Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report Project No. 4 -0 · 2020. 8. 27. · Semi-annual...

Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report

Project No. 49423-005 June 2020

Bangladesh: Bangladesh Power System Enhancement and Efficiency Improvement Project– Component 3: Distribution System Upgrade,

Rehabilitation, Extension, and Rural Electrificationin

BREB Service Areas Part 1 (Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, and Sylhet Divisions REB) and Part 2

(Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, and Barisal Divisions REB)

This Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any

designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the

Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status

of any territory or area.

Environmental Safeguard Monitoring Report (Revised)

Reporting Period

Date

January 2020 to June 2020

June 2020

Bangladesh Power System Enhancement and Efficiency Improvement Project

UP-GRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND INTENSIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)

ADB Loan No.3522-BAN

Prepared by the PIU, URIDS of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.

This environmental safeguard monitoring report is a document of the borrower and made publicly available in

accordance with ADB’s Public Communications Policy 2011 and the Safeguard Policy Statement 2009. The

views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff.

URIDS| Semi-annual Environmental Safeguard Monitoring Report | Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board | June 2020 i

Semi-annual Environmental Safeguard Monitoring Report: January to June 2020;

Up-gradation, Rehabilitation and Intensification of Distribution System of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong and Sylhet

divisions and Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Barisal divisions of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.

URIDS| Semi-annual Environmental Safeguard Monitoring Report | Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board | June 2020 ii

Project Name: UP-GRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND INTENSIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)

Contract Number: BREB/URIDS (DMCS)/URIDS (E) –S-45/2017-2018

Project Number: 5060130

Report Number: SEMI-ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD MONITORING REPORT FROM JANUARY TO JUNE 2020.

REVISION HISTORY

Revision # Date Prepared by Reviewed by Approved for

Issue by

Draft version 30.06.2020 Md. Kamrul Hasan Bhuiyan, Safeguards Specialist (National).

Jayadun De Mel, Team Leader Jayadun De Mel, Team Leader

Final version 31.07.2020 Md. Kamrul Hasan Bhuiyan, Safeguards Specialist (National).

Jayadun De Mel, Team Leader Jayadun De Mel, Team Leader

SMEC Company Details

SMEC International Pty. Ltd.

SMEC URIDS Project Office:

House 526, Lane 10, Flat A3, DOHS Baridhara, Dhaka 1206, Bangladesh

Tel: +880 2841 3571 Fax: +880 2841 6368

Email: [email protected] Website: www.smec.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.smec.com/

URIDS| Semi-annual Environmental Safeguard Monitoring Report | Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board | June 2020 iii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

3R- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

ACRE- Area Coverage Rural Electrification

ADB- Asian Development Bank

APs Affected Persons

BREB- Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board

CAP Corrective Action Plan

COVID-19- Corona Virus Disease-2019

CPR Cultural Physical Resources

DMCS- Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet

DOE- Department of Environment

DPP- Development Project Proforma

EA- Executing Agency

ECA 1995- Environmental Conservation Act 1995

ECC- Environmental Clearance Certificate

ECR 1997- Environmental Conservation Rule 1997

EIA- Environmental Impact Assessment

EMoP- Environmental Monitoring Plan

EMP- Environmental Management Plan

GM / DGM- General Manager/Deputy General Manager

GoB- Government of Bangladesh

GRC- Grievance Redress Committee

IEDCR- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research

IEE- Initial Environmental Examination

PBS- Palli Bidyut Samity

PD- Project Director

PIMC- Project Implementation Monitoring Consultant

PMU- Project Management Unit

PPE- Personnel Protective Equipment

RoW- Right of Way

RRKB- Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal

SPS 2009- ADB Safeguard Policy Statement 2009

URIDS- Up-gradation, Rehabilitation, and Intensification of Distribution System

URIDS| Semi-annual Environmental Safeguard Monitoring Report | Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board | June 2020 4

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 6 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7

1.1 Brief Project Description .......................................................................................................................7

1.2 Project Progress Status and Implementation Schedule .....................................................................12

2 Compliance to National Regulations .............................................................................................. 15

3 Compliance to Environmental Covenants from the ADB Loan Agreement ...................................... 18 4 Compliance to Environmental Management Plan ........................................................................... 22 5 Safeguards Monitoring Results and Unanticipated Impacts ............................................................ 29

5.1 Environmental Safeguards Monitoring ...............................................................................................29

5.2 Occupational Health and Safety Monitoring ......................................................................................41

6 Implementation of Grievance Redress Mechanism and Complaints Received from Stakeholders ..... 45 7 Conclusion and Recommendation ................................................................................................. 48

7.1 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................48

7.2 Recommendations: .............................................................................................................................48

APPENDICES..................................................................................................................................... 50

Annex A: Zone-wise line construction progress of URIDS (DMCS&RRKB) project up to June 2020. ....... 50

Annexure-B: Photographs of consultations with the stakeholders. ..................................................... 51

Annexure-C: Government circular regarding the COVID-19 situation. ................................................. 52

List of Table

Table 1: Basic Information of URIDS (DMCS &RRKB) divisions ............................................................ 7

Table 2: Electrical works by PBS location of URIDS (DMCS&RRKB) divisions ....................................... 8

Table 3:Civil Construct Works under URIDS (DMCS) divisions ............................................................. 9

Table 4:Civil Construct Works under URIDS (RRKB) divisions ............................................................ 10

Table 5: Line construction Progress of URIDS Project up to June 2020. ............................................ 12

Table 6:Civil construction progress of URIDS project up to June 2020. ............................................. 12

Table 7: Project Implementation Plan .............................................................................................. 14

Table 8: Compliance with National Laws. ......................................................................................... 15

Table 9: Compliance with ADB Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS 2009). .......................................... 18

Table 10: Compliance with ADB Loan Covenants.............................................................................. 20

Table 11: Compliance Status of EMP both for DMCS & RRKB Divisions ............................................. 22

Table 12: List of civil construction sites visited by the safeguard team. ............................................ 30

Table 13: Status of environmental monitoring results. ..................................................................... 33

Table 14: Status of Occupational health & Safety issues................................................................... 41

Table 15: Report on Occupational Accident and its Corrective Action. ............................................. 44

Table 16: GRM Committee of PBSs for resolving the complaints. ..................................................... 45

Table 17: Complaints status of the reporting period (January to June 2020). ................................... 46

Table 18: Tree plantation plan both for URIDS (DMCS) and URIDS (RRKB) project. ........................... 47


Table 19: Recommendations for considering the project implementation ....................................... 48

List of Figure

Figure 1: Location map of URIDS Project (DMCS & RRKB Divisions). ................................................. 11


Executive Summary Up to June 2020, the total progress status of URIDS (DMCS) is 16,139 Km considering the up-gradation,

rehabilitation, and extensions of the distribution line which is 59.77% against the total target of 27,000

km.

On the other hand, under URIDS (RRKB) project, the total progress of line construction (up-

gradation/rehabilitation and extension) is 16,510 Km which is 70.26% of the total target of 23,500 km.

For the effective compliance status, training should be organized on environmental, social, and COVID-19

related issues among the workers, laborers, contractors, sub-contractors, and PBS officials immediately.

Tree plantation events need to be organized by the project authority for the distribution of sapling to the

affected people/households; and before trimming, affected households should be informed at least a

week ago.

To reduce the complaints against power outage problems, the schedule should be pragmatic and exclude

local hat/Bazar days, peak hours. To resolve this issue permanently in the industrial unit, PBS/BREB

should have dual-line facilities, if any line needs to be shut down, then, another line will be operating.

Occupational health and safety issues should be given more importance during project implementation.

OHS status in the project site is still below a satisfactory level. At the civil construction sites, laborers,

workers, don’t maintain safety procedures during the working period.

The project has taken a strategy against the COVID-19 outbreak for minimizing the risks of COVID-19 and

enforced regular monitoring following the government instructions. All PBS staff, workers, contractors

have been instructed to strictly maintain the following issues at the working sites and at the labor

campsites, for example; each and every worker undergoes thermal scanning for temperature recording, if

one reaches temperature 99 degree Celsius then he/she will be sent to the labor camp for next 48hrs

observation.

If someone is reported for positive cases, then he/she sent for home quarantine and contact persons are

identified and will also be sent for home quarantine for 14 days, all cases including temperature record

will be kept in the working site and if any serious issues will arise then requested to inform the project

authority or PBS or BREB personnel immediately. Social distancing should be maintained (at least 1 m

distance) in the local areas and local people are not encouraged to attend the project site during the

construction period.

