to take place to implement the
proposed up-gradation / improvement project are: Site clearing & grubbing, earthwork,
pavement removal, granular sub-base, water bound macadam sub-base / base, bituminous
pavement layers, pavement widening, drainage, safety measures, waste material
management, equipment staging & materials, aggregate and sand quarries etc. These major
activities have been taken into account while finalizing the methodology for the impact
assessment of the project. Table 1.1 provides details of Environmental Features.
Table 1.1: Details of Environmental Features
Project Component for Details of Env. Features

Design
Alignment
Geometric Design & § Final alignment should be determined so as to minimize land

Cut / Fill Balance take, air pollution, and the impact on people and animals and
to avoid unfavourable geological condition and cultural relics.
Unusable debris shall be disposed at nearest disposal sites as
approved by engineer.
§ The design should attempt to equalize cut and fill. The
centreline should be aligned so that on all slopes below 60
degrees, half cut and half fill can be achieved.
Ecology
Plantation § Trees to be cut within the alignment shall be identified /

marked with the help of forest department.
§ Trees shall be protected and planted near the surrounding of
the road side with prior approval of the State Forest
Department.
Water
Water Sources § Water resources shall be protected and enhanced by

redesigning as per Enhancement measures plan

Quarries and borrow area
Illegal and / or improper § Only approved and licensed Quarries and Borrow pits shall be
mining permitted.
§ Non Productive, barren lands, raised lands, riverbeds are to be
recommended for borrow material
Location of Camps
Site selection/ Location § Labour Camp/ Construction camps should be located at least
of Labour Camp/ 500 m away from existing habitations and one kilometre away
Construction Camps from reserved forest.
§ All sites used for camps should be adequately drained and they
should not be subjected to periodic flooding.
§ Camps should be located such that drainage from and through
the camps will not endanger any domestic or public water
supply.
§ Living accommodation and ancillary facilities should be
erected and maintained to standards and scales approved by
the Engineer
§ Toilets and urinals should be provided in accessible places
away from the asphalt plant and mixing yard
§ Construction Camp should not be placed in ecologically
sensitive areas
Project Component for Details of Env. Features
Design
Utilities
Relocation of utility § Affected utilities like electric poles, water pipe lines, hand
lines / community pumps, etc. shall be relocated with prior approval of the
utilities. concerned agencies.
§ All the cultural properties that have been identified as affected
shall be relocated.
Road Safety
Traffic control system § Temporary traffic arrangement during construction shall be

planned in Detailed Project Report (DPR).
§ The concessionaire shall take all necessary measures for the
traffic during demolition and site clearing activities.
Pedestrian safety § Special considerations shall be given in the local traffic
management to the pedestrian safety Especially at congested
locations
Environmental Quality
Clearance/ permission § NOC from State Pollution Control Board / statutory authorities
for establishment of Hot
mix plants/ Batching § NOC for quarry sites , Hot Mix Plant , Crushers
plants etc.

Noise Level § Improved traffic speeds and riding conditions shall reduce
noise levels
For Hot mix plant and § Noise screening by trees plantation scheme proposed as noise
construction machinery barriers
& At sensitive receptors. § Provide noise attenuation at critical locations like Hospital,
school etc.
Generation of Debris § All works will be carried out such that the damage or
from Dismantling disruption to flora other than those identified for cutting is
Structures and Road minimized.
Surface § Only ground cover/shrubs that impinge directly on the
permanent works or necessary temporary works will be
removed with prior approval from the Environmental Expert,
of Supervision consultant (SC). The concessionaire, under any
circumstances will not damage trees.
Fig.: 1.1: Location map of construction of Two / Four lane bridges including approaches
state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km)

1.2 Purpose and objective of the study

As per the MOEF &CC EIA Notification, dated 14.09.2006 (as amended in August 2013),
any highway project falls under Category A if the project entails: 1) New National
Highways; and 2) Expansion of National Highways greater than 100km involving additional
right of way or land acquisition greater than 40m on the existing alignments and 60m on re-
alignments and bypasses. The proposed Dhubri- Phulbari Bridge project does not require
additional land acquisition beyond 60m and has length of approximately 20km. and
therefore, does not attract the provisions of the EIA Notification of 2013.
While a DPR consultant undertook a preliminary environmental assessment during the

preparation of the DPR for Dhubri- Phulbari Bridge, the project does not require
environmental clearance from MOEF &CC. On the other hand, the project has been
classified as Category A per JICA’s Guidelines for the Environmental and Social
Considerations and the project requires a full EIA study including SIA and RAP surveys.
It is therefore the JICA Study Team’s obligation to carry out EIA/SIA/RAP studies, which
supplement the environmental studies carried out by DPR consultants. Thereby additional
requirements short of JICA’s guidelines are fulfilled.
The EIA/SIA/RAP studies carried out by Team aimed to:
· Review the environmental assessment undertaken as part of the DPR study;

· Identify gaps between Indian laws and regulations relating to the EIA study and JICA
Guidelines for Environmental and Social Considerations;
· Study the baseline of social and environmental conditions along the areas directly
and indirectly affected during design, construction operation and maintenance of the
NH40 widening project;
· Carry out environmental impact analysis with respect to the proposed project;
· Identify environmental issues that require further studies;
· Carry out an analysis of alternatives including a comparison with a “no project’
scenario;
· Develop cost effective measures for mitigating adverse environmental and social
impacts and enhancing positive aspects;
· Develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the mitigation of
environmental impacts and the monitoring of the implementation of mitigation
measures during the operation and maintenance period;
· Consult and inform the project affected persons (PAPs) and other stakeholders
concerned with the project to encourage their active participation.
1.2.1 General

Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) has decided to take up
the development of various NH stretches/corridors in the country where the intensity of
traffic has increased significantly and there is requirement of augmentation of capacity for
safe and efficient movement of traffic. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has
proposed to implement the development projects and accordingly taken up feasibility cum
preliminary design of sections to be executed on Design, Build, Finance, and Operation
(DBFO) pattern. In pursue of the above, AECOM Asia Company Limited. have been
appointed as Consultants to carry out the preparation of EIA, SIA & RAP for proposed
Two/Four lane bridges including approaches over river Brahmaputra between Dhubri on
North bank and Phulbari on South bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH- 127 B
(length – 20 Km). The proposed bridge and approaches traverses in District Dhubri & South
Salmara - Mankachar in Assam & West Garo Hills in Meghalaya State.
1.2.2 Proposed Bridge Alignment
state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) on EPC Mode under JICA.

Elevation of 35 to 42 m above Sea level. Proposed Location Map is given in Fig.1.1.
1.2.3 Bridge/road activities
The following factors are considered in finalizing the proposed bridge/road alignment.
§ Proposed lane requirements

§ Proposed ROW
§ Abutting land use
§ Restrictions on widening due to developments
§ Geometric improvements necessary as per IRC Standards.
§ Continuous stretches for ease of construction
§ Environmental aspects
§ Major utilities abutting the road
§ Traffic Control and Safety Measures
§ Bridge and Cross Drainage Structures
As per traffic forecast, the construction of Two / Four lane bridges including approaches
state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) are to be proposed.
December/January is the coldest month, as the mean daily minimum temperature is recorded
at 10 °C.
1.2.4 List of villages falling along the proposed project Alignment
There are many village level small markets along the road. Venders sell vegetables and
other commodities along the roadsides. Thus blocking the road intersection width available
to the traffic and also making the area prone to accidents. Noise level is some time higher in
peak hours of urban stretches for the road due to traffic movement. Bad condition road
surface leads to air pollution in some stretches. Table 1.2: provide details of list of villages
falling along the project alignment.
Table 1.2: List of the affected villages falling along the proposed project Alignment
SL. NO. NAME OF VILLAGE

1 ChagalChora Part-I
2 ChagalChora Part-II
3 ChagalChora Part-III
4 Adabari Part-II
5 Airanjangle Part-I
6 Airanjangle Part-II
7 Bhasanir Char Part-I
8 Bauskata Part-IV
9 Bauskata Part-VI
10 Bororawatre Part-I
11 Bororawatre Part-II
12 Sebaltari
13 Katieralga
14 Chaitar Char Part-I
15 Basir Char
16 Aminer Char
17 Baladoba
18 Phulbari
1.2.5 Traffic Control and Safety Measures
Road Marking & Traffic Signs:
Pavement markings are proposed as per IRC: 35-1997, “Code of Practice for Road
Marking” with centre-line, edge line, continuity line, stop line, give way lines,
diagonal/chevron markings and zebra crossings. The pavement marking shall be of hot
applied thermoplastic paint with glass beads as per the MORT&H specification for Road
and Bridge Works, 2001.

Appropriate road safety measures are provided with stop signs, give-way signs, traffic
merging and diverging signs, lane closure signs, compulsory keep left/right signs or any
other signs as per IRC-67. Advance cautionary signs are proposed for sharp curves along
with chevron signs at the outer edge of the curves.
1.2.6 Proposed design standards:
The summary of the recommended design standard is shown in Table 1.3 below:
Table-1.3: Summary of Recommended Design Standard
Design Speed (Km/hr)
Plain Terrain : 100 (Ruling), 80(Minimum)
Level of Service : B
14m for 2-lanes with paved shoulders/ Granular
Roadway Widths (m) : Shoulder
20m for 4 lane divided carriageway with footpath
(inbuilt up areas)
26m for 4 lane divided highway (approaches to
grade separator)
Roadway Elements
: Carriageway
2-lane- 2X3.5m
4-lane(built up) 2X7.5m
4-lane at approaches to grade separator -2X7.5m
Median
4-lane( built-up)- 1.5m
4-lane at approaches to grade sperator-4.0m
Paved Shoulder
2-lane with PSS- 2x1.5m
4-lane at approaches to grade sperator-2X1.50m
Unpaved Shoulder
2 lane - 2X2m
4 lane - 2X2m
Camber Carriageway/Paved Shoulder- 2.00%
Unpaved Shoulder- 3.0%
Right of Way 60m for bypasses
45m for open areas for 4 lane road
24m for 2 lane road.
Embankment/ Cutting Slope In filling- 1V: 2 H
In cutting- 1V:1H

Stopping Sight Distance 180m for design speed of 100km/hr.

120m for design speed of 80 km/hr.
90m for design speed of 65 Km /hr.
60m for design speed of 50km/hr.
Intermediate sight distance 360m for design speed of 100km/hr.

240m for design speed of 80km/hr.
180m for design speed of 65 Km/hr.
120m for design speed of 50 Km /hr.
Super-elevation Maximum 7%
Radii for Horizontal Curves Ruling Minimum 400 M
Absolute minimum 250 m
Ruling Gradient 2.5% for plain and rolling terrain
3.3% limiting gradient
Minimum K- factor
Summit Curve 75 for Design speed of 100 km/hr.
35 for Design speed of 80 km/hr.
20 for design speed of 65 km/hr.
Valley Curve 42 for Design speed of 100 km/hr.
Bridge Clearance
Vehicular underpass 5.5 m
Cattle (Camel) and 3.5m
Pedestrian
Design Flood Frequency
Bridges 100 years
Sewers and Ditches 10 years
Minimum Drainage Channel 0.60 m
Width
state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) starting chainage Km00+000 in the
State of Assam and ending chainage Km19+282 in the state of Meghalaya.
1.2.7 Background of The Present Report
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of

India, in its notification S. O. 1533 dated September 14, 2006 and its subsequent amendment
has made it mandatory to obtain environmental clearance of Expansion of National
Highways greater than 100 km involving additional right of way or land acquisition greater
than 40m on existing alignments and 60m on re-alignments or by-passes. As our proposed
project bridge / road is less than 100km and additional right of way is less than 40m on
existing alignments and 60m on by-passes, therefore environmental clearance is not
applicable. The EIA report has been prepared as per the standard TOR given by Indian
Academy of Highway Engineers (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways) Government of
India.
Forest clearance: During environmental screening survey, it is ascertained that there are no
forest land required for this proposed project. Hence, Forest clearance is not applicable.
However, this will be further verified during preparation of land acquisition plan.
Wild Life Clearance: During environmental screening survey, it is ascertained that there is
no sanctuary/national park exist within the 10 km radius from the project site and
accordingly it is confirmed that wild life clearance will not be applicable.
1.2.8 Brief About The Project
The following major activities are involved for the design and construction of proposed
project bridge. The proposed project is the construction of Two / Four lane bridges including
approaches over River Brahmaputra between Dhubri on North Bank and Phulbari on South
Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) on EPC Mode under
JICA.

Elevation of 35 to 42 m above Sea level.
December/January is the coldest month, as the mean daily minimum temperature is recorded
at 10 °C.
The proposed project is the construction of Two / Four lane bridges carriageway of varies
from 7m &10.5 m for 2 and 3 lane carriageways respectively. Project Corridor
characteristics are given in Table 1.4.

Table 1.4: Project Corridor characteristics

Proposed
Shoulder
Sr. Chainage Carriageway Carriageway
Terrain
No. Configuration width (m) Width
From To Type
(m)
For Two / Four Lane Bridge Including Approaches Over River Brahmaputra Between
Dhubri (On North Bank) And Phulbari (On South Bank) In The States Of Assam /
Meghalaya On Nh-127b (Length : 20 Km)
Navigational Span:
Carriageway width
11.6 m(in both lane),
3 m median and 0.45 7m &10.5 m Earthen 2.0
m kerb, total width = for 2 and 3
1 0.0 19282.0 28 m lane Plain
Viaduct Span: carriageway
Carriageway width respectively
11.6 m, and 0.45 m
Paved 1.5
kerb, total width =
12.5 m for each lane
Fig.1.2: Typical Cross Section at Bridge Approaches
Fig. 1.3: Cross-Section of Main Span

Fig. 1.4: Cross Section of Viaduct Span
1.2.9 Land Requirement

The proposed RoW is 60 m. The total land requirement for the proposed project 104.063 ha.
Most of the private land is agricultural.
1.2.10 Water Requirement

The average water requirement for the project is 624 m3/day and the peak demand is 920
m3/day. The water requirement will be met through the surface water sources. However, as
per Central Ground Water Authority, the project area does not fall under notified critical/
overexploited areas. The detail of water requirement is as per Table-1.5.
Table-1.5: Water requirement for the Project
Purpose Average Peak Source

(cu. m./day) (cu. m/day)
Bridge making(concreting) 115 170
Curing 64 96 Surface &
Dust suppression in Dhubri and 36 48 Ground
Phulbari) and borrow area. water sources
Labour colony (labour strength 120 180
2200), office, operator colony and
office ,Others including drinking
Embankment 106 160
Subgrade 46 70
GSB 45 67
WMM 38 56
DBM/BC Rolling 18 24
Water sprinkler at crusher 36 48
Total 624 920
1.2.11 Raw Material and Its Requirement

The total soil requirement for the project bridge/road is 191673 m3 will be taken from
borrow areas. The section wise requirement for various raw materials is presented in Table-
1.6.

Table-1.6: Raw Material Requirement
Description Unit Quantity

Total Required Soil Qty. Cum 191673
Qty. taken from cutting sections Cum 0
Qty. to be brought from borrow area Cum 191673
Bitumen MT 75443
Aggregate for Bituminous Surfaces Cum 30404
and Concrete Works
Sand for Concrete Work Cum 464000
1.2.12 Environmental & Social Screening Study And Application To EIA
The Environmental & Social Screening report was prepared after thorough interaction with
the engineering section of the consultants so that the negative impacts on the environment
and human population could be avoided as far as possible. Some of the important findings
of the study are as follows: -
§ There are no major temples, schools or a Primary health centre is going to be
affected due to the proposed bridge.
§ The proposed bridge passes through a number of villages, few of them are
Chagalchora, Bhasani Char Part-1, Aironjongla, Aminer Char, Katieralga Gaon,
Boushkata Char, Chaitar Char Part -2, Dhanabkuti Village, and Phulwari. Details of
the affected villages are given in Table1.2.
§ Proposed section of the bridge traverses between Dhubri on North Bank and Phulbari
on South Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km)
§ Project aims at making Two / Four bridge over river Brahmaputra.
§ No Sanctuary or National Park is located within 10 km radius of the proposed
project.
§ There will be a temporary impact during construction on water species that are
present in the Brahmaputra River along the project alignment.
§ There is no major wildlife migrant route within the study area, which could be
affected.
§ There is no historical monument which is protected by Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) is affected due to proposed project.
§ There will be likely impact on 24 households (roughly 144 people). Majority of
likely affected people belongs to Muslim religion. Out of 29 likely affected
households, there are 21 men and 3 women. Majority of them are literate. Almost all
the likely affected households are married.
§ All the likely affected HH are totally dependent on agriculture and fishing and that is
the only livelihood source. Very few are running small business like grocery etc.
§ A survey teams was mobilized to conduct the impact assessment and identify likely
affected people and assets. The initial survey covered 24 households. The survey was
conducted in the month of March 2016 under the supervision of consultants engaged
under the project.
§ The survey included basic socio demographic profile, livelihood and income, and
information on affected assets. Public Consultation was arranged in four different
locations like 1) Chagol Chora Part II, 2) Chaitar Char Part I, 3) Rawadari Part II and
4) Adabari

1.2.13 Scope Of The EIA/EMP Study
The scopes of the EIA/EMP study are: -
§ Identification of the potential impacts during pre-construction, construction and

operation phases.
§ Developing mitigation measures to sustain and maintain the environmental scenario.
§ Providing compensatory developments wherever necessary, including plans for
highway side tree plantation.
§ Designing and monitoring the Environmental Management Plan.
§ Suggesting the Environmental Enhancement Scheme and its monitoring.
§ Screening, scoping and consultations with public, experts in various fields, non-
government organization (NGOs), etc.
§ Review of policies and legal framework.
1.2.14 Objectives
The objectives of the EIA include:
§ Collection of baseline data on various components of the environment.

§ Determination of the magnitude of environmental impacts so that due consideration
is given to them during planning, construction, and operational phases of the project
implementation.
§ Assessment of the socio-economic conditions of the project affected persons and
suggestions for their improvement.
§ Identification of areas and aspects, which are environmentally or socio-economically
significant.
§ Submission of environmental enhancement plan and environmental management
plans for enhancing and mitigating the negative impacts.
§ Development of the bridge/road alignment in such a way that the environment and
settlements are least affected.
§ Presentation of public view on various aspects of environment and socio-economic.
1.2.15 Policy Context For Environmental Assessment In India
The objectives of the EIA include: The policy of the Government of India with regard to
environmental assessment on different kinds of projects are laid down in ‘The
Environmental Impact Assessment Notification’, 2006, issued by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi. As per Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change Notification no. S.O. 2559 (E) dated 22nd August, 2013,
MoEF&CC clearance is only required for “ Expansion of National Highways greater than
100 km involving additional right of way of land acquisition greater than 40m on existing
alignments and 60m on re-alignments or by-passes.” It is envisaged at this stage MoEF&CC
clearance is not required for this project as per the above referred Notification. The State
Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) has been assigned the responsibility for implementing (i)
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and (ii) The Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1977. With regard to cutting of trees, etc., the Forest
(conservation) Act 1980 shall be referred.

1.2.16 Public Consultation
Public consultation at all stages of planning and implementation of a project is necessary. It

helps in making the project more environment-friendly and easy to implement. Public
consultation in this project is done by field-testing of questionnaires for various
environmental / socio-economic parameters and interviews with the Project Affects Persons
/stakeholders.
1.2.17 Environmental & Social Impacts Of Proposed Bridge/Road Construction
Transport facilities including bridge/roads bring development. They not only facilitate
transportation and movement, but, as a whole, bring significant economic growth and social
benefits. It is a well-known fact that the economy and human welfare activities of an area
depend on its proximity to the bridge/road. Be it health, hygiene or education, be it
agriculture or business-almost all shades of human life are changed once a bridge/road is
developed in an area. The road allows cultures to mix and interact.
In regions where bridge/roads do not exist, they need to be developed at regular intervals in
view of the growing traffic pressure, road safety, travel time and the vehicle operating costs.
It also increases the access to markets, jobs, education and health services. Obviously, with
this intent the Government of India through National Highways and Infrastructure
Development Corporation (NHIDCL) undertook the required construction of Two / Four
lane bridges including approaches over River Brahmaputra between Dhubri on North Bank
and Phulbari on South Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B.
However, all is not rosy in bridge/road development. Whether a new bridge/road is laid, it
disturbs and destroys many more things. The new construction of the bridge/road may result
in loss of productive agricultural land, damage to sensitive ecosystems, removal of trees,
dislodgment of large number of people, disruption of local economic activities and
accelerated urbanization. The properties and people in many cases may fall in the direct path
of bridge/road construction. The livelihood of people is often disrupted. Such a
developmental project may cause soil erosion, interfere with animal and plant species, and
change the level of underground water. People may lose accustomed travel paths and
community linkages and can be culturally affected. The exhaust emissions will also grow
significantly leading to increase in respiratory and other health problems. Some of the
negative impacts may even have far-reaching consequences. One has to be very careful and
cautious in assessing these impacts and to then mitigate them.
In fact, it is easy to quantify the magnitude of physical impacts such as land clearance, trees
removed, and homes affected; but difficult to quantify effects on the biological and aesthetic
environment such as physiological alteration on flora & fauna, reproductive and behavioural
changes in organisms etc. The study therefore has been carried out with utmost care to
analyse, predict and mitigate the environmental and social aspects of the region in
consequence to the proposed bridge/road development.
The key potential environmental issue that may result due to proposed project intervention
is given in the following Table 1.7:

Table 1.7: Potential Environmental Impacts on Valued Ecosystem Components

Project Pre- Construction Phase Operation Phase
Activity Construction
Component Land Site Earth Contractor Quarries Construction Asphalt Operation
Affected Acquisition Clearance Moving Camps Areas of Highway Crusher
(borrow Plants
pits)
Soil Loss of Loss of Loss of top Loss of top Increase in Soil pollution Pollution Soil
productive crops, and soil and soil erosion, (-ve, short due to contamination
agricultural increase in erosion (Reversible, siltation and term ) Top soil spills due to surface
land (-ve, soil erosion (-ve, short short term ) slope loss (Long (-ve, runoff, spillage of
short term ) term ) instability term,-ve) short term oil due to vehicle
) accidents (-ve,
long term )
Ground Water Exploitation Maintenance of
water extraction for of water for trees / shrubs
- - - drinking (-ve, - construction (- -
short term ) ve, short term
)
Surface Change in Water Water Water Change in Pollution Degradation due
water water quality logging pollution from logging water quality due to to spill- over and
and siltation and sanitary and problems (-ve, short spill into road runoff
- mosquito other wastes term ) water
breeding bodies (-
ve, short
term )


(borrow Plants
pits)
Drainage Change in Change in Modification Interference Cleaning &
natural drainage in Natural with natural Maintenance
drainage pattern drainage drainage,
- -
pattern (-ve, short (-ve, short Water logging
term ) term ) (-ve, long term
)
Air quality Increase in Particulate Atmospheric Dust Dust pollution SPM, Increase in SPM,
air pollution matter Pollution due pollution (- (-ve, short SO2 (- NOx, CO (-ve,
- pollution to fuel burning ve, short term ) ve, short long term )
term, term )
reversible )
Noise Reduced Increase in Vibration Vibrators, Increase Increase in levels
quality buffering of noise levels from concrete in noise (- due to increased
noise due to blasting batching ve, short traffic (-ve, long
- machinery - operations (- plants noise (- term ) term )
ve, short ve, short term
term, )
reversible )
Forest Habitat loss, Loss of
and habitat/
- vegetation - - cover (-ve, - - -
short term,
reversible )


(borrow Plants
pits)
Trees Tree cutting Loss of trees Loss of Cutting of Tree cutting Loss of Trees Increased green
clearance (-ve, short trees (-ve, trees (-ve, (-ve, short (-ve, short cover after
-
term, short term ) short term ) term ) term, reforestation (+ve,
reversible ) reversible ) long term)
Sensitive Boundary Increase noise,
Receptors walls may be Noise barriers
such as - effected - - - - - will be proposed.
school/Hospi
tal
Temples /
- - - - - - - -
Masjids
Topography Soil Removal of Cutting/ filling
borrowed Stone from activities (-ve,
from quarries (-ve, short term )
- - - - -
borrow area long term )
(-ve, short
term )

2.0. SCOPE OF THE STUDY
2.1 Geographical Extent
The geographical extent of this study is the area within a 10km radius of the proposed
bridge alignment as shown in the Figure below.
Fig.: 2.1: Satellite Image showing proposedconstruction of Two / Four lane bridges
including approaches over River Brahmaputra between Dhubri on North Bank and
Phulbari on South Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km)
2.2 Principles of the Study
(1) Study Components of Natural Environment and Socio-economic Environment
This bridge construction project entails to some extent anegative impact on the natural
environment as well as a social impact including a relatively large scale resettlement. The
survey covers not only direct and immediate impact but also secondary and cumulative
impacts in accordance with JICA guidelines. The survey items include air, water, soil,
waste, ecology, involuntary resettlement, the poor, livelihood, occupational safety, etc.

(2) Legal Framework Related to the Project
The legal framework and principles adopted for environment and social consideration of
the project have been guided by the existing legislation and policies of the Government of
India (GOI), the State Government of Assam and Meghalaya. Since the project is
considering getting assistance from JICA, the regulatory/legal framework should be
consistent with the national, state, local, as well as JICA Guidelines for Environmental and
Social Considerations.
(3) Scope of Resettlement
This project extends to two states, the Assam and Meghalaya states, across the
Brahmaputra River. The Char lands (sand bars) in the Brahmaputra River which belong to
the Assam state will also be within the scope of land acquisition and resettlement. The
Char lands are unique in that the shapes change according to the changes in water level.
The area of the Char lands becomes smaller due to a rise in water level during the rainy
season (May to October) and expands in dry season (November to April). In this survey, a
census survey was carried out based on the list of villages and land plots prepared by the
district governments from the land acquisition map produced by DPR consultant (prepared
in June 2016). A Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) will be prepared in accordance with
relevant Indian laws and regulations, World Bank’s safeguard policy and JICA guidelines.

3.0. BASELINE CONDITIONS OF THE NATURAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
3.1 Natural Environment
3.1.1 General
Baseline environmental data plays a key role in identification of environmental parameters

likely to be affected due to the project. This also facilitates the decision maker to assess a
particular environmental parameter which needs to be incorporated during the detailed
Environmental Assessment study and for further detailed investigation. The scope of this
chapter is limited to only those issues, which are of concern in the environmental
assessment. With rapid strides in economic development, the need to rationalize the
development is imperative. During the process of development, there has been intensive use
of natural resources, very often leading to ecological imbalances. In a road project like this
involving wide ranging construction activities, conservation of flora, fauna and the
ecosystem forms important aspect of overall sustainable development process. The data/
features documented here under have been collected through field investigation, interaction
with local population and desk research and published data sources.
The environmental baseline data comprise the features present within a strip of 10 km or
affected area whichever is more on either side of the proposed alignment. This area is
referred to as study area/ project area in the report. It includes environmental features such
as forest areas, conservation areas, water bodies (rivers, lakes ponds and reservoirs),
industries, wildlife and, places of historical importance, tourism etc.
In order to understand the baseline environmental status and impacts due to the proposed
road widening, observations were made by repeated field visits. The relevant secondary data
were also collected. The methodologies adopted may be classified in the following way:
§ The preparation of questionnaire for environmental surveys.

§ Field observations of these questionnaires including public consultation.
§ Screening, testing and monitoring of environmental factors like air, water, soil and
the noise level.
§ Collection of secondary data from various departments.
§ Compilation, analysis and presentation of the report.
3.1.2 Preparation Of Questionnaires For Environmental Parameters
Questionnaires were prepared after thoroughly studying the environmental guidelines and
conditions of the Ministry of Environmental, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC),
World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Questionnaires for Environmental appraisal for
Road / Highway projects by MoEF&CC were also taken into account while preparing
Questionnaire. Total four sets of questionnaires were prepared for field survey/data
collection. The details of these are as follows.
§ Environmental screening information like national parks, wild life sanctuary, forests,
archaeological, cultural, religious structures etc. within 10 Kms on both sides of the
road.
§ Environmental screening survey, effects on environment: views of the community.

§ The survey of features within Right of Way (ROW) on both the sides of the
proposed bridge/Road.
§ Wild life survey questionnaires for villagers, road users and forest guards
3.1.2.1 Field Observation on Questionnaire:
A team under the leadership of a senior Environmental Engineer was constituted to

undertake the field survey of the questionnaire. The young workers were apprised of the
comprehension of the work emphasis on public consultation.
3.1.2.2 Screening, Testing & Monitoring of Physical Environmental Factors
The entire stretch of present section was surveyed and screened. The collection of water
samples, soil samples and other data pertaining to air quality and noise were done within
ROW. The samples were analyzed in Noida Testing Laboratory, accredited by NABL.
a) Ambient Air Quality
Ambient air quality was monitored along the road at selected sites. The locations selected
were those of the city / town area, the market place and the rural areas. The details of
locations and monitoring results are discussed in Chapter – 4. The air quality parameters
considered for the study include Particulate Matter10 (PM10), Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5),
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Sulphur Di-oxide (SO2), and Carbon monoxide (CO).
i. Particulate Matters (PM10 & PM2.5)
PM10 and PM2.5 were monitored using a Respirable Dust Sampler (RDS) and PM2.5 Sampler.
A pre-conditioned and weighted glass fiber filter paper is used for PM10 and PTFE filter
paper is used for RDS/PM2.5 samplers. A known quantity of the air was sucked through the
filter paper in a prescribed sampling time. The flow was noted from the manometer. The
multiplication of time with rate gave the total quantity of air passed through the filter paper.
After sampling, the filter paper was removed, conditioned, and weighed finally for getting
the concentrations in ambient air.
ii. Sulphur Di-Oxides (SO2)
A known quantity of the air was bubbled through impingers containing

tetrachloromercurate. SO2 formed a disulfiltomercurate complex, which gave a pinkish blue
colour with p-rosaniline and formaldehyde solution. The intensity of colour produced was
proportional to concentration of sulphur dioxide. The measurement was made by using
spectrophotometer at the wavelength of 560 nm.
iii. Nitrogen Di-Oxides (NOx)
A known quantity of air was passed through impingers containing sodium hydroxide-
sodium arsenite solution. The estimation of NOx was done colorimetrically using hydrogen
peroxide, sulfanilamide, NEDA, etc. The intensity of the colour was measured at 540 nm
using a spectrophotometer.
iv. Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Nondispersive Infrared detector (NDIR) based samplers are used to monitor the carbon
monoxide levels.
b) Water Quality
Samples of ground water were collected from hand pumps, wells and Tube-wells. To assess
the water Quality of the area samples were tested for physico-chemical parameters.
c) Soil Quality
The samples were collected from 60 m corridor of the road, at 5-15 cm depth. Besides
studying their texture (sand/silt/clay ratio) they were monitored for physico-chemical
parameters to assess the soil quality of the area.
d) Noise Level
The noise level (Leq) was measured using noise meter at various sites along the entire
stretch of road during day (6.00 am to 10 pm) and night (10 pm to 6.00 am).
The noise levels is expressed as an equivalent noise level (Leq) which is the measurement
duration of sound pressure level as the averaging time. It is calculated as follows:
Leq = 10 Log10 [ ån 1 ]
n/10
n10
Where, Li = Instantaneous sound intensity level dB (A) n = No. of observations
3.1.3 Secondary Available Data
The secondary data were collected from following sources:
1. General information District Collector/Gazetteer Office, Dhubri /

West Gharo
2. Meteorological data Indian Meteorological Department
3. EIA Notifications MOEF&CC, New Delhi, September 2006
4. Environmental guidelines for Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate
Rail/Road/Highway Project change Department of Environment, Forests
& Wildflife Government of India New Delhi
1989
5. Mineral Production in the state of Mines and Geological Department

Assam / Meghalaya
6. Statistical data District Statistical Office

7. Irrigation and hydrogeology data Central Ground Water Board

8. National Highways Act, 1956 MORTH, Govt. of India, New Delhi
9 Drainage Pattern Maps of Dhubri Central Ground Water Development Board.

/ West Gharo
10. General Land use and Cropping Asst. Director of Agriculture

Pattern
11. Relief and slope Survey of India
12. Rocks and minerals Geological Survey of India
13. Industries District Industries Center
14. Operational Policies – OP - 4.04 - The MOEFCC/International Funding
Natural Habitats Agencies Operational Manual
15. Operational Policies - OP - 4.36 - The MOEFCC/International Funding

Forestry (1999) Agencies Operational Manual
16. Operational Policies - OP 4.01 - The MOEFCC/International Funding

Environmental assessment (1999) Agencies Operational Manual Manual
17. Maps and Topo sheets Survey of India

18. Road Maps of Dhubri / West Road Development Dept, Govt. of
Gharodistrict Assam/Meghalaya
19. Flora and Fauna Divisional Forest Office, Dhubri & West
Gharo District
3.1.4 Preparation Of Strip Maps
Strip maps of 1 km each have been used in the process of conducting the screening survey.
All types of structures have been mapped on the ‘road –inventory.
3.1.5 Preparation Of Strip Maps
Photographs of the important places such as villages, market places, old trees, consultation
with people, plantation areas, etc. were taken to confirm the baseline data of these areas.
3.1.6 Analyses, Compilation And Preparation Of Report
The data collected by survey teams were compiled. Along with the field monitoring studies
and secondary data, these were used to identify the environmental problem spots or ‘Hot
Spots’.
The following analyses were carried out based on compiled information:
1) The levels of environmental parameters were compared with the prescribed limits
suggested by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This gave a clear idea that
special attention is paid in areas where the level of pollution is higher than desirable.

