Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

140. Deterioration in surface water quality: Roadside developments will generate several types ofwastes during their construction and O/M stages. Typical wastes are likely of solid and liquid whichmay further be classified as hazardous/toxic and non-hazardous/non-toxic. Disposal of these wasteswithout treatment will contaminate surface water surrounding the dumping sites. Contamination ofsurface water quality will have potential significant negative impact on biological functions of surfacewater as well as fish/aquatic life resources therein.141. Water Supply and Sanitation: Roadside development will require safe drinking water supply andsanitation facilities in selected locations. Unplanned development will pose great risk of waterbornediseases to infants and young children and people who are debilitated or living in unsanitaryconditions and elderly. BBA needs to coordinate with other departments and regions especially LocalGovernment and Engineering Department for identifying locations for water supply and sanitationfacilities along the corridor. And expedite the development of these infrastructures along the corridorto cash in the full advantage of the Asian Highway.142. Deterioration in groundwater quality: Deterioration in groundwater quality is likely to occur due tothe dumping of untreated wastes. Leachate of wastes that contains hazardous elements will percolatesoils reaching groundwater contaminating the natural resources.143. Waste: Wastes will be generated during construction and O/M of roadside development, andunless they are properly managed they will cause severe impact on environment. Particularlyindustrial hazardous wastes would affect the health quality of the workers as well as will contaminatesoil and water at their dumping locations.144. Land acquisition and resettlement: Widening of the road and construction of EPZ along roadside with the private/public initiative will trigger out land acquisition and resettlement issues and theirassociated impacts which needs to be properly handled before the start of such activity.145. Loss of agricultural lands: Roadside areas are mostly agricultural lands and development alongthe corridor will have impact on the agricultural lands. The impact is cumulative and will be seen askey issue for all infrastructure development in Bangladesh.146. Change in landuse: Change in landuse is from conversion of existing lands, mostly agriculturallands, into residential and commercial lands. Moreover, development works would induce furtherdevelopments which also have the impact on landuse again. For example, construction of an EPZ willresult in change in landuse, i.e., agricultural lands into EPZ purpose; and again there will be furtherchange in landuse from associated developments (say housing facilities for the workers) due to thisEPZ.Major Positive Impacts Employment147. Employment: Roadside developments including industries, commercial shops, fuel and CNGstations and similar others will generate a lot of employment for different professional categories ofpeople. Employments will also be generated from other sectors, directly or indirectly linked withroadside developments.7.4.1.3 Industrialization148. There is an industrial belt between Jessore and Khulna including several industrial areas inKhulna. A new EPZ will be established near Mongla Port, the second largest sea port serving as thegateway for imports and exports to the southwestern and northern regions. A deep seaport underconsideration in Mongla will get an important link throughout the country along the proposed bridge.The proposed bridge would largely benefit the import/export trade through this port as well as reducepressure on the Chittagong port. In all considerations, the southwest region will get a momentum inindustrialization creating huge additional employment.149. In addition, as it happened after Jamuna Bridge Project, private industries are expected to growalong the major roads having good access to the proposed bridge.150. Industrialization in the regions will result in both potential significant negative and positiveimpacts as below:Major Negative Impacts7-36