Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

99. Chars provide habitat for important aquatic and terrestrial birds such as Brown Fish Owl,Comb Duck, River Lapwing, Black Headed Ibis, Common Tern, Indian River Tern, Long-leggedBuzzard, and Short-eared Owl. Charland with their mudflats and sandy beaches are the majorstaging grounds for migratory birds. Chars act as breeding grounds for endangered species such asGanges Soft-shell Turtle (Aspideteres gangeticus) and Spotted Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata)and other turtle species. The wild life in chars generally includes small cats, mongoose, otters, frogsand snakes. The Charland in the project area are under stress by the human encroachment andactivities, and will be temporarily disturbed due to construction works of the Project.94. Presently the riverbanks in the Project area is subjected to frequent erosion and fail to providestable shelter for riverbank ecosystem. As the river protection works will provide more stable habitatsin the river and its floodplain. It is estimated that the project will affect about 1,136 ha of aquatichabitat, in which 465 ha is in Padma river (dredging access/transit channel for barge/crane movementfor main bridge pier locations close to Charland, temporary disturbance during the constructionperiod) due to the footprints of RTW and temporary RTW construction for Mawa construction yard,about 639 ha of floodplains, 20ha Charland, and 12 ha of ponds.100. A conservation plan is proposed to support the wildlife in Charland and fishes and otheraquatic fauna in the Padma as a compensation measures under the PMBA. The objectives theconservation plan is to(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)Develop a protected sanctuary in a Charland and to support breeding grounds of turtles andfishes and to compensate the loss of riverine area due to the Project and to enhance theaquatic resources and fish production in the project areaDevelop a visitor center in the Mawa construction yard with local floral and faunal resourcesto promote tourismCreate awareness among the surrounding people about the protection of wildlife.Implement appropriate mitigation measures for the protection of fauna during constructionactivities.Study and monitor both the resident and migratory species of wildlife during construction andO/M stages.8.9.4.2 Development of Padma Protected Sanctuary101. The Project will impact about 1,136 ha of floodplain and riverine ecosystem. To compensatethe loss of this ecosystem, an equivalent size protected sanctuary or nature reserve will beestablished in suitable location of the project area. One of the stabilized chars such as Char Janajatcan be further studied. The stabilized chars with reed lands with submerged areas surrounding thechar are generally suitable for such compensation measure due to their suitability for aquatic and birdhabitat. A protected sanctuary with a core and buffer zones will be established with an official legalstatus. The core area will extend into the river, in order to create highly-needed reproduction, nursingand feeding areas for fish, crustaceans, turtles and dolphins. Experience from fish sanctuariesdeveloped in Hakaluki in 2008 by the DOE under ‘Coastal and Wetland BiodiversityManagement Project’ shall be considered in designing the submerged part of theconservation area. In this project, a kind of bamboo frame was used to prepare fishsanctuary, a common practice in the Char Janajat as well. Tree branches of hijol, koroch,borun, jarul etc. are put inside the frames. The frames remain attached to the river bottom.Water hyacinth is put on the top. The sanctuaries are marked with red flags to designatethem as protected areas.102. Since all the existing stabilized chars are habituated and subject to natural erosion process,other alternative is to develop a location with the excess dredged material over a recently emergedchar located near the bridge site. The artificially developed char will kept free of human habitation sothat there will not be any disturbances to the ecosystem development. The following criteria will beused for selection of the location for the development of protected sanctuary:the location should be relatively close to the bridge site, in order to develop its costrecoverysystem (the eco-tourism connection);8-49