During staying at the labor camp, the unnecessary movement will be restricted such as going to local

markets & other public places and avoid public gathering. Safety equipment (full PPE) should be available

at the working sites. Laborers, workers, contractors, and PBS/BREB officials must use masks, hand gloves

at the project site, and hand-sanitizers/soap should be accessible at the working sites and ensure

frequent usage by workers, laborers, sub-contractors, and others.

In response to the tree plantation schedule, BREB/project authority has fixed the timeline (July to

September 2020) for the distribution of sapling to the affected households as part of social responsibility.

The affected people (APs) will be given priority and local species (fruit) will be distributed to affected

households. Updates will be provided in the next semi-annual environmental monitoring report.


1 Introduction

1.1 Brief Project Description

Accelerating the steps of generating electricity across the country is the top priority of the Government of

Bangladesh. The government is committed to having good access to electricity in the rural areas of

Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) is one of the important institutes that has the

proximity to providing quality-electricity to consumers without disruptions that could have a tremendous

impact on the country’s economic growth.

It is included in the GoB’s seventh’s five-year plan to produce affordable and reliable electricity for both

economic development & poverty reduction and everyone will have good access to affordable and

reliable electricity by the year of 2021. In order to achieve the vision of the government, Bangladesh

Rural Electrification Board (BREB) worked with a firm objective to boost the electrification program

throughout the country based on the concept of Area Coverage Rural Electrification (ACRE). The ACRE

idea leads to the development of a cooperative called Palli-Bidyut Samity (PBS) to provide electric

services to their member-consumers. Since its creation, 80 nos of PBSs have been established throughout

the country under various projects from ACRE Phase-I to ACRE Phase-V. After the establishment of the

PBSs, the distribution system of the PBSs has been gradually expanded and strengthened under the

various Intensification and Expansion Projects.

To improve the quality of the electricity, increase the capability of consumer growth, minimize the

system losses, connect new households, small industries, etc. in the existing distribution network of the

said PBSs, according to the above study, the scope of work under the project of Up-gradation,

Rehabilitation, and Intensification of Distribution System (Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, and Sylhet

divisions (DMCS) and Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barisal divisions (RRKB)’’ is to construct a total of

50,500 km of distribution lines for rehabilitation/ up-gradation including 6,465 km lines for intensification

extension of 1/ 2/3 poles.

Basic Information of project:

TABLE 1: BASIC INFORMATION OF URIDS (DMCS &RRKB) DIVISIONS

Items URIDS (DMCS) URIDS(RRKB)

Project Construction Period July 2016 to December 2020

Total Length (km) of 33kV, 11KV, and below voltage

20,535 18,000

Length of New Line (km) of 11kV and below voltage

6,465 5,500

No. of Division Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Sylhet

Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Barishal

No. of District covers 36 districts 28 districts

No of Customers to be Covered 500,000 450,000

Line Type 33kV, 11kV, 440/240 volt


Items URIDS (DMCS) URIDS(RRKB)

Number of Palli Bidyut Samities (PBSs) Covered

44 36

Material Requirements

• Conventional overhead pole-mounted distribution transformers 6.35/0.23 kV – 37,090 kVA transformers will be procured

• Porcelain insulators 6.35/0.23 kV

• Poles – SPC/Wooden/Steel –425,863 poles will be procured

• Insulated cable 6.35/0.23 kV- 14,361 km of conductor will be procured.

• Bare conductor – 69,553 km of conductor will be procured.

• Conventional overhead pole-mounted distribution transformers 6.35/0.23 kV –31,624 kVA transformers will be procured

• Porcelain insulators 6.35/0.23 kV

• Poles – SPC/Wooden/Steel – No poles will be procured

• Insulated cable 6.35/0.23 kV and

• Bare conductor –69,552 km of conductor will be procured.

Typical Pole Size 15.00 m

No. of Transformers to be installed 37,090 31,624

Transformer Capacity 489 MVA 391 MVA

Conductor 83,914 69,552

Meter 500,000 450,000

(Source: Revised DPP)

TABLE 2: ELECTRICAL WORKS BY PBS LOCATION OF URIDS (DMCS&RRKB) DIVISIONS

Sl.

No.

Upgrades/ Rehabilitation/ Conversion

(km of line)

New Lines (Short Extensions of

about One Hundred Meters)

(km)

33 kV 11 kV 440/ 240 V Grand total

1 905 12,510 7,120 6,465 27,000 Km

for DMCS

2 820 12,000 5,180 5,500 23,500 Km

for RRKB

Sub- total 1,725 24,510 12,300 11,965 50,500

(Source: BREB)

Civil Construction Works:

Civil Construction works of URIDS (DMCS) divisions:

Under the DMCS project, a total of 48 residential and office building will be constructed, which are mostly

consists of two to three storied buildings. Table 3 shows the detail of the building types and their PBS

locations.


TABLE 3:CIVIL CONSTRUCT WORKS UNDER URIDS (DMCS) DIVISIONS

Sl. No

Types of works undertaken by URIDS (DMCS) project

Nos of works

Location/ PBS

1 Construction of 3-storied Head Quarter Office Building cum Warehouse including Land development

2 • Cumilla PBS-4

• Chandpur PBS-2

2

Construction of C-Type Residential Building for Zonal Office Complex including Land Development

3 • Cumilla PBS-4 H/Q,

• Chandpur PBS-2 H/Q

• Ukhyia in Cox’s Bazar PBS.

Construction of D-Type Residential Building for Zonal Office Complex including Land Development

8

• Cumilla PBS-4 H/Q.

• Chandpur PBS-2H/Q.

• Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar PBS

• Ukhyia in Cox’s Bazar PBS

• Gorai in Tangail PBS.

• Nandail in Kishoreganj PBS.

• Chatak in Sunamganj PBS.

• Fulgazi in Feni PBS.

Construction of E-Type for Zonal Office Complex Residential Building including Land Development

8









Construction of F-Type of Residential Building for Zonal Office Complex including Land Development

8









3

Internal Road

Boundary Wall

Gate

Security Post

Master Drain

Sewerage System (Septic tank)

Shaded Store Yard

Open Store Yard

Store Yard fencing

Garage

Ansar Barrack & Miscellaneous Works.

9


• Chandpur PBS-2H/Q

• Moheskhali Zonal Office in Cox’s Bazar PBS.

• Ukhiya Zonal Office in Cox’s Bazar PBS.

• Gorai Zonal Office in Tangail PBS.

• Nandail Zonal Office in Kishoreganj PBS.

• Chatak Zonal Office in Sunamganj PBS.

• Damuda Zonal Office in Shariatpur PBS.

• Fulgazi Zonal Office in Feni PBS.

4 Construction of 2-storied Rest House Building with 3-storied Foundation

2 • Cumilla PBS-4.

• Chandpur PBS-2.

5 Construction of Boundary wall of Regional 1 Comilla PBS-4.


Sl. No

Types of works undertaken by URIDS (DMCS) project

Nos of works

Location/ PBS

O&M Complex

6

Construction of Zonal office complex including Land Development Office Building cum Ware House (3-storied Building with 5-storied foundation) 7

• Moheskhali, Cox’s Bazar PBS.

• Ukhyia, Cox’s Bazar PBS.

• Gorai, Tangail PBS.

• Nandail, Kishoreganj PBS.

• Chatak, Sunamganj PBS.

• Damuda,Shariatpur PBS.

• Fulgazi, Feni PBS.


Civil Construction works of URIDS (RRKB) Project:

Under the RRKB project, a total of 23 structures including rest house, office, and workshop buildings will

be constructed, which are mostly consists of two to three storied buildings. Table 4 shows the detail of

the building types and their PBS locations.

