Government of Nepal

National Reconstruction Authority

Central Level Project Implementation Unit

District Level Project Implementation Unit Grant Management and Local Infrastructure

Chautara, Sindhupalchok

EARTHQUAKE HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT (EHRP)

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) Sub Project Name: Bajre Tole Landslide Protection

Sub Project Location: Banskharka-1, Panch Pokhari Thangpal

Rural Municipality

Fiscal Year: 2075/076

2

Salient Features of Sub Project SN Particulars Description

1 Name of Project Bajre Tole Landslide Protection

2 Type of Project Slope Protection

3 Location Banskharka-1, Panch Pokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality

4 District Sindhupalchok

5 Nos. of Earthquake Beneficiary 40

6 Total Benefitted HHs by Project 10

7 Is there Geo-technical recommendation

No

8 Total Dimension of Landslide Length: 17 m & Breadth: 12 m

9 Major Works Installation of stone filled gabion retaining wall

10 Types of Structures Gabion wall

11 Total Protected Area 863 m2

12 Total Estimated Cost (NRs.) 140397

Project Contribution (NRs.) 127700

User Contribution (NRs.) 12697

13 Per Capita Cost (NRs.) 3510

14 Rationality of Site Selection Landslide due to stone quarrying

15 How does the Proposed Project Fulfill the Provision of EHRP-ESMF

The landslide might be triggered due to removal of materials from its lower parts by human activities such i.e. quarrying

16 ESSR Approved Not Applicable

17 ESMP Prepared Yes

18 Earthquake and Safeguard Perspective of the Proposal

The landslide of Bajre might be triggered due to destabilization of the slope

due to removal of materials from its lower parts by human activities such

as quarrying for reconstruction and exaggerate due to earthquake shaking

according to the local residents.

3

Abbreviations and Acronyms CBS Central Bureau of Statistic

CLPIU Central Level Project Implementation Unit

DLPIU District Level Project Implementation Unit

EHRP Earthquake Housing Reconstruction Project

ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework

ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan

GMaLI Grant Management and Local Infrastructure

GoN Government of Nepal

GPS Global Positioning System

MIS Management Information System

NRA National Reconstruction Authority

PDNA Post Disaster Needs Assessment

PPE Personal Protective Equipment

PVC Polyvinyl Chloride

RM Rural Municipality

UC User Committee

VDC Village Development Committee

Units and Symbols amsl Above Mean Sea Level

◦C Degree Celsius

Km Kilometer

LS Lump sum

Lit. Liter

m. Meter

m3 Cubic Meter

Nos. Number

4

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Salient Features of Sub Project .............................................................. 2

Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................. 3

Units and Symbols ............................................................................. 3

Table of Contents .............................................................................. 4

Lists of Figures ................................................................................. 4

Lists of Tables .................................................................................. 4

1. Introduction ................................................................................. 5

2. Objectives of ESMP ......................................................................... 6

3. Description of Sub-Project ................................................................ 6

3.1 Site Description ......................................................................... 6

3.2 Environmental and Social Issues ...................................................... 7

3.3 Rationale of Sub-Project .............................................................. 7

4. Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) .................................. 7

5. ESMP Estimated Cost/Budget ............................................................. 9

6. Occupational Health and Safety .......................................................... 9

7. Implementation and Monitoring of ESMP ................................................ 9

8. Expected Outcomes ...................................................................... 11

9. Conclusions ................................................................................ 11

10. References ............................................................................... 11

Annexes ......................................................................................... i

Photographs .................................................................................... x

Lists of Figures Figure 1: Sub Project Location ............................................................... 6

Figure 2: Environmental and Social Monitoring Mechanism............................ 10

Lists of Tables Table 1: Environmental and Social Management Plan .................................... 8

Table 2: ESMP Budget ......................................................................... 9

Table 3: Safeguard Work Implementation Plan ......................................... 10

5

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

On Saturday, 25 April 2015, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake (Nepal’s National

Seismological Centre), struck Barpak, Gorkha, about 76 km northwest of Kathmandu.

Ever since the first recorded earthquake of 1255 AD that killed one-third of the

population of the Kathmandu Valley and its King, Abhaya Malla, Nepal has

experienced a major earthquake every few generations (PDNA, 2015). The last great

earthquake (of magnitude 8.4) in 1934 AD resulted in more than 10,000 deaths in

the Kathmandu Valley.

After the Nepal Earthquake of April 2015 and subsequent aftershocks including of

May 2015, had left wide spread damaged residential houses, heritage sites, water

supply system, government building, schools, rural road, hospitals, health posts,

agricultural land, trekking routes, hydropower plants etc. To date, there are over

8,790 casualties and 22,300 injuries (PDNA, 2015). It is estimated that the lives of

eight million people, almost one-third of the population of Nepal, have been

impacted by these earthquakes. The disaster also emphasized aspects of inequities

in Nepali society across geography, income and gender. Poorer rural areas have been

more adversely affected than towns and cities due to their inferior quality of houses.

More women and girls died than men and boys, partly because of gendered roles

that disproportionately assign indoor chores to women (PDNA, 2015).

