Cumulative environmental impact assessment of Narail sub - project

Abstract

Cumulative environmental impacts are caused by the aggregate of past actions, present, and foreseeable future actions. Traditional environmental impact assessment (EIA) usually focuses on single.project developmenl undertaken by single proponents in a narrowly defined physical area and defined time frame. ThaI is why cumulalive impact assessment especially for water seclor project is very important and essential. This study has assessed cumulative impact for the compartment one of Southwest Area Integrated Water Resources Managemenl Project (SWA1WRMP). -Ihe EIA carried om by S\VAIWRMP evenlually didn'l address thc cumulmi\c environmental impact. Therefore attempt has been made in this study for invesligating such impact. Soulhwesl Area Integraled Water Rcsources Managcmcnt Project (SWAIWRMP) aims to rehabilitate ami upgrade the existing flood control und drainage/irrigation (FeD/I) schcmes loealed in the Southwest rcgion of Bangladesh, thereby achieving thcir maximunl development pOlenlials in terms of agriculture production, fishery pmdudion and incomes 01' the bctleficiaries in a sustainable manner, Study area of this research is 1804 ha and situated with in Narail Sub-Prnjeel in compartment no I, Beside the Afra River six regulators exist in Tularampur union of compartment one. This sludy area is located in the upstream of the Afm River. There are a number of existing and proposed infraslruetures in the Sub-Project area, which might have cumulative impact. Objcctives of this study are' a) to identify important environmental parameters for SWAIWRMP; b) to screen parameters which may have cumulative impacl, c) to assess cumulative impacl of diffcrent parameters and d) to suggesl mitigation measures which will address cumulative environmental impacts. To assess achievement of these objectives and also to assess the cumulative impacts, primary and secondary data were collected through FGDs, KIl, individual interview, and secondary literatllres were also revicwed. Also some field assessmenl was done c.g. fish catch assessment, Several field visits were performed to gel field data, 10 know the stakeholdcrs perceptions and to observe the physical situation to understand the project. This study screened twelve parameters wbieh are of cumulative in nature. However, detail assessmenl was done for six paramelers (capture fisheries, \~el land, irrigation facility. cmployment opponunity. soil quality, flooding) among twelve parameters bascd on study area peoplc's perception and available information which shown how much lhese parametcrs are cumulative e,g. additive or multiplicative in nature. From the study, it has been seen that almost every parameters are enmn!ative in naturc. The impacl on eapl\lre fisheries is multiplicative in nalure and it is negativcly affected by thc sub.project interventions. Regarding wetland, soil quality and flooding all are affecled negatively by the sub-projcet intervention and the impact of these parameters on people's livelihood is quite tangible. However, irrigation facility and employmenl opponunily have positively affected people's living. Aftcr completion of rcgulators, crop production and employment opportunily of the study area has been increascd slgnificantly, The environmental management plan has been given wilh potential measures "ith a view to mitigale the negative impacts. The study has made a few recommendations for well being of the project stakeholders and future follow up study and research. Finally it can be concluded thm a project should be taken after conducting Cumulative Impact Assessment rmher than conducllllg traditional EIA considering impact ofthe singlc projcet.