Terms of References for Environmental Impact Assessment Studies

for Development of Command Area and Canal System in North Bihar

proposed to be brought under irrigation through Sapta Kosi High
Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion
Scheme, Nepal
1.0

INTRODUCTION
As per EIA Notification of 1994 and its subsequent amendments, it has been
made mandatory to get environmental clearance for river valley and hydro
electric projects. The objective of this study is to prepare comprehensive
Environmental Impact Assessment to get environmental and other mandatory
clearances from Ministry of Environment and Forests and any other concerned
Authorities of Government of India.

2.0

SCOPE OF WORK
The broad scope of the work is to carry out Environment Impact Assessment for
Development of Command Area and Canal System in North Bihar proposed to
be brought under irrigation through Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project
and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme in Nepal and making assessment
of positive impacts with its economic evaluation and prepare Environmental
Management Plan (EMP) to mitigate the adverse effects, including the socioeconomic aspects and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) Plan for project
affected people. The scope also includes preparation of monitoring plan for
implementation of EMP.

3.0

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

As per the understanding reached between India and Nepal during the visit of
Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal to India in December, 1991, it was agreed by
two countries to prepare jointly the Detailed Project Report of Sapta Kosi High
Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme located
in Nepal Scheme to meet the following objectives in terms of fulfilling the
requirements of both countries from the point of view of their development:

Hydropower Generation;
Irrigation Development;
Flood Control/Management;
Navigation;

The studies related to Irrigation Development constitute an important part of

whole work, which is required to be carried out for the preparation of Detailed
Project Report of both the projects. The Irrigation Studies of Command Area in
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TOR for EIA Studies for Command Area lying in India (North Bihar) proposed to be brought under irrigation through
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, Nepal
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Indian Territory are proposed to be carried out through a Reputed and

Experienced Indian Consultant as per prevailing norms and guidelines of GOI.
Sapta Kosi High Dam Project envisages the construction of a 269 m high
Storage Dam on river Sapta Kosi in Nepal about 50 Km upstream of existing Kosi
Barrage on river Kosi at Hanuman Nagar near Indo-Nepal border and releasing
the water from the dam as per irrigation, power generation and navigation
requirements. A re-regulating barrage at Sisauli in Nepal about 12 Km
downstream of Sapta Kosi Dam is proposed for re-regulating the water released
from the dam as per irrigation and navigation requirements. Two canals, one
from each bank, would off take from the Sisauli Barrage for conveying the water
for irrigation for both Nepal and India. Sapta Kosi High Dam Project was
investigated by Indian Experts during the period from 1946 to 1952 for a 269 m
concrete dam and based on these investigations; a Feasibility Report of the
project was prepared by Central Water Commission in the Year 1981. As per said
Feasibility Report, a new Gross Command Area of 9.76 Lakh hectares in India
(North Bihar) and 5.46 Lakh hectares in Nepal is likely to be brought under
irrigation through this project. During the irrigation studies for Indian Territory
carried out recently by M/S WAPCOS Limited has revised the Gross Command
Area in India to 10.53 lakh hectare. The relevant abstract of the said Feasibility
Report are at Annexure-I and Salient Features of said Irrigation study are at
Annexure-II for reference.
Kamala River has very little water during lean season, which cannot even meet
the irrigation requirement of Nepal. Nepal is having an irrigation scheme, already
under operation on river Kamala at Bandipur for a Gross Command Area of
25,000 hectares. India is also having an irrigation scheme on river Kamala at
Jaynagar. However, very little water is available during lean season.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in its Master Plan Study of Kosi
River Basin in Nepal has recommended that lean season flow of river Kamala
should be augmented by diverting water from river Sun Kosi through a diversion
tunnel by constructing a diversion dam on river Sun Kosi near Kurule and
constructing a storage dam on River Kamala. This dam will not only store natural
flow of river Kamala but would also store the diverted water from Sun Kosi River
and regulate the flow from the dam as per irrigation requirement. JICA has
proposed in its report that a Gross Command Area of 1,75,000 hectare in terai
area of Nepal can be brought under round the year irrigation by diverting 72
Cumecs of water from river Sun Kosi through this project. The studies presently
being carried out by Joint Project Office of two countries, it is proposed to meet
the irrigation requirement of Bihar at its Jaynagar barrage on river Kamala
through the above project.
Salient features of Sapta Kosi High Dam
Multipurpose Project including Sisauli Barrage is given in Appendix.
3.1

STUDY AREA
The project area (i.e. Command Area in North Bihar) for present study lies
between River Mahananda in the East to River Burhi Gandak in the West, IndoNepal Border in north and river Ganga in south in Bihar state of India.

