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jt Ia W,-T PI' A NI"" MM In AU, I  NEPAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY (An Undertaking of His Majesty's Government of Nepal) ARUN III HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY KATHMANDU May 1993  NEPAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY (An HMG/N Undertaking) ARUN III HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT F^-_. == -s- , , = ., _1 -- - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY KATHMANDU May 193  NEPAL ARUN III HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT ABBREVIATED EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION The Arun III Hydroelectric Project has been subjected to extensive comparative analysis and intensive design studies as well as envirommental scrutiny. In this summary report, *environment" is used in its broadest sense to mean the total biophysical, socio-economic and cultural setting within which the people of the Arun Valley live. The various environmental studies are contained in a large number of professional reports totalling several thousand pages. This Environmental Executive Summary attempts to condense under one cover the contents, findings and recommendations of those reports, and the nature of the environmental management systems to be put in place in the Arun Valley as a result. The major direct environmental inpact of the project concerns land acquisition, compensation and rehabilitation, which is, including the access road, the power project, and the transmission lines, estimated to affect some 1,760 families, about 0.18% of the total population of the Arun Valley. Of these families about 155 are seriously affected, i.e. those whose house is taken or who are left with insufficient holdings, assets and prospects to reach their previous living standard. The major induced risk of the project relates to deforestation, for which a detailed mitigation plan is described below. POLICY. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK The environmental scrutiny of the Arun III Project has taken place in an institutional and policy environment that has evolved since the project was first conceived. This has included a National Conservation Strategy (NCS) developed with assistance of the World Conservation Union linking sustainable development with conservation; the most recent Five Year Plan (1992-97) stressing the use of envirommental assessment as a tool in project design and implementation, the preparation and enforcenent of legal provisions emphasizirg sustainability, and public and NGO involvement; a series of environmental guidelines developed during the ongoing implementation of the NCS. Important among legislation relating to the Arun III are the Land Acquisition Guidelines for the Arun Access Road (2045) which have been used to implement a Land Acquisition, Compensation and Resettlement Plan (ACRP) which is to be applied to the Project as a whole, that is, including the access road, the power project itself, and the transniission lines. This has included extensive socioeconomic surveys of the project affected families and application of rehabilitation measures that include land for land and employment options for Severely Project Affected Families (SPAFS) and rehabilitation grants for all PAFs, beyond the normal compensation stipulated by Nepal's Land Acquisition Act.  PROJECT DESCRIPTN The Arun III is a 402 MW 'run-of-river' facility that will utilize normal flows in the river, through twin 11.5 Ikm headrace tunnels, rather than depend on water held back in a large reservoir. Development of the project is envisaged in two equal stages of 201 MW. The dam will be a concrete gravity type with a crest length of 155 m and a height of 68 m. The Arun III power facilities are dependent on the construction of an access road of 122 km that will follow the river valley alignment. The power transmission system required for the full two- stage development of Arun III includes a double circuit 220 kV transmission line of 380410 km from the Arun III powerhouse to Kathmandu, passing through substations in the Terai; the first stage consists of a 120 km double circuit single tower 220 kV line linking the Arun III Project with the Nepalese national grid and a substation at Duhabi in the Terai.. Project construction is expected to start, with the road, in 1994. The road will take about 40 months, including mobilization. For the bulk of the hydropower components, construction will begin after the provision of road access, post-monsoon 1996. Final design and construction of the complete trarsmission line system, including substations for Stage 1, could be completed within 43 months from contract award. At the present time, funding is sought for Stage 1 only. THE SEMNG The Arun Valley contains natural features of recognized international significance, particularly in the Makalu-Barun area north-west of the Arun Im site. This area contains one of the few surviving pristine forest areas in the Himalayan range, with very high biodiversity values. Features of high ecological and cultural value have also been identified, through a World Bank and UNDP sponsored regional study, elsewhere in the Valley, which is an international flyway for migrating birds and has a high diversity of aquatic fauna. the Arun River originates in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, with approximately 84% of the catchment area lying north of the Himalayan Range. The river pre-dates the uplifting of the Himalayan Range, and its down-cutting has kept pace with the rate of uplift. The catchment area of the Arun at the damsite is approximately 27,000 km2, with that lying within Nepal estimated to be 5028 km2. The Arun Valley is home to several hundred thousand people from a great variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with different traditions and expectations and different historical roles int he society and economy of the Valley. The population of Sankhuwasabha District, which includes much of the area to be directly affected by the Project, is estimated at some 160,000. Because most of the settlements and arable land are concentrated on the ridges and terraces along the mountain slopes, the access road traverses land which over most of its length is relatively lightly settled and farmed. The same can be said of the hydro project location, as the general demographic pattern is on of decreasing population density from soudt to north, with only eight persons per km2 in the northern part of the Arun Valley. -2-  Within Nepal, a population of about 450,000 people lives within the catchment area of the Arun River. The access road passes through land occupied by some ten different ethnic groups. The indigenous people are Kirantis, represented by Rais and Limbus (The Arun River is a social dividing line, with the Rais generally to the West and Limbus to the East). Others present in the are Bhotea, Kar Bhote and Gurungs, similar to the Kiranti in their Tibeto-Burman characteristics, and Brahmin-Chetri, occupational castes, and Newars, all of whom have migrated more recently to the valley and are organized along more hierarchical caste lines than the Kiranti. Most of the Valley's inhabitants live in a rigorous subsistence lifestyle, and some two thirds are functionally illiterate. A main determinant and limitation affecting the economy and lifestyle is that at present virtually all movement of people and goods within the valley is on foot. Consequently, the economy and lifestyle have been largely self-contained and self-sufficient, although the Kiranti have a long tradition of service in the British and Indian Armies, and virtually all ethnic groups depend to varying degrees on seasonal or long term migration out of the valley to India or the Nepalese terai. Prominent among regional development and conservation efforts has been the Makalu-Barun Conservation Project seeking a combination of sustainable community development and conservation within a protected area for the Makalu-Barun valley. This has been the outcome of a successful programme mounted by an international NGO, the Woodlands Mountain Institute, which has received Global Environmental Fund support, through collaboration with UNDP and the World Bank. