FORM TECH-4

DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY AND WORK PLAN IN RESPONDING TO

THE TERMS OF REFERENCE
A. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY

1. Approach

1.1 Project Management

With the understating of the proposal objectives and scope of works the consultant intends
to embark upon the services with the following management approaches:
 Selection of the methods and technologies which have been tested and proven to be
optimum and successful in past;
 Close contact and effective co-ordination with the client and with all concerned
authorities;
 Full use of available and applicable reports, guidelines, standards, maps and
drawings, other relevant information that are found to be useful for execution and
completion of the proposed services in accordance with accepted professional
standards and practices;
 Selection and timely mobilisation of appropriate study team members;
 Strict adherence to the work schedule;
 Clear distinction of roles and responsibilities for each members of the team under
strict adherence to the work schedule;
 Work product of high quality to meet the study objectives;
 Completion of the proposed services within the stipulated time; and
 Sufficient flexibility to respond to desired changes and direction.

1.2 Relevant legislation applicable to the Project

Constitution of Nepal
It has ensured the provision of environmental protection and right to live in clean
environment. The article 30 (1) of the constitution has granted ‘every person shall have the
right to live in clean environment’ as a fundamental right for the people while the article 51
(f) (2) of the constitution in its Development policy gives priority for under-developed
regions for balanced, environment-friendly, qualitative and sustainable physical
infrastructure development. Similarly, Article 51 (g) (5) of the constitution in the
conservation, management and use of natural resources policy, negative impacts of
industrialization and physical development should be minimized for environmental
cleanliness and protection.

National Environment Policy, 2076 BS

Its goal is to protect the right of the citizens to live in clean and healthy environment by
promoting greenery, pollution control and waste management. It aims for the sustainable
use of natural and man-made resources for present and future generation and also ensures
environmental justice for pollution victims. Also, it suggests for the recycle and reuse of
resources available. Furthermore, it ensures research, abilities for environmental
management and conservation using public participation.

Environmental Protection Act, 2053

Environmental Protection Act 2076 contains several provisions to institutionalize the
integration of environmental aspects in development and empower Ministry Industry,
Tourism, Forest and Environment at province level to approve IEE report under
management of Province and Local Government. Similarly, concerned agencies for project
are authorized for the approval of final IEE report.
The Act provides mandatory legal provision and specializations to any project
proponent/organizations to conduct environmental assessment (IEE or IEE) of development
projects under different sectors including establishment auto land in forest area.

Environmental Protection Regulation, 2077

It contains the list of projects under Schedule 1, 2 and 3 of which projects listed in Schedule I
II and III are subjected to, executive environmental study, IEE and IEE respectively Schedule
3 gives the work Schedule of IEE. The Schedule-11 and 12 of the Rules contains the matters
to be mentioned while preparing reports relating to IEE or IEE respectively. The rules also
has the provision such that nobody can create pollution beyond prescribed limits or
standards or nobody can cause significant adverse impacts to the environment to safeguard
the public life and health along with protection of natural heritage, compensation and
punishment.

National IEE Guidelines, 2050

GoN implemented the National IEE guidelines since July 1993 prior to the enactment of the
environmental legislation in order to integrate environmental aspects in the development
project and programs by conducting IEE or IEE. These guidelines call for identifying socio-
economic, biological, physical-chemical and cultural impacts and proposing mitigation
measures to avoid, eliminate, minimize or mitigate each adverse impact to augment
beneficial impacts resulting from the project.

2. Study Methodology
Data required for IEE study will be collected from different sources. The expert team will
collect and analyze both primary and secondary data. Baseline data on different
components of environment mainly physical, biological, socio-economic, and cultural will be
collected from primary sources like field survey, Key Informant Survey (KIS), public meeting,
public hearing, photographs, etc. and secondary sources like Central Bureau of Statistics
(CBS) data, District profile, Project Area Delineation
The project area delineation of existing project will be the area that will receive both
beneficial as well as adverse impacts due to its Development and implementation.

a. Direct Impact Area (DIA)

Direct Impact Area (DIA) of the project includes all the area where activities related to the
Development and operation activity will take place. The area within the project site is
referred as DIA as the direct impact of traffic congestion is seen in this area. This area will
have greater chances of impact upon human population, private land, resources and on
physical, biological as well as socioeconomic and cultural environment and thus is
considered as high impact area.
 b. Indirect Impact Area (IIA)
The indirect impact area is those geographical areas where the Development and operation
activities do not affect directly but could have indirect effects of the project operation. The
geographical areas outside the direct impact area of project within the boundary are
considered as the Indirect Impact Area (IIA). In this area, physical, biological, socio-economic
and cultural environment will experience minimal impacts. The environmental resources
descriptions of the DIA and IIA represent the local context of the project.