Thirty-two of the country’s 77 districts have been affected, out of which 14 district

were severely affected while 18 district were partially affected. Sindhupalchok

district was identified by the Government of Nepal (GoN) as one of the most severely

affected districts by the earthquake with around 3,500 deaths which is the highest

total number of casualties in a district i.e. around 40 per cent of the total in Nepal

and 1,569 cases of injury (District Disaster Relief Committee, Sindhupalchok).

Similarly, the damage to infrastructure was quite severe with destruction individual

houses. Many health posts and schools, public infrastructures, security posts,

trekking routes, hydropower plants etc. were also severely affected and many of

those were completely destroyed. Of the estimated 288,000 people in the district,

99 per cent were affected by the earthquake (Nepal Earthquake, 2015).

6

2. Objectives of ESMP The objective of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) are:

To identify and address the site-specific environmental and social issues of

earthquake housing reconstruction project.

To recommend measures for minimization and mitigation of adverse impacts.

3. Description of Sub-Project

3.1 Site Description

Location and Terrain

The sub project (geographic

location: 27◦ 54.576′ N and 085◦

36.500′), is located at Banskharka of

Panch Pokhari Thangpal Rural

Municipality, Ward Number 1 at an

elevation of 1650 amsl. It is 86 km

from Kathmandu, Federal capital

city of Nepal.

In Ward No. 1 of Panch Pokhari

Thangpal Rural Municipality, former

Banskharka VDC, the total housing

reconstruction beneficiaries are 905

of which 879, 768 and 489 have

already received 1st tranche, 2nd

tranche and 3rd tranche respectively as

of 2019/01/07 EHRP-MIS data.

Climate

The sub project site is in Indian monsoon region and climate can be divided into

three distinct season’s viz. winter from November-March, summer from April-May

and rainy from May-October with mean annual temperature of 18°C, with maximum

temperature of 32.5°C and minimum of 5°C and annual rainfall of 1615 mm. The

sub-tropical forest species vegetation including Simal (Bombax ceiba), Uttis (Alnus

nepalensis), Chilaune (Schima wallichii) etc. are found in the sub project site.

Figure 1: Sub Project Location

Bajre Tole Landslide

Protection Sub Project

Site

7

Human Population and Occupation

The total population of Ward number 1, Banskharka was 2259 (Male: 1170 Female:

1089) and the total households was 588 according to CBS, 2011. Agriculture is the

major sources of income of the people. Maize, millet etc. are the major crops grown

and Tamang is the major ethnic group of Bajre Tole.

3.2 Environmental and Social Issues

Panch Pokhari Thangpal being hilly rural municipality, most of the issues are related

to the slope instability and landslides. The effect of landslide of Barje Tole was

individual site basis rather than local or large regional basis.10 households were

prone to the landslide and if proper slope mitigation measure is not applied, it may

result in partial damage to complete destruction of beneficiary houses (both

completed and under construction) and loss of agricultural land directly on or near

to the landslide though the effect of landslide on natural environment i.e. forest,

grassland and wildlife is insignificant.

3.3 Rationale of Sub-Project

The landslide (translational slide) of Barje Tole might be triggered due to

destabilization of the slope due to removal of materials from its lower parts by

human activities such as stone quarrying for reconstruction and exaggerate due to

earthquake shaking according to the local residents. After environmental and social

verification/validation, the issue i.e. translational slide, was found to be project

induced.

4. Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) To identify and assess physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural issues and to

recommend measures for avoidance, minimization and mitigation of adverse impacts

due to Earthquake Housing Reconstruction Project (EHRP), one day orientation and

consultation program was held at office of rural municipal executive of Panch

Pokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality comprising rural municipality chairperson, vice

chairperson, ward chairperson, chief executive officer, members of rural municipal

executive, ward members and representatives from different line agencies. During

8

the program, the ward chairperson of Banskharka raised the issue of slope

instability/landslide at Barje Tole.

The ESMP includes cost effective mitigation measure for of slope

instability/landslide i.e. implementation of rock/stone filled gabion retaining wall

for slope protection measure, which was raised during orientation and consultation

meeting and verified/validated during field visit.

During the preparation of ESMP, various documents such as district profile, former

VDC profile, CBS publication and publication of line agencies at district level and

other project related reports were reviewed. Likewise, Google Earth map was also

used as references for the overview of the sub project area. GPS (Garmin) was used

to determine location of sub project. Similarly, field verification/validation,

measurements and consultation with ward chairperson, ward secretary,

beneficiaries and locals were also carried out. Further, consultations and discussions

with and among EHRP consultants was also conducted.

Table 1: Environmental and Social Management Plan

Envir

onm

enta

l

Impact/

Asp

ects

Lik

ely

Pote

nti

al

Impact

Locati

on

Mit

igati

on

Measu

res

Mit

igati

on C

ost

Benefi

cia

ries

Tim

e

of

acti

on

Resp

onsi

bilit

y

Slope instability i.e. landslide

Partial damage to complete destruction of beneficiary houses

Barje Tole, Banskharka

Rock/stone filled gabion retaining wall

NRs. 140396

10 HHs Chaitra-Jestha, 2075/76

UC's, RM, DL-PIU, GMaLI

The final ESMP document will be shared and implemented in the consultation and

coordination with rural municipality, ward of rural municipality, CL-PIU, DL-PIU,

GMaLI and other related government and non-governmental line agencies.