An index map showing command area as well as the command area of

existing Kosi Project is enclosed as Plate.
The tentative Gross Command Area (GCA) in Indian Territory excluding
command area already being served by existing irrigation projects has been
estimated to be about 10.53 Lakh hectare based on command area map made
available by the Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar. The entire
command area under this project is the study area for the purpose of EIA study.
However, for the purpose of assessing the Resettlement & Rehabilitation, an
area of 1000 m on either side of the Branch canal and an area of 500 m on either
side of Major Distributaries shall be considered. Further plant and animal
diversity within 10 km radius of the project sites for three seasons shall also be
considered.
4.0

AVAILABLE INFORMATION
A Feasibility Report of Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project was prepared
by Central Water Commission, Govt. of India in 1981 based on investigations
carried out by Indian Experts during the period from 1946 to 1952.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) carried out Master Plan Study on
Kosi River Water Resources Development in Nepal and prepared a Report in the
Year 1985 for and on the behalf of Government of Nepal. The said report has
identified the Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme a priority Scheme for
developing irrigation in Eastern Terai Area of Nepal by diverting water from river
Sun Kosi to river Kamala for augmenting its lean season flow.
The detailed field investigations and studies for the preparation of Detailed
Project Report (DPR) of Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun
Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, both located in Nepal, are being carried
out by JPO-SKSKI, a joint project office of Government of India and Government
of Nepal. The development of irrigation both in India and Nepal through these
projects is an important component of studies. The status of ecological and
environmental impacts and lesson learnt from the existing projects in the
command area shall also be examined.
The consultant is required to assess the adequacy of the data and information
contained in the existing reports as well as studies being presently carried out by
JPO. Based on the adequacy check, the requirement of collection of any
additional data is to be identified and shall be collected as part of the preparation
of EIA report.

5.0

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF DATA BASE

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TOR for EIA Studies for Command Area lying in India (North Bihar) proposed to be brought under irrigation through
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, Nepal
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 Consequent upon the collection of environmental and socioeconomic

data, desk studies shall be carried out so as to undertake preliminary
planning and development of a comprehensive data base. The data base
shall be in such a format that can be used in web based GIS portal also.
The data base shall be generated with provisions of data inputs from
multiple sources and shall be capable of generating outputs in the form of
tables, graphs, reports & data files. The output files shall be used in
conjunction with software, spreadsheets, word processors and statistical
software.
6.0

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management
Plan (EMP) Report shall be prepared considering all the relevant notifications
issued by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF), GOI or any other
competent authority (viz. EIA Notification, 1994 and subsequent notifications/
amendments issued time to time) and in accordance to all the other relevant
guidelines issued by MOE&F or any other competent authority. The EIA report
shall be prepared considering all these notifications/ guidelines required for
obtaining Environmental Clearances from the regulatory/ statutory authorities.
As outlined in the notification cited above, Public hearing shall be carried out as
per the requirements of the fulfillment of EIA notification as a part of consultation
with civil society.
Details pertaining to the Environmental and Ecological Aspects are
furnished below:
The sequence of steps to be followed for consideration and assessment of
Environmental and Ecological aspects shall be as follows:

Study No Project option;

Compare between future status with project and without this project;
Legal status of the proposed project site with respect to various applicable
Environmental Legislations;
Baseline Environmental Data;
Environmental Impact Assessment;
Environmental Management Plan; and
BASELINE ENIVIRONMENTAL DATA

6.1

Consultant will collect primary data for three seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon
and post monsoon ) from the project sites, based on the base line data, and also
collect secondary data from various Government Agencies / organizations,
Census Department, Central and State Ministries, District gazetteers, Published
Reports, authentic and reliable reports / literature / documents on similar studies
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and other such sources. With respect to the soil and water related baseline
data, sampling may be done on a grid basis. Considering the large size of the
command area, the usual grid size suggested for other irrigation project will lead
to an unmanageable extent of field work and therefore that areas under distinct
soil series may be identified and data will be collected from three random
locations from the areas under each soil series. Baseline Environmental Status
of the project shall be established in consideration of baseline survey carried out
in accordance to the MOE&F requirements for all the following elements:
Air Environment;

I.