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The impacts are: direct impacts, resulting from the physical presence of the facilities and the way they are designed, built and operated; indirect impacts stemming from the economic activities surrounding construction; and induced economic effects resulting from improved access. These occur in tw- main phases, during construction and operation. The area of influence of the project is taken to be the whole Arun Basin within Nepal. The Arun III Project will have far-reaching social and environmental consequences. Most of these will result from construction of the road rather than from the power project. During construction, the road will require a workforce of an average 6700, peaking at around 9500 during key dry periods, about twice that of the hydropower components requirement of about 3700, or the some 1300 required for transmission line construction. Many of these workers will be from the Arun Valley, since the contractors are obliged to give preference to hire local people. (The approximately 12-14,000 figure for construction workers - roughly 3% of the Valley's 450,000 population - will also inevitably include some double counting). During construction there will be large concentrations of workers and their dependents both at the Contractor's camps at the remote work fronts, plus incomers atracted by economic opportunities. Together, these will create a massive increase in demand for food and fuel with consequent impacts on prices and forests. There will also be some social disruption and pressure on health facilities. Positive impacts will be local employment opportunities with a resulting increase in -3-  per capita incomes and an increased market for local produce. Since the Arun IIl Project is a run-of-river scheme, the impacts typically associated with large reservoir hydropower projects not relevant to this project include: * no resettlement of people or significant loss of agricultural land due to inundation; * no proliferation of waterborne disease vectors like schistosomiasis or water weeds, due to unsuitable conditions; * downstream dewatering will not affect agriculture; * no potential for induced seismicity due to water impoundment; * limited sediment trapping potential behind dam, minimizing the potential for downstream erosion, with no loss of water-borne sediments to downstream riparian areas; * project life will not be reduced by reservoir sedimentation since it is a run-of-river facility; * negligible alterations in water temperature and biochemical oxygen demand due to impoundment, given the minimal water retention time; * no disruption to navigation, since damsite is located in a non-navigable river stretch; - minimal danger of destructive downstream flooding in the event of dam failure because of the small amount of water retained behind the dam; a minimal inundation of riparian vegetation due to steep valley sides and small imnpoundment (50 ha, extending some 4 kn upstream). Without mitigation, some of the identified negative imnpacts in the Arun Valley during construction are likely to include: * clearance of forests within the vicinity of the project, resulting in habitat loss for endangered species of wildlife; * pressure on fish populations; * permanent land take of agricultural land, with loss of food production and effects on marginal households (this will be minimal for transmission line Right of Ways (RoWs), although some will occur for substations and tower pads); * temporary land take and disruption of agricultural activities, with effects on -4-  marginal households; * hazards to birds (avian hazards) by transmission lines at valley crossings and breeding sites such as Koshi Tappu in the Terai; * safety hazards to public of transmission lines; * encroachment onto RoW of transmission lines by landless squatters; * possibly, health risks from exposure to electromagnetic fields along transmission line Rows. * marginalization of some project-affected families (PAFs) and of women, despite compensation procedures; * increased local food deficit; * food price inflation, with effects on marginal households, especially nutritional status of some women and children; * development of shanty towns; 3 exacerbation of already existing poor health situation and stress on health facilities; * impact of labour force on local social systems and culture; * major stresses on all local institutions (in particular local government, schools, and resource management groups). When the Project is completed, positive impacts during the operational period will be: - * greatly reduced cost of imported food and manufactured commnodities; * greatly reduced transport cost for regional exports; * better access for current outward seasonal and long term economic migration; * possibility of expansion of feeder road system; * rapid growth of new economic centres along the road and for maintenance contract work along transmission line Row; * increased incomes from livestock; * * increased tourism (and tourism related impacts); -5-  * possible return of educated, successful migrants. Without comprehensive development progranimes in the Valley, negative trends already underway, and likely to be accelerated, will include: * increased rate of population growth, and consequent demand on resources; * major reductions in sale prices of locally-produced grain crops, with worsened food balance; * major reduction in long-haul portering opportunities; * increased harvesting of forest products to pay for required food and other goods, and forest clearance for cardamom production, with consequent forest degradation and habitat loss, especially through increased construction needs for urbanization; * further development of shanty towns; * no reduction in the ongoing processes of impoverishment and marginalization; * loss of some riverain habitat essential for endangered species; * loss of forest habitat of other endangered species, and direct threats due to hunting; - increased disparities in wealth and access to services; * accelerated erosion of traditional values and culture. Cumulative iinpacs can also be expected once the access road is completed, as two other projects, th.e Upper Arun Hydroelectric Project (UAHP) and the Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project (LAHP) are planned for the Valley. A short discussion of these is found in the main Executive Summary