2.1 Methodology for Scoping Documents/ ToR Preparation

The National IEE Guidelines, 2050 has advised methodologies undertaking of the SD/ ToR.
The issues prioritized will be presented in the TOR, which in turn guide the IEE study. The
Scoping consists of the following tasks
 Map Interpretation
 Review of literature
 Publication of public notice
 Walkover survey and public consultation
 Identifying issues of environmental issues
 Preparation of TOR

2.2 Methodology for Initial Environmental Examination

A study team headed by an environmentalist will be formed to conduct IEE study of
the proposed proposal. After desk study and necessary preparation, a field study will be
arranged for primary and secondary data collection. The study team focuses on baseline
study on the physical, biological, socio-economic, and cultural environment. With the help
of baseline information and nature of work, the likely impact on the existing physical,
biological, socio- economic and cultural environment will be analyzed in terms of
magnitude, extent, and duration. The study will suggest mitigation measures and
environmental management plan during the construction and operation phases of the
project.

2.3. 1 Data Requirements

For a detail Brief Environmental Studies (IEE), data on the following environmental
components of the project's impact (direct and indirect) area are required:

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
 Land use pattern, landscape disturbance
 Climate and hydrology
 Seismicity and Highest Flood level
 Quality of Air, water (of river ) and noise level
 Construction materials, quarry, borrow and disposal
 Infrastructures (Canals, roads, trail roads, water supply, telephones, public buildings
and other public facilities) along road alignment
BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
 Loss of forest, status, types, vegetation, species
 Pressure on forest due to project
 Plant biodiversity
 Wildlife status and habitats
 Aquatic biodiversity of River

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
 Population, ethnicity, education, religion, health and sanitation, occupational
status, income and expenditure, economic activities, physical infrastructures,
agricultural practices, market price of land and property of project affected
families.
 Status of social service, culture, indigenous and traditional activities

2.3. 2 Methodology of Data Collection

Required information, database, for the IEE study shall be collected and investigated as
under:
2.3.2.1 Desk Study
In desk study, secondary information (published or unpublished) will be collected
from different sources such as reports, maps and photographs. Local Government,
other line agencies, I/NGOs and other various project offices will be sources of
information. Environmental Protection Act 2076 and Regulations 2077, Other related
documents such as National Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines 2050, Census
report of Central bureau of Statistics 2068 and 2074 will be reviewed in the Study.

2.3.2.2 Field Work

The expert team members of IEE will walk through the existing and site and its surrounding.
The team will make necessary measurements, inspect or observe and discuss it with
local stakeholders about significant environmental issues and features. The information
and data collection will be done covering socio-economic and cultural, physico- chemical
and biological aspects of environment. For this, Following methods will be applied Physical
Environmental Survey.
a Questionnaire Survey
The questionnaire shall be developed in Nepali language and administered in the
project affected households for sampling survey using stratified random sampling. The
questionnaire will be pretested before administration to the local community at site.
b Interview
The local officials, teachers, community leader and other knowledge able persons will
be interviewed to documents and information about condition.

c Matrix Method
Matrix shall be developed and used to identify the project impotent on physical ,biological
and socio-economic and cultural resources of the areas during conservation and operation
including maintenance based on the information and assessment of positive and negative
environmental impact will be classified as short term, medium term and long term
of duration as low high and medium including its magnitude and site specific
with consideration of preventive and mitigate measurers of whole impacts on socio-
economic and cultural aspect.