TABLE 4:CIVIL CONSTRUCT WORKS UNDER URIDS (RRKB) DIVISIONS

Sl. No

Types of works undertaken by URIDS (RRKB) project

Nos of works

Location/ PBS

1

Construction of PBS head quarters 3 • Sirajgonj PBS-2

• Naogoan PBS-2

• Bagura PBS-2

2

Construction of zonal office complex 11 • Ataikula, Pabna PBS-2

• Potia, Natore PBS-1

• Dupchaciya, Bogra PBS-1

• Pirgonj, Thakurgaon PBS

• Ranigonj&Parbotipur, DinajpurPBS-2

• Hikorgasa, Jessore PBS-1

• Gornodi, Barisal PBS-2

• Bauphal, Patuakhali PBS

• Shener Bazar, Khulna PBS

• Lalmohan, Bhola PBS

Vertical extension of office building (1 floor) 3 • Thakurgaon PBS HQ

• Dinajpur PBS-2

• Jhenaidah PBS HQ

Vertical extension of office building (2 floor) 1 • Patuakhali PBS HQ

Construction of 3-storied store cum workshop & boundary wall

1 • Thakurgaon PBS HQ

3 Construction of 2- storied rest house building 1 • Magura PBS HQ complex

4 Construction of 2-storied office building 1 • Kushtia PBS HQ

5 Vertical extension of C-type, D-type & E-type (1 floor)

1 Patuakhali PBS HQ complex

6 Repair & renovation works at Central warehouse

1 • Khulna PBS

Total Structure 23



FIGURE 1: LOCATION MAP OF URIDS PROJECT (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS).


1.2 Project Progress Status and Implementation Schedule

Up to June 2020, the total progress status of URIDS (DMCS) is 16,139 Km considering the lineup-

gradation, rehabilitation and extensions which is 59.77% against the total target of 27000 Km.

On the other hand, under URIDS (RRKB) project, the total progress of line construction (up-

gradation/rehabilitation and extension) is 16,510 Km which is 70.26% of the total target of 23,500 Km.

Details are provided in Table-5.

TABLE 5: LINE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS OF URIDS PROJECT UP TO JUNE 2020.

Key points

Revised target Achievement

Total Achievement

URIDS (DMCS) URIDS(RRKB) URIDS (DMCS) URIDS (RRKB)

URIDS(DMCS)&

URIDS(RRKB)

Project Target (Km)

27,000 23,500 16,139-Km 16,510-Km 32,649 Km

Consumer connection (Nos.)

5,00,000 4,50,000 392,151 Nos. 411,314 Nos. 803,768 Nos.

Progress (%) 59.77% 70.26% 65.00%

(Source: BREB)

TABLE 6:CIVIL CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS OF URIDS PROJECT UP TO JUNE 2020.

Name of PBS Location Type of civil construction progress (%)

URIDS (DMCS)

Chandpur PBS-2 Chandpur PBS-2 H/Q Construction of head quarter building & residential building.

8%

Cox’s Bazar PBS

Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar

Construction of Residential Building for Zonal Office Complex in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.

80%

Moheskhali, Cox’s Bazar

Construction of office Building & residential building for Zonal Office Complex in Moheskhali, Cox’s Bazar.

60%

Kishoreganj PBS Nandail, Mymensingh

Construction of Residential Building & office building for Zonal Office Complex in Nandail, Kishoreganj.

80%

Sunamganj PBS Chatak, Sunamganj

Construction of Residential Building & office building for Zonal Office Complex in Chatak, Sunamganj.

75%

Shariatpur PBS Damuda, Shariatpur Construction of E &F type buildings for Damuda

35%



zonal office, Shariatpur.

Feni PBS Fulgazi, Feni

Construction of Residential Building & office building for Zonal Office Complex in Fulgazi, Feni.

80%

URIDS(RRKB)

JhenaidahpBS Jhenaidah PBS H/Q Construction of extension of office building 1st floor.

97%

Magura PBS Magura PBS H/Q Construction of rest house building.

72%

Jashore PBS-1 Jikorgacha, Jashore Construction of Zonal Office Complex.

95%

Kushtia PBS Kushtia PBS H/Q Construction of two storied office building.

97%

Patuakhali PBS Patuakhali PBS H/Q

Vertical extension of office, C- type, D-type & E-type at Patuakhali PBS HQ

97%

Bauphol, Patuakhali Construction of Bauphol Zonal Office, Patuakhali

84%

Bhola PBS Lalmohon, Bhola Construction of Lalmohan Zonal Office of Bhola PBS

97%

Barishal PBS-2 Gornodi, Barishal Construction of Gornodi Zonal Office, Barishal.

67%

Khulna PBS Shenerbazar, Khulna Construction of Shenerbzar Zonal office, Khulna

81%

Khulna Repair and renovation of central warehouse, Khulna

54%

Sirajgonj PBS-2 Sirajgonj, Construction of Sirajgonj PBS-2 H/Q

31%

Pabna PBS-2 Ataikhula, Pabna Construction of Zonal Office at Ataikhula, Pabna.

71%

Natore PBS-1 Potia, Natore Construction of Potia Zonal Office, Natore.

50%

Naogaon PBS-2 Naogaon Construction of Noagoan PBS-2 H/Q.

25%

Bogura PBS-2

Bogura Construction of Bogura PBS-2 H/Q.

21%

Dupchaciya, Bogura. Construction of Dupchaciya Zonal Office, Bogura.

26%

Thakurgaon PBS Thakurgaon

Construction of Vertical extension of office building (1 floor), Thakurgaon.

23%

Dinajpur PBS-2 Dinajpur Vertical extension of office building (1 floor) at PBS H/Q.

29%



Construction of Zonal Office Complex at Ranigonj, Dinajpur.

25%

Construction of Zonal Office Complex at Parbotipur, Dinajpur

29%

Construction of Pirgonj Zonal Office Complex, Dinajpur.

29%

(Source: BREB)

Implementation Schedule

The Project can be completed and commissioned in a period of 48 months (4 years).

TABLE 7: PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Particulars 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Bidding

Bid Evaluation/ Award

Implementation

Source: RDPP; BREB = Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, Q = quarter


2.0 Compliance to National Regulations

The environmental legislation of GOB emphasizes reducing the negative impacts of infrastructure

development projects and the enhancement of the positive impacts. This conforms to the National

Environmental Policy 1992 that was enacted based on the Agenda 21 of the Rio Conference and

subsequent enactments of the Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act (ECA) 1995 (amended in

2005, 2007, and 2010) and the Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR) 1997 (amended in

2007, 2010 and 2017). Compliance with national laws is as follows:

TABLE 8: COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL LAWS.

Environment Policy/Rules

Compliance Requirement

Relevance for BREB URIDS

BREB URIDS Performance

Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act (BECA) 1995 and Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules (BECR) 1997

Requires strengthening and new construction project for distribution line to obtain an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC)

URIDS is required to secure and maintain an ECC

The environmental site clearance (valid for 1 year) for the project was obtained from the DOE on 8 Nov 2016 that requires to conduct an environmental impact assessment report prior to construction works. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report has been prepared and submitted to DoE for ECC on 10th March 2020 for URIDS (DMCS) Project.

On the other hand, EIA report was prepared and submitted to DOE on 15 June 2020 for ECC for URIDS (RRKB) Project also, which are in process in DoE.

Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006

Every labourer must be provided with a contract and an identification card (section 5). Whilst child labourer is clearly defined in section 34, the nature of the activities will inherently exclude any child (section 40) or women labourers (section 45).

URIDS has followed the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 while conducting of civil works, line construction and up-gradation.

URIDS project didn’t recruit any Child labour since the project inception to till date for new line construction, up-gradation/ Re-habilitation and extension of distribution system and others civil works.

Wildlife (protection and safety)

Act 2012

Under this act, the hunting, trapping, killing of wildlife are strictly prohibited. There are certain provisions kept in this Act, e.g. entrance, management, rules and regulation of the protected area etc. If any person without license performs any kind of trade, he will be jailed for at least a year.

URIDS has followed the Bangladesh Wildlife (protection and safety) Act 2012 during civil works, line construction and up-gradation.

The Wildlife (protection and safety) Act 2012 was strictly enforced by BREB URIDS Project during the implementation of the project.






National 3R (Reduce, Reuse,

Recycle) Strategy for Waste

Management, 2010

The national 3R Goal for waste management is to achieve complete elimination of waste disposal on open dumps, rivers, flood plains by 2015 through mandatory segregation of waste at source as well as to create a market for recycled products and provide incentives for recycling of waste.

URIDS has followed theNational 3R (Reduce, Reuse,

Recycle) Strategy for Waste

Management, 2010 properly.

BREB implemented the National 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Strategy for Waste Management, 2010 during project implementation especially for civil works and line constructions.

The main objective of the 3R Strategy is to delineate ways and means of achieving national 3R goals through providing a uniform guideline for all stakeholders.