document. Some quantifiable impacts of the Arun III Project area, according to latest estimates: Access Road Power Transmission Line; Total TOTAL Affected 1014 170 576 1760 Population-Families (PAFs and SPAFS) SPAFs 132 19 4 155 TOTAL Land Take 394 117 602 1113 (Ha) Privately Held 293 77 312 682 Land fHa)  Of the total land take, agricultural land will be 186 ha, which corresponds to about 0.14% of the agricultural land in the Arun Basin. PROJECT ALTERNATVES Internally, Nepal has a major unsatisfied demand for electricity. Externally, the country is in a unique position to supply power to the burgeoning South Asian economy. Nepal has enormous economically feasible hydroelectric power potential, of the order of 25,000 MW. Therefore, the logical choice for some rural and most urban and industrial uses is hydropower. The Arun III Hydroelectric Project was identified as the best major hydropower scheme to be added to the Nepal interconnected System under a least cost generation expansion plan (LCGEP) completed by NEA in 1987 and reconfirmed by an LCGEP Update Study completed in 1990. HMG/N has now initiated analytical work to improve efficiency in financial resource allocation and to prioritize the expenditure portfolio, so that investment in Arun III will not crowd out other priority projects, particularly those in the social and rural infrastructure sectors. At the same time, HMGN is taking steps to open up the electricity supply system to competition by encouraging private sector participation in power generation. IMPACT MMTIGATION The Arun III Project has an Environmental Mitigation Plan, which is an integral part of the project and deals with direct impacts including land acquisition, compensation and rehabilitation (ACRP) and a Regional Action Programme, which has grown out of a Management of Basinwide Environmental Impacts Study (MBEIS) by the NGO the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), sponsored by the UNDP and World Bank (October 1991). This latter addresses the indirect impacts and induced effects, and together the two constitute the 'Environmental Management Plan" required by World Bank appraisal procedures (OD 4.01). The Environmental Mitigation Plan includes design level accommodations, such as avoidance of settlements and buildings wherever possible (a major consideration in choosing the Valley route for the acceas road over the previous Hill route), minimizing earthworks, and slope stabilization measures as well as various controls on the Contractors, such as on methods of and locations for spoil disposal, strict controls on use of wood for any purpose, and requirements to maxirnize use of local labor (especially SPAFs). The ACRP, for PAFs and SPAFs includes, as well as socioeconomic surveys prior to acquisition, land for land and employment options for SPAFs, and rehabilitation grants for all PAva: * guidelines for leasing land, and restoring it, whenever possible; * inclusion of informal tenants and squatters in the Land Acquisition Guidelines 2045; * compensation for any physical damage caused by the Contractor or any -7-  subcontractor operating on the project, according to an agreed and publicized claims procedure Measures to minimize the indirect impacts of the access road, and to capitalise on the economic opportunities provided by improved access such as tourism, have been idendfied in the MBEIS the KMTNC. The study listed long-term management options for the area, and proposed an interim managerent structure, cntered on the National Planning Conmmission (NPC). The Study's report lists 21 recommended sectoral programmes in six major programme areas (conservation; income generation; insdtutional strengthening; extension and training; infrastrucure and energy; and research, monitoring and infornation) designed to address both the immediate requirements brought about by the construction process and the longer-term needs for sustainable development within the Arun Valley. In terms of scheduling, five sectoral programmes (strengthening local forest management; helping local comununities service construction-related demands, particularly for wood; strengthening government institutions to cope with impacts; training and education for local human resource development; and environmental monitoring) were regarded as priorities for pre-emptive implementation. These activities comprise a "core programnew to be implemented by HMGN as a priority. Dfrestation As mentioned earlier, the major induced effect of the Arun m Project is the potential serious exacerbation of the ongoing deforestation in the Arun Valley. As a framework, it bears noting that the King Mahendra Trust Study concluded that if existing agricultural practices continued, including the extensive use of 'slash and burn' practices, all the Valley's forest resources would be lost in 5-15 years. The major potential causes of deforestation are the Project workforce during construction and illegal logging once the access road is completed. Among the mitigation steps being taken to address these issues are: requiring contractors to give preference to hiring the local residents (especially SPAFs); instituting strict controls on the use of fuelwood by contractors for any purpose, making contractrs responsible for operation of illegal logging control gates during the construction period; locating contractor work canps away from potential environmentl 'hot spots,' after consultation with local NGOs and experts in biodiversity; institting a strict Project Monitoring Plan (see below), as well as an Action Plan for the control of illegal logging, to be managed by HMG/N. In addition to ihe setting up of the 2,330 km2 Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area in the northwest quadrant of the Basin, the Arun Basin's biodiversity resources would also be covered under the Arun Hydroproject through the institutionalization of the Milke Danda Conservation Area along the valley's eastern border. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The construction team, comprised of the Employer, Engiefer and Contractor, have the institutional responsibility for implementing the Project's environmental management saegy, the Environmental Management Plan, which will cope with direct impacts. HMG/N will provide the leadership for setting up an administrative mechanism responsible for the Regional Action  frggalnm which will deal with indirect impacts and basin-wide change. Both components of the strategy will require new institutions, and therefore will be the subject of institutional strengthening, programmes. Both the Engineer and Contractor will have at least one full time professional enviromnentalist on their staff for the duration of the works, and the Nepal Electricity Authority will undertake an institutional strengthening programmne for its Enviromnental Unit, which will include the creation of an Arun III Project Environmental Management Unit, worldng directly with the Engineer's environmentalist and having a professional Resettlement Advisor on its staff. The NPC has commissioned a Macro-management Study to examnine and refine the managemen; recommendations of the Basinwide Impacts Study, to turn agreed proposals into implementable programs in time for the start of road construction after the 1994 monsoon. It is likely that the Regional Action Programme would be carried out by a policy making board (the Arun Basin Interim Management Board) assisted by a multidisciplinary executive unit, the Arun Basin Envirorunental Management Unit (ABEMU), which would work closely with the District administrations. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN The Arun 111 Project will operate dual enviromnental monitoring and evaluation progranmmes, through the Enironmental Mitigation Plan for direct impacts, and through the Regional Action Programmie for indirect impacts. Both roles envisage a critical role for NGOs, not only within implementation of social programs, but also as critical and objective evaluators of project performance in the envirorunmental (in a broad sense) realm. A post-construction Environmental Impact Audit is part of the overall project planning. Coordinated by the ABEMU, the Regional Action Programne (RAP) will establish an effective monitoring and evaluation system covering a wide range of issues, reflecting the broad coverage of the Basinwide Impacts Study and the various other enviromnentally-oriented projects and activities related to the Arun III Project. -9-  ARuN 11 HyYDROELECTRIC PROjECT: ENVIRONMENTAL EXECUTIVE SumMMARY PREFACE The Arun III (Access Road/Hydroelectric) Project will be Nepal's biggest development project to date. It has been the subject of a major planning and design effort extending over several years and invoMng a wide range of organisations and experts. An important feature of the planning process has been the intensive effort which has been given to the ervironmental assessment and managernent components of the project. This has included several major environmental studies by the design team, resukting in significant environmental inputs into the tender documents and engineering designs, and independent study of wider environmental issues related to project implementation. The environmental work has involved govemment agencies, local and intemational consultants, international funding institutions, non-governmental organisations, and the people of the Arun Valley. The various environmental studies are contained in a large number of professional reports totalling several thousand pages. It is not reasonable to expect interested parties to study all these in detail. This Environmental Executve Summary attempts to summarise under one cover the contents, findings and recommendations of those reports, and the nature of the environmental management systems to be put in place in the Arun Valley as a result. Nevertheless, it is not possible in so short a document to do full justice to the vast amount of work that has been done. Therefore this summary should be treated as a guide only. Those wishing to follow up on any issue and obtain greater detail are urged to consult the full reports. These are available at the Nepal Electricity Authority's Arun Ill Project Office in Kathmandu. Some of the environmental assessment work has been undertaken with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau. Thus the primary source of guidance on methodology has been these institutions. However the final stages of analysis and preparation of this Summary have taken into account the requirements of all the agencies involved in financing the project. Contact Address: Dr. J.L Karmarcharya Project Director Arur. IlI Hydroelectric Project Nepal Electricity Authority Adwait Marg P.O. Box 4909 Kathmandu Nepal Tel: (+ 977-1) 225973 Fax: (+ 977-1) 226619 Telex: 2633 NEA HO NP Cable: BIDYUT FRr.NEw 00  ARUN III HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Backgound 1 12 Environmental Studies in the Project Planning Process 2 1.3 This Report 3 2. POUCY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 5 2.1 Irtroduction 5 2.2 National Contet s 2.3 Irtemraional Contexd 7 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 9 3.1 Arunl!! fHydroelectric Project 9 3.2 Other Major Hydroelectric Projects Proposed for the Arun Valley 16 4. THE SElriNG 17 4.1 Natural Environment 17 4.2 Socio-Econornic Ernirorwnent 24 4.3 Regional Development 28 S. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 30 5.1 Irtroduction 30 5-2 Arun Access Road 30 5.3 Hydropower Components 42 5.4 Transmission Line System 47 5.5 Cumulative Impacts 48 6. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES so 6.1 Irtroduction so 62 Alterative Technologies 50 6.3 Altemative Sites 51 7. IMPACT MMGATION 56 7.1 Introduction 56 72 Environrnental Mitigation Plan 56 7.3 Land Acquisition, Compensation and Rehabilitation 65 7.4 Regional Action Programme 67 8. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILMES 68 8.1 Introduction 68 82 Project Ervironmfiertal Management - Implementing the Environmental Mitigation Plan 69 8.3 Regional Managemnent Strucure 68 a4 Instittional Strengthening 71 9. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND EVALUATION 74 9.1 Introduction 74 9.2 Ernirornental Mitigation Plan: Monitoring and Evaluation 74 9.3 Regional Action Programme: Monitoring and Evaluation 77 9.4 Further Surveys 78 10. CONCLUSION 80  ARUN 11 HROELECTRIC PROECT: ENVIRONMENFAL EXECUTIE SUMMARY APPENDICES 1. ReferrMces A-1 2. Record of Constltation and Meebngs A-3 3. Basinwide Impacts Study A-6 4. MakalF-Barun Conservation Project A-16 5. Impact Matices A-18 6. Index to Environmental Sections of Tender Docunents A-32 TABLES 3.1 Characteristics of Power Generation Components, Slaged Development 10 32 Characteristics of Arun Access Road 13 3.3 Characteristics of Power Trarsmission System 13 3.4 Characteristics of Upper Arun Hydroelectric Project 16 3.5 Characteristics of Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project 16 4.1 Rare and Endangered Plant Species Found along Fte Access Road 21 4.2 Endangered, Threatened and Rare Mammals and Reptiles Known or Suspected to Occur in the Immediate Vicinity of the Access Road 21 4.3 Estimated Ethnicity in the Arun Basin 24 4.4 Average Annual Family Iromne by Source 28 5.1 Access Road: Most Significant Potential Construction Period Impacts 31 5.2 Access Road: Most Significant Potential Impacts When Open 31 5.3 Land Use by Arun Access Road 35 5.4 Land Take by Hydropower Facilities 45 5.5 Land Take and Labour Force for Full Transmission Uine System 48 6.1 Arun Access Road - Comparafive Chart Distances, Land Use, Land Take and Families Affected 53 62 Arun Access Road: Hil Versus Valley - A Qualitative Assessment 54 A3.1 Summary Table of Recommended Action Programmes and Projects. Management of Basirnide Environmental Impacts Study A-12 FIGURES ai Project Enwironmerita Management During Construction 72 6.2 Project Environmental Management After Caommissioning 72 &3 Model for Administration of the Regional Action Programmne 73 MAPS 1. Arun Watershed, Nepal, showing Project Location 4 Z. Project Layout 11 3. Transmission Une Routes 14 4. Ecologically Sensiive and Protected Areas 22 PLATES 1. Typical Rai House, Arun Valley 2 2. Phyaksiinda Dobhan, the Dam Site 9 3. Hile, the Starting Point for the Arun Access Road 12 4. Phyaksinda - the Intake Area, from the West 20 5. Rai Girl 25 6 Porter carrying Builrng Materials from Hile to Khandbari 27 7. Hinku Vllevy Makalu-Barun National Park 29 B. Tunbetar, north of Heluwabesi: Possibie Site for Contractor's Facilities 33 9. Tumnlingtar from the North 36  ARUN 1 HYDROELECTRIC PwEC ENVIRoNMENTAL EXEcuTIVE SUMmARY NCS