Water Environment (Surface as well as ground water);

Land Environment;
Biological Environment (Aquatic and Terrestrial); and
Socioeconomic Environment.
Air Environment
Meteorology for dispersion of air pollutant during construction activities
Air Quality
Noise

II.

Water Environment
This will cover all the aspects of surface as well as ground water. This shall
include but not limited to:

Surface Water Quality and flow including nutrient levels

Ground water regime (ground water table, aquifers)
Ground water quality
III.

Land Environment

Land use and land cover (e.g. Forest, agriculture, wasteland etc.) using
satellite imagery

Mineral resources

Water use

Water logging

Details on drainage system- This will cover (i) Present waterlogged area,
if any (ii) Mapping of Specific Area with GIS (III) Causes of water logging (iv) Drainage
classification of pre-project situation and (v) Ground water depth

Ameliorative measures to obviate drainage congestion in post project

situation.
IV.

Biological Environment

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TOR for EIA Studies for Command Area lying in India (North Bihar) proposed to be brought under irrigation through
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, Nepal
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This shall include but not limited to:

Forest cover, forest type, species structure, its area and abundance of
species. The preliminary data on this aspects has been obtained from Forest
Department, Government of Bihar under which the project area falls and is appended
with the TOR.

Plant and animal diversity within 10 km radius of the project sites for three
seasons

Rare and endangered species

Species which require management

Species of economic significance

Species of special interest to local population or tourists

Aquatic fauna of commercial/ recreational value and migratory fish species

along with their spawning ground

Studies of micro flora & micro fauna and its economic significance

Habitat including breeding ground and access corridor for food and shelter

Biodiversity and Biodiversity indices-Shannon Index in the project areas

Biodiversity is a broad concept, so a variety of objective measures have been created in

order to empirically measure the biodiversity. Each measure relates to a particular use
of the data. The Shannon index,
, is one of several diversity indices used to
measure diversity in categorical data. It is simply the Information entropy of the
distribution, treating species as symbols and their relative population sizes as the
probability.
Shannon index=
Where,
S = The number of species ( also called species richness)
pi= The relative abundance of each species, calculated as the proportion of individuals
of a given species to the total number of individuals in the community
=
ni =The number of individuals in each species
N = The total number of all individuals
Maximum evenness maximizes the index i.e. any given population will have a
maximum Shannon Index if and only if each species represented is composed of
the same number of individuals.
Under such a situation
,
and so,
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Therefore,
the maximum value of Shannon Index

The above value of Shannon Index will give maximum evenness.

V.

Socioeconomic Environment
Demography
Population
In and out migration
Literacy
Economy
Market
Development activities
Employment, skills
Social, cultural, religious resources and practices
Historical and archeological sites
Education, health, communal resources
Agriculture production and practices
Energy consumption, livestock
Tourism
Gender and vulnerable group
Local institutions
Land, houses and infrastructure acquisition
Law & order, community forest, etc

6.2

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) shall be carried out for construction and
operation phases using qualitative or quantitative methods (wherever possible)
and using predictive modeling techniques.
The EIA study shall cover all the relevant environmental issues that have impact
due to the proposed project including the following:

Air Environment

Water Environment (Surface as well as ground water)

Land Environment

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TOR for EIA Studies for Command Area lying in India (North Bihar) proposed to be brought under irrigation through
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, Nepal
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Biological Environment (Aquatic and Terrestrial)

Socioeconomic Environment

I. Air Environment

Impact on air quality due to construction

Changes in microclimate

Impact on ambient Noise level specially during construction period

II. Water Environment

Impact due to change in hydrological cycle

Impact due to spread of contamination due to agro-chemicals and

organic/heavy metals

Impact due to transportation of fluorides, Nitrates, toxic chemicals, heavy

metals

Impact due to acidification of lakes and water bodies due to presence of

soils with rich minerals

Impact on water quality (surface/ground)

Impact on ground water levels and recharge potential

Impact on ground water pollution due to seepage from canal system and
reservoir (ground water level and quality)

Impact on drainage system and existing water bodies in the project area
(Assessment by using GIS tools and satellite imageries)

III. Land Environment

Impact on land use/ land cover and change in designated land use in the
project area. The assessment can be made using the GIS tools and
satellite imageries of the area. However, it will have to be confirmed by
ground verification.

