Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

Operation &MaintenanceInduced developments at the regional scale will have mediumnegative impact.4.4 Induced Environmental Impacts at Regional Level16. Urbanization in Bangladesh is growing in rapid pace especially along the road and railwaycorridors. With the construction of the Padma Bridge, a rapid uncontrolled and unplannedurbanization may take place around the Project area, Asian highway and railway corridor. Apartfrom such urbanization, induced development activities along these areas will occur in the southwestregions of the country; these development activities will trigger several environmental issuesat local and regional level.17. A network diagram showing the induced impacts from widening of national highway 8 (N8)and railway network is shown in Figure 4-4. It is expected that the connectivity of the south-westernpart of the region with the rest of country will provide increased accessibility to markets, ports andgrowth centers. This will lead to development of business (including agriculture and fisheries),industry, communication, tourism, urbanization, etc. The induced development has both negativeand positive impacts. The positive impacts are increase in the socio-economic conditions of theregion through employment generation and poverty reduction. The negative impacts are (i) air andnoise pollution due to construction activities, increase in traffic levels and industrial development,(ii) generation of wastes due to increased living standards, (iii) consequent health impacts due topollution and waste generation, (iv) loss of biodiversity, and (v) land acquisition and resettlement.The positive impacts and negative impacts are represented with +/- sign in the network diagram.An assessment of these positive and negative impacts in terms of degree, duration and mitigabilityof impacts is shown in Table 4-2.Table 4-2: Assessment of Induced ImpactsImpact Degree of Impact Duration MitigabilityLoss of biodiversity High negative impact long term impact. Partly mitigableLand acquisition and High negative impact Long term impact Partly mitigableresettlementAir and Noise Pollution Medium negative Long term impact Partly mitigableImpactWaste Generation High negative impact Long term impact Fully mitigableHealth Impacts High negative impact Long term impact Fully mitigableBusiness Development High positive impact Long term impact EnhancementIndustrialization High positive impact Long term impact EnhancementTourism High positive impact Long term impact EnhancementEmploymentopportunitiesHigh positive impact Long term impact Enhancement4-12