National Conservation Strategy NEAL Nepal Electricity Authorit NGO Non-Govemental Organiztion NPC National Planning Commission OD Operational Directve ODA Overseas Development Administraton (U.K) PAF Project Affected Famly QNP Qomoiangma Nature Preserve RAP Regbnal Action Programme RoW Right-of-Way RPO Regional Planning Office SDC Swiss Development Cooperation SPAF Seriously Project Affected Family SWK Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners TRRL Transport and Road Research Laboratory (J.K) UAHP Upper Arun Hydroelectric Project UNDP United Nation Development Programme VDC Village Development Commiltee WECS Water and Energy Commission Secretariat WMil Woodlands Mountain Institute ('IF'  ARUN Nl HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT. ENVIRONMENTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ABEMU Arun Basin Enrironmental Management Unit ABIMB Arun Basin Interim Management Board ACRP Acquisiton, Compensation and Rehabilitation Plan ADB Asian Development Bank ADBIN Agricutural Development Bank of Nepal AJDS Acquired Immune Def,ciency Syndrome APEMU Arun Project Environmental Management Unit ARI Acute Respiratory Infection CDO Chief District Officer CITES Corvention on International Trade In Endangered Species CIDA Canadian International Development Agency DFO District Forest Ofcer DNPWC Departmert of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation DOR Department of Roads EA Environmental Assessment E3A Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Enrrronmental Mitigation Plan FIDIC Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs Conseils FINNIDA Finnish Intemational Development Agency GEF Global Ernvronment Facility GIs Geographic Information System GLOF Glacial Lake Outbust Flood HEP Hydroelectric Project HIA High Impact Area HMGJN His Majesty's Governmert of Nepal ICBP International Council for Bird Preservation ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development IDA International Development Association IUCN The World Conservation Union JV Joint Venture Arun Ill Consulting Services KW Kred1tanstalt fur Wiederaufbau KHDP Koshi Hills Development Programme KMTNC King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation km Kilometer KPAs Key Planning Area kV kilovolt LAHP Lover Arun Hydroeectric Project LOGEP Least Cost Generation Expansion Plan LDO Local Development Officer LDFF Landslide Dam Failure Flood LUA Low Impact Area m.as.L meters above sea level MBCP Makalu-Barun Conservation Project MBEIS Management of Basinwide Environmental Impacts Study MOFSC Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation MW megawatt (VI  ARuN III HYDROELECTRIC PROJEcr: ENVIRONMENTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND 1.1.1 The Arun Ill Hydroelectric Project Fdlowing extensive comparative analysis and ilensive design studies, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) intends to construct a rn-of-rier hydroelectric project on the Arun River in eastern Nepal (Map 1). The project is known as the *Arun IlIl Hydroelectrc Project since the site chosen is the third of six potential hydropower sites originally idernified on the Arun River in the 1985 Koshi River Water Resources Development Master Plan. In the couse of iurther studies the number of feasible sites was reduced to three, namely the Upper Arun, Arun III and Lower Arun projects. The installed capacity of the Arun IlIl project vnll be 402 MW, which compares with Nepal's currert installed hydropower capacity of approimately 250 MW. The project has three principal components: * an access road - the "Arun Access Roadm; * a dam, tunnel, powerhouse and associated works; * a trarsmission line system for power evacuation. The first 201 MW stage of the Arun IlIl project is to be funded by a consortium of international lending agencies comprising, among others, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Finnish Intemabonal Development Agency (FINNIDA), the International Developnert Association, Washington, D.C. (IDA), and the governrnents of Germany, Japan and Sweden. It is planned that construction of the access road should comnmence in 1994, with the first power becoming available in the year 2001. 1.1.2 Environment and Development in Nepal Nepal is a poor country with a limited capacity to mobilise its natural resources for economic growth. Development of its massive hydroelectric power potential is seen as a strategic necessity to proide electriciy for industrialisation to employ the increasing populatiorL In addition to meeting in-country needs, there will be opportunities for sale of surplus power to India Given the wellablished link between poverty and environmental degradation, the primary environmental issue is not whether infastucture development should occur. Instead, the need is to ensure that those projects which are implemented are sensitive to the enwironrment and sustainable, and that they bring real and asting benefits to the people of Nepal. It is aLso important to balance local and national needs. In Nepal, it is well recognised that erviromiental managerment requires an integrated approach to the physical, biological, social, cultural and economic environmernt In this sunmmary report, menvironment" is used in its broad sense to mean the total biophysical, socio-economic and cultural setting witin which the people of the Arun Valley live CHAPSI-2.NEW 1  ARUN 111 HDROELECTRIC PRojECr ENVIRONMENTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION p1.1.1 Typicl Ri House, Awn VaDey Photo: Chales Ramble 12 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN THE PROJECT PLANNING PROCESS The general characteristics of the AruM Valley are remoteness, diversity (both natural and cultural), and poverty. A rraor irfrastructure project will buing rapid and irreversible changes to the area Consequernly, the Arun Ill Hydroelectric Prcgect has been the subject of five dmfferent categories of environmental scrutiny: (1) Recommendations of avariety of independent national and international observers: at least two reports with an overview of ervironmental management and developmrent ecology in the Valley. (2) The project design team (NEA. and their national and interational consultants): three major environmental impact studies plus this environmental executive summary, as well as input to other project repors, the engineering design and specifications, and the tender documents. (3) A *Panel of Expers (independent specialists, irncluding an environmentalist engaged by NEA to review the design team's recommendations and progress): seven reports to date. (4) A national conservaton and development NGO, the King Mahendra Trust for Natre Conservation, as a consultant to the World Bank: the Managemnent of Basinwde Envronmental Impacts Study, a major report on management of incirect and induced impacts in the Arun Valley. (5) Funding agency missions. CAPsI-V2EW 2  ARUN It/ HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT: ENVWRONMENTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION These studies have followed a recogrisable sequenc: iirstly, early independent reports discussing the values at risk In the valley and the need for futher analysis relating to management of cne (1); secondly, project-specific reports Investigating probable direct impacts and appropriate mitigating measures (2, 3, 5); and thirdly, analysis of indirect and induced changes, including economfic opportunities, and mechanisms for managing hese processes (4, 5). The consensus of the studies is that the project's direct impacts will be relatively mhnor when compared with the national benefits of increased electricity availabilily. However, the indirect impacts and induced effects resulting from the project and opening up the Valley are harder to predict and manage. There wil be major economic opportunities, but tere will also be increased pressures on natural resources, and the danger of inequitble spread of benefts. Management of bolh the direct and indirect effects necessitaes a major upgrading of administrative mechanisms and capability. 