Impact due to irrigation induced salinity and water logging

IV. Biological Environment

Terrestrial Environment
Impact on forest area and National park and wildlife sanctuaries and other
sensitive ecosystem.

Impact on biota and biodiversity loss particularly with special reference to

the rare and threatened species, endemic species of both animals and
plants.

Impact on habitat loss particularly with special reference to the rare and
threatened species, endemic species of both animals and plants.

Impact due to habitat change having effect like corridor loss and loss of
migratory path for wildlife including birds.

Impacts on the breeding grounds of species and on access of animals to

food and shelter.

Aquatic Environment

Impact on sensitive ecosystem

Impact due to bio-accumulation and bio-magnification in aquatic life and

biota

Impact on growth of aquatic weed

Impacts on fish spawning and migration including impact on their breeding

ground.

V. Socioeconomic Environment

Impact on public health due to vector borne diseases

Impact on sensitive locations like archeological sites and places of

worship etc.

Impact on change in occupational pattern

Impact on tourism

Impact on human settlement

Impact on Migration of Labour force from Bihar to Punjab.

Impact on small scale industries particularly in command area.

VI. Geological and Other Aspects

6.3

Geology, Physiography and Topography of the area

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP)

Based on environmental impact assessment, the mitigation / enhancement
measures need to be specified in the form of Environmental Management Plan.
The components of the EMP will inter-alia deal with the following as may be
relevant to the project site:
Environmental safeguards (management) during construction activities

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TOR for EIA Studies for Command Area lying in India (North Bihar) proposed to be brought under irrigation through
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, Nepal
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Plan for restoration of quarry areas/borrow areas and areas for dumping
excavated material.

Management to arrest salinity/ alkalinity in the wake of recharge of water in

the canals.

Problems associated with transportation of silt in the canal and utilization

thereof in environmentally/ecologically benign manner

Compensatory Afforestation plan along with cost benefit analysis

Tree plantation along canal banks;

Comments/ observations/ recommendations of Chief Wild Life Warden in

case wild life habitants/ migratory paths exist within 1000 m on either side of
the Branch canal and an area of 500 m on either side of Major Distributaries.

Conservation plan for affected flora/ fauna including rehabilitation plan for
rare/endangered species including action plan for alternate breeding ground
and access corridor for food and shelter.

Action plan for control of irrigation induced water logging, salinity etc including
strategies and policies with choice of species/ crop for optimum use of water
for agriculture to reduce adverse impacts of excessive irrigation including
water logging.

Action plan for command area development in respect of irrigation potential.

Ground water management including harnessing of ground water in

conjunction with surface water.

Land use management with special emphasis on water logging problem

Management of flora and fauna in the Command Area as well as along the
Canals including action plan for alternate breeding grounds.

Alien flora and aquatic weeds management

Protection of sensitive and archeological monument sites

Action plan for health delivery systems

Post project environmental monitoring plan

Provision of free fuel to labours

Dam break analysis and Disaster Management Plan (DMP)

Dam break floods can be of larger magnitude and behave differently than natural
floods. The reservoir behind the dam of Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project is of
significant size. The wave of water that will surge down, below the dam, will be of
considerably higher order larger than any natural flood and most likely consequences
will be catastrophic. It is, thus, essential to assess the magnitude and timing of the dam
break flood for the purposes of dam safety, evacuation planning and forecasting.
Dam break studies, in general, are carried out by either (a) Scaled Physical
Hydraulic Models or (b) Mathematical Simulation with use of computer. Dam Break
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Analysis through Mathematical Simulation with use of computer programs such as

DAMBRK developed by D. L. Fread with National Weather Service (NWS) or HEC-1, a
program developed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is needed to be carried
out.
Valley widens considerably downstream of dam and large area is likely to be
flooded, thus two dimensional analysis is considered more purposeful.
Dam Break Analysis will broadly encompass(a) Estimation of Dam Break Dimensions
(b) Estimation of Bam Break Peak Discharge
(c) Downstream Routing of Dam Break Flood
(d) Computational Method used for Routing of Dam Break Flood
(e) Dam Break Inundation Analysis and Downstream Hazard Assessment
(f) Inundation Mapping
(g) Capital Value of Project
(h) Population at Risk
(i) Property Damage and Economical Losses
(j) Environmental Damages
(k) Current Downstream Development (Industries and Utilities) and Consequences
of Bam Break Flood
(l) Projects with Multiple Dams ( Consequence of Failure of Upstream Dam on
Downstream Dam )
(m) Evacuation Plan
7.0

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS AND PREPARATION OF R&R

A detailed socio-economic study of project affected people will be carried out.