Field Study and Site Inspection

Field studies will be conducted in the proposed project site in an extensive manner.
Investigations will be aimed at fulfilling the data gaps identified during the literature survey
as per the requirement of assessment study. Field study will be conducted to generate the
baseline data on the physical, biological, and socio-economic and cultural environments.
The baseline information and data will include but not limited to the followings:

Socio-Economic and Cultural Environment

Various aspects of socio-economic and cultural environment such as population, ethnicity,
occupation, education, and health and sanitation condition will be collected. Data and
description of settlement pattern, migration, religion, cultural and religious sites, crop
production and food availability, energy sources and energy consumption, physical as well
social infrastructures, market centers, industry etc. in the project areas will be collected and
compiled. The project affected private and public properties will be estimated for road
improvement and construction.

Physio-Chemical Environment
Topographical data, climatic data, meteorological data, geological information, land use
pattern and other relevant information and physic-chemical environment will be derived
from different sources such as topographical map, GIS map, field survey, consultation with
local people and published and unpublished documents. The change in land use due to
project will be access on the base of existing land use system with total land cover of every
land use pattern. Forest area will be separate on the basis of management types.

Biological Environment
Information on flora and fauna, protected, rare and endangered species, sensitive habitats
and species of commercial importance in the project area will be collected. Wildlife
including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and fishes will be documented. Similarly
vegetation type, endangered plants, medicinal plants, non-timber forest products (NTFPs)
within Zone of Influence will be documented. Migration corridors of mammals and birds will
be identified, if any, and appropriately noted and indicated in suitable maps. Efforts of
faunal diversity conservation in the project impact areas will be gathered through
discussions and interviews with the key local informants, knowledgeable people.
 Table 1: Methods used for Data Collection
Environment Parameters Methods of data collection
Physical Rainfall and temperature DHM, CBS (Environmental statistics of Nepal) Climate-
data.org
Hydrological analysis Hydrological study
Water quality Direct observation, consultations, lab test
Air quality Air Quality Index (AQI)
Noise quality Sound Level Meter
Topographic and Direct observation, survey and soil reports
geomorphic features
Geological investigation Geological report, soil investigations, direct observation
Biological Grassland areas, Measurement of no of tree with height, DBH for every
agricultural land, forest single tree species need to clear out.
land
Flora & Fauna Direct observation
Wildlife species- Direct observation of signs (eg. Scats/droppings, scratches,
Mammals, Birds and calls, pugmarks, carcasses, scales) Direct Observation of
Reptiles, aquatic lives indirect indicators such as nests, dens, burrows.
Key informants interview
Socio- Demographic data National Population and Housing Census 2011, Population
Economic Profile from 2075 BS, Public consultation, Key informants
and interview and Discussion and Municipalities
Cultural Cultural and historical Direct observation and Key informants interview
sites

2.3.2.3 Methods of Identification Prediction and Evaluation of Impacts

A. Data Analysis and Interpretations
Collected data will be analyzed for impact identification and proposing mitigation measures.
Microsoft Excel as well as SPSS will be used for statistical data analysis. After analysis of the
data, the result will be presented using tables, bar chart, pie chart as per nature of the
information and interpretation will be duly done. Following activities are considered during
the data analysis and interpretations:
 Identification of environmental impacts
 Impact prediction
 Assessment of significance of impact
 Environmental management plan
 Public consultation and Public hearing
 Review and approval of IEE report
 Implementation of Environmental Management Action Plan (EMP) and monitoring

B. Impact Identification Methods

A selective method will be used to select significant and non-significant. Non-significant
priority issues will be eliminated to focus the study and provide appropriate information to
stakeholders, public and decision makers. Methods like Checklists, Interaction Matrix etc are
applied for the impact identification.

C. Impact Prediction Methods

Various technique and technical and scientific models are available for impact
prediction. Methods used to identify impacts may also be used for prediction. Predictive
technique also includes models. Qualitative approach will be applied in the prediction of the
impact for the IEE study. The qualitative approach depends heavily on expert judgment and
Best guess.