1.3 THIS REPORT This Summary's layout follows the format suggested in the World BanKs Operational Direcfive on Environmental Assessment for a full project-specific EA Report (OD 4.01, 1991). CHVS1-ZNEW 3  ARuN iII HYDROELEC PROJEcr ENVRONMENTAL EXECU7iVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTnON N >MT. EVEREST (SAGARMATHAI ~)~ ~. MT. MAKALU . 1, 4Th st / CHINA (TIBET) |UPPER ARUN HEP SA f OMDING~~~~NDI l~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~HTR DHRA __________________ 0~~ 5k 1I > 0S\ SYAUr KHLA, > .RUN WATERSHED BOUNDARIES SINNEPAL S4)<s, /YAGPANGlNC( MapWE1 Awn Watershed, Nepal, sh~g Project LocatiGo cHAPSI-2.NEwHt 4 (Xx NG * \/) ARUN ACCESS ROADi \nN BASI )\ J CH~INDA /CHATARA H N -..aRuN WATERSHDBUORE IN NEPAL Map 1 Arun Watershed, Nepal, showing Prqject LocWiOn CKPSI-2ZNEW 4  ARUN m HYDROELECTRIC PROJECrf ENVIRONMENTAL EXECUTIVE SuMMARY I POUCY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRAlTVE FRAMEWORK 2 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 2.1 INTRODUCTION Large infrastructure projects do not occur in a vaun. They emerge from a particular institutional erMronmerit, and operate at a particular moment in th poldical and socioeconomic history of the pawtner agencies and counties. Over the period of dopment ofthe Arun lIl Project there have been major changes in national and international policy on environment and developmenL The Arun IlIl Project was conceived and largely designed under te Panchayat regime. The revdution of 1990 began the process of democratsation in Nepal. with consequert opening up of debate on environment and development, incuding the role and effects of major projects such as Arun Ill. In addition, the 1980ls saw rapid advances in both the conceptualsation and acceptance of the necessity for ervironmentaly berdgn 1f0ms of developmert, culminating in 19gs Earth Summit and the publicaton of Agenda 21. The establishment of the legal and admfinistrative mechanisms to implement the new policies have resulted in contnuous revisions to the Projects ernirornmental provisons and mandate. 22 NATIONAL CONTEXT 22.1 National Conservaton Strategy National policy on environment and development has developed rapidly in recent years. In the mid 19Bs His Majesty's Govwernment of Nepal, with the assistance of IUCN - the World Conservation Union - prepared a National Conservation Strategy (NCS). It was completed in 1987 and endorsed as podicy in 1988. The strategy, Buildng on Success, places great stress on the interdependence of conservation and development. The opening sentence of the preface states that Sustainable development and conservation must be firmly linked if Nepal is to meet the needs and improve the quality of Ife of its present population and Ure generations.- The NCS includes a Conservation Action Agenda which sets out specific actions and policies. Under the heading Conservation and Large-Scale Projectr the following policies are stated: o The terms of reference for feasibilky studies related to such projects will include a requirement for the preparation of environrmental and socio-economic impact statements, including proposed measures to mhinmise possible detrimental effects. O The proponent of ary large-scale project, either government or private sector, will be required to: - establish a conservation fund as part of project capital costs to carry out the necessary social and environmental programmes associated with the project, the purpose of the programmes would be to mminiise the detrimental social, econoric and environmntal effects that may be caused by the project, - estabish a conservation secton within the project to manage the social and environmental programmes; CaWi-WEW 5  ARLIN V HYDROELECTRIC PROECT: ENVRONMENTAL EXECUTIVF SUMMARY 2 POUCY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRA11IE FRAMEWORK Irnial planning for the Arnm IlI Project was undertaken concurrently with deveopment of the Natnal Conservation Strategy, but before it had been confirmed as government policy. Since 1988, NEA's design team has kept abrea of policy developmnts, and has promored the incorporaion of appropriate aproachs and responses in the design process - etensive environmental and social impact work has been carried out, envirorunenteal mmagament tnits will be established bath within and outside the project to manage mifigaton programmes (Chapter 8), and alfthough the concept of a conservation fund has not been adopted, ernironmental mitigation costs are being incorporated in project costs. 2.22 Eighth Five Year Plan The most recent statement of government environmental policy is the environmental chapter in the Eighth Five Year Plan (1992-97). Environmental proecdion and management are seen as important obligations of te State. Eighth Plan pdicies include, amornst others, the use of environmertal assessment as a tool in project design and implementation, the preparation and enforcement of legal provisions emTphasisirng sustainability, and public and NGO irnolvemenL 2.2.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines As part of the ongoing implementation of the NCS, Nepal is rapidly developing its own laws, regulatons and gtdelines for environmental assessment and managemenL National guidelines for environmental impact assessmert were fomially endorsed by Cabinet on 18th September 1992, and sectoral guidelines are being prepared. Key documents indude: O National Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelnes. National Planning Commission/IUCN, o Environmental Impact Assessment Bill (draft). HMCG/N, 1992. o Guidelines for the EnvionmentalAssessment of Water and Energy Policies, Programmes and Projects (draft). Social and Environmental Directorate, Water and Energy Commission Secetariat, March 1992Q o Guidelines fora National System of Environmenta Panning in Nepal (draft). National Planning ComrnissiorVlUCN, 1992. O Envi Rronmentat lmpactAssessment Guidelines for the Festry Sector (draft). National Planning Commission/Ministry of Forests and Soil ConservatiorVlUCN, December 19W2 As far as possible, the phiosophy of the these guidelines has been incorporated in the ongoing environmental assessment actvities of the Project 22.4 Legislation The acquisition of land for state puposes is governed by the Land Acquisition Act 2034 (1977). and amended for the Arun Ill Project by the Land Acquisition Guidelines 2045 (1968) declared under the act Forests and forestry are controlled by the new Forest Act 2049 (1993). The most important act relaed to wildlife conservation and protected areas is the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 (2029). ft provides for the establishment and administration of protected areas and Me conservation of animals and birds and their habitat'. The latest amendment of the Act was in 1989 to allow fbr the estabishment of Conserato Areas. QOAPS1-ZJEW 6  ARUN /i1 HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL EXECLMVE SUMMARY 2. POUCY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRAiVE FRAMEWORK In addition, Nepal is a state signatory to a number of international conventirons relating to wildlife and erwironerital conservation including: 1956 Plant Protection Agreement lor the Asia and Pacific Region 1975 Conentio on lrtemational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CIrES) 1g78 World Heritage Conventin 1983 Irtematioa Tropical Timber Agreement 1987 Convention on Wetlands of Internatil Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convenon) HuLting is regulated by the Nationa Parks and Wildlife Protection Regulations made under the Act (1974, 1975, 1978, 198). Other acts and regldations relevant to biodiversity include the Wildlife Reserve Regulations (1977). the Himalayan National Park Regulations 2036 (1979). Regulations for the recenty gazetted Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area (22nd November 1991), and the Aquatic Life (Conservation) Act, 1961. Tourism is cortroled by the Tourism Act 2035 (1979), mountaineering by the Mountaineering Expedition Regulatiors 2035 (1980), and trekking by the Trekking and River Rafting Regulations 2041 (1985). Recent Acts to further the decentralisation process indude the Village Development Committee Act, the Municipality Act, and the District Development Committee Act, all of 1991. 2.2.5 Administration of Environmental Policy Mechanisms for the implermaon of envrormental policy are at an early stage of developrment in Nepal, but are evolving rapidly. Endorsement of the NCS in 1988 resulted in the establishment of a high-level umbrella Council for the Conservation of Natural and Cultural Resources. Recently, this has been dissolved and replaced by a powerful Enwment Protecion Councd, chaired by the Prime rinister, with a wide-ranging mandate to formulate and implement environmental policy. The Council wnll be assisted by a new Environment Protection Division under the Secretariat of the National Planning Commission. (At the same time, the name of the Ministry of Forest and Environment was changed back to the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation). One of the Council's main responsiblities will be coordination of the activities of line agencies insofar as they affect the environment (Departmerts of Irrigation, Roads, Forest etc.). At the same time, the Council will be taking advantage of Nepals regional development and decentralisafion policies to improve the capability of district and village level adrmdnistrations. These will have an increasing role to play in envirorimental management as Nepal moves from a centralised bureaucracy controlling development to a decentralised one facilitating local and private sector initiatives. 2.3 INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT Thoughout the 1980I s and early 90s donor policy on environment and sustainable development evolved rapidly. All the multilateral and bilateral development agencies now have environmental assesserit procedures in place to screen projects throughout the project cyde. For examnple, the World Bank has envirornmenta assessment policies and procedures to ensure that development options under consideration are environmentally sound and sustainable, and hat any ervironmental consequences are recogrnsed early and taken into accout in project design." OWASI4JIEW 7  ARUv mx HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT- ENV1RONMENTAL ExECUTiVE SUMMARY I POUCY. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATVE FRAMEWORK RFeet Worid Bank publications on enironmntal assessmert methodology relevant to the Arun IlIl Projed nclude: o Ernvrnmea Assesnsmnt Sour,cbook Vdunes I, II. IIl. Techricel Paper No. 139 Envimrrient DepL, World Bank. August 1991. O World Bank Opeaiona Directive 4.01 EnvoronmaAssessrnent October 1991 (0D 4.011. O Numerous other relevant World Bank Operational Direcves, Operational Manual Statement and Operational Policy Notes, as Hsted in the Sourcebook. In additon, there are a number of papers by Bank stiff on subjects such as compensation and resettlement which are specific to Nepal. These comIprehensive guidelines are paraleled by similar gtidance published by the ADB and oer development agencies, for example the ADB's Guilines for Socil Anals of Bank Pretects (1991). As well as considering direct impcs and their mitigation, these irternational EA proceckres are now focused increasingly on indirect and induced effects, and on public participation. For example, the World Bank's OD 4.01 on Environmentae Assessment requires that project-specific EAs should normally cover: (a) exing environmernal baseline conditions; (b) potenrial envirormnental impacts, direct and inirect, including opportunities for envirorvnental enhancement; (c) systematic environmental cofparison of atnative inestnernts, sites, technologies and designs; (d) preventive, mitigatory, and Compensatory measures, generally in the form of an environmental mitigation or management plan; (e) environmental managemrent and trairing; (f) environmenta monitoring. Issues that should be addressed include, amongst others, bidogical diverskty, cultural property, indigenous peoples, induced development and other sociccultural aspects, involuntamy resettlement, natural hazards. and occpaional health and safely. All these topics are cwvered by Bank Operational Directives. In addiion, futher Directves or Operational Pdicy Notes cover Dams and Reservoirs, Projects on Internaonal Waterways, Tropical Forests, and Wildlands. The Arun Ill Project has responded to this increasingly rigorous analytical atmosphere by extending the scope and coverage of its environmental impact assessment studies, and by assistng other government agencies to develop the prograrnmes necessary for impact mitigation and the enhancemerit of economic opportunities. HAMaI-21EW 8  ARUN l HYDROELEcTIC PRWjEC7 ENIRONMENTAL MEECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTON 3;) PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 ARUN III HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT 3.1.1 Introduction Armn Ill is a 402 MW arun-ot-river Waciltty, that is It will utilise normal flows In te rher rather than depend on water held back in a large resewoir. Water diverted from the rier will low through a tunnel to an underground powerho, and then be discharged back into the river channel. Key Features of the Project * High firm river low due to glacier and snowmelt (7B.5 etls 90% dependable flow) * High head due to steep gradiert in loop of river (286 m net head at full load) hFirm energy of 1558 GWiannun * Small area to be inundated (30 ha) * High energV outprt per urit of land occupied (MW/ha = 402(430 = 0.93) Favourabe geology at the lcations of almost all major suctures * Access road which can also serve oer attractive power projects on the same river (totalling 1045 MW) Tender design for a staged development (268 MW, 134 MW) was concluded with the April 1991 Engineering Design Report Forfinancial