9

5. ESMP Estimated Cost/Budget The ESMP identified implementation of rock/stone filled gabion retaining wall as a

cost effective slope protection measure since gabions are cost effective due to their

flexibility and can withstand foundation movement and because of their coarse fill,

they are very permeable and thus provide excellent drainage (The Landslide

Handbook, 2008). The detail ESMP cost/budget is Table 2.

Table 2: ESMP Budget

Sn. Description of work Amount Remarks

1. Excavation of soil for slope cutting along with foundation for plastic water tank and disposal of excavated materials

7918

2. Supplying, assembling and placing mechanically woven double twisted heavy zinc coated gabion boxes

47197

3. Packing and filling of gabion creates with rubble stone including supplying hard block and bond

71852

4. Total Amount 126968

5. User’s Committee Contribution Amount 12696

6. DL-PIU, GMaLI Contribution Amount 127700

7. GRAND TOTAL 140396

6. Occupational Health and Safety The implementation of mitigation measure involves small-scale civil works, which

may give rise to health and safety risks of minor accidents and injuries. The members

of User’s Committee (UC) will be made aware of safety risks and how to manage

these risks. Similarly, personal protection equipment’s (PPEs) will be provided to

the labors.

7. Implementation and Monitoring of ESMP The implementation of mitigation measure will be carried out through User’s

Committee (UC). Formation, mobilization and management of the UC will be as per

the prevailing rules and regulations. The work implementation plan is presented in

Table no. 3

10

Table 3: Safeguard Work Implementation Plan

Activity/Months Month

Falgun Chaitra Baisakh Jestha Ashar

ESMP Preparation and

Approval from DL-PIU, GMaLI

User Committee Formation

and Agreement

Implementation of Work

Monitoring and Evaluation

Work Completion

The monitoring mechanism will be as per the revised Environmental and Social

Management Framework (ESMF). However, the District Environment and Social

Safeguard Unit will develop its field monitoring plan and will monitor the compliance

of the ESMP and progress of sub project activities accordingly and submit monitoring

report.

The proposed organogram for the implementation and monitoring of ESMP is

presented in figure 2.

NRA World Bank

CLPIU/GMaLI

Environment & Social Safeguard Unit (Environment and Social Development Specialist)

DL-PIU (GMaLI)

Environment Specialist

Social Development Specialist

Rural Municipality

Rural Municipal Ward Office

User’s Committee

Monitoring Committee

Monitoring of Slope Protection Work at Bajre Tole, Banskharka-1, Panch Pokhari Thangpal RM

Figure 2: Environmental and Social Monitoring Mechanism

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8. Expected Outcomes The expected outcomes of ESMP implementation are as follows:

Mitigation of adverse impacts such as partial damage to complete destruction of

beneficiary houses i.e. both completed and under construction and loss of

agricultural land due EHRP.

9. Conclusions During one day orientation and consultation program held at office of rural municipal

executive of Panch Pokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality, the ward chairperson of

Banskharka raised the issue of slope instability/landslide at Barje Tole. After

environmental and social verification, the issue was partially found to be project

induced. The effect of landslide of Barje Tole was individual site specific rather than

local or large regional.

Reviewing various documents, field verification/validation, measurements and

consultations with different stakeholders, site specific ESMP was prepared which

identified implementation of rock/stone filled gabion retaining wall as a cost

effective slope protection measure. After the implementation of ESMP, it is

expected to mitigate adverse impact due EHRP at Barje Tole.

10. References The landslide handbook—A guide to understanding landslides, U.S. Geological

Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008

National Population and Housing Census, Central Bureau of Statistics, 2011

Post Disaster Needs Assessment, National Planning Commission, Government of

Nepal, 2015

Sindhupalchok District Profile, Central Bureau of Statistics, 2018

Environmental and Social Management Framework, Government of Nepal, 2018

i

Annexes Annex I: Detail Cost Estimate

ii

iii

Annex II: Rural Municipal Level ESMP Consultation Meeting Minute

iv

v

vi

vii

Annex III: Rural Municipality Ward Recommendation

viii

Annex IV: Rural Municipality Ward Recommendation

ix

Annex V: Beneficiaries Details

Sn. Name of Sub Project Beneficiaries

Gender Ethnicity Address Remarks

1 Dharma Grangden

Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-1 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

2 Manish Grangden

Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-2 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

3 Shyriya Glan Female Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-3 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

4 Purna Bdr. Grangden Tamang

Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-4 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

5 Seti Maya Tamangani

Female Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-5 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

6 Sosman Grangden Tamang

Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-6 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

7 Babu Tamang Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-7 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

8 Furba Grangden

Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-8 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

9 Lakpa Lamsa Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-9 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

10 Sete Lama Grangden

Male Janajati Bajre Tole,

Banskharka-10 Reconstruction

Beneficiary

x

Photographs