The Forest Act (1927) and the

Forest (Amendment) Act (2000)

The Forest Act (1927) was enacted to control trespass, illegal resources extraction from forests and to provide a framework for the forestry revenue collection system. It is the main legislative context for forestry protection and management in Bangladesh. The Act allows for the notification of forest reserves in which the government, through the Forest Department, regulates the felling, extraction and transport of forestry produce in Bangladesh.

URIDS is required to secure and maintain the Forest Act.

Forest related issues (tree species and its consequent impact) has been incorporated in to the EIA report both for URIDS (DMCS) and URIDS (RRKB) and followed it regularly for the period of the implementation of the project.

Electricity Act 2018 (Annulling the existing Electricity Act, 1910).

Ensuring power generation and quality service, developing the power transmission and distribution system, bringing reform and preventing power pilferage at residential,

URIDS has followed the Electricity Act 2018 which was annulled the previous Electricity Act, 1910.

The Electricity Act, 2018 has been strictly enforced during the implementation of the project and there is no exception.






industrial or commercial areas.


3.0 Compliance to Environmental Covenants from the ADB Loan Agreement According to the environmental guidelines of ADB the project falls under Category B and hence an IEE

was sufficient to meet the environmental requirements. An IEE report was prepared by the Consultant as

of ADB guideline. That has been further updated specifically the EMP during the detail design stage. The

project is also in conformity with the latest Guideline of ADB i.e. Safeguard Policy Statement 2009 (SPS

2009).

TABLE 9: COMPLIANCE WITH ADB SAFEGUARDS POLICY STATEMENT (SPS 2009).

Sl. No ADB’s

Safeguard Requirements


Compliance status

Remarks

1. Environmental Assessment.

Identify potential environmental impacts on various resources and determine its significance in consultation with all stakeholders

Being Complied.

EIA along with EMP prepared for the project outlines the envisaged impacts. Construction activities likely to result in various impacts will be monitored based on the EMP.

2.

Environmental Planning and Management.

The borrower will prepare an EMP that address the potential impacts and risks identified in IEE.

Being Complied.

The EMP has been prepared following the risks identified in IEE and EIA updated consequently.

3. Information Disclosure.

The borrower will submit to ADB, the final IEE and environmental monitoring report.

Being complied.

The final IEE is disclosed on the ADB website. PMU has uploaded all EMRs to date. IEE will be updated if there are any major changes identified in proposed project activities.

4.

Consultation and Participation.

The borrower will carry out consultation with affected persons and other stakeholders. The consultation process and its results are to be documented and reflected in environmental report.

Being complied.

Public consultation is being carried out as regular basis. Field visits have been undertaken and review meetings is being held with PIU officials, as well as contractors, for compliance status.

5

Grievance Redress Mechanism.

The borrower will establish a mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of affected persons concerns, complaints and grievance about the project’s environmental performance.

Being complied.

PBS has its own grievance redress mechanism, GRM committee headed by Elected Local PBS Director who resolve local complaints.

6 Monitoring and Reporting.

The borrower will prepare periodic monitoring reports that describe progress with implementation of EMP and compliance issues

Being complied.

Current EMR for January to June 2020 captures the progress of EMP implementation of the project.


Sl. No ADB’s

Safeguard Requirements


Compliance status

Remarks

and corrective actions.

7

Unanticipated environmental Impacts.

The borrower will update the environmental assessment and EMP where unanticipated environmental impacts become apparent

Being complied.

Environmental Assessment e.g. primary data collection (air, noise, water-ground & water) were collected from the field and tested in DPHE & BUET laboratory as part of EIA study;

8

Biodiversity Conservation and sustainable NRM.

The borrower will assess major threat to the biodiversity.

Being complied.

The sub-projects are not located in any Protected Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserved Forests) and ECA areas hence, threat to and degradation of critical habitat is not envisaged.

9

Pollution Prevention and Abatement group.

Pollution prevention and control technologies consistent with international good practices such as EHS guidelines of the World Bank

Being complied.

The implementation of various preventive and mitigation measures listed in the EMP for pollution abatement in the project has been monitored regularly.

10 Occupational, Health and Safety.

The borrower will provide workers with safe and healthy working environment, provide PPE to minimize risks, render training, document the accidents, diseases & incidents, and provide emergency prevention and response managements.

Being complied.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), training, health checks, etc. have reportedly been provided by contractors. However, non-compliance has been observed during monitoring in some cases such as health checks, and reluctance of workers to comply with use of PPE. However, BREB has forced the Contractors to provide PPE to all its employees working at site.

11

Cultural Physical Resources (CPR).

The borrower to avoid significant damage to physical and cultural resources.

Being complied.

No significant impact on CPR has been observed to date.

Compliance status with the ADB loan covenants rigorously monitored according to the indicators

provided in the ADB loan covenants. The findings of compliance status with the ADB loan covenants are

presented inTable-10.

According to the loan covenants, BREB is conducting the status of implementation of due diligence and

efficiency and conformity with sound administrative, financial, engineering, and environmental and

power sector practices for the execution of the project following the criteria mentioned below.


TABLE 10: COMPLIANCE WITH ADB LOAN COVENANTS.

Indicators Issues Activities Compliance

Status Remarks

Implementation Arrangement

Arrangement is set forth in the PAM of ADB.

National Safeguard Expert is engaged for environmental monitoring

Being complied

BREB has followed the ADB loan covenants

Environment, Health and Safeguard

All the laws and regulations related to the environment health and safety is applicable.

Review of existing laws and regulations (National and ADB safeguard Policy).

Being complied

The Safeguard Specialist has prepared the compliance monitoring report semi-annually based on EMP and reviewing the existing laws and regulations.

Human and Financial resources to implement safeguard requirements

BREB should make available or cause the project executing agency to make available necessary budgetary and human resources to completely implements the EMP.

BREB has made contract with the contractors who have available manpower, budget and other resources for the implementation of EMP.

Being complied

BREB has followed the safeguard requirements on Human and Financial resource management

Bidding documents of works and work contract

Comply with the measures and requirements related to the contractor set forth in the IEE and EMP, make available budget for all such environmental and social measures.

The environmental expert and BREB monitor the progress where the construction activities are ongoing.

Being complied

All safeguard related provisions incorporated in bidding document of works and work contracts.

Environmental and social safeguard monitoring and reporting

Any anticipate results that were not considered in the IEE and the EMP promptly inform ADB and proposed for mitigation in corrective action plans.

The monitoring

Reviewed EMP provided in the IEE.

All compliance status prepared based on selected indicators provided in the check list.

Being complied

ESMR Reports are being submitted semi-annually.


Indicators Issues Activities Compliance

Status Remarks

and the reporting would be completed and any potential breach of compliance with the measures and requirements set forth in the EMP.

Labor Standard

Comply with all applicable labor law, treaty obligations of the borrowers and child labor law of Bangladesh.

Provided safe working condition for male and female workers.

Carry out HIV/AIDS and Human trafficking presentation and awareness campaigns in the campsites and corridor of influences.

Engage women labors as wage laborers depending on their skill, provide equal wage for equal works between men and women.

Compliance status monitored through site specific visit by BREB and environmental expert.

Being complied

Suggestions for achieving full compliance such as prohibition to engage child labor (age below <14 years), bond labor, and etc. as defined in ADB and ILO guidelines.

Project Reviews

The project progress would be reviewed by the ADB with necessary mid-course correction.

All submitted report reviewed by ADB.

Being complied

All comments from the ADB are being incorporated and submitted to BREB.


4 Compliance to Environmental Management Plan

Environmental monitoring was conducted from the results of the field visits undertaken by PIMC and

project personnel, considered the environmental safeguard issues related to the project activities (both

line construction and civil construction). Table-11 represents the mitigation and remedial measures that

were undertaken in the URIDS Project where applicable. BREB is responsible for the implementation and

monitoring of compliance issues for the project.

Moreover, both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from the field level and analyzed, the

qualitative result shows that construction activities (line construction and civil construction) have minimal

impact on the environment. Available quantitative data also indicated that the interventions of the

project have minimal impact on the biophysical environment (ambient air, noise, soil, and water).

TABLE 11: COMPLIANCE STATUS OF EMP BOTH FOR DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS

Project Activity Environmental Component Likely to be Affected

Potential Environmental Impact

Mitigation Measures

Responsible Agency for Implementation

Compliance Status

Construction Stage

Hiring of workforce for project work

People

Potential disputes over transparency of hiring if it doesn’t have sufficient local support.

