Assessment of Socio-Economic Impact and Monitoring of Environmental Impact of Strategic Road Development (1st Phase): Baseline Survey, Resettlement Action Plan and Monitoring of Environmental Impact

Project Description

Under RMDP the construction of new roads (fair-weather earthen roads) cover a total length of 198 Km. The upgrading of existing roads (earthen to fair-weather gravel roads) is carried out for a total length of 257 Km. The main components of the Project included: new road construction and upgrading of feeder roads including resettlement assistance, rehabilitation of selected strategic highways and feeder roads, periodic maintenance of strategic roads. Institutional strengthening and training, policy reform, technical auditing of works, assessment of the social and environmental aspects including its management and monitoring.

The project sites are located in Baitadi, Darchula, Achham and Bajura districts of Far Western Development Region, Surkhet, Kalikot, Jumla, Salyan and Jajarkot of Mid Western Development Region, and Kapilbastu, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, Gulmi and Syangja districts of Western Development Region. Out of these 14 districts, four districts are situated in High Mountain and High Himalayan, nine districts in Hill and Middle Mountain, and one district in terai and Siwalik physiographic zones. Most of the road sections are in the mid to high mountain areas. The road projects fall in the Far-Western Development Region, Mid-Western Development Region and Western Development Region

Assignment Description

Baseline: • Determine and evaluate the socio-economic baseline condition and impact studies due to the construction and upgrading works of feeder roads particularly on rural population of the project areas with special reference to education, health, markets, extent of employment and income generation opportunities, including that of rural women. • Study of qualitative and quantitative impact of the road projects • Quantify the benefits in different rural setting with different natural endowments and different stages of socio-economic development • Provide training on Baseline Survey data collection and report preparation Resettlement Action Plan: • Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the resettlement and rehabilitation activities during project preparation. Monitoring of Environmental Impact: • Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the environmental mitigation measures as contained in the Environmental Management Action Plan (EMAP) • Quality assessment of EMAP implementation • Assess the emerging environmental impacts due to the project implementation • Recommend future action plan, which could lead to policy recommendations in planning, implementing & monitoring EIA Activities. • Prepare report in separate volume on the above aspects.