Consultancy Services for Environmental Baseline Studies (Survey, Quality Assessment and Consultation) of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for construction of connecting road from Bancharampur to Radhika via Nabinagar-Shibpur to provide regional connectivity for the proposed bridge of Bhulta-Araihazar-Bancharampur road (R-203) over Meghna River.

The proposed project “Construction of Connecting Road from Bancharampur to Radhika via Nabinagar-Shibpur to Provide Regional Connectivity for Proposed Bridge of Bhulta-Araihazar-Bancharampur Road (R-203) over Meghna River” falls within Brahmanbaria District of Bangladesh.

Services included:

Environmental Quality Monitoring & Testing:

§  Carry out sampling and testing activities for environmental quality monitoring.

§  Conduct ambient air quality monitoring at four locations for 8 hours duration in each location and carry out testing of defined parameters, such as Carbon Monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction.

§  Carry out ambient noise level measurement at ten locations for one-hour duration during the daytime and 15 minutes duration during the nighttime.

§  Carry out vibration level measurement at five locations.

§  Collection of surface water samples from five locations and carry out testing of defined parameters, such as pH, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Phosphorus, Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Oil & Grease, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Bacterial Load.

§  Collection of groundwater samples at five locations and carry out testing of defined parameters, such as pH, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Chlorides, Arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Sulphur (S), Total Coliform (TC) and Fecal Coliform (FC).

§  Collection of soil samples at three locations and carry out testing for physical, chemical, and biological parameters, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, and molybdenum.

§  The above samples were tested at different laboratories, such as, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) laboratory, Dhaka University (DU) laboratory, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) laboratory, and some were tested at in-house laboratory or at site by field testing kits.

Baseline Environmental Survey:

§  Conduct various baseline environmental survey.

§  Fish species survey to identify the abundant, type and habitat area of different fish species, including the fishing gears used, fish catch, and the methods adopted for fishing. The fish species were surveyed along 1km upstream and 1km downstream of the project location.

§  Conducted ecological survey within 5km buffer zone to compare with previous data on the population of creature.

§  Preparation of inventory on flora and fauna for animal and plant groups, including Plants (only endangered or unusual formations), Invertebrates (if these are in any way impacted), and Vertebrates (Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals).

§  Secondary data and selected transect surveys were adopted to prepare the list of animals and plants identified or known to exist within the 5km radius, including data on presence, absence, local, scientific and English common names, seasonal appearance, relative abundance macro-/micro-habitats, protection categories.

§  Identification of critical ecological species and determine its protection status considering different criteria, such as IUCN’s threatened category (Red Data Book – both National and global threatened category); Species protected under Bangladesh Wildlife Preservation Act (1974); Species included in CITES; Species  protected under any protocol, conventions and any other agreement; Species considered as flagship species, keystone species or other significant species; and Endemicity of the species.

§  Assessment of biodiversity to determine its conservation significance at the level of species as well as the level of ecosystem and for the survival of the critical species within the project area.

§  Identification of potential impacts on existing ecosystem considering lethal or sub lethal effects to biota; disturbances to animals (frightening, avoidance, etc.); destruction of important vegetation habitat; reduction/disturbances to natural breeding and recruitment; permanent degradation of migration and migratory pattern; disturbance to resting and roosting sites for local area animals; hindrance of the natural regeneration process in the project corridor; and reduction of the aesthetic values of habitat/ecosystem.

§  Assist with the migratory bird’s survey to know what type/species of birds visiting the area by consultation with the local population within the 5km radius of the proposed bridge location and also from the secondary sources. Some of the migratory birds include Grey-Headed Lapwing (LC), Black- Headed Ibis (NT), Common-Tern (LC), Indian River-Tern (NT), Long-Legged Buzzard (LC), Short-Eared Owl (LC), Comb Duck (LC) etc.

§  Tree counting survey as per the species and size for the tree which are going to be cut in the alignment and the number of the loss of the trees to be included in the tree plantation plan.

Stakeholder Consultation:

§  Conduct stakeholder consultation in two rounds at two locations.

§  The first-round consultation covered the disclosure of the project, project activities, interventions, and typical environmental and social impacts of the project.

§  The second-round consultation covered finding of the ecological assessment and environmental survey and investigation, specific impacts and proposed mitigation measures as discussed during first round.

§  Planning and organization of public consultation meeting, including selection of venue, date, time etc.

§  Preparation of invitation letter and banner for the public consultation.

§  Preparation of invitation list and send invitation letter to all participants.

§  Conduct the stakeholder consultation meetings.

Reporting / Deliverables:

§  Preparation of Environmental Quality Monitoring Test Report.

§  Preparation of Baseline Environmental Survey Report.

§  Preparation of Stakeholder Consultation Report.