Some rehabilitation work will be carried out by PBS own staff. Most of work will be carried out through many small subcontracts with staffing from local areas. Little impacts anticipated with no camps required. All maintenance by PBS staff.

Contractors encouraged to hire local workers

Sub-contractors. Clauses in contracts and PBS staff

Being complied

Site preparation, and vegetation clearing

Erection of poles and stringing of

People and people activities

Loss of use of land due to erection of poles, stringing of conductors and construction activities

• Work with local land owners, and farmers who are usually the beneficiaries of the distribution system improvements and extensions to minimize land

Sub-contractors, PBS and Consultant Engineer.

Being complied




Mitigation Measures


Compliance Status

conductors

encroachment or

• Select pole locations avoiding water bodies and drainage

• Compensation for temporary damages to any crops/plants or financial losses to business in the case of extended interruptions in electricity

Construction activities and rehabilitation work

People’s safety

and inconvenience of lack of electricity availability

Safety risks to community

• Provide fences or barricades as appropriate, display sufficiently clear warning signs and danger signals

• Assign security personnel to prevent accidents

• Contractors to strictly follow road regulations

• Disconnection of electricity during rehabilitation works in commercial areas to ensure safety of workers and people beneath the lines. Down time kept to a minimum and store owner and businesses properly


Being complied




Mitigation Measures


Compliance Status

informed of times when electricity is not available.

Interference with road crossings and narrow roads while working on rehabilitation and new lines

People movement and safety

Safety risks to community and community activities

• Danger and clearly visible warning signs will be posted at designated sites

• Scaffoldings to be used over road crossing points

• Construction vehicles to strictly follow road regulations

• Implement temporary pedestrian and traffic management plan

Sub-contractors, BREB and Consultant Engineer.

Being complied

Construction activities

Worker – sub contractors and PBS staff

Impacts to worker safety

• Provide sanitary facilities and wash areas at construction/rehabilitation sites as needed

• Provide safe drinking water and garbage bins

• Enforce good housekeeping at all times

• Provide workers with PPE - hard hat, safety shoes and belts

• Observance and compliance with relevant safety measures required by law and best engineering practices


Being complied




Mitigation Measures


Compliance Status

• Provide communication devices to designated workers

Construction and rehabilitation work

People

Noise pollution, air pollution and vibration

• Work activity in daylight hours

• Ensure dust suppression – spray water on visual observation, on hot dry days and particularly when construction activities are undertaken close residential areas.


Being complied

Rehabilitation activity and erection of new poles and removal of old ones

Land and water

Contamination of ground and water resources at work sites and fields

• Erosion-control measures will be provided (as needed) at pole sites

• Identify if poles to be removed are contaminated with creosote or other harmful chemicals, and provide work force with protective clothing

• Store contaminated poles separately and safely in defined areas

• Define procedures for disposal at recognized landfill sites


Being complied

Construction and

Waste disposal – avoid

Contamination of ground and water

• Usable scrap materials from

Sub-contractors,

Being complied




Mitigation Measures


Compliance Status

rehabilitation work

contamination to land and water

by construction waste and hazardous waste generation in project

area

dismantling will be stored in yards and warehouses at PBS central stores and reused, recycled or auctioned off

• Debris and waste

materials/equipment which cannot be recycled will be disposed in designated landfill and/or controlled dumpsites

PBS and Consultant Engineer.

Replaced wooden poles treated with creosote preservatives or other chemicals such as organochlorines

Ground and water contamination and people

Hazardous waste with contamination to ground and water and impact to human health

• Develop procedure for identification, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous waste

• Separate uncontaminated timber suitable for reuse, and store separately in PBS yards

• Provide workforce with protective clothing to handle hazardous waste

• Storage sites for hazardous used timber to be identified in yards and

storage to be over ground to avoid further contamination

• All PBSs to identify approved land fill sites which can handle hazardous solid


Being complied




Mitigation Measures


Compliance Status

material and either incinerate at high temperatures or have approved land fill arrangements of hazardous waste

Operation Phase

Maintenance activities

Land and water resources

Soil and water contamination, Solid and hazardous waste

• Storage of used materials e.g. conductors, insulators, timber cross arms, copper wire etc. to be in yards and warehouses at PBS central stores until reused or auctioned off

• Waste management plan and disposal procedures in place as for the construction phase.

PBS Engineers

Being complied

Ongoing maintenance and change of transformer oil

Land and water resources

Soil and water contamination at work sites along the road and adjoining fields

• Maintenance work on transformers to be done only at established PBS yards and depots and not at road side or in RoW

• Use of environmentally friendly mineral oil such as Duralife oil in pole mounted transformers

• Recycling and/or disposal of oil to be undertaken at established approved

PBS Managers and Consulting Engineers.

Being complied




Mitigation Measures


Compliance Status

facilities.

• Ensure storage of oil in designated areas at depots with appropriate containment bunding for oil drums in case of spills.

• Ensure that spill response facilities are available (sand absorbents and booms).

Overhead distribution lines

People

Hazards such as electrocution, lightning strikes, fire and other natural hazards like earthquakes

• Appropriate grounding and deactivation of live distribution lines during maintenance work

• Design with protection system that other emergency situations and shut down power temporarily

• Maintain and comply with electrical standards

PBS Managers and

Consulting Engineers.

Being complied


5.0 Safeguards Monitoring Results and Unanticipated Impacts

5.1 Environmental Safeguards Monitoring

Monitoring results were measured by field visits by PIMC experts, and progress data collected from BREB.

The monitoring results performed the integration of environmental safeguard issues into the project

activities. Table-15 represents the current status of environmental safeguard issues considered in the

project implementation and corrective action is also provided in the same table for future course of work.

BREB is obliged for implementation, and monitoring of compliance issues and take initiative if any issues

are found non- complied.

Site Visits

The safeguards specialist (National) along with other specialists (power distribution engineering

specialist, power distribution specialist, and site engineers) have visited the following PBSs during this

reporting period. The visits were conducted at new line constructions, up-gradation/ renovation sites,

and civil construction sites and provided the recommendation/ advice to the contractors/ sub-

contractors to fulfill the environmental requirements.

However, meetings were held with the following PBSs and BREB staff and discussed on reinforcing the

Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMOP).

ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION

PBS GENERAL MANAGER (GM), DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER (DGM) AND OTHERS

BREB ASST. ENGINEER (AE), EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (XEN), SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER (SE) AND OTHERS

CONSULTANT

ENGINEER RETAINER ENGINEER (RE), PROJECT ENGINEER (PE) AND OTHERS.

*Note that due to the COVID-19 situation, the field visit was almost halted from 25 March to 30 May

2020, following government instruction, and 31st May to 30 June 2020, the normality still far away, the

inter-district movement has also been restricted/limited in accordance with governmental directions.

Civil Construction Sites:

The safeguard monitoring team consisting of site engineers of URIDS project under PIMC (Project

Implementation and Monitoring Consultant) has visited the following civil construction sites in Table-12.

A common observation both for line construction and civil construction is provided in Table-13.


TABLE 12: LIST OF CIVIL CONSTRUCTION SITES VISITED BY THE SAFEGUARD TEAM.

SL. NO NAME OF PBS NAME OF CIVIL CONSTRUCTION SITE DATE OF VISIT REMARKS

URIDS (DMCS)

1 COX’S BAZAR PBS

Construction of residential building for zonal office complex in Ukhiya, Cox’s bazar.

26.02.2020 finishing works are ongoing.

Construction of office building & residential building for zonal office complex in Moheskhali, Cox’s bazar.

07.02.2020

residential building is completed; works for office building in progress.

2 CHANDPUR PBS-2 Construction of head quarter building & residential building.

01.01.2020

boundary wall, piling & land filling works are in progress.

3 FENI PBS Construction of residential building & office building for zonal office complex in Fulgazi, Feni.

16.01.2020 finishing works in progress.

4 SUNAMGANJ PBS Construction of residential building & office building for zonal office complex in Chatak, Sunamganj.

15.01.2020; 04.02.2020

finishing works in progress.

5 SHARIATPUR PBS construction of e &f type buildings for Damuda zonal office

03.02.2020 works in progress.

6 KISHOREGANJ PBS construction of residential building & office building for zonal office complex in Nandail, Kishoreganj.

18.03.2020 finishing works in progress.

