Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Assessment of Brahmadev-Pancheshwar Access Road

Project Description

The Pancheshwar Project will generate 6,480MW of power during peaking period of five to six hours. The project envisages construction of 315 m high, rock fill type dam at Pancheshwar and re-regulating dam at Rupaligad. The project is economically attractive, because of economic parameters like unit cost of 445 $ per kilowatt of installation, energy cost of 2.62 NRs per unit, and economic internal rate of return of 25.4%. The access road for the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project starts from Brahmadev at Kanchanpur District to the project site at Baitadi and Darchula Districts. The tentative length of this access road is about 100 km. The road alignment starts from Terai in Kanchanpur, passes through Chure range in Dadeldhura and Mahabharat range in the project site, Baltadi and Darchula Districts. The road alignment passes mostly through the forest along the Mahakali River. The access road will be sufficiently above the Mahakali River considering the dam height at Pancheshwar Rupaligad and Poornagiri. The access road is of two lanes having well designed curves and gradient sufficiently capable for carrying 540 and or 350 MW Turbine and Generator units. The main objective of the consultancy service is to conduct the Detailed Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Brahmadev-Pancheshwar Access Road according to the Environmental Protection Act, 2053 and Environmental Protection Rules, 2054 and their amendments accordingly.

Assignment Description

Review existing reports , standards and specification of the past studies related to the Project • Feasibility Study consisting of investigation of the technical, economic and environmental aspect of the road includes; • Socio-economic studies of influence area; geological studies with particular emphasis on alignment; engineering studies of alignment; traffic studies; studies on availability of construction materials and access road; environmental studies; studies on people's participation in road construction; studies on property acquisition; cost estimates with analysis of rates for different alignments; economic Analysis • Investigation of minimum three alternative alignments in terms of socio-economic (actors of the influence area, traffic, topography, geology, environmental aspects, soil and other related factors along the alignment with maps, sketches, wherever necessary • Preparation probable road alignment using GIS the inception phase of the project based on 1:25000/50000 topo maps • preparation of order of magnitude of construction cost estimates for the alternative alignments based on a reconnaissance field survey and a study of construction costs • Outline of a realistic stage construction programmed for the project, this includes the investigation of' alternative forms of standard of road construction with particular emphasis on material quality and availability, suitability for local conditions, and capital and maintenance costs • Investigation of the need for and likely cost of feeder roads • Preparation of detailed RFQ and RFP documents including cost estimates, manpower and Work-schedule for Detailed Engineering Design of Brahmadev-Pancheshwar Access Road • Environment Impact Assessment carried out in accordance with the TOR approved by the Ministry of Environment as per requirements of the Environmental Protection Act, 1997, Environmental Protection Rule, 1997 and their amendments accordingly includes and consists of; • Preparation of Scoping and TOR, existing environment (Baseline data), legislative and regulatory considerations, determination of the potential impacts, analysis of alternatives • Development of an Environmental Management Plan and mitigation measures • Identification of institutional needs to implement environmental impact assessment recommendations • Prepared environment monitoring, auditing and management plan for implementation. • Draft EIA Report prepared and submitted to the Client • Conduction of Public Hearing for the dissemination of the Report and collection of comments on the Report • Received comments from Client and prepared Draft Final EIA Report and submitted to Ministry of Environment • Approval of Final EIA Report from Ministry of Environment