Those stretches, where the pollution level does not exceed the desired limits despite
widening of the road will be dropped from further study.
2) The sites where the impact is minimum or nearly absent has been identified. This
may help in selection of major storage sites during construction work.
3) The mitigation measures have been suggested to reduce the adverse impacts due to
the proposed widening and detailed environmental management plan have been
prepared covering both the phases i.e. construction and operation of highway.
3.1.7 Baseline Environmental Conditions
3.1.7.1 Natural Environment
Baseline environmental data plays a key role in identification of environmental parameters

likely to be affected due to the project. This also facilitates the decision maker to assess a
particular environmental parameter which needs to be incorporated during the detailed
Environmental Assessment study and for further detailed investigation. The scope of this
chapter is limited to only those issues, which are of concern in the environmental
assessment. With rapid strides in economic development, the need to rationalize the
development is imperative. During the process of development, there has been intensive use
of natural resources, very often leading to ecological imbalances. In a road project like this
involving wide ranging construction activities, conservation of flora, fauna and the
ecosystem forms important aspect of overall sustainable development process. The data/
features documented hereunder have been collected through field investigation, interaction
with local population and desk research and published data sources.
The environmental baseline data comprise the features present within a strip of 10 km or
affected area whichever is more on either side of the proposed alignment. This area is
referred to as study area/ project area in the report. It includes environmental features such
as forest areas, conservation areas, water bodies (rivers, lakes ponds and reservoirs),
industries and, tourism etc.
3.7.1.2 Geographical Location of the proposed project bridges / road
state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) on EPC Mode under JICA. The
proposed project is transverse at 89°58'16.99"E & 26°1'34.63"N at Dhubri on North Bank
and Phulbari on South bank transverse at 90°1'49.99"E & 25°52'12.03"N at an Elevation of
35 to 42 m above Sea level.
3.1.8 Climate and Micro-Meteorological Parameters:
3.1.8.1 Seasons
The climate along the proposed project is subtropical humid climate. The average annual rainfall of
the Dhubri District is 2,363 mm and 3300 mm in West Gharo District. The variation in the rainfall
from year to year is not large. The climate of the district is largely controlled by South west
monsoon activates from May and continues up to September - October with about 65% rainfall
occurring during the monsoon. The monthly evapo-transpiration is about 40% of the rainfall, the
highest in August and lowest in January. July/August is the hottest month when the

maximum temperature is about 30°C. December/January is the coldest month, as the mean
daily minimum temperature is recorded at 10 °C.
Wind speed/Direction:
Generally, light to moderate winds prevail throughout the year with speed ranging from 1 to
19 kmph. Winds were light and moderate particularly during the morning hours, while
during the afternoon hours the winds were stronger. The wind rose diagram developed
during March 2016) shown in Fig. 3.1 reveals that pre-dominant wind direction occurs in
north east direction in Dhubri district and the average wind speed is 2.1 m/s.
The following Table 3.1 shows the Meteorological Data Parameters at Dhubri district
(March 2016).
Table-3.1: Meteorological Data Parameters at Dhubri district (March 2016)
Date Temperature, Relative Humidity, Pressure, hPa Wind Pre- Rain

deg C % Speed Dominan
km/Hr t Wind
Direction
Min Max Avg Min Max Avg Min Max Avg Avg mm
March
13.3 35.9 24.6 47 67 57 1003.6 1008.4 1006.0 7.7 NE 42.7
2016
Fig.3.1: Site Specific Windrose Diagram of Dhubri district
3.1.9 Natural Resource Availability in the state of Assam and Meghalaya

3.1.9.1 Minerals
Assam is rich in mineral resources which are providing raw materials to industries. The
important mineral resources of Assam are petroleum, coal, natural gas and lime stone. Coal
fields are at Nazira, Makum, Margharita, Ledo, among others Crude oil is the most
important mineral product of Assam oil deposits are in Naharkatiya, Moran, Lanka, Nazira,
among others Oil refineries are established at Digboi, Noonmati and Bangaigaon and other
at Numaligarh. The natural gas from the oil fields is another important resource of Assam.
But only a small amount of natural gas in utilized in Assam and the rest is wasted lime stone
which is used as raw materials for cement is found at Garampani and Koilajan among
others. A map showing the regions of Assam which yield different types of minerals is
given below in Fig. 3.2.
In this study area, the Gondwana coal deposits in the western most part of Garo Hills of
Meghalaya is extending into the Hallidayganj area, Dhubri district of Assam and is known
as the Singrimari Coal deposits with a total resources of 2.79 million tonnes of non-coking
coal including the Meghalaya part of the coal deposits. A map showing the regions of
Meghalaya which yield different types of minerals is given below in Fig. 3.3.
Granite and granite gneisses occurring along the northern hills of the Shillong Plateau in
Goalpara, Kamrup and Nagaon districts are being quarried for use as building stone and
road metals. The quarry near Jagi road is well known. A number of similar quarries are seen
at several places near Guwahati by the side of National Highway 31 and 37. The pink and
grey granite found in parts of Karbi Hills and Goalpara and Dhubri districts are suitable for
production of decorative stones.
Agriculture / Forest:
Assam's economy is fundamentally based on agriculture. Over 70 percent of the state's
population relies on agriculture as farmers, as agricultural labourers, or both for their
livelihood. Assam produces both food and cash crops. The principal food crops produced in
the state are rice (paddy), maize (corn), pulses, potato, wheat, etc., while the principal cash
crops are tea, jute, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton, and tobacco. Although rice is the most
important and staple crop of Assam, its productivity over the years has not increased while
other crops have seen a slight rise in both productivity and land acreage.
In Dhubri / South Salmara district, there are no major irrigation systems in the district.
However, minor irrigationschemes, such as lift irrigation schemes are mostly confined to the
selected areas.As per the land use pattern, the forest area is 291.55 sq. km, culturable waste
is 38.72 sq. km.
Source: http://cgwb.gov.in
West Gharo district has a forest area of 1650 sq. km., i.e. about 45% of the total
geographical area.The net area sown is 953.6 sq. km. and the total cropped area is 1207.4 sq.
km. Fallow land covers about 12%, net area sown is about 26%, while the total cropped area
is about 33%.Principal crops grown in the district are rice, maize, millets, oilseeds and
pulses. Horticulture products include orange, pineapple and banana. Vegetables like potato,
sweet potato, ginger, garlic etc. are also grown.
A map showing the regions of Assam and Meghalaya which yield different types of
agriculture / forest is given below in Fig.3.2 & 3.3respectively

STUDY AREA
Fig. 3.2: Mineral Map of Assam
STUDY AREA
Fig. 3.3: Mineral Map of Meghalaya

STUDY AREA
STUDY AREA
STUDY AREA
Fig. 3.4: Agriculture/Forest Map of Assam
AGRICULTURE / forest MAP of Meghalaya
STUDY AREA
STUDY AREA
Fig. 3.5 Agriculture / Forest Map of Meghalaya
Hydrogeology condition in the study area:

Dhubri / South Salmara - mankachar district covers an area of 1664.10 sq. km. It is situated
in the extreme south-west corner of the state and has an international boundary with
Bangladesh on west and south west and is bounded by Kokrajhar district in the north,
Goalpara district on the east and north-east, GharoHills district of Meghalaya on the south
and Kochbehar and Jalpaiguri districts of West Bengal on the north-west.
Surface Water source in Dhubri / South Salmara - mankachar District:

The district spreads on both sides of the River Brahmaputra.Number of perennial streams
flow through the district from north to south and jointhe Brahmaputra River. The major
streams that drain the area are Gadadhar, Sankosh,Silai and Gouranga Rivers.A River map
showing the regions of Dhubri and South Salamara - Manakchand given below in Fig. 3.6
Ground Water source in Dhubri / South Salmara - mankachar District:
Ground water conditions in the district can be described under two distinct hydrogeological
units, i.e. conditions prevailing in the consolidated formations and the conditions prevailing
in the unconsolidated formations. The net ground water availability estimated in the year
2009 is 1635.61 mcm. The existing gross ground water draft 181.12 mcm and the stages of
development are 11%only. Future provision for domestic and Industrial use is 65.35mcm
and for Irrigation useis 1432.85 mcm. A Hydro geological map showing the regions of
Dhubri and South Salamara - Manakchand given below in Fig. 3.6
Ground Water Quality in Dhubri / South Salmara - mankachar District:
The concentration of major, minor and trace element in the district is generally within the
limited range except iron. The iron distribution is abruptly high in and around Tamarhat and
Chapar area where it has exceeded the permissible limit of drinking.
The ground water is suitable for agricultural and industrial usages.
Ground Water Related Issues and Problems:
Frequent floods devastate the district every year during the monsoon months from May to
September. Flood accompanied with soil erosion and sand deposition cause maximum
damage to standing crops to the agricultural lands. Other than high iron content, most of the
chemical constituents are within the permissible limit.
Recommendation:
Existing hydro geological set up and availability of huge ground water resources indicate
that there is much scope for the development of ground water with the construction of
abstraction structures in a planned and systematic way.
Surface Water source in West Gharo District:
The topography controls the drainage system as it divides the state into two water sheds
namely the Brahmaputra system in the North and Meghna /Surma system in the South.
The Tura ranges from watersheds in the West Garo Hills district from which the rivers flows
toward Bangladesh plains in the south and the Brahmaputra valley in the north and the
west. The important rivers of the north group are the Kalu, Ringgi and the Didak. The
important rivers of the southern group are the Bhogai, Dareng etc. River Simsang

(Someswari), one of the major rivers of Meghalaya (longest river in the Garo Hills districts),
whose valley is of the most important feature in the South Garo Hills and its chief tributaries
are Chibok, Rongdik, Rompa and Ringdi rivers. River Jinjiram starts from Derek village and
its main tributary starts from Upot Lake. It is the. River Ganol or Kalu starts from Tura peak
its chief tributaries are Dilni and Rongram rivers. River Didak stars from Anogre village and
runs through Gharo Hills district before it enters into Goalpara district. River Bugi, Rongai
and Dareng have their source in Nokrek Mountain. A River map showing the regions of
West Gharo district is given below in Fig. 3.7
Ground Water source in West Gharo District:

Hydro geologically, the district can be divided into three units, namely consolidated, semi-
consolidated and unconsolidated formations. Thirty one exploratory wells and one slim hole
have been drilled in this district down to depth ranging from 30 to 300 m bgl, out of which 2
wells were abandoned. Aquifer zones encountered in wells range from 18 to 170 m with
yield of 7.2 to 150 m3 /hr. Auto flow wellsare reported from Ampati, Bairagipara, Zikzak
etc. The depth to water level varies from 0.53m bgl to 8.3 m bgl. The aquifer comprises sand
and sand with gravel, while clay forms leaky aquitard. The maximum cumulative aquifer
thickness is encountered around Ichaguri, Borkona, Barengapara and Betasing in alluvial
areas of West Garo Hills District. The granitic basement is encountered at a very shallow
depth (less than 50 m.bgl) in the northern part of the district, while in the western and
southern part of the district; basement has not been met even at a depth of 225 m.bgl.
The total annual ground water recharge in the West Garo Hills District is 28850 ham. The
Net annual Ground Water Availability of the East Khasi Hills District works out to be
25965 ham after deducting the natural discharge during non-monsoon season. The Ground
Water draft on account of irrigation is 150 ham and the annual domestic draft is 3.55 ham,
the Gross Ground Water draft for all uses is 153.55 ham. The annual allocation for Domestic
and Industrial uses has been made as 2055 ham based upon the population data projected up
to year 2025. A Hydrogeological map showing the regions of West Gharo district is given
below in Fig. 3.7.
Ground Water Quality in West Gharo District:
It was observed that ground water is alkaline rather than acidic. Overall, the chemical
constituents present in the ground water are within permissible limits and the ground water
is good for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes. Sporadic occurrence of higher
concentration of Iron is detected /reported from some localities.
Ground Water Related Issues and Problems:
West Garo Hills district is basically a hilly one. Steep slopes and rugged terrain offers
limited scope for recharge and development of ground water. Moreover, approachability is a
big constraint for an assured water supply in the hamlets/ villages situated on hilltops or
steep slopes. The major ground water related problem of the district is its management and
non-utilization of run off in the steep slopes resulting in limited natural recharge areas. This
has created some water deficient areas in the district. The approach and accessibility to the
hamlets and villages is a difficult task, which are the major impediments in developing the
ground water resources. As some pockets are affected with higher concentration of Iron
inwater (higher than permissible limit prescribed by BIS, WHO), so the water supply
agencies should take precautionary measures to provide Iron free water for domestic and
industrial.
Recommendation:
As ground water is poorly developed /exploited, dug wells are the preferred structures as of
now in low-lying areas and valleys. Hydrogeological studies indicate that lineament, joints,
fractures and fault are the main controlling factors for the occurrence and distribution of
ground water. These structures can be tapped for ground water development.
Springs play a major role in feeding water requirement of the people in rural areas. It is
found that the location of the spring is mainly restricted to foothills and intermontane
valleys. As the people in the rural areas of the district are totally dependent on springs, there
is an urgent need for scientific approach for proper development and management of it. It
may be recommended that the development of springs will help in mitigating the water
requirement of the people to a large extent.
River
&
Hydrogeological map
Source: http://dhubri.gov.in/DMPLan&http://cgwb.gov.in
Fig. 3.6 River and Hydrogeological Map of Dhubri District

Source: http://cgwb.gov.in&http://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in/
Fig. 3.7 Hydrogeological & River Map of Meghalaya
Geomorphology and Soil in Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar district:
Physiographically, the district constitutes the vast alluvial plains of Brahmaputra River
system. The monotony of the flat alluvial tract is interrupted by the presence of Archaean
inliers in the form of disconnected hillocks referred to as inselbergs and these occur
specially in the eastern and southern parts of the district. These hillocks are joined by the
offshoots of Shillong plateau and are found on the north bank near Diple beel, Sitdanga beel
and east of Bilasipara and on the south bank of the foothill portion of Garo Hills along the
district boundary. The level difference between the valley and the peaks of the inselbergs
ranges from 25 to 455 m. These hillocks are covered by a thick lateritic mantel and are
occupied by evergreen mixed forest. Terraced alluvial deposits occupy80% of the district
with conspicuous occurrence of buried channels, back swamps, etc.
Soils in greater part of the district are sandy and silty loam, or clayey loam. It is found to be
highly acidic to slightly alkaline in nature and is moderately permeable and characterised by
the presence of low organic carbon and low soluble salts. Soils restricted to inselberg areas
are more clayey, lateritic and less permeable and are highly acidic in nature. From
agriculture point of view, the soils in major part of the area are suitable for all sorts of crops
cultivation. A Soil map showing the regions of Dhubri and South Salmara district is given
below in Fig. 3.8.
Geomorphology and Soil in West Gharo district:
Geomorphologically, the district is an undulation one, with the E-W trending Garo hill
range of Central Upland zone and plains fringing the northern, western and the south-
western borders. The altitude of the Garo Hills District ranges from 23 m amsl to 1631 m.
amsl. The Garo Hills area comprises of the Tura Range, the Arbella Range and the Ranggira
Range .The Tura range is one of the most important mountain ranges in the West Garo Hills
which comprises of many peaks. Broadly, the district can be divided into the following
geomorphic units. A Soil map showing the regions of West Gharo district is given below in
Fig. 3.8.
§ Denudation Low and High Hills: It occupies the major part of the district comprising
of hard rocks like granite and gneiss.
§ Dissected Plateau: It is found in the southern portion of district comprising of soft
and friable rocks like shale, sandstone and quartzite.
§ Deep Gorges: In the southern parts of the district, Tertiary rocks comprising
sandstone, shale and limestone are dissected to form deep narrow elongated
intermountain valleys of tectonic origin along major lineaments.
§ Alluvial Plain: It is exposed in the northern, western and the south-western parts of
the district comprising fluviatile sediments.

Fig. 3.8 Soil Map of Assam & Meghalaya

3.1.10 Natural Hazards and Vulnerability of the sub project area
As per the plate tectonics, Assam& Meghalaya is in the eastern-most projection of the
Indian Plate, where the plate is thrusting underneath the Eurasian Plate creating a subduction
zone and the Himalayas. This led the state of Assam& Meghalaya fall under the seismic
zone V making the entire State prone to earthquake of moderate to very high intensity. The
State has experienced two major earthquakes in the year 1897 and 1950. The intensities of
these two earthquakes were 8.7 and 8.5 on the Richter scales respectively.
Combined with this hazard, is the vulnerability profile of the towns and cities where the
growth is haphazard and uncontrolled. Huge urban population combined with poor quality
and ill-maintained infrastructure, low quality building stock, and lower resilience of the
high–density society increases the risks to earthquakes in the urban centres. Moreover, urban
infrastructure is often designed and constructed without satisfying minimum safety
standards. A map showing the seismic zones of India is provided as Fig. 3.9.

STUDY AREA
Fig. 3.9 Seismic Zone Map of India
3.2 Living Environment
3.2.1 Ambient Air Quality
There is no major source of Air pollution along the proposed project. The proposed project
covers settlements areas at, ChagalChora, Savodari, Motichora and Chaitarchar. The
ambient air quality was measured during March, 2016 at the above mentioned
locations/villages and results are presented in Table 3.2-3.5. The Results show that all the
parameters are well within the National Ambient Air Quality standards, 2009. Fig. 3.10,
3.11, 3.12 & 3.13 below shows the Ambient Air Quality concentrations at Village
ChagalChora, Motichora, Savodari and Chaitarchar respectively.

Table 3.2: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Chagal Chora
Location 1 : AQ1 (Village-

Ambient Air Quality Data March 2016 ChagalChora)
PM2.5,µg/m3 PM10,µg/m3 SO2 µg/m3 NO2 ,µg/m3 CO, µg/m3
,
S.No Date
Gravimetric IS:5182:Pt- IS:5182:Pt- IS:5182:Pt- IS:5182:Pt-
23 2 6 10
1 01.03.2016 36.5 82.5 9.3 16.8 502
2 05.03.2016 32.3 80.6 8.6 15.9 460
3 09.03.2016 44.9 90.3 10.2 22.2 582
4 13.03.2016 39.8 84.5 9.8 18.9 516
Min 32.3 80.6 8.6 15.9 460
Max 44.9 90.3 10.2 22.2 582
Average 38.4 84.5 9.5 18.5 515.0
98 Percentile 44.6 90.0 10.2 22.0 578.0
NAAQS, For 24
hourly monitoring
60 100 80 80 4000
(except CO for One
hour)
Table 3.3: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Savodri
Ambient Air Quality Data March 2016 Location 2: AQ2 (Village-Savodari)
PM2.5,µg/m3 PM10,µg/m3 SO2 µg/m3 NOx CO, µg/m3

, ,µg/m3
S.No Date
23 2 6 10
1 01.03.2016 22.3 73.3 6.8 12.3 312
2 05.03.2016 24.8 65.7 5.9 12.9 230
3 09.03.2016 23.6 69.8 6.4 14.2 345
4 13.03.2016 26.8 75.9 7.2 13.6 308
Min 22.3 65.7 5.9 12.3 230
Max 26.8 75.9 7.2 14.2 345
Average 24.4 71.2 6.6 13.3 298.8
98
Percentile 26.7 75.7 7.2 14.2 343.0
NAAQS, For 24
hourly monitoring
60 100 80 80 4000
(except CO for One
hour)

Table 3.4: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Motichora
Ambient Air Quality Data March 2016 Location 3: AQ3(Village-Motichora)
PM2.5,µg/m3 PM10,µg/m3 SO2 µg/m3 NO2 ,µg/m3 CO, µg/m3

,
S.No Date
23 2 6 10
1 01.03.2016 37.8 83.7 9.7 17.3 527
2 05.03.2016 30.1 76.1 8.7 15.2 482
3 09.03.2016 41.3 88.6 10.1 20.8 561
4 13.03.2016 33.5 82.6 9.3 16.4 432
Min 30.1 76.1 8.7 15.2 432
Max 41.3 88.6 10.1 20.8 561
Average 35.7 82.8 9.5 17.4 500.5
98 Percentile 41.1 88.3 10.1 20.6 559.0
NAAQS, For 24
hourly monitoring
60 100 80 80 4000
(except CO for One
hour)
Table 3.5: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Chaitarchar
Ambient Air Quality Data March 2016 Location 4 : AQ4 (Village-Chaitarchar)
PM2.5,µg/m3 PM10,µg/m3 SO2 µg/m3 NOx CO, µg/m3

, ,µg/m3
S.No Date
23 2 6 10
1 01.03.2016 22.8 56.8 BDL 8.7 220
2 05.03.2016 23.2 60.5 BDL 9.8 283
3 09.03.2016 18.6 54.9 BDL 8.3 212
4 13.03.2016 21.8 58.8 BDL 9.2 249
Min 18.6 54.9 BDL 8.3 212
Max 23.2 60.5 BDL 9.8 283
Average 21.6 57.8 BDL 9.0 241.0
98 Percentile 23.2 60.4 BDL 9.8 281.0
NAAQS, For 24
hourly monitoring 60 100 80 80 4000
(except CO for One
hour)

Fig 3.10: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village ChagalChora
Fig 3.11: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village Motichora
Fig 3.12: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village Savodri

Fig 3.13: Ambient Air Quality results/concentration at Village Chaitarchar
Results: In this study area the minimum concentration of PM10 is 54.9µg/m3 found at
village Chaitarchar and maximum concentration is 90.3µg/m3 found at village Chagal
Chora. The concentration is well within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS).
The minimum concentration of PM2.5 is 18.6µg/m3 found at village Chaitarchar and

maximum concentration is 44.9µg/m3 found at village ChagalChora. The concentration is
well within the NAAQS.
The minimum concentration of SO2 is 5.9 µg/m3 found at village Savodri and NOx is 8.3
µg/m3 at village Chaitarchar whereas maximum concentration of SO2 is 10.2µg/m3 found
at village Chagal Chora and NOx is 22.2µg/m3 at village Chagal Chora. The concentration
is well within the NAAQS.
3.2.2 Ambient Noise Levels
The noise levels are monitored at four locations during March, 2016 along the proposed
project to assess the baseline status of noise environment along the project. The Results are
presented in Table 3.6. The Noise levels are below as per National Ambient Air quality
standard w.r.t. Noise, 2000.

Table 3.6: Value of the Noise along the proposed project locations
Location Eq. Noise Eq. Noise National National Ambient Air

levels levels Ambient Air quality standard
dB(A) , dB(A), quality standard w.r.t. Noise, 2000 in
Day.(Leq). Night.(Leq) w.r.t. Noise, dB(A) Night. (Leq)
2000 in dB(A)
Day. (Leq)
Chagalchora 53.2 38.8 55 45
(Residential)
Motichora 60.2 50.8 65 55
(Commercial)
Savodari 51.8 40.6 55 45
(Residential)
Chaitarchar 48.9 36.7 55 45
(Residential)
Fig 3.14: Ambient Noise results/concentration at all Locations
3.2.3 Surface / Ground Water Quality
The Water Quality was monitored at five locations along the proposed project, three ground
water & two surface water samples were collected. The results are presented in Table 3.7:
Results: In this Study area, the concentrations of Water quality are well within the desirable
/ permissible limit prescribed by the CPCB standard for drinking water except for
Bacteriological parameters for surface water.
Note: BDL: Below Detective Limit.

Table 3.7: Showing Test Results of Ground / Surface Water Samples
CPCB standard Chagalchora Motichora Motichora Savodari Chaitarchar

for drinking water Bore Well Handpump Brahmaputra Handpump Brahmaputra
Sl. No. Parameter Unit
(desirable limit/ (Ground (Ground (Surface (Ground (Surface Water)
permissible limit) Water) Water) Water) Water)
1 Temperature C - 22.0 22.6 23.8 23.0 23.0

6.5 – 8.5/no 7.38 7.20 7.56 7.52 7.72
2 pH value -
relaxation
3 Conductivity µS/cm - 571.47 593.23 185.09 559.80 182.26
Total dissolve solid 500/2000 371.45 385.60 120.31 363.87 118.26
4 mg/l
(TDS)
5 Dissolve Oxygen mg/l - 4.3 4.2 6.1 4.8 6.8
6 Turbidity NTU 5/10 <1.0 <1.0 1.0 <1.0 1.2
7 Salinity ppt - 4.8 4 3.8 4 4
8 Alkalinity mg/l - 212 221 68 203.90 66
9 Calcium as (CaCO3) mg/l 75/200 162 192.84 50.3 173.60 48.8
10 Magnesium As (CaCO3) mg/l - 35.6 27.16 16.59 25.40 17.2
Total hardness as 200/600 197.60 220.0 66.89 199.0 66.0
11 mg/l
(CaCO3)
12 Chloride as (Cl) mg/l 250/1000 26.80 26.4 0.19 29.70 0.21
13 Iron (as Fe) mg/l 0.3/1.0 0.238 0.261 0.258 0.252 0.261
Manganese 0.1/0.3 BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL
14 mg/l
(as Mn)
15 Arsenic (as As) mg/l 0.05/no relaxation 0.02 0.02 <0.01 0.01 <0.01

CPCB standard Chagalchora Motichora Motichora Savodari Chaitarchar

for drinking water Bore Well Handpump Brahmaputra Handpump Brahmaputra
Sl. No. Parameter Unit
(desirable limit/ (Ground (Ground (Surface (Ground (Surface Water)
permissible limit) Water) Water) Water) Water)
16 Fluoride (as F) mg/l 1.0/1.5 0.85 0.98 0.34 0.71 0.38

17 Total ammonia mg/l - BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL
18 Nitrite (as NO2) mg/l - BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL
19 Nitrate (as NO3) mg/l 45/100 4.52 4.84 3.10 4.20 3.20
20 Phosphate (as P) mg/l - BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL
21 Sulphate (as SO4) mg/l 200/400 13.28 14.50 10.30 16.79 8.40
22 Sulphide (As H2S) mg/l - BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL
23 Mercury (as Hg) mg/l - <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001
24 Lead (as Pb) mg/l 0.05/no relaxation <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01
26 Chromium (as Cr6+) mg/l No relaxation <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01
27 Cadmium (As Cd) mg/l - <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01
28 Zinc mg/l - 0.152 0.164 0.047 0.159 0.053
29 BOD mg/l - <2.0 <2.0 3.1 <2.0 3.5
30 COD mg/l - 4.8 4.0 9.0 5.3 9.5
Total Organic Carbon - 1.35 1.24 0.082 1.29 0.091
31 mg/l
(TOC)
32 Sodium mg/l - 29 24.20 8.7 21.50 12.60
33 Potassium mg/l - 3.5 2.10 1.1 3.85 1.2
34 Faecal Coliform MPN/100ml - Absent Absent 132 Absent 158
35 Total Coliform MPN/100ml - Absent Absent 618 Absent 650

3.2.4 Soil Quality
The Soil Quality was monitored at four locations along the proposed project. The nutrient
values are good in soil and soil is predominately sandy clay in texture. The results are
presented in Table 3.8:
S. Parameters Test Method Unit Chagal Moti Savodari Chaitar

No Chora Chora Char
1. pH(1:5 suspension) IS:2720(Part-26) - 7.38 7.21 7.43 7.28
2. Electrical Conductivity at IS:2720(Part-21) µS/cm 449 458 418 435
25OC (1:5suspension.)
3. Calcium Sulphate STP/SOIL mg/kg BDL BDL BDL BDL
4. Magnesium(as Mg) STP/SOIL mg/kg 145.34 130.7 123.5 139.80
5. Organic Matter IS:2720(Part-22) % by mass 6.28 5.25 4.61 5.65
6. Potassium(as K) STP/SOIL mg/kg 133.15 127.6 123.5 119.83
7. Water holding Capacity STP/SOIL % by mass 34.65 30.6 29.5 31.18
8. Porosity STP/SOIL % by mass 29.40 25.1 23.8 26.46
9. Sand STP/SOIL % by mass 42.40 38.59 43.70 40.16
10. Clay STP/SOIL % by mass 50.32 54.27 46.82 53.32
11. Silt STP/SOIL % by mass 7.28 7.14 9.48 6.52
12. Sodium Sulphate STP/SOIL mg/kg 15.12 14.8 13.24 13.60
13. Sodium Absorption STP/SOIL - 4.89 4.61 4.03 4.40
Ratio
14. Nitrogen STP/SOIL % by mass 0.064 0.060 0.051 0.057
15. Phosphorus STP/SOIL mg/kg 23.4 25.4 20.5 21.06
16. Bulk Density STP/SOIL gm /cc 1.32 1.46 1.26 1.18
17. Texture STP/SOIL - Sandy Sandy Sandy Sandy
Clay Clay Clay Clay
18. Moisture Retention STP/SOIL % by mass 22.0 20.5 24.6 19.8
Capacity
19. Infiltration Rate STP/SOIL mm/hr 24.0 26.4 20.3 21.6
20. Moisture STP/SOIL % 16.20 15.64 13.81 14.58
21. Sulphates STP/SOIL mg/1000g 14.24 15.2 13.64 12.81
22. Sulphur(as S) STP/SOIL mg/kg 0.082 0.087 0.077 0.073
23. Manganese (as Mn) STP/SOIL mg/kg 0.052 0.049 0.040 0.046
24. Iron (as Fe) STP/SOIL mg/kg 0.70 0.75 0.67 0.63
25. Exchangeable Sodium STP/SOIL mg/kg 0.062 0.066 0.051 0.055
Percentage
Borrow Soil:
The project road is passing through Dhubri / South Salmara Mankachar district of Assam
and West Gharo district of Meghalaya and plenty of soil is available adjacent to proposed
bridge / road side, which can be used as borrow materials after suitable testing. The details
of available source, location, average lead distance to the project roads and approximate

available quantity are given in Table 3.9.
Table 3.9: Details of Available Sources, Location and Distance for Borrow soils
Approx.
Approx.
Sr. Type of Distance of
Name of Village Quantity Type of Land Remarks
No Material project
(Cum)
road (Km)
Clayey
1 Motichor 0.9 25000 Open Area
Silt
Chagolchora-1 Clayey
2 1.2 22500 Open Area
(Plashkhandi) Sandy Silt
Owner was not
Clayey interested to
3 Motichor 0.7 15000 Open Area
Silt share the rate &
mob No.
Owner was not
Adabari-1 Clayey interested to
4 1 10000 Open Area
(NabazotiGao) Silt share the rate &
mob No.
Clayey
5 Adabari-2 1.2 45000 Open Area
Silt
Open Area and
Clayey
6 ChagolChara 1.25 30000 Agricultural
Sandy Silt
Field
3.2.5 Physical And Socio-Economic Environment
3.2.5.1 Landuse and Landcover:
The land use in the proposed project area is mixed. The project corridor passes through
mostly water body / agricultural land along with barren lands. There are also some
settlements along the project road. Proposed Project Bridge / road is passing through Plain
terrain. Clay & sandy soil are mostly in along the project area. The land use pattern along
the proposed project bridge / road is given in the Table 3.10. The land use map based on
satellite imagery is given in to Fig. 3.15.
IRS-P6 LISS III (linear Imaging Self Scanner) Satellite imageries with spatial resolution of
23.5 meter GSD (ground sampling distance) at nadir, 4 band multi-spectral (0.52-0.59,
0.62-0.68, 0.77-0.86, 1.55-1.70) & 7 bit radiometric accuracy has been procured from
NRSA, India for the project road. General remote sensing data interpretation techniques
have been used and the colours and tone of features (relative brightness or colour of
objects) (e.g. like agricultural land is in red colour, Forest in dark red to deep red colour,
water bodies is in dark blue/black, settlements in cyan and wasteland is in greyish green)
identified. The pattern of the feature is spatial arrangement of visibly discernible objects.
(eg. Urban streets with regularly spaced houses, industries in square shape, water bodies in
amorphous shape etc.). After interpretation of all the features, the outer boundary of all the
features (Agricultural land, Forest land, Barren uncultivable waste land & Settlement

Urban & Rural) have been digitized and marked in the project area of 5km on either side of
the project road. The area percentage was then calculated and a graph generated
A land use map of the study area based on the satellite imagery in a scale of 1:25000
delineating the crop lands (both single and double crop), agricultural plantations, fallow
lands, waste lands, water bodies, built-up areas, forest plantation and other surface features
. Distribution of various land uses in the study area is shown in Table. 3.10.
Table 3.10 Landuse Classification in the Study Area
Class in %
.1%
26%
2%
2%
2%
0.9%
3%
41%
2%
21%

STUDY
AREA
Fig 3.15: Landuse Landcover Map of Assam
STUDY
AREA
Fig 3.16: Landuse Landcover Map of Meghalaya

Fig 3.17: Landuse Landcover within 5Km of the Study area

3.3 Socio- economic Environment
3.3.1 Socio- Economic Profile of Dhubri District (Assam)
Dhubri district is situated in the extreme western corner of Assam. This district is located
on the globe between 89.42 to 90.12 degree East longitude and 26.22 to 25.20 degree
North latitude. The district is situated at 30 meters above the sea level on average. The
river Brahmaputra flows through the district. On the Northern side of the river Dhubri and
Bilasipara Sub-Divisions are situated and on the Southern side newly carved South
Salmara-Mankachar District. The district of Dhubri is surrounded by the Kokrajhar district
in the north, Meghalaya & Bangladesh in the south, Bongaigaon & Goalpara district in the
east, West Bengal and Bangladesh in the west. The total area of Dhubri district is 2270
sq.km having a distance of about 290 km. from the State capital, Guwahati/Dispur. It has
two urban areas [Dhubri (Sadar), Bilasipara with a total urban population of 160939.
Previously, It had four urban areas [Dhubri (Sadar), Bilasipara, South Salmara and
Mankachar] covering an area of 27.24 sq. km., with a total urban population of 190546.
South Salmara-Mankachar is newly formed district has been carved out of Dhubri District
in 2015.
Administrative Division:
Administratively, Dhubri has three sub-divisions namely Dhubri, Bilasipara, along with
eight revenue circles (Tehsils) with fourteen blocks. The total number of revenue villages
in the district is 1133. The total number of Gram Panchayats is 168 covering these villages.
According to the 2011 Census, the total rural population of the district stands at 1444043
covering a rural stretch of 2810.76 sq. km.
Population:
As per the Census data 2011, 1,949,258 persons lived in Dhubri out of which about 88 per
cent are rural. About 70 per cent of the total population is from Minority communities of
which more than 95 per cent are Muslims. The population density of the district is 896
persons per sq Km, which is much higher than the state density of population i.e. 340
persons as per 2011 Census. The total male population of the district is 997848 and female
population is 951410.The total literate population of the district is 922341 out of which
about male literate population is 511551 and female literate population is 410790. The total
worker population in the district is 669819 out of which about total male worker population
is 524898 and female worker population is 144921.
Source: Census of India 2011, District Census Handbook, Dhubri

Fig 3.18: Total Population in Dhubri District
Fig 3.19: Total Worker Population in Dhubri District
Human Development Index:
Dhubri is positioned at the bottom in the HDI list of Assam with considerable lags in the
development procedure of the district. The major HDI components of Dhubri district are
shown in the following Table 3.11
Table 3.11: Human Development Index
Location HDI Value Income Index Education Health Index

Index
Dhubri 0.214 0.102 0.454 0.086
Assam 0.407 0.286 0.595 0.343
Source: Human Development Report, 2011, GOI
Relating to Gender related Development Index (GDI) also, Dhubri ranks at the lower part
of the list having 21st rank, just before Karimganj and Nagaon.
Economy:
Dhubri district is primarily dependent on agriculture and forest products. Main source of
income is paddy with surplus production along with cash crops including Jute and mustard

seed. From forest mainly timber and bamboo add to the income though boulder and sand
also available. Fish, milk, meat and egg have small contribution to the economy. Land
revenue collection is very small in amount whereas excise duty occupies a lion's share of
the Government exchequer. Devoid of any industrial production the district is considered
as one of the poor districts of Assam.
Livestock and Diary:
Livestock farming and dairying practices are common in the rural households of Dhubri
district. However, such activities have not properly been developed to be called for
commercial ventures
Transport and Communication:
The district mostly relies upon road transport. Air and water transport system have not
been well developed in Dhubri. Besides, railway connectivity is not sufficient to meet the
transport need of the people.
Basic and Amenities:
Besides housing standard of the rural people, the standard of living is also judged based on
the availability of certain basic community institutions in the rural locality along with easy
access to these. Safe drinking water, facilities for basic education and health, and social
security are some of the important elements of these basic requirements. There has been
development in the fields of education and public health in the district. However, the
development process has not so far been sufficient as per the requirements of the
households living in the district.
3.3.2 Socio- Economic Profile of South Salmara-Mankachar District (Assam)
South Salmara-Mankachar is newly formed District is situated in the extreme western

corner of Assam. Earlier it was a sub-division of Dhubri District. This district is located on
the globe between 89.85 to 90.12 degree east longitude and 26.10 to 25.28 degree north
latitude. The district is situated at 30 meters above the sea level on average. The river
Brahmaputra flows through the district. On the Northern side of the river Bagribari and
Bilasipara Sub-Divisions under Dhubri district are situated and on the Southern side with
Mankachar town. The district of South Salmara-Mankachar is surrounded by the Dhubri
and Kokrajhar district in the north, Meghalaya & Bangladesh in the south, Bongaigaon &
Goalpara district in the east, West Bengal and Bangladesh in the west. The total area of
South Salmara-Mankachar district is 568 sq. km. having a distance of about 245 km. from
the State capital, Guwahati/Dispur. It has two urban areas Hatsingimari (Sadar)
&Manakchar with a total urban population of 29,607.
The name South Salmara-Mankachar comes from the Legislative constituency South
Salmara and Mankachar. South Salmara-Mankachar District was created by bifurcating
Old Dhubri district in 2016. On 15th August, 2015 Assam's Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi

announced 5 new administrative district in Assam; South Salmara Mankachar was one
among those. On 9th February, 2016 Commissioner inaugurated South Salmara-
Mankachar as an administrative district. At present there is only one sub-division. South
Salmara-Mankachar, Hatsingimari (Sadar).The district has 2 revenue circles and 2 tehsils.
It has 3 police stations and 1 census town namely Mankachar. There are two Assam
Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: 21 Mankachar, 22 South Salmara. All
two are in the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency. According to the 2011 Census, the total
rural population of the district stands at 528952 covering a rural stretch of 240.32 sq. km.
Population:
As per the Census data 2011, 555114 persons lived in South Salmara-Mankachar out of
which about 95 per cent are rural. About 70 per cent of the total population is from
Minority communities of which more than 95 per cent are Muslims. The population
density of the district is 977 persons per sq.km, which is much higher than the state density
of population i.e. 340 persons as per 2011 Census. The literacy rate of the South Salmara-
Mankachar district is 40 per cent as against 72.19 per cent of the state total. Of this, the
male literacy rate is 55.26 per cent and female literacy is 44.74 per cent.
Source: Census of India 2011, District Census Handbook, Dhubri
Fig 3.20: Literacy rate in South SalmaraMankachar District
Human Development Index:
South Salmara-Mankachar district (old Dhubri district) is positioned at the bottom in the
HDI list of Assam with considerable lags in the development procedure of the district. The
major HDI components of South Salmara-Mankachar (old Dhubri district) are shown in the
following Table 3.12
Table 3.12: Human Development Index
Location HDI Value Income Index Education Health Index

Index
Dhubri 0.214 0.102 0.454 0.086
Assam 0.407 0.286 0.595 0.343
Source: Human Development Report, 2011, GOI
Relating to Gender related Development Index (GDI) also, Dhubri ranks at the lower part
of the list having 21st rank, just before Karimganj and Nagaon.