URIDS(RRKB)

6 JASHORE PBS-1 construction of zonal office complex 04.01.2020 ongoing.

7 KHULNA PBS

Repair & renovation works at central warehouse at Khulna pbs hq

08.01.2020, 06.02.2020,

ongoing.

Construction of zonal office complex 09.02.2020 ongoing.

8 BOGURA PBS-2 Construction of pbs head quarters 20.01.2020 ongoing.

9 NATORE PBS-1 Construction of zonal office complex at Patia

18.01.2020 ongoing.

10 BARISHAL PBS-2 Construction of zonal office complex at Gornodi, Barishal

15.03.2020 ongoing.

11 jhenaidah pbs

Vertical extension of office building (1 floor) at Jhenaidah pbs hq

05.01.2020, 30.01.2020

ongoing.

12 KHUSTIA PBS Construction of 2-storied office building

07.01.2020, 02.02.2020

ongoing.

12 DINAJPUR PBS-2 Construction of zonal office complex 22.02.2020 ongoing.


SL. NO NAME OF PBS NAME OF CIVIL CONSTRUCTION SITE DATE OF VISIT REMARKS

in Ranigonj & Parbotipur, Dinajpurpbs-2.

Vertical extension of office building (1 floor).

22.02.2020 ongoing.

13 THAKURGAON PBS

Vertical extension of office building (1 floor).

20.01.2020 ongoing.

Construction of 3-storied store cum workshop & boundary wall

ongoing.

14 PATUAKHALI PBS Vertical extension of C-type, D-type & E-type (1 floor) at Bauphal, Patuakhali

03.03.2020 ongoing.

15 MAGURA PBS construction of 2- storied rest house building at Magura pbs h/q

08.03.2020 ongoing.


FIGURE 1: PHOTOGRAPHS OF CIVIL

CONSTRUCTIONS SITES AT COX'S BAZAR PBS

AREAS.

Photographs of civil construction sites (sample):


TABLE 13: STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING RESULTS.

Measure/ Indicator

Locations Methods of Monitoring

Compliance Status

Corrective Actions Plan (CAP)

Required Actions need to be under

taken

Responsibility Timeline

Loss or damage to crops, trees etc. Notify farmers, owners, provide compensation for crop loss/trees

New pole locations at new sites, rehabilitation and stringing sites

Field visit

Being complied and in most cases, monitoring is being conducted after commencement of work.

Farmers will be informed about line construction/ pole erection

BREB/PBS & consultant team of PIU.

Before pole erection/ construction

Interference with traffic and road crossings

Roads where rehabilitation or extension of distribution lines are taking place

Field observation and informal interviews conducted by the consultant team of PIMU.

Being complied and in most cases, monitoring is being conducted after commencement of work.

Poles should be installed at shortest possible time

BREB/PBS

Every week during project construction

Loss of electricity to businesses/interruptions to be kept to a minimum and loss of income to be minimized

Rehabilitation work along bazaars and commercial areas

Analysis of power outage schedule

Partially complied.

For power outage, hat/bazar days should be considered.

PBS Consultant Engineers

Every week during construction activity

Safety of workers and general public during implementation

All sites but particularly at rehabilitation sites in commercial area

Field observation

Partially complied.

Should be given full attention on safety measures.

PBS Consultant Engineers

Every week during construction activity

Solid waste from rehabilitation work – metal, wood and ceramic, due to replacement of poles, cross arms, transforms, conductors and insulators

Rehabilitation work

Field observations and informal interviews

Not fully complied

Solid waste must be removed from the sites and disposed in a safe disposal place.

Contractor/ BREB

Once at each site

Waste from new work sites and proper disposal at central locations at PBS warehouses and yards

New pole extension sites

Field observations

Being complied and in most cases, monitoring is not fully conducted after commencement of work.

Most of the wastes are collected from the site but after that, the sites are not fully cleaned.

Contractor/ BREB

Once at each site

Oil waste from pole mounted transformers rehabilitation and

PBS operations at warehouses

Visits to PBS stores depots and

Partially complied

Oil spilled out at the workshop

PBS During oil change and maintenance


Measure/ Indicator


Compliance Status


ongoing maintenance. Recycle, reuse, safe storage and disposal at centralized PBS sites recognized agencies

and stores check records

areas and contaminated the soil; steel tray should be used during the oil change and maintenance of transformers.

at workshop areas.

Solid waste Management

Construction sites

Field visit Partially complied

100% solid wastes should be removed from the site after completion of works.

Contractor/ BREB

Weekly

Liquid wastes management (cement mixed water, diesel engine oil spillage etc.)

Piling areas at the construction sites

Field visit Not fully complied

Cement mixed water should be removed from the site and tray should be used during changing of engine oil.

Contractor/ BREB

Weekly

Air pollution due to fugitive dust.

The construction sites

Field visit Being complied

Water spraying at the site to reduce fugitive dust. Construction materials (sand/soil) should be covered by polythene or mulches during dry weather so that strong wind cannot blow away.

Contractor/ BREB

Weekly

Safety of workers The construction sites


Full PPE (Hard helmate, safety boots, eye protectors etc.) should

Contractor/ BREB

Weekly


Measure/ Indicator


Compliance Status


be used by the workers during construction and hard boundary to be installed at the construction site.

Excessive sound generation by faulty engine, (cement mixture machine, & brick breaker)

The construction site


Muffler should be used as engine cover; Working hours should be limited from 8am to 5 pm

Contractor/ BREB

Weekly

Labour shed management (access to clean water, hygienic toilets etc.)

The construction site

Field visit Being complied

access to clean drinking water and hygienic toilets at labor camp; Submersible pump installed at the construction sites and Hygienic sanitary latrines installed by the contractors near labor camp but latrines are not cleaned regularly.

Contractor/ BREB

Monthly


Super Cyclone Amphan:

Cyclone Amphan hit Bangladesh’s coast around 5 p.m. on 20 May with wind speed up to 150 km per

hour, it caused tidal surges up to 9 ft in some coastal districts inundating hundreds of villages of Bhola,

Patuakhali, Barguna, Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira. Dhaka and its adjacent districts were experienced

high winds and heavy rains. The most affected districts are Khulna, Jashore, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur,

Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola and Noakhali, and other districts of Barishal, Chittagong, and Cox’s Bazar were

less affected.

Geographic Impacts

Division District Number of Upazila Number of Affected Upazila

Khulna

Jashore 8 8

Satkhira 7 7

Khulna 14 4

Bagerhat 9 2

Barishal

Barguna 6 6

Patuakhali 8 7

Bhola 7 7

Pirojpur 7 4

Chattogram Noakhali 9 7

Loss and damages by Cyclone Amphan:

According to the UN, Cyclone Amphan affected more than a million people in nine districts in Khulna and

Barishal divisions of Bangladesh on 20 May. More than 60,000 people have lost their houses due to

collapsed embankments and tidal surges. Nearly, one and half million people across 12 coastal districts

were left without electricity.

The details damages are as follows:

Name of district Fully damaged houses

Partially damaged houses

Death Affected population

Cox’s Bazar 300 60 2 55,898

Barishal 0 40,500 6 1,57,960

Khulna 35,350 40,000 1 212,780

Barguna 0 10,000 0 120,512

Bagerhat 347 4,349 0 19,569

Satkhira 22,515 60,916 1 352,616

Jashore 0 167,500 13 502,500


0 100000 200000

Cox’s Bazar

Barishal

Khulna

Barguna

Bagerhat

Satkhira

Jashore

Pirojpur

Patuakhali

Bhola


Cox’s Bazar

Khulna

Bagerhat

Jashore

Patuakhali

Noakhali

Chuadanga

HOUSES DESTROYED AND DAMAGES


Fully damaged houses

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

Affected population

Affected population

Name of district Fully damaged houses


Death Affected population

Pirojpur 0 0 3 11,565

Patuakhali 2,355 8,121 2 481,970

Bhola 332 1600 2 318,568

Noakhali 0 0 0 30,000

Jhenaidah 0 0 1 18,768

Chuadanga 2 19,991

Chattogram 1 44,500

Source: UNOPS & UKAID- Joints Assessment.


Other damages caused by Amphan are as follows:

• Millions of trees were uprooted.

• 150 kms of protection embankments were washed away at 84 points in 12 districts.

• 200 bridges and culverts, and 100km of roads were damaged.

• About 15 million clients lost electricity.