7.1.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY
In order to perform the socio-economic studies, on-site socio-economic survey
shall be carried out covering socio-economic profile of the region. The region
shall include the command area, the area en-route the canal where there could
be secondary displacement. The following aspects shall be covered in the socioeconomic surveys

Demographic profile with social categories, number of households/families,

type of housing, health and educational profile, migration patterns, if any.
Land ownership and operational holding
Existing cropping pattern of the project area and changes thereof due to
commissioning of the project
Agricultural practices including traditional knowledge on endemic species.
Improvement in crop production and productivity

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TOR for EIA Studies for Command Area lying in India (North Bihar) proposed to be brought under irrigation through
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, Nepal
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7.2

Possible improvement in surface and ground water availability and benefits

accrued to irrigated agriculture, drinking water use, industries and thermal
power plants.
Agricultural input pattern
Economics of cultivation
Non-agricultural Practices such as poultry, cattle raising etc
Employment profile
Income profile with sources of income
Expenditure profile
Other economic activities prevailing in the region
Availability of social infrastructure
Availability of economic infrastructure
Gender issues

Secondary Data
Before start of the on-site socio-economic survey, the available secondary
information from various government agencies shall be collected. Relevant
information from concerned state government and Census of India about
infrastructure availability etc. at district/ block/ village level and from Survey of
India on topography maps and satellite Imageries from NRSA are other sources
of useful information to be collected before launching of on-site survey. Based on
said information, design of questionnaire and methodology of field surveys shall
be finalized.
The consultant shall make every effort to obtain the required information from
various Govt. agencies. However, JPO-SKSKI shall extend help in issuing
authorization letters etc. whenever required by the Consultant.

7.3

Sample Design
The survey shall cover both project affected (displaced) and project influenced
(benefiting) areas. Sample shall be distributed between project affected and
influenced households on the basis of length of branch canal and distributaries.

7.4

Questionnaire
Different mode of data collection such as sample survey, Participatory Rural
Appraisal (PRA)/ Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) and focus group discussions shall
be used in evaluating impact of the project.
Questionnaire shall take into account all the relevant aspects mentioned above.
Current Land prices and wages prevailing in the area is another important factor
on which data shall be collected in socio-economic survey. This shall help in
assessment of cost of land acquisition for implementation of envisaged
developments.

7.5

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Resettlement & Rehabilitation(R&R) Aspects

While studying Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) issues, techniques such

as Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA)/ Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and focus
group discussion should be used to find out present situation in the area. This
shall also involve collection of photographic records of the area likely to be
affected.
Information on following aspects should also to be collected.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Peoples own perception on the settlement aspects and kind of facilities

they expect in the area where they will be settled after displacement.
Preferences of affected population about the compensation package,
whether it should be in cash or kind.
What is the location preference for settlement by affected population,
whether they want to be settled closer to their existing place of residence
or at a distance?
Participation of affected people in construction of canals should also be
probed in.
Migration patterns into and out of the project area.

A detailed R&R package shall be prepared and National Policy on Resettlement

& Rehabilitation for Project Affected Families-2007 (NPRR-2007) formulated by
Ministry of Rural Development (MORD) shall form basic minimum criteria for
devising the R&R package. Due weightage should also be given to the R&R
Policy / Act of Bihar State. However, in line with the Section 1.6 of the NPRR2007, the R&R package should not limit itself to the National R&R Policy-2007
and should look for a wider horizon with millennium development goals and
Planning Commission targets. Also, the various schemes of the govt. for rural
development and welfare should be combined to make R&R package attractive
enough. The R&R Policy should clearly come out with the kind of infrastructure
required to achieve these goals. While preparing the R&R package, the past
practices and difficulties experienced in implementation of various provisions of
R&R package should be kept in mind. In case 70 % or more land of any family is
taken then that family shall be counted as fully affected family.
The consultant shall suggest a layout of modal village for resettlement of Project
Affected Peoples (PAPs).

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TOR for EIA Studies for Command Area lying in India (North Bihar) proposed to be brought under irrigation through
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme, Nepal
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