Economy:
South Salmara-Mankachar District is primarily dependent on agricultural and forest

products. The main source of income is paddy (both winter and autumn) with surplus
production. Jute and mustard seed occupy the major share of cash crops. Wheat, maize,
pulses and sugar cane are also grown moderately. From forest, mainly timber and bamboo
add to the income, though boulders and sand are also available. Fish, milk, meat, and eggs
have small contribution to the economy. Currently three tea gardens, whose contribution to
the district economy is almost negligible, cover an area of 1362.33 hectares. Land revenue
collection is minimal, whereas tax from check gates and excise duty occupy much of the
government exchequer. Devoid of major industrial production, the district uses more funds
for administration, development, and welfare works than it provides. Its rich natural wealth
is yet to be explored and some believe that proper utilization of natural resources could
provide a boost for the struggling economy.
Livestock farming and dairying practices are common in the rural households of South
Salmara-Mankachar district. However, such activities have not properly been developed to
be called for commercial ventures.
The district mostly relies upon road transport. Air and water transport system have not
been well developed in South Salmara-Mankachar district. There is no Railway station in
this district. There is no National Highway in the district. Transportation takes place
through state maintained pwd roads, which are full of potholes.
3.3.3 Socio-Economic Profile of West Gharo District (Meghalaya)
West Garo Hills, as the name suggests, is located in the western part of the State of
Meghalaya. The Garo Hills district was divided into two districts, viz. the West Garo Hills
district and the East Garo Hills district in October 1976. The erstwhile West Garo Hills
district was further divided into two administrative districts of West and South Garo Hills
on June 1992. The district headquarters of West Garo Hills is Tura, which is the second
largest town in Meghalaya after Shillong. The total area of the district is 3714 sq. km. As
the name suggests the district is mostly hilly with plains fringing the northern, western and
the south-western borders. West Garo Hills has three important mountain ranges viz. Tura
Range, Arbella Range and Ranggira Range.

Administratively the district is divided into three subdivisions viz. Tura, Phulbari and Dalu.
There are seven revenue circles and eight community development blocks (CD) in the
district. The total number of villages in the districts is 1507 of which 1469 are inhabited.
Under Article 244(2) of the Indian Constitution the provisions of Sixth Schedule is
applicable to the district.
Population:
As per the Census data 2011, the demographic profile of the district shows that 79.54
percent of the total rural population in the district belongs to the minority community, of
which Christians comprise 66 percent. The population density in the district which stands
at 175 persons per sq.km is significantly higher than the state average of 132 persons as per
the 2011 census. As per the Census data 2011, 643291 persons lived in West Gharo district
out of which about 324159in male population and 319132 is female population. The total
literate population of the district is 358702 out of which about male literate population is
193438 and female literate population is 165264. The total worker population in the district
is 255693out of which about total male worker population is 151914 and female worker
population is 103779.
Sex Ratio:
An important indicator of gender equality is the number of females per thousand males. As
per the 2011 census data, the sex ratio of West Garo Hills stands at 984 females per
thousand males while the child sex ratio for (0-6 years) is 960. Significantly, the sex ratio
for rural areas in the district stands higher than the district total. The sex ratio data shows
that gender parity among the Hindus is least among all the religious groups
Literacy:
The literacy rate in the district as per the Census, 2011 is lower (67.58) than the state
average (74.43). Although the female literacy rate in the urban areas of the district is more
than 80 percent, however in rural areas of the State female literacy rate is very low. The
rural literacy rate in the district is significantly lower than the State averages.
Fig 3.21: Total Worker Population in West Gharo District

Fig 3.22: Total Worker Population in West Gharo District
Economy:
The economy of West Gharo Hills district is basically agrarian in nature with about 80
percent of the population dependent on agriculture. Paddy is the major crop. The agro
climatic conditions of the district are conducive for various agricultural activities.
Agriculture in the district is characterized by dependence on rainfall, predominance of
seasonal crops and traditional methods of cultivation.

In respect of livestock possession, the survey clearly indicates that majority (77 percent) of
the sample households possessed poultry, milch animal is possessed by 61 percent and pigs
are reared by 35 percent of the sample households. The Christian households possessed
more livestock than any other religious groups.
Dairying is practiced by most of the small and marginal farmers and landless labourers in
the district and to them this activity provides economic security by serving as a hedge
against crop failure. The economy of the district is basically agrarian and as such the
economic development of the district is mostly dependent on agriculture and allied
activities. Traditionally, dairy farming is a subsidiary occupation of the farmers of the
district. The district has the highest poultry production in the state. The milk production
from indigenous cattle and buffaloes is also the highest in the state.
Tura, the headquarters of the district, is well connected by road with other places in the
district as well as with the rest of the Meghalaya and Assam. Bus services by Meghalaya
Transport Corporation and other private transport services connect Tura with all important
places in the districts of Garo Hills and also to Shillong (323 kms), the capital of the State.
The district headquarter is connected to Guwahati (220 kms), the capital of Assam, which
is also the nearest railhead and also to Siliguri in North Bengal. The town is connected to
Dhubri in Assam by road and river transport. Helicopter services are available from Tura to
Shillong and Guwahati. The National Highway 51 connecting Paikan on National Highway
37 in Assam with Tura, the district headquarter which extends further to Dalu, near the
Bangladesh border is the main road link for the district. However, rural road connectivity

in the district is fairly low as only 29 percent of the rural areas are reported to have paved
roads
3.3.4 Biological Environment
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms at all levels of organization, from gene
through species to higher taxonomic forms and also includes the variety of ecosystems and
habitats as well the processes occurring therein. Biodiversity is fundamental to the
fulfilment of human needs - a biodiversity rich region offers wide options and
opportunities for sustaining human welfare including adoption to changes.
India is one of the 17 Mega bio diverse countries in the world and accounts for 7-8 % of
the recorded species. The State of Assam is a constituent unit of the Eastern Himalayan
Biodiversity Region; one of the two biodiversity “Hot Spots” in the country .The climatic
condition and wide variety in physical features witnessed in Assam have resulted in a
diversity of ecological habitats such as forests, grasslands ,wetlands, which harbour and
sustain wide ranging floral and faunal species placing
However, today, Assam is not only more fancied, but also known for its ecological
diversity, for the range of floral and faunal species and for the conservation successes
achieved. Kaziranga, Manas, Pobitora, Orang, Dibru-Saikhowa are names recognized
world over and bring laurels to the people of this magnificent State.
Meghalaya is situated in the North East India Bio-geographic zone (along with Assam,
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura) which is a significant region as it represents a
transition zone between the Indian, Indo-Malayan, Indo-Chinese bio-geographic regions as
well as a meeting place of Himalayan mountains with that of Peninsular India. The region
is one of the richest in biological values with vegetation types ranging from tropical rain
forest in the foothills to Alpine meadows and cold deserts.
The state also represents an important part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot which is
one of the 4 bio-diversity hotspots present in India and 34 in the world.
The state of Meghalaya has been identified as a key area for biodiversity conservation due
to its high species diversity and high level of endemism.
Diverse Plant Communities:
In the “Revised Survey of Forest Types in India”, Champion and Seth categorized as many
as fifty one different forest types/ sub types for this region. But, the species diversity is so
spectacular that it becomes often difficult to clearly identify separate riche to existing plant

formations. However, broadly speaking the forest in Assam can be described into
following types/ sub types.
§ Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests.
§ Tropical Semi Evergreen Forests.
§ Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests.
§ Sub-tropical Broadleaf Hill Forests.
§ Sub-tropical Pine Forests.
§ Littoral and Swamp Forests.
§ Grassland and Savannahs.
Moist Deciduous Forests can further be described as Sal Forests and Mixed Deciduous
Forests. Sal Forests occupy considerable forest area in the Central and Lower parts of
theState in the Districts of Nagaon, Morigaon, Kamrup, parts of Nalbari and Barpeta,
Darrang, Dhubri, Kokrajhar and Goalpara.
In these forests, Sal grows in association with Lagerstroemia species (Jarul, Ajar),
SchimaWallichii (Ghugra), Stereospermumpersonatum (Paruli), Adina cordifolia (Haldu),
Artocarpus species ( Sam), Ficus species( Bor, Dimoru, Dhupbor, Bot, Athabor, tengabor,
Lotadioru, Khongaldimoru), Bischofiajavanica (Uriam), Gmelinaarborea (Gomari),
Micheliachampaca (Teetachampa), Terminalia species (Hilikha, Bhomora, Bohera). Toona
ciliate (Poma) etc.
The floral diversity of Meghalaya is well reputed for its richness and has been a centre of
attraction for many botanists. The presence of a large number of primitive flowering plants
has prompted Takhtajan (1969) to call it the Cradle of Flowering Plants’. Meghalaya
harbours about 3,128 species of flowering plants and contributes about 18% of the total
flora of the country, including 1,237 endemic species (Khan et al 1997). A wide variety of
wild cultivable plants, edible fruits, leafy vegetables and orchids are found in the natural
forests of Meghalaya. However due to overexploitation, deforestation and habitat
destruction many endemic and threatened species are now mainly confined to the protected
areas and sacred groves.
According to Champion & Seth (1968), major forest types in the state of Meghalaya are:-
§ Assam Sub-tropical Hill Savanna
§ Khasi Sub-tropical Hill Forests
§ Assam Sub-tropical Pine Forests
§ Assam Sub-tropical Pine Savannah
Haridasan & Rao (1985-87) recognized the following major categories of vegetation in
Meghalaya based on altitude, rainfall and dominant species composition:
Tropical Moist and Dry Deciduous Forest: This is a very prominent vegetation of
Meghalaya covering a large part of East and West Garo Hills, Ri-bhoi districts etc, in areas
of annual rainfall less than 1500mm and high temperature. These forests are characterised
by seasonal leaf shedding and profuse flowering. The dominant tree species which are
valued economically are Shorearobusta, Tectonagrandis, Terminaliamyriocarpa,
Gmelinaarborea, Artocarpuschapsala, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Maoruslaevigata etc. Other

associated species are Schimawallichii, Toona ciliata, Albizzialebbeck, Dilleniapentagyna,

etc. The epiphytic flora in less but orchids, ferns, Asclepidaiceae members is often seen.
Bamboo forests are not natural but occur in patches sporadically in jhum fallows. The
common bamboo species are Dendrocalamushamiltonii and Melocannabambusoides. Some
other species less frequently found are Bambusapallida, Bambusatulda,
Chimonobambusakhasiana, etc.
Medicinal Plant diversity in Assam and Meghalaya:

Assam is home to a good number of plants having medicinal uses in Ayurvedic, Unani,
Homeopathic and even modern medical practices. Quite a few of them are used by
traditional village practitioners called Bej and people respond favourably to these
traditional practitioners particularly in rural areas. Altogether, 952 plants species have been
identified which have uses in medical practices in some form or other. Asparagus racemosa
(Satmul), Curcuma aromatica (Ban-haldi), Emblicaofficinalis (bel), Terminalia species (Hilikha,
Bahera), Eugenia jambolana(Loha-jam),Garcina species (Thekera), Holarrhinaantidysentrica
(Dudhkuri), Hydnocarpuskurzii (Chalmugra), Litseacubeba (Mejankuri), Ocimum species.(Tulsi),
Phlogocanthusthyrsiflorus (Titaphul), Piper longum (pipoli), Saraca indica (Asoka),
Wedeliacalandulacea (Mahabhringraj), Zinziberofficinalis (Ada) are some of the most commonly
used plants in treatment of various ailments.
Of the total 3,331 plant species recorded in the state Meghalaya around 834 (25.04%) are estimated
to be employed in healthcare. These species are distributed in 548 genera and 166 families. The
family with the highest number of medicinal plant species is Rubiaceae followed by Asteraceae and
Fabaceae. These species are restricted mainly to sacred groves, community forests and reserved
forests and some to grasslands, roadsides, cults and fields, etc.

Dhubri & South Salmara District
West Gharo District
Fig 3.23: Forest Map of Dhubri / South SalmaraMankachar in Assam and West
Gharo District in Meghalaya
Forest Cover in Dhubri / South Salmara Mankachar District:

Dhubri / South Salmara District has a total of 27915 hectares of land under reserve forests
along with a proposed18588 hectares of land to be proposed reserve forest, altogether
showing total forest cover as 46503 hectares for the district. However, no concret target has
so far been made by the government for enhancing the forest coverage of the district.
Plantation and Horticulture:
The district has vast potential for development of plantation and horticultural crops. There
has been an impressive growth of horticultural crops in the district in recent years. At
present horticultural crops are cultivated in 47150 with fruits and nut crops 20000 hectares,
vegetables 11000 hectares, root and tuber crops such as tapioca, colocasia, sweet potato
etc. in 6200 hectares. Besides, other horticultural crops are also cultivated in the district.
Most of these horticultural crops are cultivated in traditional ways. Therefore, the yield and
quality of these products are not up to the commercial grades available in 15 the market.
Government record reveals that there are about 19300 hectares of additional area which
can be brought under horticulture with minimum effort.
Source: http://www.icssr.org/Dhubri

Forest Cover in West Gharo District:
The total forest cover in West Gharo Hills district is 2022 sq. km (54.42 percent) of the
total land area which comprises of 1040 sq. km of open forest and 607 sq. km of dense
forest. The district has a total of 19.21 sq. km of reserved forest comprising of Dibru Hills
(15.02sq.km) and Tura Peak (4.19 sq. km). The table below shows the forest type
classification for West Garo Hills district.
Source: http://www.icssr.org/

4.0. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
4.1 Major Laws and Regulations Relevant to the Project
4.1.1 General

Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) considering the
growing need of better road transport has decided to construct a Two / Four lane bridges
including approaches over River Brahmaputra between Dhubri on North Bank and Phulbari
on South Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km).
4.1.2 Institutional Setting In Environmental Context
The primary responsibility of administration and implementation of the Government of

India’s policy with respect to environmental management, conservation, ecologically
sustainable development, and pollution control rests with the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate change (MoEF&CC). The MoEF&CC has a number of agencies and
institutions to implement the environmental policies. Such as:
§ Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): It is a statutory authority attached to

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
§ MoEF&CC Regional Offices: The country is divided into several regions, with
each region having a Regional Office.
§ State Pollution Control Board (SPCB): These play the role in environmental
management at the state level, with emphasis on air and water qualities.
§ State Department of Environment and Forests: These perform function similar to
MoEF&CC only at the state level.
4.1.3 Government Of India - Acts And Regulations
The Government of India has laid down various policy guidelines, regulations, acts and
legislations pertaining to sustenance of environment. The following Table 4.1 shows the
relevant environmental legislations and implementing agencies.

Table 4.1: Relevant Environmental Legislations and Implementing Agencies
4.1.4 Key Statutory Clearance Requirements – Construction Stage
During the construction stage, some of the key statutory requirements that need to be
obtained by the Contractor as part of mobilization (pre-construction) have been listed in the
Table 4.2 given below.
Table 4.2: Key Statutory Clearances to be obtained by the Contractor
Statute under which Statutory

S. No. Clearance Required for
clearance is required Authority
Hot mix plants, Crushers and Air (Prevention and Control of

Batch Mix Plants Pollution) Act, 1981 and Noise State Pollution
1
Pollution (Regulation and Control) Control Board
Rules, 2000
Storage, handling and

Hazardous Waste (Management
transport of hazardous State Pollution
2 and Handling) Rules, 1989 and
materials Control Board
Manufacturing, Storage and Import
of Hazardous Chemicals Rules,

Statute under which Statutory

S. No. Clearance Required for
clearance is required Authority
1989
Environment Protection Act, 1986

Location/ layout of workers
and Manufacturing, Storage and State Pollution
3 camp, equipment and storage
Import of Hazardous Chemicals Control Board
yards
Rules, 1989
Dept. of Mining;
Quarries (in case of opening
4 Environment Protection Act, 1986 Concerned District
of new quarries)
Administration
Discharges from Labour Water (Prevention and Control of State Pollution

5
Camp Pollution) Act, 1974 Control Board
Permission for withdrawal of State Ground

6 Environment Protection Act, 1986
groundwater for construction Water Board
Permission for sand mining SEIAA, Assam /

7 Environment Protection Act, 1986
from river bed Meghalaya
Disposal of bituminous Hazardous Waste (Management As per state norm/

8
wastes and Handling) Rules, 1989 Local Civic Body
4.2 JICA’s Guidelines for Environment and Social Considerations
Application of JICA’s Guidelines for Environment and Social Considerations (ESCs) is

required if a project is funded by JICA. If a significantly adverse impact on the
environment or society has been identified during a JICA-assisted project, the following
has to be thoroughly considered and studied.
(1) ESCs are Pre-Requisite

a. JICA will take necessary measures to ensure that the appropriate ESC is given;
b. When JICA reviews a project proposal and finds that the project could cause negative
impacts on the environment or society, JICA advises that the project proponents
provide appropriate ESC;
c. If the negative impact of the project cannot be avoided or mitigated to an acceptable
level, JICA will not support its implementation.

(2) Respect Human Rights

a. Development project should aim for fair distribution of its benefits and must not
burden or exclude certain stakeholders for the sake of others;
b. The project proponents must respect the rights of all people concerned, and pay special
attention to vulnerable social groups such as women, elderly, the poor, people with
disabilities, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, and other minority groups to ensure
that they are involved in decision-making processes and that they benefit from the
project;
c. JICA’s ESC Guidelines define ‘stakeholders’ as local residents including non-
titleholders who are affected by the project as well as local NGOs. By involving local
stakeholders from the early stage of the project, the project proponents can receive
their inputs and plan appropriate measures to address their concerns, avoid conflict,
and achieve higher results with their support. For this reason, the project proponents
should conduct a series of consultations with local stakeholders in an interactive and
meaningful manner. During this process, appropriate consideration must be given to
socially vulnerable people such as women, children, the elderly and ethnic minorities.
(3) Avoid Adverse Impacts

a. Priority should be given to the avoidance of adverse impacts on the environment or
society when a project is planned;
b. Minimization or mitigation of impacts should be considered only if avoidance is not
feasible and if the benefit of the project outweighs the cost of mitigation measures;
c. The project proponents must assess the environmental and social impacts at the earliest
possible stage of planning, and implement ESC measures in accordance with the ESC
Guidelines 9.
(4) Information on ESC Must be Disclosed to the Public

a. Information disclosure is key in ESC. Project proponents must proactively release
relevant information to the public;
b. Sharing information with a wide range of stakeholders from the early stage, the project
proponents can utilize their feedback to improve the plan/project. In addition, the
project proponents can ensure that unnecessary concerns and misunderstandings
among the stakeholders are ameliorated.
(5) Host Country’s Laws, Standards, Policies and Plans

a. A JICA-funded project must comply with the laws, standards, policies, and plans of
the host country;
b. If the standard set by the host country differs from the international standard, the
project proponents are advised to adopt an international standard that better serves the
purpose of attaining a higher level of ESC.
(6)The World Bank’s Safeguard Policies

ESC in a JICA project must be in line with the World Bank’s Safeguard Policies including:
a) Operational Policy on Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01);

b) Natural Habitats (OP 4.04);

c) Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12);
d) Indigenous Peoples (OP 4.10), and other relevant policies.
4.3 World Bank’s Environment Safeguard Policy
The World Bank's environmental and social safeguard policies (ten of them) are a
cornerstone of its support to sustainable poverty reduction. The objective of these policies
is to prevent and mitigate undue harm to people and the environment in the development
process. These policies provide guidelines for the identification, preparation, and
implementation of programs and projects. The following Table 4.3 shows operational
policies are relevant in context of the Project from an environmental viewpoint:
Table 4.3: Applicable Safeguards Policies of the World Bank
World Bank Measures to be

Description Applicability
Policy incorporated
Environmental This policy is triggered if The project Application of EMF in
Assessment a project is likely to have may have project planning, DPR
OP 4.01 significant adverse impacts on the preparation and project
environmental impacts in environmental implementation.
its area of influence. For components Integration of EHS
category A projects, a such as on requirements in standard
comprehensive EIA is water bodies, bidding documents will
required with emphasis trees, and hill provide enabling
on integrating slopes. mechanism for required
environmental measures enforcement.
in project planning,
design, implementation
and operation.
Natural Habitats This policy supports the Some projects
Development of
OP 4.04 protection, maintenance are likely to be
environmental screening
and rehabilitation of in close
tool and conduction of the
natural habitats. The proximity to
said exercise to determine
Bank doesn’t finance sensitive
the nature and magnitude
projects that involve the natural
of impacts on sensitive and
conversion of designated habitats.
ecologically critical areas.
critical Natural habitats. Appropriate measures to
deal with such findings,
including exclusion of
some project roads, as may
be necessary.
Forests OP 4.36 Policy covers all projects Some projects Avoidance and/or
that affect natural or are in close minimization of forest


Policy incorporated
planted forests, whether proximity to or uptake by appropriate
positively or negatively. traverse forest methods in the engineering
areas and may design; Forest Clearances
need forest prior to award of works;
land diversion. Use of EMF to address
impacts as necessary;
Compensatory
Afforestation.
Consultation and The policy requires the For each sub- Feasibility/DPR
Disclosure borrower to consult project road, consultants have carried
Requirements Project Affected People comprehensive out consultations during
(BP 17.50) and local NGOs through consultations the screening exercises.
the various phases of the will be Where reports from the
project: before EIA required during consultations have been
TORs are finalized and the design, found to be grossly
when the draft EIA is planning and insufficient, the Bank has
available. It requires that implementatio provided further guidance
groups being consulted n stages: to for additional consultations
be provided on-time, determine the with regards to ensuring
comprehensible and baseline representativeness in both
easily accessible conditions/ number and categories of
information before issues; locally stakeholders, prior
consultations. The policy viable notification and
also requires that the mitigation methodology to adopt in
borrower to make the EA measures for order to ensure usefulness
summary available in the addressing of the consultations to both
state (in a local language) environmental the affected groups and the
and a public places to all impacts; borrower in terms of
the stakeholders prior to consensus on design, planning,
appraisal. engineering implementation,
designs supervision and
especially maintenance of the roads
where projects. Another important
realignments dimension of the
and bypasses consultations is with
are concerned; seeking consensus on road
community engineering designs where
involvement/ realignments and bypasses
support for are concerned.
supervising
and monitoring


Policy incorporated
project
implementatio
n.
Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01)

Environmental Assessment is used in the World Bank to identify, avoid, and mitigate the
potential negative environmental impacts associated with Bank’s lending operations early-
on in the project cycle. The policy states that Environment Assessment (EA) and
mitigation plans are required for all projects having significant adverse environmental
impacts or involuntary resettlement. Assessment should include analysis of alternative
designs and sites, or consideration of “no option” and require public participation and
information disclosure before the Bank approves the project.
In World Bank operations, the purpose of Environmental Assessment is to improve
decision making, to ensure that project options under consideration are sound and
sustainable, and that potentially affected people have been properly consulted and their
concerns addressed.
The World Bank's Environmental Assessment Policy and Recommended processing are
described in Operational Policy (OP)/Bank Procedure (BP) 4.01: Environmental
Assessment.
Natural Habitat (OP 4.04)
The policy implementation ensures that Bank-supported development projects give proper
consideration to the conservation of natural habitats, in order to safeguard their unique
biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of the environmental services and products
which natural habitats provide to human society.
This policy is applicable when a project (including any subproject under a sector
investment or financial intermediary loan) with the potential to cause significant
conversion (loss) or degradation of natural habitats, whether directly (through
construction) or indirectly (through human activities induced by the project).
Forest Policy (OP 4.36)
The implementation of the policy ensures that envisaged forest sector activities and other
Bank sponsored interventions which have the potential to impact significantly upon
forested areas:
1. Do not encroach upon significant natural forest areas that serve important social,
environmental or local economic purposes.
2. Do not compromise the rights of local communities to continue their traditional use
of forests in a sustainable fashion.
3. Do not finance commercial logging operations, in the case of primary tropical
moist forest, nor any purchase of equipment for this purpose.
Cultural Property (OP 4.11)
The World Bank Policy OP/BP 4.11 defines physical cultural resources as movable or
immovable objects, sites, structures, groups of structures, natural features and landscapes
that have archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic, or
other cultural significance. Physical cultural resources may be located in urban or rural
settings, and may be above or below ground, or under water. Their cultural interest may be
at the local, provincial or national level, or within the international community.
The Bank assists countries to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts on physical cultural
resources from development projects that it finances. The impacts on physical cultural
resources resulting from project activities, including mitigating measures, may not
contravene either the borrower’s national legislation, or its obligations under relevant
international environmental treaties and agreements.
The borrower addresses impacts on physical cultural resources in projects proposed for
Bank financing, as an integral part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) process.
4.4 Safeguard Policy of Asian Development Bank
(1) Latest Development of ADB Operations
The ADB’s Environment Policy mandates the consideration of environment in all aspects
of ADB’s operations. The “Environment Policy and Operations Manual (OM) 20:
Environmental Considerations in ADB Operations” outlines ADB’s environmental
assessment procedures and requirements. In 2003, ADB updated the old guidelines of 1993
and the contents are summarized as follows:
a. Introduced a check-list system of the Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) for

determining the environment category;
b. Introduction of the Country Environmental Analysis (CEA) as a requirement in
preparation of the Country Strategy and Program (CSP);
c. Introduction of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as an optional tool
for the environmental assessment for program loans, sector development program
loans, and sector loans;
d. Establishing a new category FI for lending activities to financial intermediaries and
other intermediaries and outlining the environmental assessment requirements to
apply to this category;
e. Strengthening the requirements of Environmental Management Plans (EMP);
f. Recommending environmentally responsible procurement; and
g. Strengthening public consultation as an integral part of environmental assessment
and management.
(2) General Contents of EIA Study
a. Coordinate with environment and government concerned agencies;

b. Prepare a project description, define the study area, collect environmental baseline
data, prepare site maps, and other relevant maps for the study area;
c. Identify potential environmental impacts based on the information obtained on the
proposed project and the baseline environmental conditions of the study area;
d. Identify alternatives and analyse the environmental impacts of each alternative and
propose measures to avoid or prevent impacts;
e. Estimate the magnitudes of environmental impacts and assess the significance of

the impacts;
f. Recommend environmental mitigation measures and estimate the mitigation costs;
g. Prepare an EMP to be implemented by the executing agency during project
implementation, operation and abandonment;
h. Prepare the EIA and SEIA reports;
i. Conduct public consultation and ensure information disclosure; and develop plans
for public consultation and information disclosure during project implementation;
j. Assess the executing agency’s capacity to undertake an environmental review of the
environmental assessment report and EMP recommendations, and recommend
measures for capacity building if necessary;
k. Ensure that the proposed project, with EIA and EMP implementation, conforms to
the Government and ADB environmental assessment requirements, policies and
regulations.
l. Economic assessment that should be carried out includes i) the costs and benefits of
environmental impacts; ii) the costs, benefits, and cost effectiveness of mitigation
measures; and iii) for environmental impacts that have not been expressed in
monetary values, a discussion of such impacts, if possible, in quantitative terms.
4.5 Comparison of JICA/WB/ADB Guidelines and EIA Regulations of India
The JICA guidelines, World Bank and ADB Operational Manual and Environmental
Safeguard policies, procedures & practices described in the Section 9.3.7 to 9.3.9 are
compared to the following Government of India’s guidelines in order to find the
differences and elaborate on a way to fill in the gaps if any.
· “Environmental Guidelines for Selected Infrastructure Projects”;

· “Project Terms of Reference (TOR)”;
· “Environmental guidelines for Road/Rail/Highway Projects”, Government of India,
1989
· “Handbook of environmental procedures and guidelines”, 1994, Government of India
· “Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment of Highway Projects” (IRC:104-
1988); and
· The Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and a series of its amendments as follows:
S.O.695, [4/04/2011] - Amendment to EIA Notification, 2006,
S.O.156, [25/01/2012] - Amendment to EIA Notification, 2006,
S.O.945, [11/06/2007] - Environmental Impact Assessment Notification-2007,
S.O.3067, [01/12/2009] - Environmental Impact Assessment Notification-2009
S.O.1850, [14/08/2012] - Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2012

Based on the above, a study on India’s laws and regulations, and comparing them to the
JICA/WB/ADB Guidelines is carried out in the following stages:
· The baseline environmental information in the study area such as; climate,
physiographic features, drainage, geology, flora, fauna, ambient air, water and noise and
socio-economic conditions.
· Reviews of the literature, laws and guidelines and discussions with concerned agencies
and organizations, National/State Authorities
· A reconnaissance survey along with public consultation that occurred from October
2016 to July 2017 and processes of public consultation continued until the completion of
the study to inform the people about the project and collect the information/suggestions
on environmental issues.
· The monitoring network with regard to air, water, soil and noise pollution.
· Assessment of the potential significant impacts and identification of the mitigate
measures to address impacts adequately.
· Field observations including public consultation.
· Screening, testing and monitoring of environmental factors like air, water, soil and the
noise level.
· Collection of secondary data from various departments.
· Compilation, analysis and presentation of the report.
Table 4-4: Comparison between JICA Guideline and Laws in India regarding EIA
Principle for this
No. Items JICA Guideline Laws in India
Project
1 Requirement Environmental and Projects requiring EIA EIA will be
of EIA social surveys at the (Category A projects) prepared as
EIA level (Category i) New National category A in
A projects) Highways accordance with
Proposed projects ii) Expansion of JICA Guidelines
likely to have National Highways though not required
significant adverse greater than 100km by Laws in India
impacts on the involving an additional
environment and right of way or land
society. Category A acquisition greater than
includes projects in 40m on the existing
sensitive sectors (ex. alignments and 60m on
Roads, railways, and re-alignments and
bridges), projects bypasses.
that have
characteristics that Projects whose
are liable to cause requirements of EIA
adverse are judged by the state
environmental level Environment
impacts (ex. Large- Impact Assessment
scale involuntary Authority (Category B
resettlement), and projects)
projects located in or i) State Highway
near sensitive areas. ii) State highway
IEE level (Category Expansion projects in

Principle for this

Project
B projects) hilly terrain (above
Projects whose 1,000 m AMSL) and or
potential adverse ecologically sensitive
impacts on the areas
environment and
society are less
adverse than those of
Category A projects.
2 Scope of In addition to the Factors which could Derivative,
Impacts to direct and immediate lead to environmental secondary, and
Be Assessed impacts of projects, effects or the potential cumulative impacts
their derivative, for cumulative impacts as well as the
secondary, and shall be identified. impacts of projects
cumulative impacts Indirect impacts on the that are indivisible
as well as the avifauna of the area from the project are
impacts of projects shall be examined. also to be
that are indivisible examined.
from the project are
also to be examined
and assessed to a
reasonable extent.
3 Stakeholder Stakeholder Public consultation To hold
meetings/ meetings shall be shall be conducted after Stakeholder
Public held at the stages of submission of draft meetings at the
consultation the scoping draft and report. stages of scoping
report draft. draft and report
draft.
4 Disclosure EIA reports are MOEFCC shall display To disclose EIA in

of EIA required to be made the Summary of the accordance with
available to local draft EIA report on its JICA Guidelines.
residents of the website, and also make
country in which the the full draft EIA
project is to be available for reference
implemented. The at a notified place
EIA reports are during normal office
required to be hours at the Ministry in
available at all times Delhi.
for perusal by project
stakeholders such as
local residents; and
copying must be
permitted.
5 Certificate If the project Forest Clearance will To confirm
regarding requires a certificate be required. requirement of
the other than an EIA The Contractor has to permits in
environment regarding the obtain permits from accordance with the

Principle for this

Project
and society environment and MSPCB for setting up laws in India.
society, indicate the hot-mix plants,
title of said batching plants, etc.,
certificate and under the Air and the
confirm the Water Acts, whose
approval. results shall be reported
to the Project
proponents.
6 Monitoring After projects begin, Project proponents are To implement
project proponents required to submit environmental
etc. monitor whether environmental monitoring in
any unforeseeable management plan & accordance with the
situations occur and monitoring programme. laws in India.
whether the It shall be mandatory
performance and for the project
effectiveness of management to submit
mitigation measures every half a year
are consistent with compliance reports in
the assessment’s respect tothe stipulated
prediction. They then prior environmental
take appropriate clearance terms and
measures based on conditions.
the results of such
monitoring.
In cases where
sufficient monitoring
is deemed essential,
project proponents
etc. must ensure that
project plans include
feasible monitoring
plans.
Project proponents
etc. should make
efforts to make the
results of the
monitoring process
available to local
project stakeholders.
4.6 Central Level Institutions
(1) National Highways Authority of India
The proposed Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge has been initiated and is being carried out by the
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL),

under the auspice of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MORTH). Though the
primary responsibility of the Project rests with the NHIDCL, there are various institutions
involved in the Project and their level of responsibilities in the project implementation are
as follows:
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Regional Offices under the Ministry
of Road Transport and Highway (MORTH) promote the national highway development
project while the Border Roads Organization (BRO) under the Border Roads Development
Board (BRDB) has control over roads in border regions. The NHIDCL was established for
promoting the development of National Highways in North East and border areas of India,
and started operation from January 1st , 2015.
The NHAI has been established under the National Highways Authority of India Act of
1988. It is the main nodal agency responsible for developing, managing and maintaining
India’s network of national highways. It became an autonomous body in 1995. NHAI
maintains 70,934km of national highways and expressways across India.
The development of the Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge project has been promoted by NHIDCL,
which is a company fully owned by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways of the
Government of India. The function of the NHIDCL is to promote the surveying, designing,
building, operating, maintaining and upgrading of national highways and the development
of strategic roads such as interconnecting roads in various parts of the country including
those in areas with international boundaries with the neighbouring countries.
The company also proposes to improve road connectivity and the efficiency of the
international trade corridors by expanding about 500km of roads in the North Bengal and
North-eastern Region of India.
(2) Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC)
The primary responsibility for administration and implementation of the Government of

India’s (GOI) policy with respect to environmental management, conservation,
ecologically sustainable development and pollution control rests with the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC). Established in 1985, the MOEFCC
is the agency primarily responsible for the review and approval of EIAs pursuant to GOI
legislation.
(3) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Statutory authority attached to the MOEFCC, the main responsibilities of CPCB include
the following:
- Planning and implementing water and air pollution control programs;
- Advising the central government on water and air pollution control programs;
- Setting air and water standards; and
- Coordinating the various State Pollution Control Boards.
The role of the CPCB for this Project will only be in an advisory capacity while the Project
shall adhere to the norms and standards set up by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control
Board (MSPCB).
4.7 State LEVEL Institutions

(1) Public Works Department

The Public Works Department (PWD) is the premier agency of the state government
engaged in planning, designing, construction, and maintenance of the government assets in
the field of infrastructure development. Assets in infrastructure development include roads,
bridges, urban centers, footpaths, new capital complexes, and airports. Assets such as
hospitals, schools, colleges, technical institutes, police buildings, prisons, and courts
among others are also under the PWD’s jurisdiction. PWD Assam / Meghalaya also
sustains and preserves these assets through a system of maintenance, which includes
specialized services such as rehabilitation works, roads signage, and aesthetic treatments
like interiors, landscaping etc.
(2) MOEFCC Regional Offices
MOEFCC has set up regional offices that cover the Northeastern Region including Assam /
Meghalaya. It is located in Shillong, Meghalaya. This office is responsible for collecting
and furnishing information relating to the EIA of various projects in respect topollution
control measures, methodology, and status, legal and enforcement measures and
environmental protection in special conservation areas such as wetlands, mangroves and
biosphere reserves.
(3) State Pollution Control Board, Assam / Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board
The State Pollution Control Boards have the mandate for environmental management at the
state level, with emphasis on air and water quality. It is responsible for the planning and
executing of state-level air and water initiatives, advising the state government on air,
water and industry issues, establishing standards based on the National Minimum
Standards, the enforcing and monitoring of all activities within the state under the Air Act,
the Water Act and other relevant acts pertaining to pollution control.
They also conduct and organize public hearings for projects as defined by the various Acts
and as stipulated by the amendment related to the EIA Act. It also issues No-objection
Certificates (NOC) for environment clearance for industrial development defined in such a
way as to include road projects’ quarrying etc., which usually relate to water and soil
contamination.
(4) Assam / Meghalaya State Forest and Environment Department
The Assam / Meghalaya Forest and Environment Department is responsible for the
protection and management of the forest areas in the states that are designated for
protection, conservation and production purposes. The Forest and Environment Department
follows what is laid out in the Forest Working Plans for the various forest divisions to
manage and protect the forest resources. These plans form the basis for managing the forest
resources. is the department is responsible for granting licenses for clearances of the forest
areas for various projects, according to the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act,
1980.The State Forest and Environment Department performs functions similar to those of

the MOEFCC at the state level but more specific to forestry activities including social
forestry and production forestry development and licensing.
4.8 Requirements of Environment Clearance
Environmental Clearance is not required for this project as per the MoEFCC notification,
2013.
Other clearances required are as follows:
1) The Contractor has to obtain permits from State Pollution Control Board for setting
up hot-mix plants, batching plants, etc., under the Air and the Water Acts;
2) Clearance from the State Department of Mining is required for establishing
quarries;
3) Clearance from the Water resource department/Authorities is required for
establishment of new tube-wells/bore-holes in case they are required during construction
work;
4) The provisions as laid down in the Factories Act, 1948, Labor Act, 1988 and the
Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of
Service) Act, 1996 with respect to hygiene and health during the construction stage would
apply to the project’s implementation works; and
5) The provisions of the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989
and the Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Response) Rules,
1996 may also be applied during the construction and the operation period.

