Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

Discussion pointsyards, service area, toll plaza etc., should be included in thestudy. For fertility of soil, insects are very important.Action PointsProject area is very rich in biodiversity with aquatic wildlife(shushuk, Gangetic gharial, turtles, and lizards), terrestrialwildlife (foxes, mongoose, migratory birds etc.), and homesteadtrees. There will be impact on biodiversity and require carefulmitigation and compensation measures.Tree plantation should be carefully designed with local species.There are saplings available with FD. NGOs and destitutewomen should be engaged in plantation.Bird sanctuary should be developed in d/s Charland, where nosettlements are present.Visitor information center can be designed with variousfacilities.Rich biodiversity of the project area should be preserved andequally compensated.Bird sanctuary can be established in d/s of the Chars close tothe bridge alignment.For bird/fish sanctuary, BBA can engage relevant governmentorganizations (DOE, FD, DOF), including the local government.Padma Biodiversity Museum with common facilities,photographs of common species and videos of rare andendanger wildlife.High turbidity during dredging and noise from piling are twomajor impacts during the construction.Biodiversity/biological index should be developed for themonitoring purpose at different stages of the project.Fish migration will be affected during piling and after pierconstruction. Clarified March-May as the Hilsa migration time.Fish sanctuary can be developed in both up and down streamsof the river. Experienced organization should be engaged forthe implementation of mitigation/compensation measures forfisheries losses.Bi-monthly wildlife surveyswere conducted to establishthe baseline. Compensation isproposed for the habitat loss.A massive plantation programis planned, which will beimplemented by NGO underthe supervision of FD.Protected sanctuary isproposed for fish, bird andother aquatic habitat in one ofthe Char close to the projectsite.A Charland visitor center isalso proposed.Wildlife monitoring survey andstudy conducted to establishthe baseline. A protectedCharland sanctuary isproposed as a compensationmeasures.BBA will engage recognizedorganization for establishingthe protected sanctuary withthe help of relevantgovernment agencies.Two visitor centers areproposed in each side of theriver.Turbidity will be measuredcontinuously during dredgingand proper technology andtechniques are recommendedto reduce turbidity in riverwater.Index is developed under theecology report.Protected sanctuary isproposed.10.3.2 Focus Group Discussion11. During the discussions, it was seen that the people were very strongly supportive of the projectand fully willing to cooperate with BBA. While their main concern was timely resettlement and propercompensation, the participants were reassured by BBA that compensation will be paid in a timely andtransparent manner with the assistance of the implementing NGO. The discussion at Kathalbariferryghat covered several topics, including the shifting of the ferryghat during RTW construction,access from the bridge to the regional highway to Shariatpur, and proper compensation. The groupwas informed that as the Kabutarkhola bazaar would be affected by the RTW right-of-way located atthe border of Kabutarkhola and Jashaldia, the bazaar would be relocated at the Jashaldia site. Thelocal participants inquired whether it would be possible to locate the bazaar at both Kabutarkhola andJashaldia. Accepting the explanation that there were limitations in having more resettlement sites forthe market, which could cause delays in the process of compensation, the affected communityexpressed their support for the current proposal. However, based on the Preferred RTW option,Kabutarkhola bazaar is no longer affected by the project. Structured FGDs were held at allresettlement sites, at service areas, construction yards, and Kathalbari Char (two locations) and thesummary of discussions and action points are listed in Table 10-6.10-16