D. Impact Evaluation Methods

Once impacts are identified and predicted, they will be evaluated in terms of their
significance, insignificance or non-significance. Impact evaluation will be done with duly
considerations of national policies, acts, rules, strategies, standards and guidelines. In
impact evaluation, public concern, negative social impacts and scientific and professional
evidence resource use, ecological damage also be considered. An interactive group method
will be applied for evaluating the significance and importance of the socio-economic
parameter. In this process group of people (Experts and Stakeholders) will be involved
to evaluate the significance of impact of the project on the environment. Likely impacts will
be analyzed in terms of magnitude, extent and duration. A matrix will be developed to
determine the probable impacts with respect to magnitude, extent and duration.
Magnitude of the impact will be classified into high, moderate and low on the basis of
severity and degree of impact. Extent of impact is indicated by the area to which the impact
is likely to spread over and is classified into regional, local and site specific. Duration of
impact will be classified into short-term, mid-term and long-term on the basis of how long
the effect of impact occurs.
Table 2: Numerical scale as proposed in the National IEE Guidelines
Magnitude Extent Duration
High 60 Regional 60 Long Term 20
Moderate 20 Local 20 Medium Term 10
Minor 10 Site Specific 10 Short Term 05

The cumulative scores on these analyses will be used to decide the significance of the impacts.
Table 3: Cumulative scores of level of significance
Total scores Significance of Impacts
Below 40 Insignificant/Least significant
40 and above Significant
80 and above Very significant
100 and above Highly significant
 E. Impact Categorization and Mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures will be proposed for likely adverse impacts on physical,
biological, socio-economic and cultural environment and a matrix will be developed for the
same.

F. Environmental Monitoring
An environmental monitoring plan will be proposed for baseline, compliance and
impact monitoring for physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural environment. A
monitoring schedule, monitoring parameters and responsible agencies for monitoring
activities will be explained. An Environmental Impact Summary of the proposal will be
developed, which will explain about the project activities, identified environmental impacts
associated with these activities, impact prediction in terms of their magnitude, extent
and duration, relevant pragmatic mitigation measures and the responsible agency for
implementing these mitigation measures.

2.3.2.4 Public Hearing and Public Disclosure

To ensure public participation in the process of IEE study as well in development for
quality, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the proposal, public views will be taken
adequately in decision-making process through following procedures:
 Publication of notice – A public notice for public hearing will be public one week earlier
in a local newspaper inviting stakeholders and local people to participate in public
hearing.
 Public hearing will be done with local communities and concerned stakeholders to
collect public concern and suggestions on finding of IEE study, awareness about the
project plan and programmed building of mutual consensus about the implementation
of the project identification of the key issues and consideration of these issues in IEE
report, project design.
 Publication of notice: A 15 day Public Notice will be published on National Newspaper
after pasting it on each of project implementation wards and local forest user group.
Recommendation letters will be collected from Ward office/ Municipalities, after 16 th
day of Notice publication.
The approved IEE report will be made available or accessible to general public and
interested parties through information center.

2.3.2.5 Finalization of the IEE Report

Final IEE report will be prepared incorporating the feedback and suggestions obtained
during public hearing meeting and will be forwarded for approval. The report will be
finalized incorporating the comments and suggestions of the review committee.
3. Technology transfer/Trainings
Besides providing technical inputs on Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for
construction of Road . The workshop will also provide platform for sharing knowledge on
procedure of Environmental Impact Assessment, Tools and organizational procedure of
EIA/IEE/ BES approval process. The consultants’ team will also provide basic knowledge on
application of Global Information System (GIS) on impact assessment .
 Form TECH-5
WORK SCHEDULE AND PLANNING FOR DELIVERABLES
Activities Time fame
Time frame in week Baishak Jestha Ashad
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Literature review,
Preparation and Approval of
ToR
Field Visit for data collection
Preparation of Draft report
Public Hearing
Publication of Notice
Preparation of Final Draft for
Submission
Submission of Final report
 Form TECH-6
TEAM COMPOSITION, ASSIGNMENT, AND KEY EXPERTS’ INPUTS
Table 4: Proposed Key expert
No. Field of Expertise Name of expert Qualification Experience of Environmental Studies

Key experts
K-1 Team Leader (Environmental Mr. Manita Chaulagain M.Sc, Environmental Science 25
Expert
k-2 Engineer Er. Gobardhan Banskota B.E, Civil ; M.Sc Urban Plannig 8
k-3 Forester / Biologist Mr. Hari Acharya M.Sc, Forestry 13
k-4 Socio-Economist Mr. Rupesh KC MA, Sociologist 11
k-5 Geologist Mr. Ujjwal k. Maskey M. Sc, Geology 11
 Form TECH-7
CV of Key Expert