• Many freshwater ponds inside forests were flooded with seawater

• Approximately 18,235 water points and 40,894 latrines were destroyed in most impacted 9 districts.

• Preliminary estimates of total cost of damages caused by the cyclone is BDT 11 billion.

(Source: UNDP Bangladesh)

The following PBSs were affected mostly by super cyclone Amphan

Sl.

No Name of affected PBS Status

1 Cox’s Bazar PBS Less affected.

2 BarishalPBS-2 Less affected.

3 Khulna PBS Mostly affected.

4 Barguna PBS Mostly affected.

5 Bagerhat PBS Mostly affected.

6 Satkhira PBS Mostly affected.

7 Jashore PBS Mostly affected.

8 Pirojpur PBS Mostly affected.

9 Patuakhali PBS Mostly affected.

Bhola PBS Mostly affected.

10 Noakhali PBS Mostly affected.

11 Chattorgam PBS-1, 2, & 3 Less affected.

(Source: aggregates of different sources, including PBS)

Summary of Loss and damages of PBSs caused by super cyclone Amphan

• Around 3,000 electric poles were damaged due to cyclone Amphan, leaving many households without power.

• 581 electric poles were broken, and 1,776 poles had tilted in 21 districts of Khulna and Barisal divisions.

• Also, 490 kms of conductor wire got disconnected, while 114 supply distribution transformers and 2,306 pole fitting sets went out of order, and 966 insulators were damaged.

(Source: different newspapers, and Palli Bidyut Samities).


Figure 1: A pole with distribution transformers was fallen

caused by cyclone amphan in Satkhira PBS areas.

Figure 2: A distribution line was inclined due to cyclone

amphan in Satkhira PBS areas.

Figure 3: A tree was uprooted on the road in

Patuakhali PBS area.

Figure 4: A dam was damaged caused by cyclone Amphan

in Koyra Upazila of Khulna district.

Figure 6 : A home aftermath of cyclone Amphan in Koyra

Upazila of Khulna district. Figure 5: Cyclone Amphan destroyed a house in Satkhira

district.

Photographs of damages of Cyclone Amphan:


COVID -19 Pandemic:

The COVID-19 virus was confirmed to spread over in Bangladesh from March 2020, still it is affecting the

country a lot.

Summary of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

COVID-19 Pandemic

First three cases reported by IEDCR on08th March

2020 by IEDCR

Up to 30 June 2020:

Total cases-145,483

Total death-1,847

Total recovered-59,624

Country-wide lockdown:

Started: 25 March 2020

End: 30th May 2020

Restrictions on movement begun from 31st May to

till date.

(source: IEDCR- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control

and Research).

During the lockdown period (25 March to 30 May), the

inter-district movement was restricted, and construction

works on the project sites were also halted. From 31st

May 2020, the government has issued a circular to run a

limited scale of offices and other activities following the

government directions under this Pandemic situation.

Since May 31, the project authority (BREB) has begun

the project activities on a limited scale following the

governmental directions and maintained the BREB

Health and Safety guidelines (attached as Annexure-C).

PIMC developed an Office Resumption Plan for the

URIDS Main Project Office in Dhaka and Site Office

Resumption Plan for opening the URIDS offices with

effect from 31 May 2020. These plans mainly provide

the safety guidelines for functioning URIDS offices and

strict adherence by URIDS staff while performing day to

day tasks as per Contract TOR.


5.2 Occupational Health and Safety Monitoring

The consultant team is regularly conducting a weekly and monthly inspection, monitoring, and collection

of information on line up-gradation and civil works and analyzed the data.

From January to June 2020, no incidents /accidents were occurred at the site, except for the cases of

COVID-19 Pandemic. This is a remarkable achievement considering the numbers of workers, construction

activities, and works performed over the reporting period. URIDS continued to keep the workers,

contractors, sub-contractors to respond actively and take corrective actions where hazardous actions or

conditions are observed.

In order to meet the required quality standards and safety specifications, the contractors and sub-

contractors received the requisite guidance and supervision.

Numbers of awareness sessions regarding OHS issues were conducted in Ukheya, Cox’s Bazar PBS,

Chandpur PBS-2, Fulgazi, Feni PBS, Comilla PBS-4, Khulna PBS, Jikorgaccha, Jashore PBS, Dinajpur PBS,

Thakurgoan PBS, Magura PBS, Patuakhali PBS, etc., from January to March 2020, representing workers,

PBS staff, contractors and subcontractors were present. The summary of the status of OHS is provided in

table-14.

TABLE 14: STATUS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES.

Training/ Drills/ inspection

Number of participants

Location Compliance status

Corrective Action Plan (CAP)

Remarks Required Actions

Responsibility Timeline

On site discussion on safety procedures for civil construction of zonal offices

70

Ukheya, Cox’s Bazar PBS, Chandpur PBS-2, Fulgazi, Feni PBS, Comilla PBS-4, Khulna PBS, Jikorgaccha, Jashore PBS, Dinajpur PBS, Thakurgoan PBS, Magura PBS, Patuakhali PBS from January to March 2020.

Partially complied

PPE should be available & used by workers, laborers.

Toilet should be cleaned and hygienic at the labor camps

BREB & Contractor

Before commencing works at the sites.

PPE (Personnel Protective Equipment) e.g., hard helmate, safety belt, safety boots etc., are used during line up-gradation & rehabilitation works, but it was not properly maintained at the civil sites.

Inspection of up-gradation works sites

50

Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria,

Partially complied

Medical examination should be carried out (tempera

Contractors, and BREB

Before commencing works at the sites.

PPE (hard helmet, safety belt & hard shoes, safety goggles etc.) used by the workers &





Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Remarks Moulvibazar, Narsingdhi, Kishoreganj, Rangpur, Thakurgoan, Khulna, Jashore, Sirajgonj, Tangail, Barishal, Patuakhali, Magura etc. from January to March 2020.

ture, blood pressure, cold fever) at the project sites.

laborers.

Medical examination/ checking among workers/ laborers were not carried out by the contractors before commencing works.

Inspection of labour camp sites

90

Ukheya, Cox’s Bazar PBS, Chandpur PBS-2, Fulgazi, Feni PBS, Comilla PBS-4, Khulna PBS, Jikorgaccha, Jashore PBS, Dinajpur PBS, Thakurgoan PBS, Magura PBS, Patuakhali PBS

Partially complied.

Handwashing facilities with soap, masks, hand sanitizer etc., should be available at the labour camp sites.

Kitchen waste should be kept in a dustbin and disposed in a safe zone.

In and out register should be maintained by workers and

Contractor, Consultant team of PIMC & BREB

Monthly

Till date, no under age 18 labors (child) are recruited at the site.

Blood pressure measured regularly.

Fresh & Clean water supply is available at the site;

Toilets are found but not hygienic;

No hand washing taps were found at the sites.

Kitchen waste was not managed properly and safe place disposing were not maintained.

Most of the labour camps are not clean and healthy.





Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Remarks labors during works.

Labour camps must be neat and clean at all times.

Labour in and out register was not properly maintained.


TABLE 15: REPORT ON OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT AND ITS CORRECTIVE ACTION.

Occupational Accident

Number and Position of Person/s Involved

Location/s and Date/s of Incident

Description of Incident


Required Actions

Responsibility

Timeline

Fatality 0 0 0

Close monitoring at the construction sites. And keeping record at the site properly.

BREB, Contractors and consultant team of PIMC

Weekly

Non-fatal Injury

0 0 0

Close monitoring at the construction sites. And keeping record at the site properly.


Weekly

Near-miss 0 0 0


Weekly

Illness 0 0 0


Weekly

Other Incidents

0 0 0


Weekly

* Note: During this reporting period, no occupational accident was reported, even, no one was injured while

working at the project sites.


6.0 Implementation of Grievance Redress Mechanism and Complaints Received from Stakeholders

In order to address any incumbent issues, BREB established a committee for a potential resolution. On

behalf of BREB, the committee consult properly with local people to ensure impacts are minimized to

ensure no / reducing the grievances arise. The committee consists of the following members.

TABLE 16: GRM COMMITTEE OF PBSS FOR RESOLVING THE COMPLAINTS.

Sl. No.

Members Designation Responsibility

1 Elected Local PBS Director Convenor Organize monthly or quarterly meeting

2 Member from Office of the Executive Engineer, BREB

Member secretary Recorded all the issues and circulated among the interested people.