Table 4-5: Applicable Regulatory Clearance
4.9 Environmental Standards of India
Based on the Acts and Rules above, CPCB has set up various environmental standards as
follows:
1) National Ambient Air Quality Standards

2) Water Quality Criteria
3) Vehicular Exhaust
4) Auto Fuel Quality
5) Noise and Emission Limits for Diesel Engines for Generators
6) Noise Standards
In addition to the above, there are a large number of environmental standards set up for each
sector of the manufacturing industries. Since this is a road construction project consisting of
the construction of a new bridge, during the construction period, construction debris, soil
contamination, air and water pollution, noise and vibration are subject to monitoring in order
to maintain emissions and discharges within the standards set up by the CPCB. During the
operation and maintenance period, increasing traffic could cause noise and vibration.
However, standards on the disposal of construction debris, soil contamination, and vibration
that could be caused by the Project are not clearly defined. The following is a set of
environmental standards the Government of India has imposed to date.

Table 4-6: Standards for Ambient Air Quality

Indian Ambient Air Quality Standards WHO Ambient Air Quality
Standards
S. Pollutant Time Concentration in Ambient Averagi Guideline value in
No. Weighted Air ng µg /m3
Average Industrial Ecologically Period
Residential, Sensitive
Rural and Area
Other (notified by
Areas Central
Government)
(2) (3) (4) (5) (1) (2)
(1)
1. Sulphur Annual* 50 20 24 hours 125 (Interim target
Dioxide (SO2), 24 hours** 80 80 1)
µg /m3 50 (Interim target 2)
10 20 (guideline)
minutes 500 (guideline)
2. Nitrogen Annual* 40 30 1-year 40 (guideline)
Dioxide (NO2), 24 hours** 80 80 1-hour 200 (guideline)
µg /m3
3. Particular Annual* 60 60 1-year 70(Interim target 1)
Matter (size 24 hours** 100 100 50 (Interim target 2)
less than 30 (Interim target 3)
10µm) or PM10 20 (guideline)
µg /m3
24-hour 150(Interim target

1)
100 (Interim target
2)
75(Interim target 3)
50 (guideline)
4. Particular Annual* 40 40 1 – year 35(Interim target 1)
Matter (size 24 hours** 60 60 25 (Interim target 2)
less than 15 (Interim target 3)
2.5µm) or 10 (guideline)
3
PM2.5 µg /m
24-hour 75(Interim target 1)
50 (Interim target 2)
37.5 (Interim target
3)
25 (guideline)
5. Ozone (O3) 8 hours** 100 100 8-hour 160 (Interim target-
µg/m3 1 hour** 180 180 daily 1)
maximu 100 (guideline)
m
Source: Central Pollution Control Board, India

Table 4-7: Water Quality

Designated best use Class Criteria
Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml shall be 50 or less
Drinking water source without conventional treatment pH between 6.5 and 8.5
A
but after disinfections Dissolved oxygen 6 mg/l or more
Biochemical oxygen demand 2 mg/l or Less
Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml shall be 500 or
less
Outdoor bathing (organised) B pH between 6.5 and 8.5 *Dissolved oxygen 5 mg/l or
more
Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or Less
Total coliform organisms MPN/ 100ml shall be 5000 or
less
Drinking water source with conventional treatment
C pH between 6 and 9
followed by disinfection
Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more
Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or less
pH between 6.5 and 8.5
Propagation of wild life, fisheries D Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more *Free ammonia (as N)
1.2 mg/l or less
pH between 6.0 and 8.5
Electrical conductivity less than 2250 micro mhos/cm
Irrigation, industrial cooling, controlled waste disposal E
Sodium absorption ratio less than 26
Boron less than 2mg/l
Compared to the EHS guideline set forth by the International Financial Corporation (IFC) shown
in table 4.8-4 below, the Class A Water Quality Standard of India is lacking a few items such as
COD, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, Oil and Grease. Other parameters are set at equal level or
below the EHS Guideline of IFC.

Table 4-8: Water quality standard for international EHS Guideline
Source: IFC
Table 4-9: Fuel Quality

Table 4-10: Noise Standard for Diesel Generator
Table 4-11: Vehicle Emission Standards (1991 to Date)

Note: Bharat indicates Indian nomenclature of vehicular emission which is the same as the
Euro Stage.

Table 4-12: Noise Emission Standards
Table 4-13: Ambient Noise Standards

Indian noise standards are at the same level as the EHS guideline of IFC.

4.9.1 MORTH And IRC Specifications
All road works in India are to be in accordance with the MoRTH specifications for Road
and Bridge works and guidelines of Indian Roads Congress (IRC). The MoRTH
specifications have special provisions towards protection of environment under Clause 501,
Annexure A and the contractor is to satisfy the provisions. Apart from the Annexure A to
clause 501, there are provisions for control of erosion, drainage, dust suppression, borrow
area and haul road management under relevant sections. Provisions of clause 501 Annexure
A, cover the environmental aspects as:
§ The contractor shall take all necessary measures and precautions to

carry out the work in conformity with the statutory and regulatory
environmental requirements.
§ The contractor shall take all measures and precautions to avoid
General nuisance or disturbance from the work. It shall be precautionary
measures than abatement measures taken after generation of
nuisance.
§ In the event of any soil, debris, waste or any deleterious material
from site being deposited on adjacent land, the same shall be
removed and affected area shall be restored to its original state.
§ The contractor to devise and arrange methods to control dust,
gaseous or other airborne emissions in such a way that adverse
impacts on air quality are minimized.
Air § Dust shall be minimized from stored material and stockpiles by
spraying water.
§ Covering of material likely to generate dust during transportation is
to be covered with tarpaulin.
§ Spraying of water on haul roads, if found necessary.
§ The contractor shall prevent any interference with supply/abstraction
of water resources.
§ Water used for dust suppression shall be reused after settlement of
Water material in collected water.
§ Liquid waste products to be disposed off such that it does not cause
pollution.
§ No debris is to be deposited or disposed into/adjacent to water
courses.
§ No uncontrolled disposal of wastes shall be permitted. The
Control of contractor shall make specific provisions for disposal of all forms of
wastes fuel and engine oil, all types of bitumen, cement, surplus aggregate,
gravels, bituminous mixtures etc. conforming to local regulations
and acceptance of the engineer
§ The contractor shall use all necessary measures to reduce noise from
Noise
construction equipment and maintain all silencing equipment in
good condition.
§ The contractor shall plan and provide for remedial measures in case
Emergency
of occurrence of emergencies as spillages of oil, bitumen or
Response
chemicals.

In addition to the above conditions, avoidance measures and control of activities having
potential for generation of environmental impacts are devised. These include:
Section 111 Precautions for safeguarding the environment

Clause 201.2 Preservation of Property/Amenities during clearing and grubbing
Clause 301.3.2 Stripping and storing of topsoil for reuse during excavation for
roadway and drains
Clause 302.4 Restriction on timings for blasting operations
Clause 304.3.6 Public safety near towns/villages where excavation is carried out
Clause 305.2.2.2 Locations of borrowing and relevant regulations
Clause 305.3.3 Stripping and storing of topsoil at borrow locations
Section 306 Soil erosion and sedimentation control
Clause 407.4.2 Provisions for turfing on median and islands
Section 517 Recycling of bituminous pavement and excavated material
Clause 701.2.1 Use of geo-textiles for control of soil erosion
Section 810 Use of Metal beam crash barriers for safety, relevant regulations and
specifications
Clause 2501 Precautions during river training works
4.9.2 Other Applicable Laws
Environmental issues during road construction stage generally involve equity, safety and
public health issues. The road construction agencies require complying with laws of the
land, which include inter alia, the following:
§ The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Forest Rights) Act, 2006. This act recognizes forest dwellers rights and makes
conservation more accountable.
§ The provision of (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). The PESA
provisions are intended to intrinsically protect the resources of the tribal
communities and empower them to act against the forcible acquisition.
§ Workmen's Compensation Act 1923: The Act provides for compensation in case of
injury by accident arising out of and during the course of employment;
§ Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970: The Act provides for
certain welfare measures to be provided by the contractor to contract labour;
§ Minimum Wages Act, 1948: The employer is supposed to pay not less than the
Minimum Wages fixed by appropriate Government as per provisions of the Act;
§ Payment of Wages Act, 1936: It lays down as to by what date the wages are to be
paid, when it will' be paid and what deductions can be made from the wages of the
workers;

§ Equal Remuneration Act, 1979: The Act provides for payment of equal wages for
work of equal nature to Male and Female workers and not for making
discrimination against Female employees;
§ Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986: The Act prohibits
employment of children below 14 years of age in certain occupations and
processes and provides for regulation of employment of children in all other
occupations and processes. Employment of child labour is prohibited in Building
and Construction Industry; Inter-State Migrant Workmen’s (Regulation of
Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979: The inter-state migrant
workers, in an establishment to which this Act becomes applicable, are required to
be provided certain facilities such as housing, medical aid, travelling expenses
from home to the establishment and back, etc.;
§ The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and
Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and the Cess Act of 1996: All the establishments
who carry on any building or other construction work and employs 10 or more
workers are covered under this Act; the employer of the establishment is required
to provide safety measures at the building or construction work and other welfare
measures, such as canteens, first-aid facilities, ambulance, housing accommodation
for Workers near the workplace, etc.;
§ The Factories Act, 1948: The Act lays down the procedure for approval of plans
before setting up a factory, health and safety provisions, welfare provisions,
working hours and rendering information-regarding accidents or dangerous
occurrences to designated authorities;
§ Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989: Occupiers generating
hazardous wastes given in the list shall take all practical steps to ensure that such
wastes are properly handled, i.e. collection, reception, treatment, storage, and
disposal of without any adverse effects to human health and environment (Rule 4
Such occupier shall apply for authorization in prescribed format to the State
Pollution Control Board)
§ Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules,
1996: The Rules provide for mandatory preparation of On-Site Emergency Plans
by the industry and Off-Site Plans by the district collector and the constitution of
four tier crisis groups at the centre, district, and local levels for the management of
chemical disaster.
4.9.3 Institutional Strengthening And Arrangement
Though rich in legal and regulatory instruments, the implementing agencies are unable to
regulate and monitor a sound environmental management plan due to lack of enforcement
capacity. Therefore, violations or missed mitigation commitments often go unreported. The
gaps and deficiencies pointed out can be removed by proper arrangements. Institutional
strengthening component has accordingly been identified. As such, the overall arrangement
is as follows:-
1. Organizational Arrangements

An environmental Unit will be established in each construction package with a manager to

address the environmental issues. The Environmental Unit will have proper staff to ensure
the implementation of EMP and related measures. The manager (Environment) will be
familiar with the Indian environmental legislation, will have proper training of the
environment of the region, and will be able to coordinate with NGOs, community groups,
and government department.
2. Environmental Training
Training of staff will be done at a number of levels. Some short-term training is required
for the Environment Manager, other staff members of the Environment Unit and the
contractor staff to raise their levels of environmental awareness. The Environment and
Natural Resources Division and the State Pollution Control Boards conduct the training
programs, and their help will be sought in this regard. In the long-term training, the
specialized training or special environmental issues will be examined and provided to the
Environment Unit
3. Environmental Monitoring
In order to ensure that the prescribed environmental norms are maintained during the
constructional and the operational phases, the regular monitoring is one of the most
important components of the institutional arrangement. The regular monitoring of Air
pollution, Water quality, Noise pollution, and maintenance of trees, etc. will be done at
regular intervals. The field reports of various environmental components will be received
at quarterly basis, and any lapse has to be taken care of.
Awareness training will be provided to the contractors and their personnel to ensure that
the EMP is implemented effectively. The project co-coordinator will assess the contractor
practices and, if high pollution levels are suspected, will government or private sector
laboratories check them.

5.0. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
5.1 Alternatives Subject to Analysis

There are four options that must be considered in terms of impact mitigation measures and
are as follows:
1. Zero Option
No project intervention is implemented, i.e. present status i.e. transportation by boats, is to
be continued to be used;
2. Alternative mode of transportation such as ferry

As an alternative to the construction of a new bridge, capacity by boat transportation across
Brahmaputra River can be increased by constructing ferry terminals at Dhubri and
Phulbari.
3. The Alternative Route connects Dhubri and Phulbari by widening of existing

NH-31 B and SH-46 through existing bridge near Goalpara
The Alternative Routes to connect Dhubri and Phulbari through NH-31 B and SH-46 and
utilize the existing bridge near Goalpara would have approximately 200km length,
Figure 5-1: The Alternative Route connects Dhubri and Phulbari by widening of
existing NH-31 B and SH-46 through existing bridge near Goalpara
The Proposed Bridge Option – DPR Design

The proposed Bridge is the construction of two Four-lane bridges including approaches over River
Brahmaputra between Dhubri on the North Bank and Phulbari on the South Bank in the state of

Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) with minimum PAPs. In this option, three
alternative alignments were compared in order to minimize the social and environmental impacts.
Source: DPR Inception Report
Figure 5-2: Alignment of Two / Four lane bridge between Dhubri and Phulbari
5.2 Criteria for Analysis of the Alternatives

Criteria for the analysis of the selected four alternatives are shown in the following Table.
These criteria are based on the importance of the Project being a bridge project running
through the Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar districts in Assam State and Phulbari in
Meghalaya State.
Table 5-1: Criteria for the Evaluation of the Alternatives

No. Alternative Models Criteria of Evaluation
1 Zero Option Connectivity
(No project is implemented) -
Road Connectivity as a means of infrastructure for
2 Alternative mode of
communication or transportation of goods
transportation such as a
- If current connectivity should be improved
ferry
- Contribution to the development of local/state economy
3 The Alternative Route
connects Dhubri and Environmental Pollution
Phulbari by widening of - CO2 emission could increase/decrease with the road
existing NH-31 B and SH- - Noise and vibration
46 through existing bridge - Health conditions could be improved/worsened
near Goalpara
4 The Proposed Bridge Socio-economic Conditions
Option – DPR Design - Contribution to road accidents

alignment AD - Contribution to improve/worsen living standard

5 The Proposed Bridge Option –
- If resettlement was involved
DPR Design alignment BE - If land acquisition is involved
6 The Proposed Bridge Option – Natural Environment
DPR Design alignment BFE - impacts on fisheries and other aquatic life
- Effects on the ecological conditions
Others
- If it is worth implementing the project despite effects on
the natural/social environment, or economic conditions
- Technical viability of the bridge construction
5.3 Results of the Analysis of Alternatives

Zero Option
The Zero option of the project is to take no project intervention. This option is assessed as
follows:
a. Positive Impacts
- There will be no involuntary resettlement involved in the Zero Option
- No tree cutting and agricultural areas lost to the road / bridge construction works
- No construction works and no pollution
- No impact on Aquatic Fauna
b. Negative Impacts
- No road network between Dhubri and Phulbari
- Existence boat transportation takes more time and inconveniences the people
- No local area development
- No Economic development in project districts
Alternative mode of transportation such as ferry

Alternative to the construction of a new bridge, capacity by boat transportation across
Brahmaputra River can be increased by constructing ferry terminals at Dhubri and
Phulbari.
a. Positive Impacts
- Provide transport connectivity to Dhubri and Phulbari
- Land acquisition and involuntary resettlement will be incurred but on a smaller scale
b. Negative Impacts
- Significant negative impacts on the ecosystem of the Brahmaputra River by the
dredging of ferry terminals

- High maintenance and operation cost for ferry boats

- Susceptible to natural disasters such as flooding
- Travel time is dependent on ferry time schedule
The Alternative Route connect Dhubri and Phulbari by widening of existing NH-31 B
and SH-46 through existing bridge near Goalpara
The Alternative Routes to connect Dhubri and Phulbari through NH-31 B and SH-46 and
utilize the existing bridge near Goalpara will have approximately 200km length.
a. Positive Impacts
- Better connectivity to villages / towns falling in the 200km alignment
- Overall economic development of the project area
- No impact on Aquatic ecology of Brahmaputra River
b. Negative Impacts
- Very high resettlement as settlements are all along the existing highway
- Acquisition of land and cutting of large numbers of trees
- Construction works likely to cause significant traffic jams throughout the construction
period, dust during dry season and muddy roads during rainy season.
- Very high construction cost due to long length
The Proposed Bridge Option – DPR Design
The proposed Bridge is the construction of two Four-lane bridges including approaches
over Brahmaputra River between Dhubri on the North Bank and Phulbari on the South
Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) with minimum PAPs,
This option is assessed as follows:
a. Positive Impacts
- Provide easy and short distance connectivity to Dhubri and Phulbari
- Less number of PAPs
- Overall infrastructure development.
- Overall economic development of the area
b. Negative Impacts
- Involuntary resettlement of the local residents will be reduced, however, in acquisition of
approximate 65 Ha of land and significant number of PAPs.
- Construction works should cause significant traffic jams throughout the construction
period, dust during dry season and muddy roads during rainy season.
- Increase of traffic volume including heavy load vehicles likely tocause noise and vibration
along the road while some traffic is diverted to bypasses.
- Impact on aquatic fauna in Brahmaputra River during construction phase.

Given the above analysis results, the results of comparing and examining each option were
ranked and are shown in the table below. Furthermore, the score was allocated according to
the rank, and the option with the highest total score was selected as the best. The main
objective of this project is to bring positive influence on the regional economy, so the
“impact on local economy” was given a double score. As a result, The Proposed Bridge
Option is recommended.
Table 5.2: Analysis of alternatives

Sr. Factors Without Project With Project Impacts
No Impacts No only Small with Bypass
bypass/realignm Realignment at
ent critical sections
Positi Negative Posit Negative Positive Negati Positive Negative
ve ive ve
1 Transport _ Increased _ Increased More Increas Less Increase
ation/ cost due cost due comfort ed costs wear & in air
vehicle to heavy to heavy able due to tear cost, pollution
maintena traffic at traffic at driving more more due to
nce populated/ populated at wear & riding vehicular
/operatin congested /congeste critical tear at comfort traffic.
g cost areas. d areas. sections heavily And short
And also And also due to populat term
more wear more section ed/cong increase
& tear wear & improve ested in dust
because of tear ment/re areas. due to
frequent because alignme earth
applicatio of nt. work
n of frequent during
sudden applicatio constructi
brakes. n of on at
sudden micro
brakes. level.
2 Travel _ Travel _ Travel _ No Reductio More
time / time is time is signific n in chances
increased more due more due ant travel of
speed to less to less change time and accidents
speed & speed & in increased due to
congestio congestio travel speed. increased
n. n. time or speed.
speed
3 Change _ _ _ Minor _ Small change in
in Land change in change Land use

Sr. Factors Without Project With Project Impacts

No Impacts No only Small with Bypass
bypass/realignm Realignment at
ent critical sections
Positi Negative Posit Negative Positive Negati Positive Negative
ve ive ve
use land use in land pattern
pattern pattern use
pattern.
4 Loss of _ _ _ Loss of Very _ Minor significan
Property property little Loss of t loss of
and & loss of property livelihood
livelihoo livelihood property due to
d . As more and traffic
land is minor diversion
required loss of on bypass
to liveliho
accommo od.
date
traffic in
the
existing
road.
5.4 Comparison of bridge alignment options

In order to minimize the social and environmental impacts, three alignment options were
compared. The three options were set as follows. Each line is a line connecting the
following combinations of the six points in the table below.
i) Option 1 represented by line AD: This option is designed to avoid residential areas in the
Dhubri town and the islands as much as possible.
ii) Option 2 represented by line BE: This option is designed to connect Dhubri and Phulbari in
the shortest distance.
iii) Option 3 represented by line BFE: This option is designed to cross Brahmaputra River at a
right angle.
The proposed alignment option was finalized based on a desk study of satellite imageries
available from “Google Earth” and a reconnaissance survey at site. The alignment options
are detailed, node-wise in Figure 7-12 and the nodes are described below.

Table 5:3: Location of Nodes for the Bridge Alignment Alternatives

NODE LOCATION
Node-A At km 55+200 on proposed NH-127B, near Adabari Junction
Node-B At Balajan Dhubri road, near Choto Bashjani (1.3km east of Adabari
Junction)
Node-C At College Road Junction with the bund road, near Bidyapara
Node-D At agia-Tura NEC Road, 400 m from Phulbari Ghat towards Agia
Node-E At Agia-Tura NEC Road, 1km from Phulbari Ghat towards Agia
Node-F On Southern Bank of Brahmaputra, near BorokaliaSurjyamara
Source: DPR Inception Report
The methodology is adopted to review these three alignments by covering the following
aspects:
· Social Aspects
· Environmental Aspects
· Engineering Aspects
· Indicative Cost Aspects
For each aspect, the following parameters were used for assessment and comparison.
Social Aspects
The number of affected structures is considered as an equivalent to the scale of resettlement
expected from the Project. Size of Land to be acquired is indicative of the scale of possible
losses of livelihood considering that the population in the area is largely dependent on their
land. The length of alignment passing through Permanent Char Land is also included in the
parameters to evaluate the impact on Char people whose socio-economic status is lower
than that of the inland communities.
Environmental Aspects
Total length is indicative of negative impacts such as noise, vibration, and air pollution at
operation phase. As the total length increases, vehicles need to travel longer distances and
larger negative impacts are anticipated.
Agriculture Land that overlaps with the alignment will be lost due tothe construction of
the bridge and cause negative environmental impacts such as loss of environmental
services.
Total Length over the Brahmaputra River is indicative of negative impacts of the
project on the river ecosystem and endangered aquatic species such as Gangas river
dolphins. The longer the length over Brahmaputra River is, the larger the damage on the
river ecosystem will be. A Specific report on Gangetic Dolphins and their management
has been prepared and attached as Annexure-1
Engineering Aspects
With regard to the total length of the bridge, because of higher construction technologies
and costs of bridges compared with embankments, a shorter bridge length is rated
favorable. With regard to the length of the approach, because of the necessity of new road

constructions of approaches to connect the bridge and the existing roads, a shorter
approach length is rated favorable. With regard to the number of curves, because of easier
drivability of roads with fewer curves, the fewer is rated favorable. With regard to the total
length of curves, because of the requirement of complex structures and higher construction
technologies, a shorter length is rated favorable.
Based on the above aspects, the parameter scores for various aspects and options are as
follows. The numerical score was calculated by the following equation:
Score for Option X = 10 * value of Option X / Max value for 3 options
Social Aspects
Max. Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Item Unit
Score Qty Score Qty Score Qty Score
Affected structures No. 10.0 122 6.52 170 9.09 187 10.00
Land to be acquired ha 10.0 55.20 7.69 63.00 8.77 71.76 10.00
Permanent Char km 10.0 6.30 9.40 6.70 10.00 5.10 7.61
Land
Total Score 30.0 23.61 27.86 27.61
RANK 1 3 2
As for the social aspects, Option 1 has less impact with respect to the number of affected
structures and the size of the land to be acquired. Although Option 3 has less impact on the
poor, the total score shows Option 1 as the most favorable option.
Environmental Aspects

Item Unit Scor
Qty Score Qty Score Qty Score
e
Total Length km 10.0 19.282 10 17.847 9.26 18.79 9.75
7
Agriculture Land ha 10.0 0.012 3.42 0.018 5.14 0.035 10
Total Length km 10.0 2.85 10 2.67 9.36 2.20 7.72
over
Brahmaputra
River
Total Score 30.0 23.42 27.76 37.47
RANK 1 2 3
As for the environmental aspects, differences among the three options were relatively small
for the total length and the total length over Brahmaputra, but impacts on agriculture land
were most significant for Option 3.

Engineering Aspects

Item Unit
Total Length km 10.0 18.36 10.00 17.01 9.26 17.995 9.80
0
Length of bridge km 10.0 0.471 10.00 0.465 9.87 0.430 9.13
approach
Horizontal Geometry no. 10.0 3 6.00 5 10.00 5 10.00
: Total no. of curves
Horizontal M 10.0 983.2 3.24 2054. 6.77 3035.0 10.00
Geometry: Total 15 9
length of curves
Total Score 40.0 29.24 35.90 38.93
RANK 1 2 3
As for the engineering aspects, although Option 1 is unfavorable with respect to a longer
bridge length and approaches, it has a fewer curves and a shorter curve length deemed to be
favorable. The comprehensive rating gives Option 1 the highest score.
Indicative Cost Aspects

Item Unit
Total Cr. 10.0 2858 9.47 3018 10.00 2889 9.57
Approximate
Civil
Construction Cost
Total Score 10.0 9.47 10.00 9.57
RANK 1 3 2
Conclusion
Based on the above, Option 1, i.e. proposed bridge over river Brahmaputra between Dhubri
on North Bank and Phulbari on South Bank in the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B,
alignment AD (Length: 20km), is recommended.

6.0. SCOPING ANALYSIS
6.1 Procedures of Scoping of Analysis
Depending on the scale and nature of works during the various stages of the project, there
are positive and negative impacts to the natural and social environment. These impacts are
different in the intensity, in the spatial reach, and in whether it is irrevocable or temporary.
The scoping matrix highlights anticipated impacts that occur on various environmental and
social components during the scoping stage of the project. The project may affect the
aquatic ecosystem in terms of the impacts to the natural environment. Also, the ROW for
this project is 60m in width, and social impacts such as land acquisition and resettlement
are anticipated.
6.2 Scoping Matrix: Preliminary Analysis of the Environmental Impacts

The scoping matrix is shown in the table below. According to the JICA Guideline (2010),
the impacts are rated as follows:
“A” denotes that severe/irrevocable impact is expected (+: Positive impact, -: Negative
impact)
“B” denotes that significant impact is expected (+: Positive impact, -: Negative impact)
“C” denotes that impact is relatively small (+: Positive impact, -: Negative impact)
“D” denotes that impact with little significance occurs (+: Positive impact, -: Negative
impact)

Table 6-1: Scoping Matrix for the Proposed Bridge Option

Scoping Analysis of the Anticipated Environmental Impacts
Construction Stage
Pre-construction
Operation Stage
Item
Rational of the Impact Assessment
Pollution
P: No impact is expected.
C: Some negative impacts are expected due to the
operation of construction equipment and vehicles. One
Air
D B- B- example is dust incidental to earthwork especially during
Pollution
the dry season.
O: Air pollution is expected to increase due to increase
traffic volume on the road.
C: Turbid water due to the earthworks, bridge pier
Water construction work and wastewater effluents from
D B- D
Pollution construction workers’ camps / yards are expected to pollute
the Brahmaputra river to some extent.
O: No impact is expected.
C: Waste will be generated from construction workers’
Wastes /
camps. Waste generated from construction and demolition
Hazardous D B- D
work may include hazardous materials that must be treated
Materials
before final disposal.
C: Impacts on soil from deposition of pollutants from
Soil construction materials in the construction site are expected
Contaminati D B- D to be small. Since there is no major industrial activity along
on the road, it is unlikely that soil along the road is already
polluted.
C: Noise and vibration generated by the operation of
construction equipment and vehicles, although they are
temporary. Construction schedule should take into account
Noise and the location of schools, hospitals and religious facilities
D B- B-
Vibration that require silence during parts of the day.
O: Noise and vibration level are likely to increase due to
greater traffic volume along the road. Specific measures
may be required to minimize impacts on schools, hospitals
and religious facilities.

Construction Stage
Pre-construction
Operation Stage
Item
Ground
D D D P/C/O: No impact is expected.
Subsidence
Offensive
Odor
Bottom C/O: The piers may cause slight change in the
D C C
sediment hydrodynamics and cause erosion of bottom sediment.
Natural Environment
Wildlife
C: No protected area exists within 10km radius of project
Reserve/
D D D area.
protected
O: No protected area exists within 10km radius of project
area
area.
C: During the construction period, ecosystem in the project
Eco- area including local flora and fauna will be damaged to
system/Bio- D A- B- some extent.
diversity O: Increase of traffic volume will cause negative impacts
on the ecosystem including fauna and flora along the
project road.
Topography C: Changes in topographic conditions over the project area
D B- D
/ Geology takes place due to the need for cutting and filling work.
C: Construction work may cause minor and temporary
impacts on hydrology because of pier construction, or the
Hydrology D B- B-
local use of water.
O: Cutting and / or filling should result in minor changes of
local hydrology.
C: During the construction period, ecosystems in the
project area including local flora and fauna are damaged to
Eco-
some extent.
system/Bio- D A- B-
O: Increase of traffic volume will cause negative impacts
diversity
on the ecosystem including fauna and flora along the
project road.

Construction Stage
Pre-construction
Operation Stage
Item
Social Environment
P: The project will likely affect over 700 families.
C: Resettlement will be completed before construction
Involuntary
begins and thus no resettlement is expected during
Resettlemen A- D D
operation.
t
O: No impact is expected, as relocation will be completed
before construction begins.
P: Given the limited coping capacity of the poor, it is
necessary to assess their vulnerability and develop
appropriate mitigation measures.
C: The poor can benefit from employment opportunities
B+/
Poor People A- B+ during construction work.
B-
P: In the long-term, economic development in the region is
likely to benefit the poor. However, the poor may not be
able to receive benefits from the project due to the lack of
skills and coping capacity.
Ethnic
P/C/O: According to initial site survey, there are no
Minorities/
C C C ST/SCs in the project area. However, the presence of ethnic
Indigenous
minorities will be confirmed during the census survey.
People
P: Loss of income sources and livelihood due to
involuntary resettlement are expected to negatively affect
the local economy and livelihood.
C: Economic activity of fishermen may have negative
Local
impact during construction period. On the other hand,
Economy B+ B+
A- employment opportunities of various skill levels will be
and /B- /B-
created by the project.
Livelihood
O: Economic activity of boat operators may be affected.
On the other hand, by improving transportation network,
access to market and public facilities will be improved and
positive impact on regional development can be expected.
P: Land acquisition and involuntary resettlement are likely
to cause changes in the existing land use patterns.
C: Land use is expected to change for the construction of
construction yards and workers’ camps, however the
Land Use B- B- D impact is temporary.
O: Land usage along the alignment will be permanently
changed, however a negative impact is not expected.
Construction yard will be restored to their original
conditions by the contractors.

Construction Stage
Pre-construction
Operation Stage
Item
C: The use of local resources such as sand, crushed stone,
Utilization
etc. for the construction activities may have negative
of Local D B- D
impact on the local use.
Resources
O: No impact is expected as use of local resources is not
expected during operation.
Water
Usage,
Water
Rights and
Communal
Rights
P: One school may be affected and require relocation.
C: If the school will be relocated to the area close to the
Social alignment, noise from increased traffic is expected.
Infrastructur B+/ O: If the school will be relocated to the area close to the
B- B-
e and B- alignment, noise from increased traffic is expected. In the
Services long term, the project is expected to improve access to
social infrastructure and services by providing a better
transport network.
Social
Institutions
P/C/O: Land acquisition and involuntary resettlement will
and Local
D D D be implemented based on existing social and local
Decision-
decision-making institutions so no impact will be expected.
making
Institutions
P: Land acquisition and involuntary resettlement will lead
to unequal distribution of benefits and damage between
those who are directly affected by the project and those
who are not.
Unequal
C: Those who are affected by Land acquisition and
Distribution
B- resettlement should have preference in access to
of Benefit B- B-
/B+ employment opportunities by the construction work.
and
O: There is a possibility of uneven distribution of benefits
Damage
between bridge connection site and Char land. In the long
term, the project is expected to have a positive impact on
the local economy through an improved transportation
network.
Local
Conflicts of

Construction Stage
Pre-construction
Operation Stage
Item
Interests
Cultural and
P/C/O: The proposed bridge does not traverse or run near
Historical D D D
major cultural or historical heritage sites.
Heritage
Landscape D D D P/C/O: No impact is expected.
P: Involvement of women should be ensured during the
course of the land acquisition and resettlement process.
Gender B- B- D C: Equal opportunity should be sought for employment
during construction work.
P: One school playground will be affected by land
acquisition.
Children's
B- D D C/O: Child labor is unlawful according to Article 24 of the
Rights
Indian Constitution. Only adults are eligible for potential
employment opportunities created by the project.
Public P: No impact is expected.
Health C: Influx of construction workers is likely to increase the
(sanitation health risk, particularly that of STD / STI and HIV / AIDS.
D B- D
and O: No impact is expected.
infectious
diseases)
Occupation
C: Occupational health and safety of construction work
al Health
D B- B- should be properly managed through adequate EMP.
and Safety
O: Maintenance and repair work should take into account
(OHS)
the occupational health and safety of the workers.
Others
Accidents D B- B- P: No impact is expected.
C: Increased risk of accidents associated with construction
activities is expected due to the operation of heavy
equipment and vehicles.
O: Risks of accidents is expected to increase due to greater
traffic volume and speed.
Climate D D D P: No impact is expected.
Change C: The use of construction machines and operation of
vehicles will result in an increase of GHG emissions,
though the impact is small and short-term.
O: The new bridge will shorten the truck transportation
distance which reduces GHG emission. On the other hand,

Construction Stage
Pre-construction
Operation Stage
Item
traffic volume is expected to increase. However, it is not

significant enough to have impact on climate change and
transboundary effects.
Source: JICA Study Team
6.3 TOR of Natural and Socio-economic Environment Survey
TOR of the Natural Environment and Socio-economic Survey is shown in the table below.