and macroeconomic reasons NEA and the funding consortium, led by the World Bank. row erlsage project deelopmenit In two equal stages, each of 201 MW. Plae 2 Physkainda Dobhan. he Dr SIe PhOt: B. D. JoaN OWNPS34.w 9  ARuN in HVROELE C PROJECT: ENVRONMETAL EXEcuGVE SUMmARY a PROJECT DESCRPTnON 3.12 Power Gsnemtlon Components The main permanent components (Map 2) will take up some 47.8 ha of land, and will be: * Dam and resenvoir (40 ha Inundated), Induding diversion works * Poerr Intake, underground dasanding basins and flushlng system O Twin 11.5 km headrace tunnels, underground surge tanks and adits * Underground powerhouse and associated structures 0 Permnanent offices and housing (5.8 ha) The dam Is required to dhiert water into the headrace tunnel. It will be a concrete gravity dam with a crest length of 155 m and a height of 68 m. Although the reservoir created by the darn will extend some 4 km upstream, it will only have a surface area of some 50 ha. Temporary facilities will cover some 69.1 ha and will include: * C?Quarries, borrow sites and spoil storage areas (16.1 - 32.4 ha) * Concrete batching and mbding plants * Work end storage areas (1 3.5 ha, inc. batching and mixing plants) * Construction camps, offices and housing (28.5 - 36.5 ha) * Support facilities, including helipads * Construction power supply (22 ha) and local 33 kV transmission system * Roads and bridges Table 3.1 CHARACTEFRSTICS OF POWER GENERAllON COMPONENTS. STAGED DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT FEATURES FIRST STAGE SECOND STAGE Dam concrete gravity with Integral to be completed spillway, crest length 155 m, height 68 m Spilway 3 radial gates, discharge capacity to be completed 8100 m3Is Power Intake 4 openings 4 x 13.5 m, trash racks, to be completed except intake tunnels 1, sedimernt flushing system, roler Intake tunnels 1, 2 2 gates__ _ _ _ _ Desanding 4 underground, 1- x 28 x 110 m downstream basins 3, 4 upstream basins Basins and all of flushing system 1.2 Headrace 2 concrete-lined, length 11.51 lon, mountainside tunnel and valleyside tunnel Tunnels diameter 5.6 n. surge tank and surge tank High Pressure 2 steel-lined shafts, 4.3 m diam. shaft f- Units 1-3 shaft for Units 4- Waterways 6 Power Cavern underground, space for 6 generating space for Units 1-3. space for Units units, 22 x 35 x 161 m service bay, unloading bay 4-6 Turbines 6 x Pelton type, 67 MW each, total Units 1-3, 201 MW Units 4-6 402 MW 201 MW Tailrace System 2 lunnels, 2 surgetanks, 1 ouUtet one tunnel and surgetank. second tunnel structure outlet structure and surgetank CHAPSs4NJEW 10  : liefrar 2000 0 8 tGhopoN KHANrAN rip~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~r OYAR 9 o O~~P~aaIdoli a~~~~~~ Moore. 2000 0 4 LIST OF MAJORUrnOoIg Sluwa thus K I. Mahue.gya hl IASAIT.PUR emEhl rurtbn (CitfUd) ~IL Sub, Dholl gRa Rlver/kJ,oI. S Leoea Business Centre/Town  ARUN w HYDRoeLECTRIC PRWEcT ENVRONMENTAL ExECumE SUMMAR 3. PROJECT DESCRIPrnON 3.1.3 Arun Access Road Conrctn and operation of the Arun IIl power faclities is dependent on the corstrucion of an access road to link the site with the existing road system. The direct distane from the nearest road head at Basantapur to the dam site is approdmatety 50 km (Map 2). However, the difficut terrain necessiates a total ength of new road construction of 122 kn, Icluding access to the powercavern. The road wiv start at the small market town of Hile in Dhankuta Distric (Plate 3). This is the highest poirt on the rwte, at 1920 .Las.l. The road descends rapidly past Pakhribas to the Arun River, and then follows the valley throughout Mp 1). Heading noth close to the river at 260 - 300 rmas l five major tribtries are crossed before reaching the Tumlingtar | plateau. Between Tumlingtar and the powerhouse site the road 1 _ . conrinues to follow the left (east) : bank of the river, with the terrain 5 ' ,-_ becoming much steeper and more - * - l dirficult halfway, at Bumring. At the powerhouLse the road i crosses the river and proceeds northwards on the right bank near river-level for soie 7km, retuming '%. . to the left bank immediately below te site of Adit No. 2. Here the road ascends to avoid very steep and difficult ground near the river, | - mid then contours at an elevaion of around 1340 m.as.l. past Amrang, the site for the permanent 7- camp 17 km rath of the i_ powerhouse. The final descent to the Intake site is made at Phyaksinda, below Num. g ^icC 11 major bridges will be requiread. including two over the Arun River itself, one near the powerhou se - and one below the site of Adit No. 2 (Map 2). passing plcs wit a sele Pla. i, \e th The road will be single-lane wih _____ ________ passing places, vith a sealed rhft 3 Kdo the Slatng Paint for# Awn AcnessRd surface. This will minimise Phob: JoH Henley earthworks, slope disturbance, and maintenance costs. A road maintenance depot will be built at Tunlingtar, an important staging point hallway to the power development sites. Other acirSiies will include Engineer's-camps and resthouses. CHAPSa4LIEW 12  ARUN 111 HYDROELECTRIC PRoECr. ENVRoNMENTAL EXECUc E SuMmARY 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Table 3.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ARUN ACCESS ROAD COMPONENT FEATURES Length of new construction 122 km single lane with passing places Cafrlageway 4.5 m with 0.5 m shoulders, widening on curves Right of Way 30 m widlh taken Irto govemmert ownership Gradients ruling, 7 %, max: 10 % Wearing surface double layer surface dressing (stone chip and bitumen spray) Bridges 1 1 no, with spans from 30 - 104 m; steel trusses with concrete docks, piers and abutments Culverts 1100 no, concrete pipe or corrugated steeL variable ciam. Retaining walls 0.57 M m3 masonry. gabion Eafhworks soft cut: 1.1 M m3 rock cut 0.9 M m3 fill: 0.95 M m' 3.1.4 Power Transmission System The power tansrission systern required for the full two-stage developrnent of Arun Ill includes a double circuit 220 kV transmission line from the Arun IIl powerhouse to Kathmnandu, passing through a 220/132 kc substation at Duhubi nwar Biratnagar, a 220 WV switching station at Dhaikebar in the Terai, and terminating in a 2201132 kV substation near Kathmandu (Map 3). The total length of line will be 380-410 kmn, dependring c.n final alignmnrt decisions at the Sapta Kashi crossing. For Stage 1, only the section Anun Ill - Duhubi will be needed (120 Iam). The 33 WV transmission system used for the conruction power supply at the project site will be retained for local use. Table 3.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM COMPONENT TYPE DIMENSIONS System double circuit single tower, 220 kV Length powerhouse - Duhubi 120 km powerhouse - Kethmandu 380-410 km Right of way Controlled laid use width estimated at 40-45 m Towers standard rigid lattice galvanised steel; height 40-45 m, footprint 15 x 15 m possibly wire stay type in Terai approx, average span 400 m + Conductors twin bundled from Aun Ill - Duhubi; remainder single Substations 220 kV/132 kV Duhubi, Kathmandu Switlching 220 WV Dhalkebar station CKLPS34&tEW 13  Q 4 % 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~C H I N A (TIBET) MARSYANGOI KATHMANDU CITY 1 oOOEAKHA ,f ~~~~~~SB ST22/132 bVt KULEKHANII11 A AUN ll|2 0 z,gKULEKHANI I 0s oRAMECHHAP POWER HOUSE $ \ ZH~~~ETAUDA >"<oHNSRI 3 ^ tL ~~~~~SINONULIMAOI o OKHALDHUNGA S