Environmental & Social Management Framework - About ...

Environmental and Social Management Frameworkdrugs. Adequate efforts should be made to maintain social harmony and cooperationamong the workers and local residents. Other social issues duringconstruction are payment to the workers/labours (in time and adequately);protection, improvement and integration of approach trails and tracks,chautaras, etc. to the road as special features; road-side new incomegeneration activities (tea-stalls, dal-bhat shops, PCO/telephone booth, milkbooth etc.); traditional activities (cultivation, porter goods).h. Road Safety ImpactsRoad safety issues naturally increase when the upgraded/new roads go intooperation. Inherently, roads bear accident risks that may cause adverse effects tothe individuals afflicted, and may lead to a variety of direct and indirectenvironmental damages. Traffic accidents because of negligent crossing orwalking, undefined crossing sites, narrow road, low quality shoulder surface, poorvisibility, careless driving in high speed, rushing in the roadway, lack of nonmotorizedlanes, inadequate traffic signs, inappropriate road standards anddesigns, and by natural disasters.There are many features of a road and its associated structures which influencethe risk or the severity of a road. Pertaining parameters include:• pavement and shoulder condition, roughness and surface grip;• presence of roadside poles, trees, ditches, steep slopes, and barriers;• signage, markings, intersection layout;• roadside access, parking, and bus stop arrangements;• provision of pedestrian, cyclist and other non-motorized road users.• traffic control and enforcement of traffic rules• drivers behaviour and license system• public safety awareness and educational standards• vehicle maintenance• road maintenance;i. Impact on Cultural and Historical AssetsCultural heritage is sites, structures, and remains of archaeological, historical,religious, cultural, and aesthetic value 3 . Cultural heritage is a particular form ofexpression of human values which serves to record past achievements anddiscoveries. It is important to assess site to understand the significance of a site,according to its aesthetic, historic, scientific, and social value, in addition to itsamenity value.Cultural and historic sites may be threatened by road construction and associatedworks such as excavation, filling, quarrying and spoil disposal, andunregulated/increased access to cultural heritage sites. It can destroy the sitesor alter their character. Aesthetic impacts on cultural monuments andarchaeological sites can occur. Road many result in illegal occupation orencroachment of the culturally and historically important areas (temples, shrines,dharamsala, sattal/pati, religious sites, mela, jatra, caves, graveyards, forts,palaces) or the land belonging to these sectors. On the other hand, the increasedaccessibility may attract visitors to these areas which encourage better use, careand conservation of the same.3Baitadi District in the far west is particularly rich in terms of religious monuments, templesand shrines. Road planners must therefore make careful assessment of such sites to avoidundesired and irreversible impacts on such heritage.Chapter 4-26 April 2007