Table 6-2: TOR of Natural and Socio-economic Environment Survey

Items Subject to
Item Locations Investigation Method of Assessment and Estimation of Impacts
Air Quality 3-4 locations along · PM2.5, PM10, NOx, · Review of DPR environmental study
the bridge SO2 · Continuous 24 hours per location (1 weekday)
alignment · Accordance with environmental standards in India
(approximately · General trend of increase in traffic and vehicles is taken into account and
every 10km) CO2 increase is qualitatively analysed.
Water Quality 3-4 locations along · Water temperature, · Review of DPR environmental study
the bridge turbidity (NTU), pH、 · Accordance with environmental standards in India
alignment BOD5, COD · Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
period are qualitatively analysed based on construction plan and similar
projects
Solid Waste · Solid waste production · Review of DPR environmental study
and disposal during the · Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
construction period period are qualitatively analysed based on construction plan and similar
· Solid waste produced projects
during the maintenance
works of the Project
Soil 3-4 locations along · pH, Manganese, · Review of DPR environmental study
Contamination the bridge Iron,etc. · Soil sampling and laboratory analysis
alignment · Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
projects
Noise and 3-4 locations along · Noise level · Review of DPR environmental study
Vibration the bridge · Accordance with environmental standards in India
alignment · Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
projects
Bottom · Hydrodynamic analysis · Review of DPR environmental study

Items Subject to
Sediment · Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
projects
Ecosystem/ Entire Project Area · Presence/absence of rare · Field Survey
Biological species · Document survey
Diversity · Hearing Survey on local NGO/ experts.
· Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
projects
Hydro Entire Project Area · Existing waterways such · Review of DPR environmental study
geography as rivers, streams and · Document survey
agricultural canals as · Field survey, map location study of the disaster-prone areas
well as sewage channels · Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
projects
Geography/ Entire Project Area · Areas subject to cut and · Review of DPR environmental study
Geomorpholog fill slope creation · Document survey
y · Field survey
· Impacts during the construction period and operation and maintenance
projects
Involuntary Within ROW · Population, asset · Census Survey
Resettlement inventory, livelihood · Focused Group Discussion
· Resettlement and · Estimate the quantitative impact of affected households, land and
rehabilitation cost properties.
· Estimate the cost of resettlement and rehabilitation, restoration program
Poor People Within ROW · Livelihood and · Census Survey
employment status · Socio-economic Survey
· Literacy · Estimate the impacts based on result of Field Survey, Review of

Items Subject to
Document plus Similar Examples
Ethnic Within ROW · Ethnicity, Language · Census Survey
Minorities/ · Livelihood · Socio-economic Survey
Indigenous · Estimate the impacts based on result of Field Survey, Review of
People Document
Local Economy Within ROW and · Regional economic · Census Survey
and Livelihood area surrounding situation · Socio-economic Survey
the proposed · Social structure · Focused Group Discussion
alignment · Income and livelihood · Estimate likely impacts on the local economy based on Review of
· Estimate the impact on livelihoods based on the quantitative data of the
socioeconomic status of PAPs
Land Use Within ROW · Land utilization · Socio-economic Survey
· Extent of Impact by the · Review project content
project · Estimate the impacts based on result of Field Survey, Review of
Utilization of Area surrounding · Volume of local · Socio-economic Survey
Local the proposed resource use · Review project content
Resources alignment · Extent of Impact by the · Estimate the impacts based on result of Field Survey and Review of
project Document
Social Area surrounding · Target facilities · Socio-economic Survey
Infrastructure the proposed · Distant from ROW, · Estimate the impacts based on information of utility infrastructure and
and Services alignment location public facilities (medical, school, religious facilities)
· Accessibility
Unequal Within ROW and · Livelihood of PAP and · Census Survey
Distribution of area surrounding surrounding area · Focused Group Discussion
Benefit and the proposed · Utilization of Affected · Estimate the impacts based on result of income sources of PAPs and
Damage alignment Land other villagers plus Similar Examples

Items Subject to
Gender Within ROW and · Social Structure · Socio-economic Survey
area surrounding · Livelihood and · Focused Group Discussion
the proposed employment status · Documents and reports of similar projects in the neighbouring areas.
alignment · Literacy · Estimate the impacts based on result of Field Survey, Review of
Children's Within ROW and · Number of students · Socio-economic Survey
Rights area surrounding · Facilities nearby · Estimate the impacts based on result of Field Survey plus Similar
the proposed Examples
alignment
Public Health 100m from the · Rate of disease, · Review of documents of the similar projects.
(sanitation and proposed alignment epidemic and tendency · Estimate the epidemic of diseases and tendency through Review of
infectious Document plus Similar Examples
diseases)
Occupational Area surrounding · Risk of Safety and · Review of documents including EMP of the similar projects.
Health and the proposed Health, countermeasure · Estimate the impacts based on Similar Examples
Safety (OHS) alignment
Accidents Area surrounding · Traffic demand · Review of documents including EMP of the similar projects.
the proposed · Accident risk and · Estimate accident risk, tendency and measures based on Review of Plan
alignment measures plus Similar Examples

7.0. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION MEASURES
7.1 Impact on Living Environment
Flora:
A. Construction Phase:
Construction of the proposed bridge is likely to affect some trees / plants. The removal of
these trees and the loss of vegetation cover will have some effect on local ecological
balance, such as the disruption of habitat for small birds, mammals, etc., that will be forced
to migrate to other areas. The removal of vegetation may also lead to minor climatic
changes such as altered surface hydrology, increased temperatures due to reduced shade
cover, etc.
B. Operation Stage:
In the operation phase no further impacts are likely on plantations along the project bridge.
Environmental quality will be considerably improved by adopting environmentally sound
engineering designs and by maintaining the aesthetic quality through appropriate
landscaping and arboriculture practices.
Fauna:
There is no sensitive ecological area exists along the proposed project.
Impact on Wildlife Sanctuary:
There is no impact on the Wildlife sanctuary from the proposed project as no sanctuary in
vicinity of the project area.
7.1.1 General
The assessment of potential environmental impact consists of comparing the expected

changes in the environment with or without the project. The analysis predicts the nature and
significance of the expected impacts. The magnitude and duration (short-term or long-term)
of impacts are also discussed.
In the following pages impacts on each biophysical environmental component (like soil,
water, air, noise, flora and fauna) and socio-economic environmental component (like
removal of property, land acquisition, etc.) will be discussed
7.1.2 Key issues / Concerns Identified
Through the above exercise, the following key issues were identified:
§ There is no critical issue in the natural environmental except cutting of some trees.
§ National Board of Wild Life clearances are not required as no sanctuary/National
park within 10 km from project alignment.

§ There is no archeological protected/unprotected monuments exists along the project

road.
§ There are no temples exist along the project road.
§ Occupation of Agriculture land along the proposed project bridge/ road.
7.1.3 Link-up between Baseline Environmental Conditions with Proposed Project Intervention
7.2 Natural Environment
Water Environment:
Physical and chemical quality of the river water and other surface water bodies is the crucial
for sustenance of aquatic habitat. Groundwater is the major source of drinking and irrigation
in the project area.
Impact on Surface Water Resources:
A. Construction Stage:
Medium negative impacts on surface water quality due to (i) dredging activities, (ii)
construction of main bridge and other structures over water bodies (and ii) construction
activities near Brahmaputra River. Further, accidental spillage of fuels, lubricants,
chemicals/solvents, and construction waste will contaminate surface and ground waters as
well as sedimentation caused by erosion.
During the construction phase, soil erosion can be increased due to the removal of trees,
vegetative cover, and the compaction of the surface soils. However, being dry during most
of the year, erosion is more of a concern during the monsoon season when water is flowing
within the water courses.
B. Operation Stage:
No significant impact. However there could be medium to high level risks due to accidental
spillage of fuels, lubricants, chemicals/solvents. Drainage congestion, soil erosion and
siltation impact can be significantly reduced through training of emergency personnel in the
procedures of spill control and clean-up, and the provision of emergency spills equipment in
selected emergency service stations.
Undertake visual inspection of erosion on embankment of RTW slopes particularly due to

rain-cut and formulate and implement erosion protection measures, such as grassing,
structural drainage as found appropriate.
Regular monitoring of morphological changes of river at the bridge locations and along the
RTW and formulate bank protection work immediately for implementation, particularly
during monsoon.
Impacts to Ground Water:

A. Construction Stage:
Ground water degradation can take place when contaminants are leached through surface
soils into the ground water table Contaminants such as fuel and engine oil handled in the
construction staging area and during equipment re-fuelling at construction site areas can
cause ground water contamination if spilled onto the ground and not properly cleaned up. In
addition, poorly installed sanitary facilities can also result in contamination.
B. Operation Stage:
In general, impacts to ground water during the operation stage of the project are limited to
potential contamination (direct or indirect) from the spill of contaminants, usually as a result
of vehicle accidents.
Increased Run-off:
Construction of the bridge will lead to an increased run-off both during the construction and
operation stages. During the construction stage, removal of vegetation and compaction of
soil leads to increased run-off during the monsoon. Similarly, the area of open ground lost to
built-up black top surface increases the run-off from the open ground.
Water Quality Degradation:
Water quality may be degraded during construction due to the disposal of solid and liquid
waste from the labour camp, fuel and lubricant spills or leaks from the construction
equipment, fuel storage and distribution sites and from the bitumen and asphalt storage at
hot-mix plants. Major pollutants of concern due to above mentioned activities are suspended
solids, oil and grease, lead and other metals.
Groundwater Recharge and Flow Modification:
Ground water recharge areas may be reduced due (i) dredging activities, (ii) construction of
main bridge and other structures over water bodies (and ii) construction activities near river.
Further, to an increase in impervious soils resulting from compaction. Contamination of
ground water due to the runoff carrying pollutants is of major concern because most of the
domestic use is from ground water.
Air Environment:
Impacts to the air environment during construction will largely result from the generation of
dust. Dust will be generated as a result of site clearing and grading, heavy machinery
travelling over exposed soils, truck traffic, and the production of construction materials at
borrow pits and off-site quarries. Dust generation impacts will be most significant along
new bridge alignments. Elevated levels of SO2, CO and hydrocarbons are likely from hot
mix plant operations.
B. Operation Phase:
As all the shoulder will be paved shoulders and slopes of embankments shall be turfed, dust
generation is not a problem at this stage. The major impact on air quality will be due to
vehicles emission. The impacts on air quality will at any given time depend upon traffic
volume / rate of vehicular emission within a given stretch and prevailing meteorological
conditions.
Air pollution impacts arise from two sources: (i) inadequate vehicle maintenance; and (ii)
use of adulterated fuel in vehicles. Enforcement standards to meet better vehicle
performance in emissions and the improvement of fuel constituents can assist in improving
regional air quality.
Noise Environment:
Noise generated by the highway traffic depends on factors such as traffic intensity, the type
and condition of the vehicles plying on the road, acceleration / deceleration / gear changes
by the vehicles depending on the level of congestion and smoothness of road surface.
During the construction phase, the major sources of noise pollution will be movement of
vehicles transporting construction materials to construction yards and the noise generated by
activities at the yard itself. Concrete mixing, casting and material movement are primary
noise generating activities in the yard which will be uniformly distributed over the entire
construction period. Construction equipment will have high noise levels, which can affect
the personnel operating the machines, as well as nearby residents and commercial
businesses. The acceptable (average) noise level over an 8 hour shift is 90 dB (A).
The noise likely to be generated during excavation, loading and transportation of material
near the borrow areas will be in the range of 90 to 95 dB (A). This would occur only if all
equipment is operating simultaneously, which is unlikely.
During the construction period, residents along project road/bridge could experience
significant increase in night time noise levels if construction is conducted in the night time
hours to avoid vehicle diversion difficulties. This impact will be temporary and is largely
unavoidable to address through traffic issues.
Noise impacts due to various construction activities are likely but are expected to be
confined to the immediate vicinity of the project corridor. Increased noise levels are
expected due to the movement of construction machinery, concrete and asphalt plant
operations. The likely noise generated during excavation, loading and transportation of
material near the borrow areas will be in the range of 80 to 90 dB (A).
The potential impacts of noise pollution include deteriorated human health and reduced
quality of life (e.g. reduced enjoyment of outdoor amenity areas). However, due to the short
term nature of elevated noise levels during construction, hearing problems are not expected,
and reduced quality of life would be a short-term impact.
Physical Environment:
Land Use Changes:
The improvement of the project is expected to cause changes in the land use. In this project,
areas presently under agriculture fields/ river bed may be diverted for development of other
usage. However, the status of such change will be insignificant. Changes in land use are
most likely to occur in some of the segments, as developed roadway/bridge access will
increase the desirability of the land for purposes such as residential and commercial /
industrial development. The increased attractiveness for these uses is likely to result in
increased land values, which in turn could lead to land speculation. Often agricultural land
which has been purchased for speculative purposes will not be managed with the same
degree of interest by the new owner/developer as it was by the farmer, and may not be
operated as agricultural land. The availability of cheaper labour in the rural areas combined
with increased access to urban markets could result in significant changes to land use and
community dynamics in the areas that were previously agricultural. Changes that might
occur would include residential / commercial and industrial development along the
roadway/bridge.
Monuments / Historical Areas /Archaeological Sites:
There are no important archaeological resources, or sites of cultural properties (like temples,
mosques, hospitals etc) exist along the project road.
A. Operation Phase:
Traffic volumes and vehicle speeds are expected to increase after the proposed bridge
development / construction. Construction of the bridge/road will result in alterations to
access roads/driveways to religious properties, shrines and other religious structures. In
addition, access and egress from these access points will be more difficult due to increased
vehicle movements and speeds. This in turn could result in increased risk of collisions,
especially at night.
7.2.1 Potential Impacts On Soil
Soil is one of the most important components of the natural environment. For bridge / road
development the soil is primarily needed for altered bridge / road embankment.
Loss of Productive Soil:
The potential impacts include
§ Loss of productive soil, as the proposed construction of bridge/road requires 60.59 ha

of private land which consists of agricultural land at number of locations.
§ The productivity of crops in the region can be affected
§ The local economy is not going to be affected badly.
Erosion:

The soil along the proposed bridge / road is sandy clay in texture. The erosion factor of
present soil is less.
The two important eroding agents are, (i) the run-off water, and (ii) the wind. The run-off
dynamics are affected by the degree of slope, and the amount of water stored for irrigation.
Grasses and other herbaceous plant limit the surface erosion effectively.The degree of soil
erosion is noted to be less.
Some mitigation measures like:
§ Taking advantage of the period of monsoon,
§ Developing not too high and steep slopes,
§ Improving drainage,
§ Replantation of trees, and
These steps will reduce the severity of the issue and by the time the bridge / road starts
operating, the ecosystem will restore itself.
Excavations of soil borrow areas may lead to higher degree of erosion. However, care has
been taken that (i) many borrow areas are located on raised lands, earth mounds and heaps,
(ii) in some cases the owner or villagers want to develop the area into pond for rearing
fishes, (iii) re-plantation borrow pit areas will minimize the soil erosion.
Contamination of Soil:
In the present project, the contamination of the soil is negligible, as there is no use of
hazardous material which can contaminate the soil. However, at material storage site,
interceptor / HDPE sheets will be provided to avoid any soil contamination.
Use of Local Water Supply:
No local water supply will be used for construction purposes. Water will be taken from
nearby surface water sources as rivers Brahmaputra along the proposed bridge / road. New
hand-pumps will be bored to take out underground water at construction sites if required. As
the underground water table is moderate and water requirement is during construction phase
only, the crisis of water will not be there.
Water Quality Degradation:

No direct impact on water quality is predicted.
7.2.2 Impact on Environment Attribute due to project intervention and Environment Management
The impact on natural, biological and physical environments due to various project
interventions are given in the table below Table 7.1:

Table 7.1: Impact on Environment Attribute due to project intervention and Environment Management
Environmental Mitigation Institutional Responsibility
Project Activities Mitigation/Compensation Measures
Impacts Cost Implementation Supervision
CONSTRUCTION STAGE
A. Main Bridge
Large quantities of Exploration of · Environmental permits of suppliers from Included in Contractor CSC(Construction
material Import illegal source relevant authority civil works supervision
contract consultant),
MORT&H
Mobilization of Road Safety and · Ensure that all construction vehicles observe Included in Contractor CSC
equipment and Traffic speed limits on the construction sites and on civil works
Materials through Management public roads contract
road · Provide adequate signage, barriers, and flag
persons for traffic control.
· Fit audible warning devices in all vehicles to
alert during reversing.
Damage of local · Maintain all existing roads in traffic worthy Included in Contractor CSC
roads due to condition ensuring maintenance of civil works
movement of uninterrupted movement of traffic. contract
heavy axle loads · Temporary bypasses to be constructed and
maintained (including dust control) during the
construction period
· Form a grievance redress committee in
association with affected population before
starting the civil work and advance notice must
be given to the community about the
construction schedule.
· Repair the damaged local roads to their original
condition after project completion.


Dust and · Each vehicle related to the construction has to Included in Contractor CSC
emissions from have valid “Pollution Under Control civil works
construction Certificate” during construction contract
vehicles and · Vehicular traffic through communities will be
avoided as far as possible. Vehicle speeds will
equipment may
be kept low if they should pass through
cause health communities.
problems or · Cover haul vehicles carrying dusty materials
accidents and · Watering of the un paved roads
injuries to
construction
workers and
nearby
community
Mobilization of · Affecting flora · Minimum disturbance to habitat Included in Contractor AECOM
equipment and and avian fauna · Movement of barges should be within the civil works
materials through · Dredging to designated project areas contract
river increase · Disposal of materials in accordance with the
navigation dredge material management plan
depth,
access/transit
channels, and
equipment
maneuvering


Operations at · Air pollution · Water to be sprayed during the construction Monitoring Contractor CSC
Construction Yards from material phase in all mixing areas where dry materials Budget
and Construction storage sites and are handled and / or crushed.
Sites mixing sites · Temporary access roads to aggregate sites must
be included in the dust suppression program.
· A spraying schedule will be prepared by the
contractor and will serve as the basis of a dust
control program. The supervision consultant
will regularly monitor this schedule.
· Materials to be covered in vehicles going to and
from the construction sites to reduce spills.
· Noise pollution · Provide temporary noise barriers near the Monitoring Contractor CSC
from operation sensitive sites Budget
of construction · Vehicles and equipment to be fitted with the
yard and silencer and maintained accordingly
construction · Use of vehicles, machineries and equipment
activities that are of good quality and generates noise as
per their specifications


Pollution risk · Obtain Explosive License from Explosive Included in Contractor CSC
from fuel and Department to store class “A” and “B” civil works
other hazardous petroleum product contract
material storage · Contractor to develop and undertake
sites construction waste management strategy for
both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes
separately.
· Contractor to confine the contaminants
immediately after such accidental spillage
· Contractor to collect contaminated soils, treat
and dispose them in environment friendly
manner
· All areas intended for storage of hazardous
materials to be quarantined and provided with
adequate facilities to combat emergency
situations complying all the applicable statutory
stipulation
· Train the personnel in-charge of these sites to
control access to these areas and entry to be
allowed only under authorization
Air and noise · Obtain Consent to Operate from SPCB Included in Contractor CSC
pollution from · Routine maintenance and regular inspection of civil works
Operation of these generators. contract
generators for · Use of canopy for diesel/gas generators for
electricity noise control/reduction
generation


Surface water · Discharge sediment laden construction water Included in Contractor CSC
pollution into settling tanks prior to final discharge civil works
· Discharge alkaline water from the concrete contract
works that consists of fine particles into settling
tanks prior to final discharge
Solid Waste, · Develop appropriate construction waste Included in Contractor CSC
excess materials management strategy along with its strict civil works
adaptation contract
· Install proper waste disposal facilities;
· Organize proper collection and transportation of
wastes
Occupational · Ensure construction related safety measures as Included in Contractor CSC
health and safety an integral part of the construction works civil works
issues · Provision of adequate on site First Aid Boxes contract
and treatment facilities


Construction of Underwater · Use vibratory hammer. Under those conditions Monitoring Contractor CSC
Substructure (pile noise impacts on where impact hammers are required for reasons Budget
driving and fisheries and of seismic stability or substrate type, it is
concreting) other aquatic life recommended that the pile be driven as deep as
possible with a vibratory hammer prior to the
use of the impact hammer.
· Monitor sound levels during pile driving to
ensure that they do not exceed the NOAA or
any other international recognized criteria.
· Implement measures to attenuate the sound
when sound pressure levels exceed the NOAA
or any other international recognized criteria.
Methods to reduce the sound pressure levels
include, but are not limited to:
· Installation of underwater enclosures to
minimize sound
· Surround the pile with an air bubble curtain
system or air-filled coffer dam.
· Use a smaller hammer to reduce the sound
pressure. The sound produced in pile driving
has a direct relationship to the force used to
drive the pile. A smaller hammer will have less
force on pile therefore, producing less sound.
· Use a hydraulic hammer if impact driving
cannot be avoided. The force of the hammer
blow can be controlled with hydraulic hammers,
and reducing the impact force will reduce the
intensity of the resulting sound.


Impact on turtle · Limit the construction activity within the Part of civil Contractor CSC
designated areas works
· Check the site for turtle trapped in, or in danger contract
from civil works and use a qualified person to
relocate the animal.
· Monitor area to ensure they are well away from
the piling site – scare them away if they are too
close to the site using pingers
Impact of air · Acoustic enclosure should be placed to cover Included in Contractor CSC
noise levels on the hammer and the exposed pile to reduce the the civil
endangered and air noise. The air noise levels can be reduced to work
migratory birds about 60 dB with these measures contract
Risk of water · Unused concrete should not be disposed into Included in Contractor CSC
contamination the river water. the civil
with concrete · Unused concrete should be collected properly work
and disposed in the designated waste dumping contract
site.
Construction of Occupational, · Provision of adequate lighting along the bridge Included in Contractor CSC
Superstructure health and Safety alignment and in the area particularly where the civil
construction works will take place work
· Proper safety training for all participating in the contract
construction works and distribution of PPE
(such as helmets, masks, safety shoes and
goggles, rain coats, ear plugs etc.) to the
construction labours, engineers.


Air pollution · Proper safety training for all participating in theIncluded in Contractor CSC
from welding welding works and distribution of personal the civil
protective equipment (such as helmets, masks, work
safety shoes and goggles, rain coats, ear plugs contract
etc.) to the construction labours, engineers.
Movement of · Movement of Barges only within the designated Included in Contractor CSC
barges in the areas in the river. the civil
river work
contract
B. River Training Works
Dredging and Loss of wildlife · Compensation by supporting research works - External Agency CSC
construction works and aquatic
habitat
Impact on · Increase coverage of open surface area by Included in Contractor CSC
surface water planting grass and creepers so that washing civil works
quality due to away of materials from sloped surfaces would contract
eroded soils and be reduced to a significant extent. Included in
· Store the construction materials containing fine
underwater slope the
particles, e.g. limestone or laterite, in an
protection works. enclosure such that sediment laden water does monitoring
not drain into nearby watercourses, but rather budget
percolates slowly into the soil.
· Provide fences, sediment barriers etc., to
prevent siltation in the construction sites.


Air and noise · All equipment should be properly maintained in Included in Contractor CSC
pollution from compliance with manufacturers guidelines the
dredging monitoring
Equipment budget
Water · Minimise the quality of wastewater to be Included in Contractor CSC
contamination in disposed into adjacent water bodies civil works
the adjacent · Discharge sediment laden construction water contract
water bodies and into settling tanks prior to final discharge.
Ensure sufficient retention time to allow waste
agricultural lands
water disposal from land filling sites in the
from wastewater adjacent lands with required TSS level
from dredge
material
storage/backfillin
g etc.
Dredge materials · Disposal dredge materials will be carried out in Included in Contractor CSC
disposal accordance with the Dredge material civil works
management plan. contract
Drainage · Design and implement drainage structures Included in Contractor CSC
problem behind around the RTW and landfill site civil works
RTW works and contract
around the land
filling site
Loss of · Implement Tree compensation and greenbelt Plantation Contractor, NGO CSC
vegetation and development plan to develop vegetation around Cost
agriculture crops the Project sites


Interference with · Provide adequate navigation clearance for the Included in Contractor CSC
local navigation passenger and goods carrying civil works
and hindrance to boats/lunches/cargos contract
the river traffic
C. Approach Roads
Clearing of sites Loss of top-soils · Collect/strip top soil before earth-filling and Included in Contractor CSC
store and re-use it for final surfacing of road civil works
embankment and tree plantation contract
Cutting of trees · Tree plantation along roadside open spaces. Included in Forest CSC, Forest
plantation Department Department
budget
Loss of · Undertake agriculture development plan to RAP NGO CSC
agricultural lands boost up crop production
· Development of demonstration plots along with
training to farmers for high yield variety of crop
production.
Earth Filling by Loss of · Borrow soil will be procure from approved Included in Contractor CSC
borrowed material productive soil quarry. civil works
· IRC guidelines will be followed during contract
excavation
· care has been taken that (i) many borrow areas
are located on raised lands, earth mounds and
heaps, (ii) in some cases the owner or villagers
want to develop the area into pond for rearing
fishes, (iii) re-plantation borrow pit areas will


minimize the soil erosion.
Operation of hot mix Air pollution and · Undertake precautionary measures for reducing Included in Contractor CSC
plants, etc. dust generation dust emissions from DG sets, hot mix plants, civil works
Transportation of crushers and batching plants; contract
construction · Provide adequate stack height and dust
extraction systems for the hot mix plants
materials and
· Ensure Water spreading to suppress dusts
carrying out
particularly during dry and windy weather
construction · Provide grass cover immediately after the
activities completion of final earth surface along with
watering until they grow and survive
· Tree plantation on the slopes all along the
approach road embankment
· Monitor ambient air quality and comply with
the standards by reducing the emission levels of
air pollutants
Asphalting Spills from · Disposal of bitumen will not be allowed to Included in Contractor CSC
bitumen plants enter either running or dry streambeds and nor civil works
may contaminate will be disposed of in ditches or small waste contract
surface water disposal sites prepared by the contractor.
· Bitumen storage and mixing areas must be
quality during
protected against spills.
- Thinning of
· Proper handling of contaminated soil according
bitumen to MoEF&CC guidelines.
- Leaks in drums · As a minimum, these areas must be contained,
-Handling of as to allow immediate collection and clean up
bitumen · Careful management of any petroleum products
used in the preparation of the bitumen mixture


to avoid spills and contamination of the local
water table.
Impact on · Control speed of construction vehicles through Included in Contractor CSC
Traffic safety road safety education civil works
· Allow adequate traffic flow around construction contract
areas.
· Provide adequate signage, barriers and flag
persons for traffic control.
Traffic jams and · Communicate to the public through community Included in Contractor CSC
congestions consultation and newspaper announcements civil works
regarding the scope and schedule of contract
construction, as well as certain construction
activities causing disruptions or access
restrictions.
D. Bridge End Facilities
Site Clearance and Loss of top soils · Collect/strip top soil before earth-filling and Included in Contractor CSC
preparation store and re-use it for final surfacing of railway civil works
embankment and tree plantation contract
Loss of trees · Tree plantation to compensate the lost trees and included in Forest CSC, Forest
and agriculture agriculture promotion activities Plantation Department Department
lands budget
E. Construction Camps
Establishment of Lack of proper · Provision of necessary facilities in construction Included in Contractor CSC
camps services in camps civil works
camps such as contract
safe drinking


water and
sanitation
Maintenance of · Contaminatio · Implement waste management activities in Included in Contractor CSC
camps n from solid Construction Camp Management civil works
waste · All construction materials will be reused, contract
· There will be recycled and properly disposed of. All worn out
potential for parts, equipment and empty containers must be
diseases to be removed from the site to a proper storage
transmitted · There will be no site-specific landfills
including established by the contractors. All solid waste
malaria, will be collected and removed from the work
exacerbated camps and disposed in approved waste disposal
by sites.
inadequate · Implement Health and Hygiene guidelines
health and · Implement Workers Health and Safety
safety · Environmental specialists and occupational,
practices. health and safety specialist to be hired to
There will be monitor workers health, safety and hygiene for
an increased entire construction period
risk of
sexually
transmitting
infections
and HIV
AIDs


OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE STAGE
A. Main Bridge
Road traffic Deterioration in · Plantation of pollutant adsorbing trees O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
air and noise · Connection of noise barriers close to sensitive Traffic Police MORT&H
quality receptors
· Proper road and traffic maintenance
Operation of the Vehicle · Environmental Response Plan is prepared for ERP Budget O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
bridge accidents, undertaking measures for emergency MORT&H
Accidental evacuation of vehicles, victims from bridge
spillage of · Environmental Response Plan is prepared for
addressing gas leakage and explosions
oils/fuels,
lubricants Gas
leakage and
explosion
B. River Training Structures
Operation of river Drainage · Undertake visual inspection of erosion on O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
training structures congestion, soil embankment of RTW slopes particularly due to MORT&H
erosion and rain-cut and formulate and implement erosion
siltation protection measures, such as grassing, structural
drainage as found appropriate.
· Regular monitoring of morphological changes
of river at the bridge locations and along the
RTW and formulate bank protection work
immediately for implementation, particularly
during monsoon.


C. Approach Roads
Vehicular movement Increase noise · Noise models suggest noise levels are within Included in O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
level because of the standards during O&M. However, if any Post- MORT&H
enhanced traffic exceedance is noticed during O&M, construct construction
volume. noise barriers at sensitive locations such as monitoring
health care units/hospitals.
Budget
· Put signage for noise regulations at these
locations with clear instructions of not using
horns and running vehicles with
limited/allowable speeds.
· Maintain tree plantation on both sides of the
roads
· Noise monitoring will be taken up during
operation.
Deterioration in · Ensure that the road vehicles have appropriate Traffic Police NHIDCL,
roadside ambient road permit certificates to ensure that they do MORT&H
air quality that not pollute air
will affect the · Carry out onsite testing for assessing emission
levels of pollutants from vehicles running on
roadside human
road
settlement,
· Strictly adopt measures of vehicle inspections
development and ban those vehicles emitting excessive
pollutants beyond the permissible limits
Drainage leading · Monitor drainage pattern after high down O&M O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
to water logging pouring and recession flood Budget MORT&H
and impacting on · Connect water pockets to the nearest drainage
surrounding structures/canals by constructing roadside
drainage canal


lands
Soil and water · Emergency Response Plan to be prepared to ERP O&M O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
contamination address the accidental spillage of fuels and Budget MORT&H
from accidental hazardous goods
spillage of · Immediate collection of spilled
oils/fuels/lubricants through collection of
oils/fuels
contaminated soils and sucking oils from
surface water through appropriate technologies.
Road accidents · An Emergency Response Plan to be prepared to ERP O&M O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
address road accidents Budget MORT&H
· Monitor road accidents in terms of frequency,
location of occurrence, and analyse them to
formulate additional measures to improve road
safety. If accidents occur at same locations of
road, insert structural speed breakers and/or
speed breaking signage to improve road safety
at those locations.
Drainage of runoff Soil and water · For repetitive problem at a particular location or O&M O&M Contractor NHIDCL,
from roads into water contamination at pond locations having potential fish-culture, Budget MORT&H
bodies into roadside build road-side drainage and divert the flow
ponds/water away from ponds/sensitive water bodies.
· Regular cleaning of drains
bodies due to
Oils/grease being
washed away
with rainfall
runoff from


roads
·
Tree plantation Survival of Flora · Monitor survival of trees and its maintenance Included in NGO, Forest NHIDCL,
and fauna in the for first 2 years Tree Department MORT&H, Forest
new environment · Plantation of additional varieties of trees that Plantation Department
supports roadside birds and sustains long-time Budget
and having high wood value
· Undertake monitoring and maintenance efforts
for ensuring survival of planted trees
D. Induced Development
Land use changes Roadside · Apply strict policy measures for use of roadside MORT&H in NHIDCL,
development and development including provision of cross- coordination with MORT&H
rapid changes in drainage structures and treatment of industrial the local
land use effluents prior to disposal of wastes into administration
lands/water bodies;
· Prohibit roadside waste dumping
· Land-use zones should be established supported
by good land-use policy guideline and regular
monitoring
7.2.1 Key Potential Environmental issues
The key potential environmental issue that may result due to proposed project intervention is given in the following Table 5.2 and the analysis
of alternatives to the Key Potential Environmental issues has been presented in the Table 7.2.

Table 7.2: Potential Environmental Impacts on Valued Ecosystem Components

Project Pre- Construction Phase Opération Phase
(borrow Plants
pits)
Soil Loss of Loss of Loss of top Loss of top Increase in Soil pollution Pollution Soil
productive crops, and soil and soil erosion, (-ve, short due to contamination
agricultural increase in erosion (- (Reversible, siltation and term ) Top soil spills (- due to surface
land (-ve, soil erosion ve, short short term ) slope loss (Long ve, short runoff, spillage of
short term ) term ) instability term,-ve) term ) oil due to vehicle
accidents (-ve,
long term )
Ground Water Exploitation Maintenance of
water extraction for of water for trees / shrubs
drinking (-ve, construction (-
short term ) ve, short term
)
Surface Change in Water Water Water Change in Pollution Degradation due
water water quality logging pollution from logging water quality due to to spill- over and
and siltation and sanitary and problems (-ve, short spill into road runoff
mosquito other wastes term ) water
breeding bodies (-
ve, short
term )


(borrow Plants
pits)
Drainage Change in Change in Modification Interference Cleaning &
natural drainage in Natural with natural Maintenance
drainage pattern (- drainage (- drainage,
pattern ve, short ve, short Water logging
term ) term ) (-ve, long term
)
Air quality Increase in Particulate Atmospheric Dust Dust pollution SPM, Increase in SPM,
air pollution matter Pollution due pollution (- (-ve, short SO2 (-ve, NOx, CO (-ve,
pollution to fuel burning ve, short term ) short term long term )
term, )
reversible )
Noise Reduced Increase in Vibration Vibrators, Increase Increase in levels
quality buffering of noise levels from concrete in noise (- due to increased
noise due to blasting batching ve, short traffic (-ve, long
machinery operations (- plants noise (- term ) term )
ve, short ve, short term
term, )
reversible )


(borrow Plants
pits)
Forest Habitat loss, - - Loss of -
and habitat/
vegetation cover (-ve,
short term,
reversible )
Trees Tree cutting Loss of trees Loss of Cutting of Tree cutting Loss of Trees Increased green
clearance (-ve, short trees (-ve, trees (-ve, (-ve, short (-ve, short cover after
term, short term ) short term ) term ) term, reforestation
reversible ) reversible ) (+ve,long term)
Temples / - -
Topography Soil Removal of Cutting/ filling
borrowed Stone from activities (-ve,
from quarries (-ve, short term )
borrow area long term )
(-ve, short
term )

7.3 Major Impacts On Social Environment
The economic and social interaction of communities is going to be improved by the bridge /
road projects. However, the construction of bridge / road will cause disruption to local
interactions. All the likely affected assets and families were identified and head of the likely
affected households or representatives were interviewed through the structured
questionnaire followed by preparation of inventory of all the affected assets during the SIA..
7.4 Others
Accidents
During the construction stage, traffic volume of heavy equipment and construction vehicles
will increase. During the operation stage, increase of traffic volume and speed might
increase the risk of accidents.
Mitigation Measures
During the construction stage, the construction section should be properly demarcated and
signages should be placed. Notice and necessary information shall be shared amongst
surrounding villagers prior to the construction activities. During the operation stage, traffic
signs shall be installed, especially in the built-up areas as well as at the junction of the
existing road and approach road to avoid traffic accidents. Sidewalks and pedestrian
crossings will be equipped to ensure the safety and movement of pedestrians.
7.5 Public consultation
7.5.1 Purpose of Public consultation
Public involvement is one of the most important methods for the success of any project. It is
useful for gathering environmental baseline data, understanding likely impacts, determining
community and individual preferences, selecting the alternative and for designing
sustainable mitigation and compensations plans.
The guiding principles include
§ Dissemination of information: - The information regarding the proposed road project

should be disseminated to the project affected people directly and indirectly.
§ Soliciting information: - The basic information regarding various environmental and
socio-economic issues is solicited.
§ Consultation: - The consultation involves engaging people in dialogue. It is a
religious process. There has to be a continuous dialogue between the components of
the project and the public.
§ Application of the gathered information: - The aforementioned three components of
public involvement should be applied at various lines throughout the EIA process.
§ The public consultations are held at all the stages, namely, inception, screening,
feasibility, and EIA preparation.
7.5.2 Methodology Followed For Public Consultation

In order to make the project sustainable and effective, communication with the stake-
holders, other affected people and interviews with individuals was made.
The methods used for public consultation were as follows: -
§ The questionnaires regarding the amusements of various environmental impacts due

to the project and suggestion on their mitigations were field tested by a group under
the leadership of two supervisors.
§ The data were recorded at the screening and feasibility stages.
7.5.3 List of issues Involved
During public consultation, individually and field testing of questionnaire an effort was
made to create an awareness amongst the people about the proposed project. The positive
and negative impacts were explained so that affected people could raise their problems and
suggest some better alternatives in mitigating the negative impacts and make the project
successful.
The following benefits resulting from the project were pointed out:
§ Improvement of the road shall result in less travel time requirement for people and
goods.
§ This will benefit the public in general and shall lower the cost of commodities.
§ The problem of traffic jams will be reduced.
§ Due to the improved transport fruits, vegetables and other perishable goods could be
saved from early decay.
§ The availability of consumer items shall be ensured.
§ With this the improvement shall result in reduction in fuel consumption which, in
turn shall result in saving valuable foreign exchange
§ The road accidents shall decrease as a result of widening.
§ There shall be general economic improvement of the area and the living standard of
people will improve.
The following negative effects and mitigation measures of the project were explained for
PAPs awareness:
§ The implementation of the project shall result in necessary land acquisition and
dislocation of the people. Dislocated Project Affected Peoples (PAPs) shall be paid
compensation as admissible and shall be consulted to know their priorities regarding
the mode of compensation, for e.g., land for land, cash compensation, etc.
§ People below poverty line, or belonging to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe, or
physically handicapped, shall be given due care while planning for their
resettlement.
§ A general attempt shall be made to safeguard the sources of earning of the affected.
§ The efforts shall be made to save as many trees as possible. The proposal for dense
tree plantation shall be suggested in consultation with the people to improve the
environment.
§ The problem arising due to the shifting of electricity, telephone lines and other
utilities shall be solved with the co-operation of the respective departments.
§ Compensation will be paid for all the private trees going to be cut. This
compensation will be based on the species and their commercial value
The above points were raised to create awareness about the project. Suggestions were
sought from PAPs for improving the road alignment by raising following questions:
§ Do they agree with this project or disapprove it?

