Environmental Assessment of Proposed Sylhet Hi-Tech Park

In case of WB funded project, the World Bank Operational Policy (OP) 4.01 classifies projects into three major categories (category A, B and C), depending on the type, location, sensitivity and scale of the project, and nature and magnitude of potential impacts. The proposed SEC project under BHTPA will be a category ‘B’ project according to the World Bank classification. The environmental impacts of the project are expected to be mostly construction related and limited within the project boundaries.

As the IT/ITES/Hi-Tech Park is a recent issue in Bangladesh so under the existing Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR), 1997 IT and Software related type of project/industries was not listed in any category. So during the promulgation of ECR in 1997 it did not come into consideration to include these industries on the categorization list. But Department of Environment during issuance of Site Clearance for the Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park and Jessore Software Technology Park categorized them ‘Red’. So, naturally this project should be “Category Red” project, requiring preparation of an IEE and EIA, and issuance of an Environmental Site Clearance (SCC), and an Environmental Clearance certificate by the DoE.

Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is an integral part of category “Red” project for the Department of Environment and category “A and B” project for the World Bank. A project’s EMP consists of the set of mitigation measures for minimizing or removing negative impacts, enhancement measures for further improvement of positive impacts, environmental monitoring arrangements for observing the changes induced by the project interventions and institutional arrangements to be taken during implementation and operation to eliminate adverse environmental and social impacts, offset them, or reduce them to acceptable level.

1. 
   Background
   

1. The demand of IT and IT enabled services are increasing throughout the world and the investors around the world want to have a competitive cost of production. Bangladesh has a sizeable unemployed and educated young population with low labour cost of production, which can be utilized in this sector with proper training and guidance. Bangladesh needs to create skilled manpower and favourable environment conducive for IT/ITeS industries to attract potential foreign and local entrepreneurs for investing in the country.

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  To promote balanced development of ICT Industries in North-west region of the country;
  
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  To create basic infrastructure for the establishment of Hi-Tech Park in Sylhet;
  
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  To construct two Multi Tenant Buildings (MTB) and other utility services at the allocated land for creating ready infrastructure for the local and foreign investor;
  
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  To create a conducive environment to attract foreign companies in establishing and operating Software and ITeS industry in Bangladesh;
  
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  To create employment opportunities for the ICT professionals;
  
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  To promote knowledge based industry to realize the Vision 2021: Digital Bangladesh.
  

The proposed HTP in Sylhet when implemented will ensure the following facilities:

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  Single window service
  
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  Strong customer base
  
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  24/7 technical support
  
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  Qualified manpower
  
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  Competitive pricing
  
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  Tie up with major telecom partners
  
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  Service of International standards
  
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  Inclusion of service for new entrepreneurs including the freelance workers.
  
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  Strong and low cost internet connectivity
  
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  Office space for Software development, call centres, Training centres, along with all recreational facilities for the user of the ICT Centre
  
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  Low rent office space and
  
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  Creation of Green zone or Green area
  
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  Other physical facilities like nonstop/ stable power supply, water, gas, telephone facilities and road development etc.
  

2. 
   Objectives of EA
   

11. Environmental Assessment (EA) is a formal process to be used to examine the environmental consequences of proposed project and policies and suggest relevant management actions. Contrary to the belief, EA is not meant for examining adverse consequence only; it should also look into the possible positive effects of a development activity and identify ways of enhancing them further by carrying out modification in the project. A comprehensive process of EA, hence, involves study of the probable changes, physical and biological as well as socio-economic environment which may result from the proposed development activity or project, and formulating a suitable environment management plan to minimize adverse effects and to enhance positive effects.

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  Review the proposed site of the Sylhet Electronics City (SEC) and identify potential environmental impacts to be considered in the planning and design and implementation stage of the project
  

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  Identify sources of impacts of the project activities, during pre-construction, construction and operational stages, on the various environmental components and recognizes those which are critical to the change resulting from the project its development or construction phase.
  
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  Recommend an Environmental Management Plan(EMP)to avoid or mitigate adverse environmental impacts and enhance positive contributions of the project
  
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  Prepare implementable Environmental Management Plan (EMP) integrating the measures the identified impacts with suggested mitigation measures and an appropriate monitoring and supervision mechanism to ensure EMP implementation.
  
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  Recommend suitable institutional mechanisms to monitor and supervise effective implementation of the EMP.