3 Member from PBS Member

Summarized the grievances relating to environmental issues, construction related issues, OHS and community health and safety issues and Gender Based Violence, etc.

4 Member from Consultant Member

Note discussions and decisions of the meeting and disseminate the information about GRM and taking follow up actions.

5 Member from Contractor Member Implementing the decision with the help of PBS, & BREB.

When any issue arises, the committee meets and tries to mitigate the issues raised by the complainant.

For instance, if the complainant asks not to install a pole in the middle of his agricultural land but on the

back his land. Then the committee sits together and finds out whether they can re-align the line by

installing a few extra poles. In order to do this, the committee checks the availability of extra poles and

accessories with all technical departments and takes decisions instantly.


TABLE 17: COMPLAINTS STATUS OF THE REPORTING PERIOD (JANUARY TO JUNE 2020).

Complainant/s or Affected Persons

Location/s and Date/s

of Complaint

Description of Grievance/Complaint


Timeline* Time-bound

Corrective Actions Responsibility

Tree cutting/ trimming of trees

RoW clearing both for new line construction & Up-gradation.

Due to RoW clearing, it is a common trend to either cut down the trees or trimming the trees of 10 ft from both side of the electricity line but it is objected by the consumers since long.

Before trimming of trees.

• BREB will draw a event for distribution of tree sapling to the affected consumers.

PBS

Shut down problem

Up-gradation and rehabilitation working areas

One of the most

common grievances

is ‘power shut-

down’. It is difficult

to manage power

shut down during

line upgradation and

rehabilitation works

caused consumers

are not in favour of

long hours of power

interruptions.

Before load shedding.

• The power

outage plan is

not modern

and up to

mark, it needs

to be

improved, and

customers

need to be

notified before

a power

outage.

• Power shut

down plan

should be

small scales,

avoiding peak

hours and

night times and

hat/bazaar

days.

PBS

Excessive electricity bill

Everywhere in the PBS areas

Consumer believed that sometimes they had to pay an excessive amount of bill.

Monthly

o Authority should control ghost bill or any issues relating to over payment seriously and professionally, and communicate hand- to-hand with the complaints.

o Courtyard session may help to reduce these issues.

PBS


Complainant/s or Affected Persons

Location/s and Date/s

of Complaint

Description of Grievance/Complaint


Demand charge In most of the PBS areas.

Consumer objected on paying demand charge with their electricity.

Monthly

o BREB should take realistic decision on this matter and justify the consumer complaints.

PBS

Meter rent In most of the PBS areas.

Consumer doesn’t wish to pay excessive amount in the name of meter rent with their electricity bill.

Monthly

o It is time for BREB to rectify the complaints and handle professionally.

PBS

TABLE 18: TREE PLANTATION PLAN BOTH FOR URIDS (DMCS) AND URIDS (RRKB) PROJECT.

Tree species

(but not limit

too)

Local name Scientific

name Nos. of trees Timeline Beneficiaries

Fruit trees (Local

species)

Mango Mangifera

indica

Not yet fixed August-

September’20

Affected

households

Jackfruit Artocarpus

heterophyllus

Guava Psidium

guajava

Lemon Citrus ×

limon

Note: Local fruit species will get preference for plantation.


7.0 Conclusion and Recommendation

7.1 Conclusion

This monitoring was carried out at both the line construction/up-gradation sites and civil construction

sites and analyzes the status of enforcement based on the ADB safeguard Policy Statement, EMP, and

EMoP provided in the EIA, IEE, GoB, and ADB loan agreement.

The environmental compliance status was encountered based on the prepared checklist. Consequently,

environmental monitoring data were collected from the construction’s sites, BREB, PBS and the

corrective action plan were prepared to further strengthening procedure to be adopted on the non-

compliance status. Finally, this environmental report recommends an implementation plan based on the

Corrective Action Plan (CAP).

The damages occurred due to the natural disaster Amphan super cyclone including power interruption,

damages to BREB distribution network etc., has been described in the previous section.

However, there were no major environmental pollutions found at the project sites due to URIDS project

activities but limited impact was observed in many areas particularly for the civil construction sites. The

environmental impacts of construction activities are project-location specific, reversible and non-

cumulative.

However, due to Right-of-Way (RoW) the agricultural land has been reduced, changes in vegetation

pattern are evident as it is imposed on planting of trees under the line and requiring trimming of trees

twice a year.

Based on the results of monitoring and inspection as presented above, there are no significant

environmental issues raised during the reporting period from January to June 2020. However, there are

several areas (civil construction sites, labour camp, line construction site etc.) where more actions are

needed focused by the contractors and PIU to ensure full compliance with the EMP. Impacts of project

construction activities are minor and work is completed within short durations, at multiple locations.

Noise, water quality and air quality impacts are minimal.

7.2 Recommendations:

For the effective compliance status, the following few issues need to be considered during the project

implementation:

TABLE 19: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERING THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Sl.

No. Recommendation Responsible party Timeline

1

Training on environmental and social safeguard requirements and COVID-19 prevention shall be undertaken among contractors/subcontractors and BREB official.

Project Authority September 2020

2 Tree species distribution program should be carried out to the affected households

Project Authority August-September 2020

3 Power outage is a problem everywhere, load shedding schedule should be pragmatic and realistic, local hat/bazar days

PBS /BREB Before load shedding


Sl.

No. Recommendation Responsible party Timeline

and peak hours should be avoided from power outage.

4

Particularly for industrial unit, PBS/BREB should have dual line facilities, if any line needs to be shutdown, then, another line will be operating.

BREB As per project schedule.

5 Before, trimming of trees, local consumer should be informed.

PBS At least one week before trimming

6

PPE e.g., safety belt, hard helmet, hard shoes, hand gloves & goggles etc., should be available at the line & civil construction sites.

Contractors/BREB Before commencing of works.

7

COVID-19 prevention measurements should be taken at the project sites e.g., handwash facilities, soap, hand sanitizer, masks etc. and keeping social distance from the local people during works.

Contractors/BREB Before entering into the site.


APPENDICES Annex A: Zone-wise line construction progress of URIDS (DMCS&RRKB) project up to June 2020.

SI No.

Name of Zone Project Target (km)

Target FY

2019-20

(km)

Pole Erected (nos.)

Line Constructed

(km)

KVA Installed

Consumer Status

Progress as per

DPP (%)

1.

Dhaka-N 5,272 4,170 34,974 1,206 3,985 22,477

50.89% 18,699 1,477 485 20,381

2.

Dhaka-S 2,970 2,074 15,442 968 8,732 21,710

60.10% 17,301 817 1,665 11,580

3.

Mymensingh 2,758 1,958 31,292 715 6,520 38,053

68.78% 0 1,182 0 0

4.

Chittagong 4,294 3,685 20,053 1,132 5,638 33,139

56.15% 14,683 1,279 0 19,490

5.

Cumilla 5,988 5,069 14,656 859 8,228 60,176

44.81% 38,126 1,824 0 70,496

6 Sylhet 2,545 1,821 30,504 1,908 8,055 18,539

74.97% 0 0 0 21,849

7 Faridpur 3,744 2,599 22,929 1,236 14,553 25,256

75.86% 17,531 1,536 280 39,761

8 Rangpur 3,926 2,164 45,207 1,517 20,632 43,522

82.36% 12,011 1,717 15 36,258

9 Rajshahi 3,849 2,469 27,823 1,353 8,153 34,067

68.25% 22,446 1,274 85 45,508

10 Bogura 4,800 3,124 44,035 2,507 20,416 44,704

77.60% 29,586 1,218 0 143,052

11 Jessore 6,810 5,237 18,087 3,322 966 27,828

63.88% 0 1,028 27,415 71,096

12 Barishal 3,785 3,273 13,554 692 2,308 14,316

59.31% 24,449 1,553 0 40,507

Total 50,500 37,643 513,388 32,649 138,131 803,768 65.00%

(Source: BREB)


PHOTO-2: KII WITH GM OF RANGPUR PBS. PHOTO-1: KII WITH GM OF NARSINGDI PBS-1.

PHOTO-4: FGD AT NARSINGDI PBS-2 AREA. PHOTO-3: FGD WITH A SCHOOL TEACHER AT FENI PBS

AREA.

Annexure-B: Photographs of consultations with the stakeholders.


Annexure-C: Government circular regarding the COVID-19 situation.

Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report Project No. 4 -0 · 2020. 8. 27. · Semi-annual...

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