§ Whether central widening or one side expansion is preferred?
§ If trees are cut, how many trees for one tree should be planted?
§ What are the provisions for the private owner trees and how they will be
compensated?
§ Compensation to be paid for standing crop?
§ What kind of trees do they want along the road?
§ What do the people living on ROW want in assistance?
§ Do they want to have some training for earning their livelihood?
§ Are they willing to allow relocating the religious structure?
§ Do they want their road should be expanded or want a bypass?
§ Are they aware about the environmental impact?
§ Do they want some more facilities?
7.5.4 Stakeholder Consultation
Definition of Stakeholder:
Stakeholders are the individuals or groups that are likely to affect or be affected positively
or negatively by a proposed project or activity. Stakeholders play a very important role in
deciding the course of project implementation.
It is very much essential to address the interests of the stakeholders in implementation of the
proposed project and also to modify/accommodate their views in the project plan or
programme. It is crucial to develop the co-operation between stakeholders & the project
team so as to ultimately achieve the successful completion of the project. Benefits of
reaching out to stakeholders through surveys and one-on-one meetings consultations are:
§ Quality input leads to quality decision-making. A broader perspective reduces
“group think,” helps to challenge traditional thinking, and sparks creativity in
problem solving.
§ Greater stakeholder satisfaction with the final planning product comes from their
involvement in shaping it.
§ The chances of successful implementation increase as more stakeholders feel
committed to the plan or project’s goals and take ownership of the plan’s design.
§ Good governance, transparency, and open communication are served when we
communicate and receive feedback from stakeholders, instead of being guided by
personal agendas.
7.5.5 Types of Stakeholders Consulted for Feasibility / Screening Studies
In our present study, most important stake holders are the public living by or near the
project bridge, Road development/construction department officials including project

implementation unit, forest officials and NGOs working in the locality. These stakeholders
hugely influence the process of project decision making.
Stakeholders were identified to ensure as wide coverage as possible of the project area as
follows:
§ Households in the project area including potential Project Affected Persons

§ Local voluntary organizations / Non-government Organizations (NGOs)
§ Government agencies / Forest department
§ Community leaders
Public discussions were held to obtain background information and details of general
environmental issues that concern people in the project area. In addition, environmental
issues were discussed with relevant government officials, beneficiaries, and community
leaders.
7.5.6 Details about the Consultations Carried Out
The consultant has tried to consult for external input & tried to bring important new points
of view to planning.
The people living in the impact zone of the project road/bridge were consulted regarding
environmental issues in their area using structured questionnaire as well as unstructured
questionnaire. In addition issues such as any persisting problem people are facing due to
existing road/communication were also put in front before them. The inputs of stakeholders
on policy/plan development in respect to proposed project are very important. Stake holder
consultation process in the project ideally follows the following steps:
Survey: Surveys are mechanisms for dialog, creativity, and consensus building for to
identify the local stakeholders.
One-on-one/group meetings:
§ Obtaining & documenting the stakeholders’ views/needs.

§ Assessing & analysing the need, feasibility, and interest in implementing the
documented stakeholders’ views and also managing them.
§ Take necessary corrective actions/modifications if needed. And review the status.
Stakeholder consultation would help us in identifying the interests of all stakeholders, who
may affect or be affected by the project, potential issues that could intervene in the
successful project implementation, and also possible ways to reduce potential negative
impacts & manage negative stakeholders.
7.5.7 Summary of the Consultations
During the public consultation, it was observed that many of the people were aware of the
environmental conditions in and around their village. But for most of the people, the issues
of prime concern were proper compensation offered by the client. Also the major concern

for the villagers was the houses, schools, agricultural land etc which are going to be affected
due to the proposed project.
7.5.8 Particulars of the Consultation
On site discussion with affected stakeholders, and reconnaissance visits have also been
made to the project area. Following table Table 7.3 and Table 7.4shows the details of
consultation through questionnaire.
Table 7.3: Site discussion at different location
Date Venue / Place Participants

1. Chagalchora
2. Motichora
3. Chaitar Char Total – About 57 participants including Local
March 2016 4. Savodari villagers, shop owners, farmers, community leaders
The interviews with groups of local people were carried out and the form viz. “Practical
view of the community about Environmental Scenario” was filled up at various locations.
The form is having details regarding Water quality, noise level, air quality, Archaeology/
historical importance in their vicinity, history of natural disaster, cultural activities etc.
Sample list of people interviewed during public consultation is attached below along with
photographs of the public consultation. The summary of the filled forms are as under:
Table 7.4: People’s Perception about Environment Degradation
Sr. Question asked about No. of people Positive Negative

No. interviewed response (%) response (%)
1 Water quality of rivers, ponds, 57 80 10
wells, and canals
2 Noise quality of the area 57 60 40
3 Air quality of the area 57 80 20
4 Presence of Archaeological sites 57 00 100
5 Natural disaster 57 50 50
6 Adverse effect on Rare species of 57 20 80
animals, birds and aquatic species
7 Adverse effect on Cultural sites 57 10 90
i.e. market, melas

(Sample list containing name, occupation& signature of people consulted at

Chagalchora Location)

(Sample list containing name, occupation& signature of people consulted at Motichora

Location)

(Sample list containing name, occupation& signature of people consulted at Chaitarchar

Location)

(Sample list containing name, occupation& signature of people consulted at Savodari

Location)


Fig. 7.1: People expressing their views during interviews
7.5.9 Findings of the Stakeholder Consultation and Issues of Concern that need Attention
The General issues which were put forward before us during the public consultation were:
§ Proper Compensation offered to the affected villagers.
§ Houses which are going to be affected with the proposed project.
§ Risk of life of Aquatic Animals.
§ Land acquisition for bridge construction.
§ Improvement of socio economic condition due to proposed bridge.

7.5.10 Key Recommendations from Stakeholder Consultation Exercise
Based on the stakeholder consultation, the following recommendations are made:
§ Drainage of carriage way & drainage facility along the approach road side need to be
developed in order to prevent houses/shops getting inundated during heavy rains.
§ Road safety features need to be introduced specifically in approach area road so as to
reduce/bring down the frequency and number of accidents.
§ Restoration of livelihood for boat owners due to the proposed bridge.

8.0. ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT
8.1 Impact Analysis
Comparison between the scoping and survey results is shown below.
Table 8-1: Scoping and Survey Result

Impact Impact
Assessments of Assessments
Scoping of Study Result
Operation Stage
Operation Stage
Construction
Construction
construction
construction
Item Rational of the Impact Assessment

Stage
Stage
Pre-
Pre-
Pollution
C: Some negative impacts are expected
due to the operation of construction
equipment and vehicles. One example is
Air
D B- B- D B- D dust incidental to earthwork especially
Pollution
during the dry season.
O: Air pollution is expected to increase
due to increase in traffic volume on the
road.
C: Turbid water due to the earthworks,
bridge pier construction work and
Water wastewater effluents from construction
D B- D D B- D
Pollution workers’ camps / yards are expected to
pollute the Brahmaputra river to some
extent.
C: Waste will be generated from
construction workers’ camps. Waste
Wastes /
generated from construction and
Hazardous D B- D D B- D
demolition work may include hazardous
Materials
materials that must be treated before final
disposal.
C: Impacts on soil from deposition of
Soil
pollutants from construction materials in
Contaminat D B- D D B- D
the construction site are expected to be
ion
small. Since there is no major industrial
activity along the road, it is unlikely that
Impact Impact
Operation Stage
Operation Stage
Construction
Construction
construction
construction
Stage
Stage
Pre-
Pre- soil along the road is already polluted.

C: Noise and vibration are expected to be
generated by the operation of construction
equipment and vehicles, although
temporary. Construction schedule should
take into account the location of schools,
Noise and
D B- B- D B- B- hospitals and religious facilities that
Vibration
require silence during parts of the day.
O: Noise and vibration levels are likely to
increase due to greater traffic volume
along the road. Specific measures may be
required to minimize impacts on schools,
hospitals and religious facilities.
Ground
D D D D D D P/C/O: No impact is expected.
Subsidence
Offensive
D D D D D D P/C/O: No impact is expected.
Odor
C/O: The piers may cause slight changes
Bottom
D C C D D D in the hydrodynamics and cause erosion of
sediment
the bottom sediment.
Natural Environment
D D D P: No impact is expected.
Wildlife
C: No protected area exists within a 10km
Reserve/
D D D radius of project area.
protected
O: No protected area exists within a 10km
area
radius of project area.
D B- D P: No impact is expected.
C: During the construction period,
ecosystems in the project area, including
Eco- local flora and fauna, are damaged to some
system/Bio- D A- B- extent.
diversity O: Increase of traffic volume will cause
negative impacts on the ecosystem
including fauna and flora along the project
road.
Topography D B- D D B- D P: No impact is expected.
Impact Impact
Operation Stage
Operation Stage
Construction
Construction
construction
construction
Stage
Stage
Pre-
/ Geology Pre- C: Changes in topographic conditions over

the project area takes place due to the need
for cutting and filling work.
D B- D P: No impact is expected.
C: Construction work may cause minor
and temporary impacts on hydrology
Hydrology D B- B-
because of pier construction, or the local
use of water.
Social Environment
P: The project requires approximately
94ha land and a Total of 761 PAHs will be
affected by the project, out of which 30%
Involuntary
need to be resettled.
Resettlemen A- D D A- D D
C/O: Resettlement will be completed
t
before construction begins and thus no
resettlement is expected during
construction and operation.
P: The ratio of illiterates and the poor is
high in the Char area. Given the limited
coping capacity of the poor, appropriate
mitigation measures will be considered in
the RAP.
C: The poor may bear a higher burden due
to their limited capacity to cope. However,
they can benefit from employment
B+ B+/ B+
Poor People A- B+ A- opportunities during construction work.
/B- B- /B-
P: The poor may fail to benefit from the
project due to lack of skills and coping
capacity, therefore assistance to improve
their skills and capacity will be considered
in the RAP. With that assistance, the poor
can also gain benefit from improved
market access and business opportunities
in the long run.
Ethnic
Minorities/ P/C/O: Ethnic minority and Scheduled
C C C D D D
Indigenous Tribes were not identified in PAH/PAPs.
People
Impact Impact
Operation Stage
Operation Stage
Construction
Construction
construction
construction
Stage
Stage
Pre-
Pre- P: Loss of income source and livelihood

due to involuntary resettlement and change
in land usage are expected to negatively
affect the local economy and livelihood.
C: Construction work may have a negative
impact on the fishery activities to some
extent. On the other hand, construction
work will have a positive impact on local
economy by creating employment and
business opportunities in the project area.
Due to the increase of construction
Local
workers, business opportunities such as
Economy B+ B+ B+/ B+
A- A- small shops are expected to increase in the
and /B- /B- B- /B-
area.
Livelihood
O: The bridge will have impact on the boat
operators who operates directly between
Dhubri and Phulbari. On the other hand,
improvement of logistic network will
increase accessibility to market, goods and
generate employment opportunities and
bring positive effect on regional economy.
Although the Char area will not be directly
connected by the bridge, accessibility to
the markets and other necessities is
expected to be improved.
P: Land acquisition and involuntary
resettlement are likely to cause changes in
the existing land use patterns along the
alignment.
C: Construction yards and workers’ camps
will have an impact on the land use,
Land Use B- B- D B- B- D however the impact will be short term.
O: Land usage of the approach road
section will be permanently changed,
however no significant negative impact is
expected. Construction yard will be
restored to its original condition by the
contractors.
Utilization P: No impact is expected.
D B- D D B- D
of Local C: Procurement of large quantities of local

Impact Impact
Operation Stage
Operation Stage
Construction
Construction
construction
construction
Stage
Stage
Pre-
Resources Pre- resources for the construction materials

may have impact on the price hike.
O: No impact is expected as use of local
resources is not expected during operation.
P: One school playground will be affected.
C: Noise from increased traffic may have a
Social negative impact on the school.
Infrastructu B+ B+ O: Noise from increased traffic may have a
B- B- B- B-
re and /B- /B- negative impact on the school. On the
Services other hand, improved connectivity
contributes to better accessibility to social
infrastructure and services.
P: Land acquisition and involuntary
resettlement will lead to an unequal
distribution of benefits and damage
between those who are directly affected by
the project and those who are not.
C: Those who are affected by Land
Unequal
acquisition and resettlement should have
Distribution
B+/ B+ preference in access to employment
of Benefit B- B- B- B-
B- /B- opportunities in the construction work.
and
O: There is a possibility of uneven
Damage
distribution of benefits between the bridge
connection site and Char land. In the long
term, the whole area is expected to have
economic benefits from improved logistics
networks including access to markets as
well as employment opportunities.
P: Numbers of women-headed households
were identified. Involvement of women
should be ensured during the course of the
B+/ land acquisition and resettlement process.
Gender B- B- D B- D
B- C: Equal opportunity in construction work
should be sought for women and job
training should be provided as necessary.
O: No impact is expected
P: One school playground will be affected.
Children's C/O: Child labor is unlawful according to
B- D D B- D D
Rights Article 24 of the Indian Constitution. Only
adults are eligible for potential
Impact Impact
Operation Stage
Operation Stage
Construction
Construction
construction
construction
Stage
Stage
Pre-
Pre- employment opportunities created by the

project. As for the precaution, the contract
with the contractors should include the
clause to prohibit hiring children for the
construction works.
Public P: No impact is expected.
Health C: Influx of construction workers is likely
(sanitation to increase the health risk, particularly that
D B- D D B- B-
and of STD / STI and HIV / AIDS.
infectious O: An increase in traffic volume may have
diseases) a negative impact on public health.
C: Occupational health and safety of
Occupation
construction work should be properly
al Health
D B- B- D B- B- managed through adequate EMP.
and Safety
O: Hygiene and safety of workers should
(OHS)
be considered for those in charge of
maintenance and repair work.
Others
C: An increased risk of accidents
associated with construction activities is
expected due to the operation of heavy
Accidents D B- B- D B- B- equipment and vehicles.
O: Risks of accidents is expected to
increase due to greater traffic volume and
speed. Traffic measures shall be taken
especially in the village area.
8.2 Project Benefits
General
Availability of adequate and quality infrastructure is a pre-requisite for rapid development of

any economy. Region of the proposed project of construction/ development of the bridge/
road being one of the emerging economic & densely populated areas of Assam &
Meghalaya, it has quite high traffic intensity on roads due to considerably increased growth.

Greater development and improvement of economic in this region is not possible unless
construction or development of bridge/road between the two district/ state. The present
mode of boat transport is not capable to cater to increasing traffic demand due to rapid
development in project influence area.
Development/construction in the proposed project bridge/ road will result in the following
benefits:
§ Providing better level of service in terms of improved riding quality and smooth
traffic flow and reduction in travel time between Dhubri and Phulbari.
§ Faster transportation will ultimately lead to massive savings in the form of reduced
wear and tear of vehicles, reduced vehicle operating costs (VOCs) and total reduction
in transportation costs etc. Approximately 26 lakh people of the Dhubri (Assam),
West Gharo (Meghalaya) will get benefitted by this.
§ With the Development/construction of the proposed project bridge/ road, the traffic
congestion due to obstructed movement of vehicles will be minimized and thus
wastage of fuel emissions from the vehicles will be reduced.
§ Introduction of additional safety measures like crash barrier, road illumination, retro-
reflective boards, delineators etc. will result in lesser accidents.
§ Increased passenger comfort due to construction of bridge/ road shall be an added
benefit.
§ It will increase access of the villages and other small settlements to urban areas, thus
providing connectivity of rural produce to urban markets, thereby enhancing the reach
and export of perishable farm-goods, leading to better remuneration for the producer.
§ The reach and export of perishable farm-goods will have quite a positive impact and
this will prove to be a boon for the rural agricultural sector.
§ Providing connectivity to the urban infrastructure.
§ Rural industrial produce, whether from Commercial industries, small-scale industries
or medium-scale industries will have easy access to the urban markets.
§ Strengthening of rural economies: The rural sector / economy are sure to get
strengthened, though at a gradual pace.
§ Higher education: Provision of easy access to higher education can be directly linked
to the improved educational scenario.
§ Access to medical facilities: Villages in the project region are not yet well-equipped
with all types of medical facilities and services like Public Health Centres (PHCs),
dispensaries, hospitals. Due to inaccessibility, reaching even the nearest health centre
sometimes becomes a colossal task. Even the doctor's reluctance will be converted
into willingness to visit these areas after construction of the project bridge/road.
§ By reducing the transportation costs, it will be more feasible to transfer construction
materials which are important for many economic activities (house building, school
building, small hydro-electric, projects etc) to hinterland. This will in turn, lead to
direct as well as indirect strengthening of local economies.
§ During the execution of the project, i.e. during the construction period, employment
will be provided to workers from the local communities.
§ The educated as well as uneducated people from villages will obtain access to new
employment centers.
§ The construction/development of bridge/ road will reduce the number & frequency of
collisions. This would be very beneficial from the safety point of view and will thus,
reduce accident rate.
§ Overall improved quality of life for the lesser developed areas in the neighbourhood.
Value Addition:
§ Aesthetic enhancement: Landscaping & road side plantation.

§ Wayside facilities: Truck-lay byes, footpaths etc.
§ Better road safety, signage, and improved road surface.
Other Tangible Benefits
§ Enhanced connectivity between rural & urban population which will benefit the all
sections of the society like general population, small-medium-large scale industries,
farmers, businessmen etc.
§ Improved access to higher education facilities & modern health facilities.
§ Strengthening of both rural & urban economies which in turn will improve
economic scenario of the state and country.
§ Improved bridge / road connectivity helps in better implementation and
management of government schemes.
§ With improvement in economy, more generation of employment opportunities.

9.0. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP)
9.1 Environment Monitoring Programme
9.1.1 General
The Environmental Monitoring Programme provides such information on which

management decisions may be taken during construction and operational phase. It provides
basis for evaluating the efficiency of mitigation and enhancement measures, and suggested
actions that need to be taken to achieve the desired effect. The monitoring includes:
I. Visual observation,
II. Selection of environmental parameters at specific locations, and
III. Sampling and regular testing of these parameters.
The objectives are:
§ Evaluation of the efficiency of mitigation and enhancement measures

§ Updating of the actions and impacts of baseline data
§ Adoption of additional mitigation measures if the present measures are insufficient
§ Generating the data which may be incorporated in the environmental management
plan in future projects
Table-9.1 Environment Monitoring Programme is shown in the table below.

Table-9.1: Environmental Monitoring Program
Responsibility
Sl. Standards Location Frequency
No Item Project Stage Parameters Guidance Implementation Supervision
M1 Air Construction PM10, • Dust sampler to be Air (P&CP) Hot mix Thrice a Contractor PIU
SO2,NOx, located 50m from the Rules, plant/ year for 8 through
CO, plan in the downwind CPCB, 1994 batching years approved
direction. plant, monitoring
• Use method specified Sampling agency
by CPCB for analysis locations
Specified in
M2 Operation PM10, • Use method specified EIA report
Air(P&CP) Sampling Thrice a PIU PIU
SO2,NOx, by CPCB for analysis Rules, locations year for
CO, CPCB, 1994 Specified in four years
EIA report
M3 Water Construction pH, Turbidity, • Sample collected from Water Sampling Thrice a Contractor PIU
BOD, COD, source and analyzed as quality locations year for 8 through
TDS, TSS, per Standard Methods Standards by Specified in year approved
DO, Oil & for Examination of CPCB EIA report monitoring
Grease and Water and Waste agency
Pb water
M4 Operation pH, BOD, • Grab sample collected Water Sampling If spillage is PIU PIU
COD, TDS, from source and quality locations reported
TSS, DO, Oil analysed as per standards by specified in due to
& Grease and Standard Methods for CPCB EIA report accident
Pb Examination of Water etc.
and Waste water

Responsibility
Sl. Standards Location Frequency
No Item Project Stage Parameters Guidance Implementation Supervision
M5 Noise Construction Noise levels • Free field 1m from the Noise At equipment Thrice a Contractor PIU
on dB(A) equipment whose noise Standards by yard year through
scale levels are being CPCB /construction for 8 years approved
determined. site. required monitoring
agency
M6 Operation Noise levels • Equivalent Noise Noise At maximum 4 Thrice a PIU PIU
on dB(A) levels using an standards by sites listed in year for 4
scale integrated noise level CPCB EIA report for years
meter kept at a distance noise
of 15m from edge of monitoring
Pavement locations
M7 Ecology Construction Frequency of • Observation from river Dhubri, Thrice a year NGO, PIU PIU
and operation dolphin bank (from sunrise to Phulbari for 8 years
sightings sunset, 10 days) during
construction
and 4 years
during
operation
M8 Livelihood Construction Sample Evaluate based on the Census Within ROW Twice a NGO PIU
and operation interview internal and external survey year
survey monitoring results on the carried out
effectiveness of RAP during the
conducted by NGOs. RAP
preparation

9.2 Institutional Arrangement
The responsibility for the implementation and supervision of EMPs are vested with three
agencies, namely, Contractors, PIU, and Supervision consultants (SC). The Contractors
herein mean the agency hired for the execution of the construction works for the respective
contract packages. PIU would be the implementation agency with the support of PWD.
Figure 9.1 indicates the implementation structure of the EMP.
Figure 9-1: The organizational framework for implementation of the EMP and EMoP
It has been proposed that the Executive Engineer (environment) based in Dhubri will be in
charge of the implementation of EIA and EMP for this project. Such an engineer will be
assisted by the Assistant Engineer (Environment), who will be assisted by Supervision
consultant (and Environment Specialist) and contractor.
The construction supervision consultants are expected to have in-house capacity to advise on
and supervise the implementation of the EMP including suggesting enhancement design
options and modifications, as necessary. For this purpose, the supervision consultant will
employ a full-time environmental specialist.
Compensatory plantation, maintenance and protection of vegetation will be required as part
of environmental mitigation and enhancement works. Likewise, spoiled soil shall be used,
where possible, to create community assets such as playgrounds, as per request of the
community. In these types of works, the project may engage NGO, Consultant or experts
from local universities to liaise with the local community for effective implementation of the
project.

9.3 Grievance Redress Mechanism
An integrated grievance and redress mechanism (GRM) for environmental and social action
plans is needed to be established for the project. The GRM provides a system for receiving,
evaluating and facilitating the resolution of affected people’s concerns, complaints, and
grievances about the project’s social and environmental performance. Due to the scale of
the project with one end of the bridge located in an urbanized section of Dhubri and adverse
impacts are anticipated, issues like poor legal records, voluminous titles and sometimes
conflicting holdings, intensive construction activities located near communities, traffic from
construction vehicles, and conflict between migrant and host communities are to be
expected.
Grievances related to the implementation of the project, will be acknowledged, evaluated,
and responded to with corrective action proposed using understandable and transparent
processes that are gender responsive, culturally appropriate, and readily accessible to all
segments of the affected people. Records of grievances received, corrective actions taken
and their outcomes will be properly maintained.
The nature and significance will be evaluated by the receiving party. Any complaint which
concerns project construction activity, poses imminent serious risk to life and property, or
will result to irreversible damage to wildlife (dolphin) will be immediately forwarded to the
PIU- for action within 24-hours from receipt of complaint.
9.4 Monitoring Forms
The following Tables indicate JICA’s standardized monitoring form. Monitoring works
should be carried out every six months unless otherwise specifically noted.
Table 9-2: Environmental Clearance
Monitoring Item Conditions During the Reporting Period
Response to State
Department’s Comments/
Guidance for Obtaining
Environmental Clearance
FOR BIODIVERSITY
Monitoring Item/Parameter Conditions During the Reporting Period
Observation of Gangatic river
dolphin (dolphins/hour)
Name of the Species:
Location of the Observation
Odour
Identification of the Source of Location of the source/Emitting extent of the area
Offensive Odour
FOR SOLID WASTE
Monitoring Item Conditions During Remarks(Location､Frequency
the Reporting Period and Method of Measurement)
Disposed Waste Wastes are separated and
disposed according to
Construction and Demolition
Waste Management Rules, 2016
Source: Study Team
Table 9-3: Monitoring Forms

FOR AIR QUALITY
Measured Measured
Remarks
Value of Value of Referred
Item Indian (Location､Frequency
Baseline Monitoring International
(Unit) Standard and Method of
Data (Max. Standard
(Max.) Measurement)
Value)
SO2 11.5 µg/m3 National Baseline data
NO2 23.7 µg/m3 Ambient Air locations are
CO 780 µg/m3 Quality duplicated, Measured
O3 - Standard: at early monsoon
PM10/ 88.7/46.2 NAAQS (May–July), Based on
PM2.5 the National Ambient
Air Quality Standard:
NAAQS
FOR WATER QUALITY
pH 6.2-7.54 Indian Baseline data
Turbidity 6.5NTU Standard locations are
(NTU) Drinking duplicated, Measured
BOD/COD 4.2/16.0mg/L Water at early monsoon
(mg/L) Specification (May-July), Based on
DO (% by 6.0-7.2 mg/L the Indian Standard
mass) Drinking Water
Nitrate 2.6-10.68 Specification – IS
(mg/L) mg/L 10500: 1991
Phosphate <0.01 mg/L
(mg/L)
Heavy <0.05 mg/L

Metal
Total 3.2 mg/L
organic
carbon
(mg/L)
Phenol <0.01 mg/L
Cyanide BDL
FOR AMBIENT NOISE QUALITY
Noise 62.4 Noise Baseline data
Level (dB) Standard of locations are
India 2000 duplicated, Measure at
early monsoon (May–
July), Based on Noise
Standard of India
2000
Vibration
Level

Table 9-4: Resettlement

Progress Expected
Major items Progress
Specific action steps (sub-items) in Date of
of action in %
quantity Completion
Recruitment, Deployment of consultants and resettlement
training and workers (MM)
deployment Training and mobilization (No. of trained
personnel)
Review of Review of RAP (%)
Resettlement Finalization of PAPs (%)
Action Plan Approval of RP with corrections (%)
Socio- Field Survey and collection of data, Data
economic analysis (%)
Survey Valuation of affected property and collection
of data (%)
Produce data for comparison/evaluation (%)
Information Distribute information brochure (No.
campaign distributed)
Public consultation meetings/FGD (Times)
Identification Assigning ID numbers (No. of Person)
of PAPs
Payment Opening bank account (No. of Person)
Assist PAPs in collecting of cash
compensation (No. of Persons)
Confirm payment of transfer (No. of Persons)
Resettlement Coordination with DC on the new site (No. of
Households)
Assist PAH for the resettlement (No. of
Households)
Income Training program, Assistant activities (No. of
restoration cases)
program Field Survey and collection of socio-economic
data after 5years (%)
Grievance Formation of GRC (%)
Redress Receiving complaints / claims from PAPs (No.
of cases)
Resolved complaints / claims from PAPs (No.
of cases)
Supervision Supply of manpower (MM)
and Number of meetings with relevant agencies
Management (No. of meetings)
Performance Inception / Monthly progress / Draft final
Reporting report

9.5 Environment Management Budget
9.5.1 General
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is prepared for all the identified environmental
impacts during pre-construction, construction and O&M stages due to implementation of
various Project activities and associated development. The methodology followed for
preparing the EMP is given in Figure below and consists of the following steps:
§ Deriving mitigation/protection measures for identified impacts for each of the

Project activity and environmental component,
§ Recommend mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures for each
identified impacts and risks,
§ Developing a mechanism for monitoring the proposed mitigation measures,
§ Estimating budget requirements for implementation mitigation and monitoring
measures, and
§ Identifying responsibilities of various agencies involved in the Project for
implementation and monitoring of mitigation measures.
Fig. 9.2: Framework for Preparation of EMP during Construction and O&M
The EMP will be included in all the bid documents of the Project and will become a part of
the civil works contract. The strict implementation of the EMP and project management’s
strict enforcement of the adequate construction practices and standards will greatly reduce
the negative impacts of the Project.
9.1.1 Monitoring Mechanism
The monitoring of environmental components and mitigation measures during construction

and operation stages is a key component of the EMP is given in EIA report –Vol. IV under

section 6.0. Environmental monitoring program is presented in Table 6.1in EIA report –Vol.
IV.
9.5.2 Budget Estimates
A cost estimates are prepared for all the mitigation and monitoring measures proposed in the
EMP. The details of the cost estimates and the budget during construction stage and first
five years of operation stage for the mitigation measures are given in Table 9.8. The cost
estimates for some of the mitigation measures that were already part of civil works contract
or Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) are not included in the EMP.
The cost estimates also includes the budget for environmental monitoring, consultants for
EMP implementation, institutional strengthening and capacity building of CSC / MORT&H
and environmental enhancement/compensation measures. The total budget for EMP
implementation is estimated to be about INR 1, 04, 15,900.00.
9.5.3 Institutional Framework for Implementation of EMP
Various institutions will be involved during implementation of the project as shown in Fig.
9.4.
Fig. 9.3: Proposed Institutional Framework for EMMP Implementation
Contractor is responsible for implementation of EMP during construction works and

Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC) is primarily responsible for supervision of
monitoring of the implementation of the EMP. MORT&H will be supported by a CSC to
advise and assist them in quality and capacity enhancement and independent quality
monitoring. O&M Contractor will be responsible for implementation of EMP during O&M

stage. Relevant institutions responsible for implementation and supervision of proposed

mitigation and monitoring measures are given in the EMP.
Each Contractor procured under this Project (especially the contractors for main bridge /
road) will be recommended to be a compliant of Environmental Management System (EMS)
certification. Further conditions of compliancy for OHSAH 18000 (2007) related
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and SA 8000 (Social Accountability) could also be
imposed on the Contractors. Each contractor will be recommended to have one
Environmental Specialist and one Occupational, Health and Safety (OH) Specialist, who
will be working in close coordination with the environmental staff of CSC.
CSC will be responsible to monitor all activities of all contractors procured under the
project. As several contractors will be working simultaneously for timely and speedy
implementation of the project, it is important that CSC has an Environmental Specialist to
effectively supervise and monitor the environmental activities being implemented in the
field. The CSC is also responsible to update or make necessary changes to the EMP if
required based on the revised designs and locations.
A combined grievance redress committee is proposed to address grievances in both social

and environmental issues. In addition, there will be NGOs working for plantation program
and environmental awareness.

Table 9.5: Environmental Management Plan for Pre construction stage
Environmental Responsibility
Sl. No Mitigation Measures Location Time Frame Implementation Supervision
Impacts/Issues
Air Pollution · Hot mix plants and batching plants shall be All hot-mix and During Setting Up Contractor PIU, SC
P1 placed at least 500m away from habitation and batching plants
agricultural fields. of Such Plants.
Water Pollution · Camps shall be located at least 500m away All construction During Contractor PIU, SC
from the nearest built-up area.
· Sewage system for a construction labourer’s campsites Establishment of
P2 camp shall be designed, builtand operated so Identified by the Such Camps.
that no pollution to ground or adjacent water contractor and
bodies/ watercourses takes place. of the
relevant norms and the Engineer. approved by SC
Wastes · Garbage bins shall be provided in all All construction During Contractor PIU, SC
construction camps. campsites Establishment of
P3 Identified by the Such Camps.
contractor and
approved by SC
Ecology · Utilize the baseline data of already carried Proposed bridge To be completed NHIDCL, NGO PIU
out study under the project Gangetic Dolphin site near before
P4 Research and conservation programme.
Brahmaputra construction starts
River
Resettlement of · All requirements of the RAP as applicable All areas Before Government of PIU, SC
Project Affected shall be complete before start of construction construction Assam /
stage.
Persons (PAP) / · The activities broadly include acquisition of begins Meghalaya,
local economy land and structures, rebuilding of common District Revenue
P5 and livelihoods properties, payment of compensation and
provision of assistance authorities and
District
Authorities,
NGO/Consultant

Impacts/Issues
Land use / • If requested, location of relocation sites shall Near the Before District PIU
be identified in consultation with
Identify and district/village authorities and PAPs. original construction stage Authorities
P6 prepare • Sites to be developed including the provision villages
relocation sites of necessary utilities such as water and
electricity.
Unequal • Support measures will be planned to provide Within Before District PIU &
distribution of employment opportunities to those directly ROW construction stage Authorities, , NHIDCL
benefit and affected with priority. NGO
P7 • Support measures for the char people will be
damage planned with the assistance from NGO and
other experts so that they can receive
maximum benefit from the project.
Local conflicts • Appropriate explanation shall be given to the All areas Before District PIU &
of interest residents of the target area as well as the construction stage Authorities, , NHIDCL
P8 PAPs to gain their understandings on the
contents of the impact, compensation and NGO
support measures and the conditions.
Poor people / • Ensure the participation of the poor and Within Before District PIU &
Gender women in the process of land acquisition and ROW construction stage Authorities, , NHIDCL
resettlement.
• Livelihood restoration plan will be NGO
considered taking in to account the limited
P9 skills of the poor people (including illiterate
population).
• Information shall be shared to women and
representatives of women with the assistance
from the village heads and NGOs.

Impacts/Issues
Setting up • Camps shall be located at least 500m away All During Contractor PIU,
construction from the nearest built-up area. construction Establishment, SC
camps • Sewage system for a construction labourer’s campsite Operation and
camp shall be designed, built and operated identified by Dismantling of
so that no pollution to ground or adjacent the contractor Such Camps.
water bodies/ watercoursestakes place. and approved
Garbage bins shall be provided in the camps by SC
and regularly emptied and the garbage
disposed off in a hygienic manner, to the
satisfaction of the relevant norms and the
P10 Engineer.
• In relation to underground water resources,
the contractor shall take all necessary
precaution to prevent interference with such
water resources.
• All relevant provisions of the Factories Act,
1948 and the Building and other
Construction Workers (regulation of
Employment and Conditions of Service) Act,
1996 shall be adhered to.
Setting up hot • Hot mix plants and batching plants shall be All hot-mix and During Contractor PIU, SC
located sufficiently away from habitation Erection,
mix plants batching plants Testing,
and agricultural fields. Operation
• Where possible such plants will be located at and
P11 least 1000m away from the nearest Dismantling of
habitation. Such Plants.

Impacts/Issues
Finalizing sites • Location of dumping sites shall be finalized. All areas During Contractor PIU, SC
for surplus soil The sites shall meet following conditions: identified as mobilization
dumping i) dumping does not impact natural drainage
P12 potential
courses;
ii) no endangered/rare flora is impacted by dumping sites
such dumping
Identification of • The contractor shall identify All area During Contractor PIU, SC
hazard-prone locations sensitive to aquatic species and mobilization
P13 shall duly report these to the Supervision
locations
Consultant (SC) and to PIU.
Identify and • Location of relocation sites shall be Near villages PIU PIU
prepare identified in consultationwith district/ with
relocation sites village authorities and PAPs. large-scale
P14 • Sites to be developed including provision
of necessary utilities such as water and resettlement
electricity.

