Environmental and social assessment

1.Introduction 1

SECTION A: PROJECT CONTEXT 2

2.Background 2

2.1.The Proposed Project 3

2.2.The Environmental and Social Assessment 4

2.3.Composition of Study Team 5

3.Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework 7

3.1.Applicable Legislation and Policies in Bangladesh 7

3.2.Environmental Procedures 11

3.3.World Bank Safeguard Policies 11

3.4.Compliance Status with Bangladesh Legislation and World Bank Policies 13

4.Project Description 15

4.1.Project Objective 15

4.2.Program Components and Locations 15

4.3.Construction Material and Sources 19

4.4.Project Implementation Schedule 19

4.5.Project Cost 20

5.Project Alternatives 21

5.1.No Project alternative 21

5.2.Alternatives to the IWT 21

5.3.Alternative Means of Maintaining the Navigation Routes 22

5.4.Alternative Methods of Dredging 22

5.5.Alternatives to Dredged Material Management 22

5.6.Alternative Contracting Approaches 23

5.7.Alternative Locations and Design Aspects of Terminals and Landing Stations 23

SECTION B – Environmental Assessement and Management 24

6.Description of Environment 24

6.1.Physical Environment 24

6.2.Chemical Environment 26

6.3.Biological Environment 27

7.Climate Change Considerations 32

8.Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures 34

8.1.General 34

8.2.Impact Assessment Methodology 34

8.3.Summary of Assessed Impacts 35

8.4.Environmental Impacts from Dredging Works in Component 1 36

8.5.Environmental Impacts from Construction of Component 2 Works 38

8.6.Impacts from during Operation and Maintenance for both Component 1 and 2 40

9.Cumulative and Induced Impact Assessment 43

9.1.Objective 43

9.2.CIIA in Context of the Proposed Project 43

9.3.Aquatic Biodiversity 43

9.4.Dolphin 43

9.5.Hilsa 44

9.6.Mitigation Measures 44

10.Environmental Management Plan 45

10.1.General 45

10.2.Institutional Arrangements 45

10.3.Environmental Management 47

10.4.Monitoring Plan 48

10.5.Capacity Building 51

10.6.External Monitoring 52

10.7.Reporting 52

SECTION C – Social Assessment and Resettlement Policy Framework 53

11.Social Assessment and RPF 53

11.1.Brief Socio-Economic Baseline. 53

11.2.Social impacts from Construction Activities 54

11.3.Grievance Redress Mechanism 58

11.4.Institutional Arrangements 58

11.5.Monitoring and Reporting 59

SECTION D – Consultation and Budget 60

12.Stakeholder Consultations and Disclosure 60

12.1.Overview 60

12.2.Consultations Feedback 60

12.3.Cost of Environmental and Social Management 62

12.4.Disclosure 63

Table 1: Classification of IWT River Routes in Bangladesh 2

Table 2: Compliance of Project with GoB Legislation and World Bank Safeguard Policies 13

Table 3: Location of IWT Routes in Component 1 and Estimated Dredging 16

Table 4: Locations of Vessel Shelters in Component 1 17

Table 5: Locations of River Terminals and Landing Stations in Component 2 17

Table 6: Cost Estimate of the Project-I 20

Table 7: Significance of Impact Criteria 34

Table 8: Potential impacts and their significance 35

Table 9: Effects Monitoring Plan 49

Table 10: Number of Persons Covered in Various Consultation Meetings 60

Table 11: Key Issues Raised and Plans to Address the Issues 60

Table 12: Cost Estimates for Environmental Management and Monitoring of the Project 63