6.

Environmental and Social Impacts:

Though safety is a major concern environmental and social aspects are vital as well.
Assessing the environmental and social impacts is also essential when a road project is
proposed because the project must not affect the people who live within the vicinity and also
should protect the environment up to a greater extent.
We are going to propose a road widening work for Pinhena-Miriswatta road. Since the road is
traversing through populated area, paddy fields and vegetation, environmental and social
aspects are considered for the wellbeing of the people within the area.
6.1 Social Impact Assessment:
Due to this development there are positive and negative impacts on the livelihood of the
people living there. One of the negative impacts is that due to the road widening segment
land has to be acquired from the people who live and who are doing businesses nearby in that
area (Within the 1km, 8277m2 area of land needs to be acquired). But when we asked the
opinion about this project from the people who live nearby, a telecommunication shop owner
expressed that It is okay to expand the road as it is too narrow and accidents happen often.
But it would be better if a portion of our land is taken and not the whole land . Also a house
owner said people who live here would love the concept of the road being widened even
though their lands are taken. From these statements it is clear that the people who live there
want the road to be developed. So by giving enough compensation for their loss of land and
loss of income the project can be done without this issue. And this project impacts the people
living there more positively than negatively.

Figure 6.1: Houses located within 2m from the existing edge of pavement which have to be acquired

During the construction processes there will be issues to the public related to access to
business and properties and also parking of the construction vehicles in the road. The road is
narrow so, alternative paths have to be decided to overcome these issues. Construction
vehicles can be parked at a yard (a space selected near the road area to keep the machineries,
equipment) and can be brought to the site when there is a need only. Also to avoid traffic jam
problems signal men can be appointed at the two edges of the construction area. The method
adopted from the RDA traffic control methods to control the traffic is attached in the last
page of this section.
Also to avoid the public nuisance near the school, the work can be stopped during school
starting and ending hours and work will not be carried out nearby schools during examination
hours. Also work can be stopped near the Vihara on poya days and during any other religious
events.
The main positive impacts by initiating such a development are increment in mobility and
accessibility. Within the selected 1km there is a school and a Buddhist temple which can be
reached easily due to this project. Also since the level of service of the road has been
enhanced, the travel time for a particular trip will decrease. Also there will be ease in
accessing the main public buildings in Pilliyandala or Kottawa such as the hospitals, schools,
banks, shops etc. The accident rate will come down but there will be a problem of speeding
which should be controlled by a speed limit sign board.
6.2 Environmental Impact Assessment:
Due to the construction process, there will be adverse effects to the environment. So proper
environment mitigation plans should be taken to reduce the impacts of them. Those are listed
in the table below.
Issues

Mitigation Measures

Loss or
damage to fauna
and flora around
the construction
site

Maximum effort shall be taken to minimize harmful activities to

existing flora and fauna.
All works shall be carried out in a manner that the destruction to the
flora and their habitats is minimized.

Chemicals, oil which can be harmful to flora & fauna shall not be
released freely to the ground water or surface water bodies.
Take every effort to avoid removal / damage to the trees as much as
possible.

Water Pollution

Generation
of dust (
when the
cleaning is
carried out)

Watering on the exposed surface regularly prior to the activity.

Maximum effort shall be taken to effectively manage the dust

generating activities such as excavation of culvert during the periods of
high winds or during more stable condition with winds directed towards
adjacent residences and other facilities.
Clearance shall be affected immediately by manual sweeping and
removal of debris. And if needed the road surface will be hosed with
water
Maximum effort will be taken to prevent dirt and mud being carried to
the roads.
Watering will be done on the exposed surface regularly prior to the
activity.
All stockpiles will be located sufficiently away from sensitive areas
such as temples, schools to minimize the effect of dust.
Maximum effort shall be taken to execute dust generating activities
during the time which the wind is directed opposite the residential area.
A clearing hour shall be allocated on each working day and the
corresponding work area shall be cleaned by manual cleaning to avoid
the generation of the dust.

Generation
of dust ( when
the excavation is
carried out)

Generation
of dust ( when
transportation is
carried out)

Generation
of waste
materials

Noise
pollution &
Ground vibration

Workers will be made aware about the importance and protection of

water bodies.
Water pollution due to activities such as siltation, throwing waste into
water will be banned.
Disposal of soil into water bodies will be completely reduced.
Chemicals, oils which can be harmful to water will not be released freely
to water bodies(Flowing or stagnant water)

All vehicles delivering materials will be covered to avoid spillage and

dust emission.
Maximum speed of vehicle traveling within the construction areas will be
limited to 20km/h
Machinery and equipment will be handled well to minimize the
generation of dust.
Materials will be loaded /transported with wet condition.

All debris and residual material including any left earth will be disposed
only at location approved by relevant local authority such as
Pradeshiyasabha, Municipal council and other government agencies as
required.
Effective steps will be taken to prevent soil, or debris discharging to the
streams.
The debris and wastes shall be disposed in such a manner that waterways
and drainage paths are not blocked.
Removed top soil will be used as a productive soil when replanting/
establishing road side vegetation.
Disposable materials would not be dumped into streams or unauthorized
areas.
Prior to commencement of excavation, undertake condition survey of
existing structures within the zone of influence.
All machinery and equipment shall be well maintained.
Maintenance of vehicles, equipment and machinery will be regular.


Air
emissions
(exhaust)

Soil
erosion

The emission standards promulgated under the National Environmental

Act shall be strictly adhered to
All vehicles, equipment and machinery used for construction shall be
regularly serviced and well maintained to ensure that emission levels
comply with the relevant standards.
Silt traps will be constructed to avoid siltation in to water ways where
necessary.
Construction materials containing small fine particles shall be stored in
places which are not subjected to flooding and in such a manner that
these materials will not be washed away by runoff.
Used oil and filters shall not be released to bare soil during services done
at site and be collected into barrels/containers and stored until disposal
in an environmentally sound manner as per the guideline issued by the
CEA (Guideline for Implementation of Hazardous Waste Management
Regulation)

But in the selected road sides there were more weeds than the trees so destroying the weeds
during the road construction would impact the environment positively. Also new plants can
be planted in the centre median and the pedestrian walkways which would also result in a
positive impact to the environment.

Figure 6.2: Trees beside the existing road, which

have to be removed

Figure 6.3: Weeds grown with the plants beside the

existing road

Traffic control method proposed by the RDA

Construction vehicles can be

parked by allocating some
extra space here
Priority
Board

Control Traffic for Setting out of Center Line & Cross Section Operating Procedure
In accordance with RDA, Traffic Control Methods the following traffic operation procedure
would be adapted in order to control traffic.

Men at work 100m ahead, sign boards would be placed at each end on left hand side of the road.
25m away from men at work sign Narrow Road/one lane traffic sign would be placed in order to
notify the drivers with regard to road situation, at both ends.
Working area will be cordoned off with traffic cones to identify survey setting out to oncoming
traffic on both sides.
One way Traffic ahead sign boards would be placed 90m ahead of working area in order to
notify oncoming drivers.
Traffic priority board would also be placed for controlling traffic.
Traffic controllers (with safety jackets and helmets) would be deployed on both sides in order to
control the traffic.
Photographs would be taken to disseminate and maintain traffic safety records.
In locations where the road is narrow, allowing of one way traffic would be adopted.