Table 9.6: Environmental Management Plan for Construction Stage
Sl. No Environmental Mitigation Measures Location Time Frame Responsibility

Implementation Supervision
Impacts/Issues
Soil
Soil Erosion in • The depth of borrow pits shall be restricted On approved Construction Contractor and PIU
Borrow Pits so that sides of the excavation shall have a locations of Stage Supervision
slope not steeper than 1:4, from the edge of borrow pits. Consultant
C1 the final section of the bank.
After construction, excavated land shall be

filled back to the original condition.
Loss of top soil • Agricultural fields or productive land shall On approved Construction Contractorand PIU
in Borrow pits be avoided for borrowing earth. locations of Stage Supervision
C2 • Top soil shall be preserved as instructed by borrow pits. Consultant
the state government and used for tree
plantation.
Compaction of • Construction equipment and vehicles shall Throughout Construction Contractor and PIU
C3 Soil be restricted to move only within designated corridor. Stage Supervision
area to avoid compaction of productive soil. Consultant
Soil erosion in • Pitching shall be done for slope stabilization At the Construction Contractor and PIU
C4 embankments as per the IRC guidelines. embankments Stage Supervision
Consultant
Soil Pollution • Construction vehicles and equipment shall Near Labor Construction Contractorand PIU
be operated and maintained in such a camp and Stage Supervision
manner so that soil contamination due Sites of Consultant
to its spillage shall beat a minimum.
• Fuel storage shall only be done on installation of
C5 wasteland and will be kept away from Construction
drainage channels and natural water bodies. machineries.
• All spills and discharged petroleum
products shall be disposed of in accordance
to the Hazardous Waste Management and
Handling Rules.

Impacts/Issues
Soil Pollution • Debris generateddueto unused / waste Solid waste Construction Contractorand PIU
from material shall be suitably reused in the dump site Stage Supervision
construction proposed construction, suchas for filling identified and Consultant
materials for embankments.
waste • All spoils shall be disposed of as desired and approved by
the site shall be fully cleaned before handing SPCB or
over. competent
C6 • Construction waste including non- authority
bituminous and bituminous waste shall be throughout the
dumped in an approved landfill site area
identified by State Pollution Control
Board (SPCB) or competent authority. All
spoils shall be disposed of as desired and the
site shall be fully cleaned before handing
over.
Loss of top soil • Topsoil shall be stripped, stored and laid on Throughout the Construction Contractor and PIU
ground for landscaping purposes. area
C7 Stage Supervision
Consultant
Water
Water pollution • Construction vehicles / equipment shall be Near labor Construction Contractor and PIU
operated and maintained in such a manner to camp and sites Stage Supervision
avoid contamination of water bodies due to of the Consultant
C8 oil spillage.
• Fuel storage shall only be done on wasteland installation of
and will be kept away from drainage Construction
channels and natural water bodies. machineries.
Water pollution • Oil and camp
Labour greaseshall
trapsnot
will
bebe provided
allowed at any
near Preapproved Construction Contractor and PIU
from labor of the water bodies. locations away Stage Supervision
camp. • The proper sanitation facilities shall be from the water Consultant
C9 provided.
bodies


Impacts/Issues
Deposition of • The mouth/opening of the well shall be All the wells Construction Contractor and PIU
dust in open covered with suitable material during any along the Stage Supervision
C10 of the construction activity so as to prevent
wells near project corridor. Consultant
dust from entering in the well.
construction site
Using drinking • The contractor shallmake arrangements At respective Construction Contractor and PIU
water for for water required for construction in such a planned Stage Supervision
way that water availability and supply to
C11 construction nearby community is unaffected.
construction Consultant
purpose • Wastage of water shall be kept to a minimum sites
during construction.
Impact on • Construction work close to the watercourses All the Construction Contractor and PIU
Surface water or other water bodies will be avoided, respective Stage Supervision
quality due to especially during the monsoon period. locations Consultant
• Increase coverage of open surface area by
eroded soils planting grass and creepers so that the
C12
washing away of materials from sloped
surfaces would be reduced by a significant
extent.
• Silt curtain should be used for all underwater
works.
Air
Emission from • All vehicles, equipment and machinery Wherever the Construction Contractor and PIU
construction shall be selected to meet recognized hot mix plant Stage Supervision
international and national standards for Consultant
vehicles and and batching
emissions and shall be maintained and
machinery. operated in a manner that ensures relevant plant is setup.
air, noise and discharge rules.
C13 • Only unleaded petroland low sulphur
diesel or sulphur-free diesel shall be used as
fuel for vehicles, equipment and machinery.
• Air quality monitoring shall be conducted.


Impacts/Issues
Air pollution • The asphalt plants, crushers and batching Locations near Construction Contractor and PIU
from various plants shall not be sited within at least 500m Settlement Stage Supervision
C14 plants affecting in leeward direction from the nearest human Consultant
settlement.
settlements • Particulate Filters shall be installed.
Dust • The dust generated by vehicles on Wherever the Construction Contractor and PIU
site shall be arrested using a water tanker plants are setup Stage Supervision
fitted with a sprinkler capable of applying and sensitive Consultant
C15 water uniformly with a controllable rate of
flow to variable widths of surface but locations as
without any flooding. suggested in the
• Trucks shall be covered by the sheet. monitoring plan.
Noise
Noise levels • The plants and equipment used for Throughout the Construction Contractor and PIU
from vehicles. construction will strictly conform to Central project area Stage Supervision
Asphalt plants Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noise Consultant
standards. Vehicles, equipment and
and equipment construction machinery shall be monitored
regularly with particular attention to
silencers and mufflers to maintain noise
levels to a minimum;
• Workers in the vicinity of high noise levels
C16 must wear ear plugs and helmets and should
be engaged in diversified activities to
prevent prolonged exposure to noise levels
of more than 90 dB(A);
• In construction sites within 150 m of human
settlements, noisy construction will be
stopped between 10 PM and 6 AM.
• Hot mix plants, batching or aggregate plants
shall not be located within 500m of sensitive
land use for schools and hospitals;


Impacts/Issues
• For places close to the sensitive receptors
such as hospitals and schools, noise barriers
such as earth, concrete, wood, metal or
double-glazing of windows for façade
insulation shall be used;
• Phase demolition, earthmoving, and ground-
impacting operations are not to occur in the
same time period. Unlike noise, the total
vibration level produced could be
significantly less when each vibration source
operates separately;
• Construction machinery will be located away
from the settlements;
• Careful planning of machinery operation and
scheduling of operations can reduce the
noise levels.
• Noise monitoring shall be conducted to
check if the noise level is within the
environmental standards.
Bottom Sediment
・ Slit curtain shall be installed to prevent
C17 move of the sediment.
・ Construction works shall be suspended
when flood warning is issued.
Ecology
Tree cutting in •・ Land clearing activities at the construction Throughout the Construction Contractor and PIU
ROW • site should be kept at an absolute minimum. project area Stage Supervision
・ Construction vehicles, machinery and Consultant
C18 equipment will be moved or stationed in the Forest Dept.
(ROW) to prevent compaction of Vegetation.
•・ Water shall be sprinkled to prevent dust
generation.

Impacts/Issues
C19 Endangered • Relevant information (e.g. encounter with Throughout the Construction Contractor and PIU
species vulnerable species during engineering work) shallproject Stage Supervision
be shared with the State Environment and Forest area Consultant
Department and concerned regional
environmental experts.
• Anti-poaching measures during the construction
phase should be strengthened to check for any
violation of existing regulations. Awareness
campaign to be made among the workers to
aware them on the endangered and other
important species.
• Construction vehicles must be operated at safe
speed to avoid collision with wildlife.
• Change of geology and topography should be
kept minimum.
• Channels will be kept free at all times for free
movement of dolphins.
• All activities that increase soil erosion or
contribute to nutrients and pollutants to water
need be minimized both on-site and off-site by
using measures such as silt curtain.


Impacts/Issues
• Construction activities should be carried out in
close supervision of the dolphin ecologist.
C20 Underwater • Use vibratory hammer. Under conditions where Throughout the Construction Contractor and PIU
noise impacts impact hammers are required for reasons of project Stage Supervision
on aquatic seismic stability or substrate type, it is area Consultant
recommended that the pile be driven as deep as
species. possible with a vibratory hammer prior to the use
of the impact hammer.
• Monitor sound levels during pile driving to
ensure that they do not exceed the NOAA
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, USA) or any other international
recognized criteria.
• Implement measures to attenuate the sound when
sound pressure levels exceed the NOAA or any
other international recognized criteria. Methods
to reduce the sound pressure levels include but
are not limited to:
• Installation of underwater enclosures to minimize
sound
• Surrounding the pile with an air bubble curtain
system or air-filled coffer dam.
• Using a smaller hammer to reduce the sound
pressure. The sound produced in pile driving has
a direct relationship to the force used to drive the
pile. A smaller hammer will have less force on
the pile therefore producing less sound.
• Construction works should be ceased when the
dolphins are observed near the work area.


Impacts/Issues
Social Environment
C21 Land Use • Construction camps shall be returned to the Wherever labor Construction Contractor and PIU
original condition after use. Mitigation measures camp is setup stage Supervision
for soil contamination shall be implemented so no Consultant
long-term impacts will be caused.
C22 Use of local • Utilize existing quarry sites. In case of problems Quarry site Construction Contractor and PIU
resources such as price hike for local use, procurement site stage Supervision
will be changed or adjusted in a timely manner. Consultant
• As for the procurement volume of crushed stone,
landfill sand, etc.; take measures to prevent
negative impact as necessary in consultation with
the authorities.
C23 Local • Construction workers shall be employed by Construction Construction Contractor and PIU
economy and giving priority to PAPs (including women, poor work site stage Supervision
livelihoods / people). The information shall be widely shared Consultant,
within the region so that the local residents can
Unequal obtain maximum employment opportunities. NHIDCL, NGO
distribution of • NHIDCL, with assistance from NGOs, shall
benefit and provide vocational training that can meet the
damage / qualification for local residents to become
Local conflicts workers.
of interest
C24 Water use • Mitigation measures such as installation of a silt Construction Construction Contractor and PIU
fence close to the residential area to minimize work site stage Supervision
river pollution during construction. Consultant
C25 Gender • Consider types of occupation and working hours Construction Construction Contractor and PIU
for women to provide equal employment work site stage Supervision
opportunities based on the needs and aptitude, Consultant
social background of women in target area.


Impacts/Issues
Health and Hygiene
C26 Health hazard • At every workplace, good and Wherever labor Construction Contractor and PIU
at Construction sufficient potable water (as per IS 10500) supply camp is setup Stage Supervision
work sites shall be ensured to avoid water-borne diseases Consultant
and to secure the health of workers.
• Adequate drainage, sanitation and waste disposal
shall be provided at workplaces.
• Preventive Medical care shall be provided to
workers. protective equipment shall be provided
C27 Health hazard • Personal Construction Construction Contractor and PIU
during to workers as per the Factories Act. work Stage Supervision
construction Consultant
work
C28 Hygiene at • The Contractor during the progress of work will Wherever labor Construction Contractorand PIU
Construction provide, erect and maintain necessary
Camps camp is setup Stage Supervision
(temporary) living accommodation and Consultant
ancillary facilities for labour to appropriate
standards and scale approvedby the resident
engineer
• These shall be provided within the precincts of
every workplace, latrines and urinals in an
accessible place, and the accommodation,
separately for each for these, as per standards set
by the Building and other Construction Workers
(regulation of Employment andConditions of
Service) Act, 1996. There shall be adequate
supply of water, close to latrines and urinals.
• All temporary accommodation shall be
constructed and maintained in such a fashion
that uncontaminated water is available for
drinking, cooking and washing. The sewage
system for the camp must be properly
designed, built and operated.


Impacts/Issues
• Compliance with the relevant legislation must
be strictly adhered to. Garbage bins shall be
provided in the camp and regularly emptied
and the garbage disposed of in a lined landfill
sites.
C29 Health/ social • Segregation of male and female areas in labour Wherever labor Construction Contractor and PIU
hazard, sexual camp shall be executed.
harassment to camp is setup Stage Supervision
female Consultant
workers
C30 Restoration of • Upon completion of the works, the entirety of Wherever labor Construction Contractor and PIU
Construction such temporary structures shall be cleared away, camp is setup
Camps Stage Supervision
all rubbish burnt, excreta or other disposal pits Consultant
or trenches filled in and effectively sealed off
and the entirety of the site leftclean and tidy, a
the Contractor’s expense, to the entire
satisfaction of the Engineer.
C31 Abandoned • Reclamation measures shall be All quarry Construction Contractor and PIU
Quarry will adopted with a garland of trees around the
accumulate locations Stage Supervision
water and act periphery. The quarry dust and waste shall be Consultant
as a breeding used for refilling. The remaining portion should
ground for be covered with trees.
disease
vectors.


Impacts/Issues
Safety
C32 Risk from • The contractor shall supply all necessary safety All construction Construction Contractor and PIU
Operations appliances such as safety goggles, helmets, sites stage Supervision
masks, etc. to the workers and staff. Especially Consultant
all workers employed in mixing Asphaltic
material, welding works, stone breakers, and
paint should be provided with appropriate
personal protected equipment.
• The contractor has to comply with all
regulations regarding safe scaffolding, ladders,
working platforms, gangway,stairwells,
excavations, trenches and a safe means of entry
and egress.
• All necessary fencing and lights will be
provided to protect the public. All machines to
be used in the construction will conform to the
relevant Indian Standards’ (IS) codes, will be
free from patent defect, will be kept in good
working order, will be regularly inspected and
properly maintained as per IS provisions and to
the satisfaction of the Engineer.
C33 Risk caused by • All reasonable precautions will be taken to All construction Construction Contractor PIU
Force’ Majeure prevent danger for the workers and the public sites stage and
such as fire, flood, drowning, etc. All necessary Supervision
steps will be taken for prompt first aid treatment
of all injuries likely to be sustained during the Consultant
course of work.
• At every workplace, there should be available
first aid unit including an adequate supply of
sterilized dressing material and appliances will
be provided.


Impacts/Issues
C34 Malarial risk • The Contractor shall, at his own expense, All construction Construction Contractor and PIU
conform to all anti-malarial instructions given to sites stage Supervision
him by the Engineer, including filling up any Consultant
borrow pits which may have been dug by him
Disruption to Users
C35 Loss of Access • The Contractor shall provide safe and Throughout During Contractor Engineer
convenient passage for vehicles, pedestrians and the project Construction.
livestock. area,
• Work that affects the use of side roads and
existing accesses shall not be undertaken particularly in
without providing adequate provisions. built-up areas
• The works shall not interfere
unnecessarily or improperly with the
convenience of the public, or the access to use
and occupy public or private roads, or access to
any other footpaths or properties whether public
or private.


Impacts/Issues
C36 Traffic Jams • Detailed Traffic Control Plans shall be Throughout During Contractor Engineer
and Congestion prepared and submitted to the Site engineer / Corridor Construction.
ProjectDirectorforapproval5dayspriorto the
commencement of works on any section of
road.
• The traffic control plans shall contain details
of temporary diversions, details of
arrangements for construction under traffic
and details of traffic arrangements after
cessation of work each day.
• Temporary diversion(including scheme of
temporary acquisition) will be constructed
with the approval of the designated Engineer.
• Special consideration shall be given in the
preparation of the traffic control plan to
the safety of pedestrians and workers at night.
• The Contractor shall ensure that the running
surface is always properly maintained,
particularly during the monsoon so that no
disruption to the traffic flow occurs. To the
extent possible, any idling of engines shall be
avoided to curb pollution. The temporary
traffic detours shall be kept free of dust by
frequent application of water, if necessary.


Impacts/Issues
C37 Traffic Control • The Contractor shall take all Throughout the During Contractor Engineer
and Safety necessary measures for the safety of traffic project area Construction
during construction and maintain such
barricades, including signs, markings, flags,
lights and flagmen as may be required by the
Engineer for the information and protection of
traffic approaching or passing through the
section of the highway under improvement.
• All signs, barricades, and pavement markings
shall be as per the MORTH specifications.
Before taking up construction on any section
a traffic control plan shall be devised to the
satisfaction of the Engineer as per EMP.
Excavated pits shall be filled to avoid falling
of animals/ human beings.
Other
C38 Hand pumps • Hand pumps within ROW shall be enhanced/ At the Construction Contractor PIU
enhancement/re relocated. respective Stage and
location for
ground water locationsalong Supervision
recharging the corridor Consultant

Table 9.7: Environmental Management Plan for Operation Stage

Responsibility
Sl. No Environmental Mitigation Measures
Location Time Frame
Impacts/Issues
O1 Water Pollution •• Silt fencing, oil & grease traps, etc. shall be As specified As per PIU, SPCB PIU
• provided at sensitive water bodies to ensure that in the monitoring
• the water quality is not impaired due to monitoring plan
• contaminants from road run-off Monitoring shall
• be carried out as specified in the monitoring plan
plan
• Contingency plans to be in place for cleaning up of
spills of oil, fuel and toxic chemicals.
•
O2 Soil • Contingency plans to be in place for cleaning up of All area and Plan to be PIU, SPCB, PIU
contamination spills of oil, fuel and toxic chemicals as specified developed Local
• Monitoring shall be carried out as specified in the
in the at state/ Government
Monitoring Plan
monitoring district level Bodies
plan by early
operation
stage
O3 Air quality • Monitoring shall be carried out as specified in As specified As per PIU, SPCB PIU
degradation due the Monitoring plan in the monitoring
to increases in • Share air quality data with SPBC and relevant monitoring plan
agencies and discuss options for mitigate air quality
traffic volume degradation associated with greater traffic volume. plan
O4 Increases in • Monitoring shall be carried out as specified in the As specified As per PIU, SPCB PIU
noise and Monitoring plan in the monitoring
• Install noise barrier (wall etc.) in sensitive areas, if
vibration due to monitoring plan
necessary
greater traffic • Carry out proper road maintenance to reduce noise
plan
volume and vibration.

Responsibility
Sl. No Environmental Location Time Frame
Mitigation Measures
Impacts/Issues
O5 Ecology • Monitor the population of endangered species. As specified As per PIU, NGO PIU
• Enhance research and conservation of Gangatic river in the monitoring
dolphins. monitoring plan
plan
O6 Local economy • Change of income source and income of PAPs shall be Within ROW As per PIU, NGO PIU
and livelihoods/ monitored. monitoring
Poor people plan
O7 Unequal • Conduct interviews to DCs and village heads about All area When issues District PIU
Distribution of dissatisfaction or conflict of residents of the target area are identified Authorities,
Benefit and and explain and take measures as necessary. PIU, NGO
Damage/ Local
conflicts of
interest
O8 Accidents • Ensure the safety through traffic rules such as speed All area As per PIU PIU
limit. monitoring
plan

Table 9.8: Costs of EMP during Construction and O&M

No. Cost of Environmental / Mitigation Plan Description Unit Qty Unit Rate (Rs.) Amount (Rs.)
A. Cost During Construction Phase
1 Environmental Monitoring
Air quality monitoring at 5 locations for 3 seasons for 8 consecutive years Nos. 120 8,000.00 960,000.00
Surface water quality monitoring at 5 locations for 4 seasons for 8 consecutive years Nos. 160 6,000.00 960,000.00
Noise quality monitoring at 10 locations for 3 seasons for 8 consecutive years Nos. 240 3,000.00 720,000.00
Ecosystem Study at 2 locations for 8 consecutive years (Including outsourcing to local
Nos.
NGO) 16 1,00,000.00 16,00,000.00
2 Development of river funding near bridge area, providing toilets etc. 10,00,000.00 10,00,000.00
Total cost during construction phase 52,40,000.00
B Institutional Cost
1. Expert Fees (External monitoring agency) L.S 6,00,000.00
2. Staff Training L.S 4.00,000.00
3. Information Disclosure L.S 4,00,000.00
Total 14,00,000.00
C. Annual cost During Operation Phase
1 Environmental Monitoring
Air quality monitoring at 5 locations for 3 seasons for 4 years Nos. 60 8,000.00 4,80,000.00
Water quality monitoring at 5 locations for 4 seasons for 4 years 80 6,000.00 4,80,000.00
Noise quality monitoring at 4 locations twice a year for 4 years Nos. 32 3,000.00 69,000.00
Ecosystem Study at 2 locations for 4 consecutive years (Including outsourcing to local
Nos. 8 1,00,000.00 8,00,000.00
NGO)
Monitoring and maintenance efforts for ensuring survival of planted trees for 4 years Nos. 2000 5,00.00 10,00,000.00
Total Cost During Operation Phase 28,29,000.00
Total Cost (A + B + C) 94,69,000.00
Contingency (10%) 9,46,900.00
D. The Cost towards Dolphin Monitoring & Management Plan . 75,00,000.00
Total (Rs.) 1,79,15,900.00
Note:- Cost for Dust suppression at site (2 trips/day for 300 days/year for 8 years) already mentioned in civil cost.

9.6 EMP Implementation Schedule

9.6.1 Formulating Implementation Schedule
Source: Study Team

Figure 9.4: Proposed EMP Implementation Schedule

9.6.2 Proposed Implementation Graphs
Source: Study Team

Figure 9.5: Proposed Implementation Graphs
A proposed EMP implementation schedule and Graphs for the Dhubri Bridge is shown in Figure
9.4 and 9.5.The timing of each process of the implementation schedule is assumed as follows:
Signing of Loan Agreement

The signing of the Loan Agreement between GOI and GOJ will be done by the end of November
2017.
Bid Document Preparation

The preparation of bid documents will be prepared by NHIDCL by the end of December 2017.
Resettlement, Land Acquisition & Compensation

A consultant for RAP (Resettlement Action Plan) will be procured by NHIDCL by the end of
December 2017. Assam State Government will complete the resettlement, land acquisition and
compensation by the end of March 2019. According to a circular notice from MORTH, land
acquisition of ROW must be reach 80% before the public announcement of the bidding, and 90%
before awarding the civil works.
Consultant Procurement and Civil Works Tendering

If a pledge of the yen loan to GOI will be done by JICA by the end of September 2017, NHIDCL
will commence procurement of a consultant service for civil works tender assistance and
construction supervision. Since the Dhubri Bridge is one of the longest bridge projects in India, the
procurement of the consultant service will follow standard international procurement procedure
starting with an EOI (Expression of Interest). The awarding of the consultant service will be done
by the end of August 2018.

The procured consultant will assist NHIDCL with PQ (Pre-Qualification) and then with each step
of the bidding of civil works process. Following the tendering, it is assumed that the contract
agreement of civil works will be signed in August 2019.The C/S (Construction Supervision) service
the consultant will provide is assumed during eight years of the construction, following one year of
defect liability.

190
ANNEXURE – 1
Peer Review of EIA covering Dolphin part
191
PEER – REVIEW
OF
EIA REPORT (DOLPHIN PART) ON DHUBRI – PHULBARI BRIDGE
IN THE STATE OF ASSAM / MEGHALAYA ON NH-127B
Peer-Review by:
Dr. Sunil K. Choudhary
University Dept. of Botany
T. M. Bhagalpur University
Bhagalpur - 812 007
192
PROJECT: Two / Four Lane Bridge Including Approaches Over River
Brahmaputra Between Dhubri On North Bank And
Phulbari On South Bank In The State Of Assam /
Meghalaya On NH- 127B (Length: 20km)
CLIENT: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India
IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY:
National Highways & Infrastructure Development

Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL)
DPR Consultant: AECOM Asia Company Limited
FINAL DPR (Volume IVA) (DOC. NO. DELD15021-CAL-40-PH04-S-1042)

Prepared by: AECOM Asia Company Limited
Background Information
The Government of India (GOI) has launched in recent years the “Special Accelerated Road
Development Program for Northeastern Region” for which improvement of the road network
is of great importance. As per Twelfth Five Year Plan (April, 2012 to March, 2017)” of The
GOI, the improvement of national highways in the Northeastern Region should interconnect
major cities within the region. However, the severe natural conditions of the Northeastern
Region featured by steep mountains and a prolonged monsoon season are major obstacles
for appropriately developing the road network. Economic growth in this part of the country has
therefore been much delayed. The GOI aims to promote regional connectivity of the road
network in Northeastern Region which will help in cross-border trade and commerce, thus
safeguarding India’s international borders. It is within this context that on the request of the
GOI, the Government of Japan has been providing assistance in carrying out of the design
work of two/four lane bridge including approaches over river Brahmaputra between Dhubri on
the north bank and Phulbari on the south bank in the State of Assam / Meghalaya on NH-
127B (length of 20km).
193
Proposed Two/Four Lane Bridge Project including Approaches over River
Brahmaputra between Dhubri and Phulbari in the State of Assam/ Meghalaya
over River Brahmaputra between Dhubri on North Bank and Phulbari on South Bank in
the state of Assam/Meghalaya on NH-127B (Length: 20km) on EPC Mode under JICA.
The project proponent is Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORT&H), / National
Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL). AECOM Asia
Company Limited has been engaged as consultant for preparing DPR including EIA, SIA
and RAP for the proposed project.
The proposed project covers an area in between Dhubri on north bank at 89°58'16.99"E
& 26°1'34.63"N and Phulbari on south bank at 90°1'49.99"E & 25°52'12.03"N and at an
Elevation of 35 to 42m above Sea level.The construction site for the proposed Dhubri
Bridge extends over two states, the Dhubri District on the north bank and the South
Salmara-Mankachar District on the south bank belonging to Assam State and the West
Garo Hills Distrct belonging to Meghalaya State. The proposed bridge connecting Dhubri
and Phulbari across the Brahmaputra river is supposed to improve the connectivity of the
road between southwestern region of Meghalaya State and other parts of India by
expanding the transportation network of this region. The proposed bridge length is 18.36
km and the proposed ROW is 60m. No Sanctuary or National Park, no major wildlife
migrant route and no historical monument protected by Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI) are located within 10 km radius of the proposed project site.
Environmental Clearance Issues
1. As per the MOEF & CC, GOI EIA Notification, dated 14.09.2006 (as amended in
August 2013), any highway project falls under Category A if the project entails:
i. New National Highways; and
ii. Expansion of National Highways greater than 100 km involving additional right of
way or land acquisition greater than 40m on the existing alignments and 60m on
re-alignments and bypasses.
The proposed Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge project does not require additional land acquisition
beyond 60m and has length of approximately 20km and therefore, does not attract the
provisions of the EIA Notification of 2013.
194
2. Although the project does not require environmental clearance from MOEF & CC, GOI,
the project has been classified as Category A as per JICA’s Guidelines for the
Environmental and Social Considerations and the project requires a full EIA study
including SIA and RAP surveys.
Purpose of engaging sub-consultant
Though the proposed Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge project does not attract the provisions of
the EIA Notification of 2013, but it has been classified as Category A as per JICA’s
Guidelines for the Environmental and Social Considerations. The project site does not lie
within a Wildlife Sanctuary or Protected Area but the Dhubri stretch of Brahmaputra river
has reported population of Gangetic dolphins (Lal Mohan, 1993; Lal Mohan et. al., 1997;
Wakid, 2005, 2009, 2012; Wakid et al., 2014).
AECOM Asia Ltd. has made Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) as part of the DPR in
respect to this project and JICA has reviewed the EIA report prepared by AECOM Asia
Ltd. JICA has also made its own EIA along the areas to be affected directly and indirectly
during design, construction, operation and maintenance in the proposed Dhubri-Phulbari
Bridge project. In both the EIAs prepared by AECOM Asia Ltd. & JICA, documentation of
baseline data on dolphins is based on secondary information. In AECOM’s EIA report,
dolphin finds no place in the Table listing potential environmental impacts on valued
ecosystem components (Table 1.7, FINAL DPR (Volume IVA) (DOC. NO. DELD15021-
CAL-40-PH04-S-1042), prepared by AECOM Asia Company Limited. In the Section 3.3.4
of the Final DPR pertaining to Biological Environment, Forest and other components
have been given due consideration but the details of River Environment including river
dolphins are missing. Probably this is the reason that dolphins are not included in TOR of
Natural and Socio-economic environmental survey suggested by the AECOM consultant.
However, JICA’s EIA report acknowledges the presence of river dolphins in Dhubri area
(project site lies within this area) all year around (Refer to Wakid’s Report 2012).
Gangetic dolphin Platanista gangetica gangetica is an endangered species and has been
given legal protection under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. It has been categorized
as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List,
included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Flora and Fauna (CITES); and in Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS). This is why any water development project in a river inhabiting Gangetic dolphin
195
needs proper EIA study on dolphins and its habitat. This is also in accordance with the
Environmental Safeguard Policies of World Bank, Asian Development Bank and JICA
funding a project. Even AECOM responsible for preparing DPR of proposed Dhubri –
Phulbari project has acknowledged that EIA for this project will be prepared as category
A in accordance with JICA Guidelines though not required by Laws in India.
Keeping above facts into consideration, it was decided by the Project Proponent
(National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) in
consultation with JICA that a River dolphin expert should be engaged to peer-review the
existing dolphin part of the EIA report submitted by AECOM and to detail the anticipated
adverse impacts on dolphins due to this project, and also to suggest mitigation measures
and a monitoring plan for implementation of mitigation measures during construction,
operation and maintenance period of the proposed Dhubri – Phulbari project.
Scope of Study for River Dolphin Expert (Sub-consultant)
1. Peer Review of the part of Final EIA Report (submitted with Final DPR) pertaining to
Dolphin:
a) Preparation of Draft Peer Review Report
b) Finalisation of Peer Review Report in consultation with AECOM EIA
specialist.
2. Preparation of Mitigation proposal based on the EIA pertaining to Dolphin
a) Preparation of mitigation proposal
b) Finalisation of mitigation proposal in consultation with AECOM EIA specialist.
3. Preparation of the cost estimate based on the mitigation proposal pertaining to
Dolphin:
a) Preparation of cost estimation
b) Finalisation of cost estimation in consultation with AECOM EIA specialist.
4. Attending Meeting with NHIDCL/JICA and incorporate all observations made by
NHIDCL/JICA/AECOM.
196
Potential Impacts on River dolphins due to construction of Dhubri –
Phulbari Bridge over River Brahmaputra
Ganges river dolphin Platanista gangetica gangetica has been included in Schedule
I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972; categorized as Endangered on the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List; included in Appendix I
of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna
(CITES); and in Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The
Ganges river dolphin is discontinuously distributed in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-
Meghna and Karnaphuli- Sangu river systems of South Asia from the base of the
Himalayan foothills to the Bay of Bengal (Choudhary et al., 2006). Gangetic dolphin is
primarily piscivorous and strictly inhabits the freshwater ecosystems, chiefly rivers.
They generally wander to different parts of the river in the monsoon, but congregate at
meander bends in the river course where an eddy counter-current is prevalent and
there are greater water depths during winter months. In recent years, Ganges river
dolphin population has declined in both its range and population size. Ganges river
dolphin has been declared as National Aquatic Animal of India. The endangered
Gangetic dolphin is a unique, blind mammal that relies entirely on the use of ultrasonic
sound production to forage and navigate in murky river waters of the Ganga-
Brahmaputra river system with the use of echolocation, i.e. production and hearing of
echoes from ultrasonic-frequency sounds.
Threats to Ganges river dolphin
The Gangetic river dolphins face many threats and those include competition with
humans for food and water resources, physical alteration, degradation and loss of
habitats, deliberate killing for dolphin products such as meat and oil, and collision with
powered vessels. These dolphins are also threatened by the enormous pollutant load
of the river affecting the immune and reproductive system adversely and by
destructive fishing activities, which results in high mortality from by-catch (accidental
entanglement in fishing gears) and reduced availability of prey. These animals are
perhaps more vulnerable to these threats because their habitat requirements often
place them in areas where human activities are most intense.
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Why should the Gangetic Dolphin in India be conserved?
 Recent declaration by Govt. of India for Gangetic river dolphin as ‘National

Aquatic Animal’
 Baiji (Chinese river dolphin) extinction in China
 Precarious status in Nepal and Bangladesh
 India is last stronghold with extant populations in Ganges – Brahmaputra
River Systems
 An excellent indicator of riverine ecosystem health
 Unique riverine species with echolocation abilities
 Friend of fish and fishermen
 International Convention obligations
Ganges river dolphin is the flagship species and indicator of the health of the river. It is
an extremely valuable species for monitoring the river environment. Being at the top of
the food chain its presence in adequate numbers signifies a rich biodiversity within the
river system.
Gangetic dolphins in Brahmaputra River
The Gangetic dolphin is locally called ‘Phoo’, ‘Susu’, ‘Sishu’ in southern Assam. Few
studies are available on the population estimates and distribution of Gangetic dolphins
in the Brahmaputra River (Mohan et al., 1997; Biswas et al., 1997; Choudhary, 1997;
Wakid, 2005, 2009; Wakid et al., 2014). In the Brahmaputra River mainstem, Mohan
et al. (1997) sighted altogether 266 dolphins in 1993, although they estimated the
population at around 400. They made downstream to upstream survey from India-
Bangladesh border to Assam-Arunachal border in February-March, 1993 and
recorded 28 dolphins in Sadiya to Burhidihingmukh, 45 dolphins from Burhidihingmukh
to Dholpur, 34 dolphins from dholpur to Tezpur, 58 dolphins from Tezpur to Guwahati,
54 dolphins from Guwahati to Goalpara and 47 dolphins from Goalpara to South
Salmara (India-Bangladesh border) with an encounter rate of 0.44 dolphin/km. Highest
sighting of dolphins were recorded in river stretch between Tezpur and Guwahati.
Wakid (2005) recorded altogether 197 dolphins with 27 calves with an encounter rate
of 0.23 dolphin/km. Maximum dolphins were sighted in Brahmaputra river stretch from
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Goalpara to India-Bangladesh border. Altogether 212 dolphins were recorded by
Wakid (2008) with an encounter rate of 0.24 dolphin/km. 2012 survey conducted by
Wakid (Wakid et al., 2014) resulted into the occurrence of total 635 dolphins in
Brahmaputra river system. Both Mohan et al. (1997) and Wakid (2005) have recorded
maximum dolphins in Brahmaputra river stretch from Goalpara to India-Bangladesh
border, and the proposed Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge project site lies within this stretch,
Documented Threats to Gangetic dolphins in Brahmaputra River
1 Accidental killing through fisheries by-catch: Accidental killing through

fisheries by-catch is thought to be the major threat for the dolphins in the
Brahmaputra River. Sometimes dolphins get entangled while trying to catch
fishes from fishing net. Since dolphin is a mammal and can’t respire under
water, therefore, after a few minutes of net entanglement, they are drowned
and dead.
2 Intentional killing for Dolphin products: The particular tribes of Eastern
Assam kill dolphins mainly for meat, whereas in Western Assam, they are killed
for oil, which is used as bait for catfish Clupisoma garua (Mohan et al., 1997;
Bairagi, 1999). Most of the river floodplain villagers in remote areas believe that
dolphin oil has medicinal value and they use it to treat different rheumatic
diseases (Wakid, 2005). For both these uses, dolphin oil has a good market
value, for which dolphins are being killed sometimes, deliberately.
Out of the 16 mortality of dolphins recorded by Wakid in 2008, 12
were the victims of by-catch mortality and rest were the victims of poaching.
Although gill net entanglement is usually described as accidental killing,
Wakid’s investigation showed that most of the gillnet entanglements were in
fact intentional, rather than accidental. Most of the gillnet entangled dolphins
were killed during the pre-monsoon and monsoon season. During the high flood
season, most of the dolphins make a local migration into the tributaries and
when the water recedes they return to the main Brahmaputra River. During the
migration local fishermen use their gill nets to block the tributary mouths and
dolphins can’t help but become entangled.
3 Excessive fishing & decline in dolphin prey base: Fish is the main food for
dolphins. Extensive use of various types of gill nets in the Brahmaputra River
over the last 20 years has resulted in the sharp decline of fish fauna and has
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likely reduced the amount of dolphin prey (Mohan et al., 1997; Biswas &
Baruah, 2000, Wakid & Biswas, 2006). Fish species recovered from the
undigested stomach contents of dead dolphins in River Ganga include
Setipinna brevifilis (known locally as phasia), Osteobrama cotio cotio (pithari),
Puntius sophore (pothia), Crosochelius latius (gahuma), Mystus cavasius
(palwa), Heteropneustus fossilis (singhi), Parambassis ranga (chanda),
Macrognathus pancalus (gainchi) and Sperata seenghala (Sinha et al., 1993;
Choudhary et al., 2006). JICA’s EIA report also mentions dolphin prey species
(fish species) Mastacembelus armatus, Mystus cavasius and Puntius spp. in
the river stretch within the proposed Dhubri-Phulbari project site. Although
using very small mesh-sized gill nets (current jal) for fishing is banned in Assam
from May to 15th July, Wakid observed this banned activity throughout the
year.
4 Fragmentation, degradation & loss of dolphin habitat: Although there is no
dedicated study on impacts of water development projects on dolphins but
water development projects in the river such as construction of dams are major
threats to the long-term survival of dolphins. It may isolate the dolphin
population and will restrict its migration. River bank erosion, sand mining and
destruction of riparian vegetation are causing the loss of dolphin habitat as well
as loss of spawning ground for fishes.
5 Pollution of the River: Agricultural practices are the main land-use in the river
floodplains. Residues of agro-chemicals including the synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides are channelized to the river main course with runoff resulting into
pollution of the river and those impact adversely to river biota including
dolphins.
Anticipated impacts of proposed Dhubri-Phulbari project on dolphins
A lot of water development projects have been done and still are going on in rivers but
few reports are available on positive and negative impacts of construction work and
associated activities on riverine habitats and biodiversity. Mostly morphological
changes in large alluvial rivers due to dredging activities have been assessed. The
construction of Dhubri – Phulbari Bridge over River Brahmaputra may include several
activities such as drilling and some dredging for fixing the bridge piers (169 Nos.,
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some of them over well foundation and some on pile foundation), other engineering
works leading to increased turbidity and chemical pollution of the river, increased river
traffic (movement of vessels and barges), anthropogenic noise as well as noise and
vibrations produced by operation of machineries (including dredgers), These activities
are likely to impact dolphins and habitat of dolphins. Main impacts and their mitigation
measures are detailed below.
1 Impacts of Dredging and movement of vessels & barges: Only limited
information is available on the actual overall effects of dredging activities on
species, habitats and ecosystem processes. To date, the positive and negative
effects of dredging on marine flora, benthic fauna, and the seabed are relatively
well documented (Reviews by Newell et al., 1998).
The main impacts of dredging activities on marine/riverine habitats and species
can be summarised as follows (OSPAR, 2009):
• Substrate removal and thus habitat and species removal.
• Alteration of the bottom topography and hydrography, and thus destruction of

local habitats and the risk of direct physical/mechanical stress to species.
• Alteration of the sediment composition, i.e. of substrate characteristics in the

surrounding of the dredging site, resulting in a change of nature and diversity
of benthic communities, e.g. decline of individual density, species abundances
or biomass.
• Re-suspension of sediments and increase of turbidity. The potential impacts

include spreading of sediments and associated contaminants in the
surroundings, remobilisation of contaminants in the water phase enhancing
the bioavailability and pollution risk, release of nutrients resulting in increase in
eutrophication and direct impact on organisms due to reduced transparency
and consumption of oxygen.
Direct Impacts
Impact on River Bank & Channel: Effects to channel morphology, riparian

habitat, and river banks can be long term and may significantly affect fish and
fish habitat. River banks can be significantly affected by undermining of the
banks below the water line, causing bank sloughing and failure. This adversely
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affects stream bank structure and stability, thus negatively impacting riparian
vegetation and animal species dependent on those habitats. The condition of
the stream bank and riparian zone is closely linked to quality of fish habitat.
The magnitude of most of the dredging activities for fixing piers on well
foundation appear to be low and confined to bridge construction site in the river,
hence any impact on river bank structure and stability will be temporary and
insignificant which is reversible.
Impact on Fish: Fish eggs, fry, larvae and juveniles can be sucked up
(entrainment) and displaced by dredging, which can cause death. If they do
survive, they can experience higher mortality rates due to increased predation,
injuries, physiological stressors, disorientation, abrasions and infections.
No measurable impact on the fish community can be predicted without the

impact study before and after dredging and other river engineering associated
activities. With limited data available, it is difficult to determine if fish species at
risk are directly or indirectly impacted by dredging and other river engineering
associated activities. Overall impact of dredging and other river engineering
associated activities on fish and fish habitat may be localized (near the bridge
construction site) and moderate in direct impact zone (100m circumference of
the proposed bridge construction site) and low in indirect impact zone (500m
circumference of the proposed bridge construction site).
Impact on dolphins: Physical injury or mortality from collisions, noise

production, and increased turbidity are the main ways dredging and movement
of vessels and barges for other river engineering works can affect dolphins
directly.
Collision with vessels is a known cause of injury and mortality in marine

mammals and is a potential threat for river dolphins also. Vessel
movement is associated with all stages of dredging and with river
engineering works, from transit from the extraction site and dumping
grounds to operation of the dredger itself. Thus, collision with dredgers
and also with other vessels/barges moving into or out of construction site
in the river is possible. In case of marine mammals, studies have shown
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that the risk of a collision occurring and the likelihood that it will result in
severe or lethal injury increases when vessels exceed 10–14 kn (Gende et
al., 2011). The knot (kn) (/nɒt/) is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile
(1.852 km) per hour, approximately 1.151 mph. Calves and juveniles are
most prone to collisions and are struck most commonly. Resting or
feeding dolphins are deemed more at risk. This is due possibly to the fact
that feeding animals are distracted, and less focused on vessel
movements.
Collision with dredgers and other vessels used for river engineering
works is possible but the likelihood of collision varies, depending on a
number of factors, including vessel type, speed, location, species, and
behaviour. Motor boat traffic is frequent in the proposed bridge
construction area. There has not yet been any report of collision between
dolphin and vessels. Dolphins have strong auditory sense allowing them
to detect and avoid vessels/boats, especially where the vessels/boats are
travelling at lower speeds. At the same time, dolphins show adaptive
behaviour against such disturbances in their habitat, the addition of
dredging and other vessels is unlikely to increase the collision risk. If
dredging activity and speed of vessels is well managed, risk of collision
between dolphins and active dredgers and vessels is minimal.
Underwater noise and vibrations: Phase demolition, earth moving, soil-

impacting, pier driving and other river engineering operations, dredging
activities and vessels/barges and machines in operation are known to
cause underwater noise and vibrations which will have adverse impacts
on river biodiversity including dolphins. Dolphins are acoustically reliant
animals that utilize sound for detecting prey, navigating, and
communicating. In case of marine mammals, reported effects include
temporary threshold shift (TTS) or permanent threshold shift (PTS), the
latter being considered as auditory injury (Kastak et al., 2005). Other
effects include acoustic masking, which could cause animals to alter the
duration, frequency, or sound level of acoustic signals. Masking of
important sounds can theoretically impact reproductive success of
individual dolphins. Behavioural changes due to noise exposure can
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happen at large distances from the source, and may be costly biologically,
as they could affect energy expenditure, or limit the amount of time spent
feeding or resting. It has been hypothesized that noise impacts have the
potential to induce stress. Stress could reduce the foraging efficiency of
dolphins or increase their susceptibility to disease.
For assessment of impacts of noise produced by dredgers and other

vessels or other noise sources on dolphins, no data has been provided
for sound with energy level produced by these sources by the Project
Proponent. Hearing sensitivity has not been thoroughly assessed yet,
however, for river dolphins it is known to be between 200 Hz and 180 kHz,
which forms a substantially wide range.
(http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/env/bio/files/Effects_of_Sound_on_Fish23Aug0
5.pdf). In absence of these data, it is not possible to predict the impacts of
underwater noise and vibrations on dolphin population or individuals and
its behaviour conclusively. However, the assessment of the potential
impacts on the Ganges river dolphin of underwater noise associated with
operation of the intake wells for the Bhagalpur Water Supply Subproject of
the BUDIP, made by AECOM (2011) in the river Ganga within Vikramshila
Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary near Bhagalpur suggested the risk of hearing
damage as negligible as predictions indicated that it occurs only within a
few meters from the source of noise (intake wells) after a full day of noise
exposure. Significant and sustained avoidance behaviour is predicted to
occur up to 60m from the source of noise. The expected avoidance
reaction will mitigate the risk of hearing damage. The dolphins are likely to
avoid the immediate vicinity of the dredgers or other sources of noise.
Dredger or other sources noise is more likely to lead to masking and
behavioural disturbances in dolphins. The Ganges river dolphin produces
echolocation clicks, which are short high-frequency sounds with specific
prey and obstacle detection modes. Echolocation clicks produced by the
Ganges river dolphin have dominant energy around 65 kHz (Sugimatsu et
al., 2011). This is well above the dominant frequency range of most man-
made noise, including dredger noise. Masking of echolocation signals is
therefore not a significant issue for most man-made sources (Richardson
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et al., 1995). In other words, the noise produced by dredger or by vessels
and machines is not expected to significantly interfere with the
echolocation ability of the Ganges river dolphin at the proposed bridge
construction site. Biologically important behaviours such as foraging,
breeding and resting may potentially be affected up to 850m from the
source of the noise, while sustained avoidance behaviour is predicted to
occur up to 60m.
Indirect Impacts
Turbidity: In the process of river engineering works and dredging, the

sediments might be crushed and removed from the bottom which will
increase the level of soft and light particles in the water column. It will
create cloudy conditions in the water column restricting the penetration of
light, attaching with gill filaments during respiration in fish, affecting
photosynthesis, reducing primary productivity etc. and that may affect the
whole biodiversity of the river stretch within the project site.
Available information indicates that there will be temporary and

insignificant impact which is reversible.
Damage of refuge and breeding area: The River is one of the most
prime sites for the breeding and larval ground for many of the commercial
valuable fishes. Dredging practice changes the bottom condition and
water quality which is most crucial part of larval survival and breeding.

Poor water quality: The dredging condition may mix the sediment particle
embedded with nutrients and minute particles in water in the construction
area (near piling sites). The increase in turbidity in combination with
nutrients may change the water quality rapidly in the dredging area in the
river resulting into many alternations in physiological quality of surface
water and rhythmic activities of the dolphins. The process if continues for
long time is supposed to affect indirectly the whole River system.
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Table 1: Potential Impacts of Proposed Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge Project Activities on Gangetic Dolphins
Taxa/Potential impacts Scope Type of Impact Degree of Impact Potential significance prior to mitigation
(Environmental issues)
General
Dredger Highly maneuverable, material transported

Cutter Suction Dredge (advisable) directly in a pipe, creates least amount of
turbidity in dredging areas.
Highly economic & efficient method of
dredging.
Cutter head suction dredge with closed-nose

basket to be used to minimize re-suspension
of sediments & maximize capture of dredged
material.
Dredger to be fitted with DGPS navigation &

positioning system & depth sounding to allow
the dredger to accurately dredge for well
foundation.
Construction Phase/ Operation & Maintenance Phase
Dredging
Sediment plume Short- Positive effect Low Release of organic nutrients from the
term/Temporary sediment plume enhances diversity and
abundance of benthic fauna near dredged
site; potential to increase the amount of food
available temporarily to river dolphins
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Dredged material from riverbed Long-term Positive effect High Dredged material – valuable resource for
Significant future use & applications
Substrate removal Short- Negative effect Low Alteration of bottom topography &
term/Temporary hydrography resulting into loss of habitats &
the risk of physical & mechanical stress to
benthic communities
Turbidity Local effect Negative effect Moderate Interference with the photosynthesis and
Increased turbidity in Active Short-lived feeding of zooplankton due to turbidity and
dredging zone near bridge Not significant general effects in the plankton, nekton and
construction site
benthos
Fish Long-term Negative effect Moderate Possible regime shift in fish species, alteration
in fish-foraging ability and spawning due to
increased turbidity, entrainment of fish eggs &
yolk sac fry
Gangetic dolphins
Collision / Temporary/Short- Negative effect Very low Dolphins likely to temporarily move away from
Interaction between dolphin and term active dredge area i.e. well foundation site at
dredge or vessel head commencement of dredging works
Hearing damage due to underwater Negligible Negative effect Very low Hearing damage predicted to occur only within
noise associated with dredging, a few meters from the dredger or operational
operation of machines & river traffic machines whereas sustained avoidance
behaviour is predicted to occur up to 60 m
from the dredger
Masking of communication, and Significant Negative effect Moderate Not a significant issue in Active dredging
behavioural responses due to area near well foundation site as Gangetic
dredger noise or noise produced by dolphin has dominant energy around 65 kHz
river engineering works well above the dominant frequency range of
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most man-made noise including dredger and
other noise. However in Indirect Impact Zone
(500 m circumference area from the bridge
alignment), potential impact in biologically
important behaviours of dolphins such as
foraging, breeding and resting due to masking
of echolocation signals
Decline in prey base of dolphin due Short-term Negative effect Low Dolphins likely to compensate for small-scale
to dredging or disturbance due to changes in prey abundance by switching prey
movement of vessels & barges species and moving to alternative foraging
grounds
* Impact Qualification Criteria Low: Hardly perceptible effect; Moderate - Perceptible effect without much importance; High – Perceptible significant effect
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Mitigation and Management Plan
The objective of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is to ensure effective

implementation of the recommended mitigation measures. The mitigation measures
are designed either to avoid impacts, or mitigate those which cannot be avoided, to
reduce adverse impacts to an acceptable level. The Environmental Management
Plan (EMP) consists of a set of mitigation, monitoring and institutional measures to
be taken up during the design, construction and operation stages of the project. The
plan also includes the actions needed for implementation of these measures.
Environmental Management Plan for mitigation of impacts on Dolphins due to

Construction of Dhubri – Phulbari bridge Project during Operation & Maintenance
Phase
The potential impact of dredging and noise associated with dredging and river
engineering works are mainly on two taxa of river biodiversity, fish & dolphins.
Suitable Environmental Management and Monitoring Programs should be developed
for these taxa as Gangetic dolphin is endangered species and National Aquatic
Animal of India and several fish species are dolphin prey species.
Recommended EMP & Monitoring Measures

1. Dredger
 Dredger undertaking work to be fitted with DGPS navigation & positioning

system & depth sounding to allow the dredger to accurately dredge within
the proposed dredge area.
 Dredging operation to be conducted only in day hours, not in night hours as

it will disturb the river fauna including dolphins in rest.
 Regular maintenance of dredge vessel and assisting motor boats to be

conducted to the manufacturer’s specifications.
 All vessels would operate in accordance with appropriate equipment noise

and vibration standards.
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2. Disposal of dredge spoils
 Discharge of residual liquid into the river not allowed as it results into river
water contamination.
 Petroleum and oily wastes to be taken in drums for final disposal.

 Dredged material to be disposed at Designated Confined Disposal facility.
3. Fish
 Installation of fish exclusion curtain / environmental windows to reduce
suction of fish eggs & yolk sac fry from Dredger.
 No dredging activity from 1st May to 15th July as this is the time period for
fish spawning as notified by the State Govt.
 Take appropriate measures to reduce turbidity levels. Effects of suspended

sediments and sedimentation are species-specific, but invertebrates,
eggs, and larvae are most vulnerable. During dredging and bridge
construction associated activities, concentration of suspended solids
should not be more than 200 mg/L. Fortnightly monitoring of turbidity
levels during and after dredging operations is recommended.
4. River dolphins
 Maintain speed of dredger while moving at 1-3 knots and speed of other
vessels/barges at 4-5 km/h in upstream and at 9-10 km/h in downstream
movement to minimize the risk of collision.
 Stop dredging or movement of vessels if dolphins are sighted within 30 m

of dredge/Vessel head.
 Hearing sensitivity for Gangetic dolphins not assessed thoroughly yet,

hence to predict impacts of dredger noise or noise associated with other
river engineering works on dolphin population and behaviour conclusively
not possible. Study on dolphin acoustics recommended.
 Dredging operation or movement of vessels & barges to be conducted only

after the dolphin’s morning peak feeding hours and before its evening peak
feeding hours. Operation timings should be between 10 am – 3 pm.
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 All sightings during river engineering works both in Direct Impact Zone and
Indirect Impact zone should be reported.
 Execute dolphin monitoring program as prescribed by River Dolphin Expert.
 Pre- and post– monsoon study on dolphin population abundance and

dolphin behaviour such as foraging, diving, resting and breeding due to
masking of echolocation signals (produced by dolphins) due to noise
generated by dredger and other sources during bridge construction
activities should be undertaken every year.
 The mitigation measures for protection of dolphins in post dredging phase

(for well foundation) should be monitored monthly by a third party
monitoring consultant. This will help in objective evaluation of mitigation
measures being implemented.
 Studies and monitoring of dolphin population abundance and dolphin

behaviour such as foraging, diving, resting and breeding to be undertaken
by River Dolphin Expert.
5. General
 Ensure all personnel performing activities related to environmental
management of dredging and other river engineering works for construction
of the bridge are trained, qualified and competent.
 Ensure all personnel performing activities are aware of their responsibilities

under the EMP.
 Regular Education and Awareness programs for dredging and river

engineering associated impacts on river biodiversity particularly dolphins and
mitigation measures to be undertaken among local stakeholders.
 For implementation of EMP and Mitigation of identified threats, particularly

for dolphins, support from State/Local Wildlife Authority to be ensured.
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With the implementation of recommended mitigation measures and EMP,
direct or residual impacts on river biodiversity including dolphins due to
dredging (although low in magnitude) and river engineering works/activities
under Dhubri – Phulbari Bridge project will be negligible.
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Dhubri – Phulbari Bridge Project Environmental Management Plan
Table 2. Monitoring Plan of EMP Implementation

Impacts/Project activities Monitoring Plan for Implementation
Environmental Impact Parameter to be monitored Responsibility Executing Agency Frequency Cost INR
Construction phase
1. Dolphin abundance Dolphin abundance estimation PIU/Contractor Local Dolphin Expert, NGO, 02 in a year 12, 00000
estimation/Dolphin count in 5 km upstream & 5 km Local University
survey ( Downstream downstream of the river from Dry peak season (April- @75, 000/each
Single/Double observer the proposed bridge site May) & Post-monsoon survey X 16 surveys
Survey method season (Last week in 8 years
recommended) Oct.-Nov.) during
construction phase, for
consecutive 4-years
2. Fish & Fishery survey & Fish diversity, catch PIU/Contractor Fishery expert/Local 02 in a year 8, 00000
assessment of depletion of composition at landing & University
prey base market sites adjacent to bridge Pre-monsoon season @50, 000/each fish
construction site, fish catch (March, April, May & & fishery survey X
per unit effort, trend in decline June = 4 months) & 16 surveys in 8
of prey base Post-monsoon season ( years
Oct, Nov, Dec & Jan =
4 months) =Total 8
months per year for 8 -
years
3. Monitoring of fishing Monitoring of destructive PIU/Contractor State Forest Dept., Local Throughout the 4, 00000
pressure & threats to fishing nets, gears and NGOs & Local year
@50, 000/each
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fishery & dolphins practices, Monitoring for community year X 8 years
involving local fishing dolphin mortality &
community dolphin entanglement in
fishing nets
4. Measurement of ambient Measurement of effects of PIU/Contractor External acoustic expert 02 (2 set of acoustic 30, 00000
noise level/underwater external noise level on with local dolphin expert data generation in
@5, 00000/for
noise & vibration at project dolphin movement, space pre –monsoon &
one set of
site use, diving behavior and post-monsoon acoustic data
stress-related behaviours; period) every year for generation X
develop a database of 2-years two sets every
dolphin echolocation clicks year for 3 years
types across a range of
+
habitats and ecological
conditions 5, 00000
For data
analysis
5. Capacity building Capacity building of field PIU /Contractor Local Dolphin expert, Twice in a year 8, 00000
researchers, local State Forest Department
@50000/each
community, NGOs, Forest
year X 16 nos.
Dept. Staff of capacity
building
workshop in 8-
years
6. Environmental Education Education & Awareness PIU /Contractor State Forest Department, Throughout the year 8, 00000
& Awareness outreach activities: Village Local NGOs, Local
@1, 00000/year
meetings, Workshop, Poster
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exhibition, Preparation & University X 8 years
distribution of handbills,
pamphlets & other
education material
Sub-total - I 75, 00000
Impacts/Project activities Monitoring Plan for Implementation
Environmental Impact Parameter to be monitored Responsibility Executing Agency Frequency Cost INR
Operation Phase
1. Dolphin abundance Dolphin abundance PIU/Contractor Local Dolphin Expert, 02 in a year 6, 00000
estimation/Dolphin count estimation in 5 km upstream NGO, Local University
survey (Use of & 5 km downstream of the Dry peak season @75, 000/each
Downstream Single/Double river from the proposed (April-May) & Post- survey X 8
observer survey method, bridge site, monsoon season surveys in 4 years
recommended) (Last week Oct.-Nov.)
during construction
phase, for
consecutive 4-years
2. Fish & Fishery survey & Fish diversity, catch PIU/Contractor Fishery expert/Local 02 in a year 4, 00000
assessment of depletion of composition at landing & University
market sites adjacent to Pre-monsoon season @50, 000/each
prey base
bridge construction site, fish (March, April, May & fish & fishery
catch per unit effort, trend in June = 4 months) & survey X 8
Post-monsoon surveys in 4 years
decline of prey base
season ( Oct, Nov,
Dec & Jan = 4
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months) =Total 8
months per year for 4
-years
3. Monitoring of fishing Monitoring of destructive PIU/Contractor State Forest Dept., Local Throughout the year 2, 00000
pressure & threats to fishing nets, gears and NGOs & Local community
fishery & dolphins involving practices, Monitoring for @50, 000/each
local fishing community dolphin mortality & dolphin year X 4 years
entanglement in fishing nets
4. Compensation to Compensation to fishermen PIU/Contractor State/Local Forest Throughout the year 3, 00000
fishermen in case of net cuts for Department
release of dolphins (if & (consolidated
when required) corpus fund for 4-
years of
operation)
5. Capacity building Capacity building of field PIU/Contractor Local Dolphin expert, Thrice in a year 4, 80000
researchers, local State Forest Department
community, NGOs, Forest @40, 000/each
capacity building
Dept. Staff
workshop X 12
workshops in 4-
years
6. Environmental Education Education & Awareness PIU/Contractor State Forest Department, 3 – in a year for 4- 6, 00000
& Awareness outreach activities: Village Local NGOs, Local years
meetings, Workshop, Poster @50, 000/each
University
exhibition, Preparation & outreach activity X
distribution of handbills, 12 outreach
26
217
pamphlets & other activities in 4-
education material, years
Preparation of video
documentary & its
demonstration
Sub-total-II 25, 80000
Grand Total (Sub-total-I + Sub-total-II) 1, 00,80000
 The cost calculation for EMP activities has been done for 8-years for construction phase and for 4-years for operation phase. Cost does not include
VAT/GST. Cost is inclusive of EMP Consultancy services.
27
218
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mohan, R. S. L., S. C. Dey, S. P. Bairagi & S. Roy (1997): On a survey of the

Ganges River Dolphin, Platanista gangetica of the Brahmaputra river, Assam. J.
Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 94(3): 483 – 495.
Sinha, R. K., N. K. Das, N. K. Singh, G. Sharma & S. N. Ahsan (1993): Gut content
of the Gangetic dolphin, Platanista gangetica. Invest. Cetacea, 24: 317-321.
Bairagi, S.P. (1999): Oil bait fishery of catfishes in Brahmaputra River affecting river
dolphin populations in Assam, India. Journal of the Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 96: 424-
426.
Biswas, S. P. & R. G. Michael (1992): Fishery characteristics and the present status
of fisheries of the river Brahmaputra. Proc. Seminar on Conservation of River
Dolphin in Indian Sub-continent, 18-19 August, New Delhi. (Abst.)
Biswas, S. P. & S. Baruah (2000): Ecology of river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in

the Upper Brahmaputra. Hydrobiologia, 430: 97 – 111.
Choudhary, S.K., B.D. Smith, S. Dey, S. Dey & S. Prakash (2006): Conservation and
biomonitoring in the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar, India. Oryx,
40(2): 189-197.
Mohan, R.S.L. & K.V.M. Kunhi (1996): Fish oils as alternative to river dolphin,
Platanista gangetica (Lebeck) oil for fishing catfish Clupisoma garua in the River
Ganges, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 93: 86–88.
Motwani, M.P. & Srivastava, C.B. (1961): A special method of fishing for Clupisoma
garua (Hamilton) in the Ganges River system. Journal of the Bombay Natural History
Society, 58: 285–286.
Wakid, A. (2005): Status and distribution of a newly documented residential Gangetic

dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica Roxburgh 1801) population in eastern
Assam. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 102 (2):158-161.
Wakid, A. (2009): Status and distribution of endangered Gangetic dolphin (Platanista

gangetica gangetica) in the Brahmaputra River with India in 2005. Current Science,
97(8): 1143-1151.
Wakid, A. (2010): Initiative to reduce the fishing pressures in and around identified
habitats of endangered Gangetic Dolphin in Brahmaputra river system, Assam. Final
Technical Report submitted to CEPF. 34 pp.
S.P. Biswas, A. Baruah, R.L.S. Mohan (1997): Current status of river dolphin
(Platanista gangetica) in the river Brahmaputra. Int. J. Ecol. Environ. Sci., 23: 357-
361.
28
219
AECOM (2011): Underwater noise impacts on Ganges River Dolphin (Bhagalpur
Water Supply Project – Trench 1, 24 pp.
Gende, S. M., A. N. Hendrix, K. R. Harris, B. Eichenlaub, J. Nielsen & S. Pyare

(2011): A Bayesian approach for understanding the role of ship speed in whale–ship
encounters. Ecological Applications 21: 2232-2240.
Kastak, D., B. Southall, R. J. Schusterman & C. R. Kastak (2005): Underwater

temporary threshold shift in pinnipeds: effects of noise level and duration. Journal of
the Acoustical Society of America; 118, pp: 3154-3163.
Kelkar N., J. Krishnaswamy, S. Choudhary & D. Sutaria (2010): Coexistence of

fisheries with river dolphin conservation. Conservation Biology 24: 1130–1140.
OSPAR (2009): Overview of the impacts of anthropogenic underwater sound in the

marine environment. OSPAR Commission 441/2009; 134 pp.
Sinha, R. K. (2006): The Ganges river dolphin Platanista gangetica gangetica.

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 103, pp: 254-263.
29
220
Annexure A
Dolphin Survey Method
For dolphin survey method, Refer to:
Smith, B.D. & Reeves, R.R. (2000b): Survey methods for population assessment of
Asian river dolphins. In Biology and Conservation of Freshwater Cetaceans in Asia.
Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 23 (eds R.R. Reeves,
B.D. Smith & T. Kasuya), pp. 97–115. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Single Observer Survey Method

Dolphin Survey:
Vessel based visual survey should be done during the low water season and the ideal
weather is from late winter to summer (November – April/May). Though the Monsoon
season is of three months (July – September), it takes another two month
approximately for the water to recede to a conducive level suited for river dolphin
surveys. A minimum of 5 individuals are required for river dolphin surveys. The primary
observers one each on the right and left side of the vessel should search by eye in a
90° cone in front of the vessel. A third observer should serve as the data recorder and
also search for dolphins when not filling out data forms.
Two independent observers positioned behind the primary observers record any
sightings missed by primary team. A schedule for rotating through the three positions
can help reduce fatigue, but extra care should be taken to ensure that dolphins are not
missed during rotations. Surveying when environmental conditions are suboptimal can
lead underestimating abundance. Rain, high winds, sand or dust storms, sun glare, and
severe heat (causing inattention and fatigue) can impair sighting efficiency and the best
way to deal with this problem is to suspend survey effort whenever environmental
conditions are below certain threshold of acceptability. A GPS is an essential tool to
record the distance travelled and the geographical coordinates of a dolphin sighting. A
Laser rangefinder is required to record the distance of the boat and the river bank. This
is important as it help in estimating the area of the river the dolphin is frequenting during
the time of the day. Close communication is essential between the primary and
independent observers to avoid chances of double count. Sightings made by the
primary and secondary teams should be pooled together for calculating encounter rates
and the best minimum abundance estimate. Survey method has to be standardised and
221
made rigorous, otherwise it will be difficult or impossible to detect trends in population
abundance and ultimately make management recommendation based on credible
information.
Estimating Group Size
Group size should be estimated using best, high, and low estimates. High and low
estimates are used to reflect the confidence of observers in accuracy of the best
estimates. The low estimate should be considered a minimum count and the high
estimate a maximum count. Identical best, high and low estimates indicate a high level
of confidence in the best estimates. For some sightings, a low, and even a best
estimate of zero can be used to reflect the possibility of double counting. Sighting that
cannot be substantiated by subsequent surfacing of confirmation by a second member
of the survey team can be given a best and low estimates of zero and high estimate of
one. Estimates should be agreed upon by a consensus of the survey team. If observers
do not agree, the lowest estimate by any team member should be used for the low, the
highest estimate for the high, and the best estimate by either the observer with the most
experience or the observer who first sighted the animal(s) for the best.
The survey should be carried out till there is good visibility and the sighting effort should
be stopped after that and survey team proceed to the next halting station. The next day
the survey should start from the point where the last day survey was stopped and then
proceed further from there.
The size of the dolphins are categorised into three types, Adult (> 1.5 meter), Sub-adult
(<1.5 meters) and Juvenile/Neonate (< 1 meter). Sex determination of Ganges river
dolphins should not be attempted during the surveys as the length and shape of the
rostrum is not the most definitive identification feature, and is certainly not
distinguishable during most of the surfacing, which will be encountered during the
survey.
222
Effort Log & Sighting Form
The Effort log and the Sighting form are designed to incorporate the most essential
observational inputs required during the survey. They are designed to be quickly filled
without distracting the observers from their primary job of sighting dolphin surfacing.
223
EFFORT LOG: GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN SURVEY
FROM:
TO: DATE:
PAGE TOTAL PAGES SURVEY TIME SURVEY DISTANCE
START ODOMETER
EVENT TIME BEGIN TIME END END POSITION OBSERVER
POSITION READING
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
RAIN/
SIGHT LEFT DIST. RIGHT DIST. CHANNEL TYPE WIND GLARE HUMAN ACT
FOG
START ODOMETER
POSITION READING
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
RAIN/
FOG
START ODOMETER
POSITION READING
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
RAIN/
FOG

START ODOMETER
224
POSITION READING
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
RAIN/
FOG
START ODOMETER
POSITION READING
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
RAIN/
FOG
START ODOMETER
POSITION READING
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
RAIN/
FOG
SURVEY EVENTS: B = BEGIN SEARCH EFFORT,
CHANNEL TYPE: WSS = (>200M) WIDE SINGLE STRAIGHT. WSM = WIDE SINGLE MEANDERING, MCI = MID-
CHANNEL ISLAND. (WSS = 1, WSM = 2, MCI = 3)
WIND, GLARE, RAIN/FOG: 0 = NONE, 1 = SMALL EFFECT, 2 = LARGE EFFECT.
HUMAN ACTIVITIES: BTH = BATHING, BS = BOATS ON SHORE, MFC = MOTORISED FERRY CROSSING,
OFC = OAR POWERED FERRY CROSSING, GNF = GILL NET FISHING, TF = TRAP FISHING, HLF = HOOK AND LINE
FISHING, AG = AGRICULTURE, IND = INDUSTRY, SM = SAND MINING.
VIKRAMSHILA BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTRE, T. M. Bhagalpur University,
BHAGALPUR – 812007
225
SIGHTING FORM: GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN SURVEY
FROM:
TO:
DATE: PAGE NUMBER: TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES:
SIGHT TIME OBSERVER NUMBER OF DOLPHINS NUMBER OF EACH SIZE CLASS NAME OF POSITION DISTANCE CHANNEL HUMAN
AREA FROM TYPE ACTIVITY
BEST HIGH LOW ADULT SUB-ADULT NEONATE UNCLASS. LAT./LONG. SHORE
226
CHANNEL TYPE: WSS = (>200M) WIDE SINGLE STRAIGHT. WSM = WIDE SINGLE MEANDERING, MCI = MID-CHANNEL ISLAND. (WSS = 1, WSM = 2, MCI = 3)
HUMAN ACTIVITIES: BTH = BATHING, BS = BOATS ON SHORE, MFC = MOTORISED FERRY CROSSING, OFC = OAR POWERED FERRY CROSSING, GNF = GILL NET FISHING, TF =
TRAP FISHING, HLF = HOOK AND LINE FISHING, AG = AGRICULTURE, IND = INDUSTRY, SM = SAND MINING.
VIKRAMSHILA BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTRE, T. M. Bhagalpur University,
BHAGALPUR – 812007
227
228

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CLIENT

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways,

FINAL DETAILED PROJECT REPORT

TITLE – FINAL DETAILED PROJECT REPORT (Volume-IVA)

DOC. NO. DELD15021-CAL-40-PH04-S-1042

REV. MODIFICATION/ PREPARED CHECKED APPROVED CLIENT

DATA SHEET NOTE NO. REV. NO.

Project Title: CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR Project No.: DELD15021

Document No.: DELD15021-CAL-40-PH04-S-1042 Controlled Copy No.:

Document Title: Final Detailed Project Report

Covering Letter/Transmittal Ref. Date of Issue: 30th June 2018

Revision, Review and Approval Records

1.0 Introduction 1-22

2.0 Scope of the Study 23-24

3.0 Baseline Conditions of the Natural and Social Environment 25-64

4.0 Legal Framework 65-89

5.0 Analysis of Alternatives 90-98

6.0 Scoping Analysis 99-109

7.0 Anticipated Environmental Impacts & Mitigation Measures 110-148

9.0 Environmental Management Plan (EMP) 156-189

Annexure-1 - Peer Review of EIA covering Dolphin part. 191

Description Page No.

Table 1.1: Details of Environmental Features 6-8

Table 1.4: Project Corridor characteristics 15

Table-1.5: Water requirement for the Project 16

Table-1.6: Raw Material Requirement 17

Table 1.7: Potential Environmental Impacts on Valued Ecosystem Components 20-22

Table-3.1: Meteorological Data Parameters at Dhubri district (March 2016) 30

Table 3.3: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Savodri 41

Table 3.4: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Motichora 42

Table 3.5: Value of Ambient Air Quality Results at Village Chaitarchar 42

Table 3.8: Showing Test Results of Soil Samples 48

Table 3.10 Landuse Classification in the Study Area 50

Table 3.11: Human Development Index 54

Table 3.12: Human Development Index 56

Table 4.1: Relevant Environmental Legislations and Implementing Agencies 66

Table 4.2: Key Statutory Clearances to be obtained by the Contractor 67

Table 4.3: Applicable Safeguards Policies of the World Bank 69

Table 4-6: Standards for Ambient Air Quality 81-82

Table 4-7: Water Quality 82

Description Page No.

Table 4-8: Water quality standard for international EHS Guideline 83

Table 4-9: Fuel Quality 83

Table 4-10: Noise Standard for Diesel Generator 84

Table 4-11: Vehicle Emission Standards (1991 to Date) 84

Table 4-12: Noise Emission Standards 85

Table 4-13: Ambient Noise Standards 85

Table 5-1: Criteria for the Evaluation of the Alternatives 91-92

Table 5.2: Analysis of alternatives 94-95

Table 5:3: Location of Nodes for the Bridge Alignment Alternatives 96

Table 6-2: TOR of Natural and Socio-economic Environment Survey 106-109

Table 7.3: Site discussion at different location 140

Table 7.4: People’s Perception about Environment Degradation 140

Table 8-1: Scoping and Survey Result 148-153

Table-9.1: Environmental Monitoring Program 157-158

Table 9-2: Environmental Clearance 161

Table 9-3: Monitoring Forms 162

Table 9-4: Resettlement 163

Table 9.6: Environmental Management Plan for Construction Stage 170-183

Table 9.7: Environmental Management Plan for Operation Stage 184-185

Table 9.8: Costs of EMP during Construction and O&M 186

Description Page No.