Environmental Impact

Assessment

Dr. P. I. A. Gomes

Environmental Impacts

Environmental parameter

What is pollution/what is an impact?

Project A
No infrastructure
development (no
project)

Project B

Current
Commencement
(planning of the project
stage)

50 years after the

commencement
of the project

Time (years)

Pollution is a change in an environmental parameter (or an indicator)

over time relative to the no project scenario (i.e. relative to the
natural trend of the parameter).
Pollution and Environmental impacts are not synonyms, but are
correlated.

Environment

Natural

Physical

Social

Biological
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Generally when the environment is been mentioned it obviously includes

the social environment. However nowadays there is a trend, of separating
these two: Instead of Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental and
Social Impact Assessment. Where the former includes the physical and
biological environments only.
In many countries it is a statutory requirement to evaluate or assess the
Environmental impact of large scale projects . As Infrastructure Projects are
massive and large in size, technically almost all infrastructure projects needs
to conduct an assessment of probable impacts on the environment in
advance.
Assessment of possible impacts (positive or negative), that a proposed
project may have on the environment is called an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA).
EIAR: Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
Due to statutory nature of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, it
can be considered as a decision making tool.
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Development Projects/Anthropogenic
activities

Technical feasibility

Economic feasibility

Environmental feasibility

To commence a project these three need to be satisfied

The developer is very much interested of the technical and economic

feasibilities, as these factors govern the return (profit) of the project. Its
very rare to see a private developer (may be different if the developer is
government) consider the impact on the environment. However
nowadays any developer is compelled to check the impact on the
environment as it is a statutory obligation.
Importantly unlike in Technical and Economic feasibility studies, in the
Environmental feasibility the public participation take place.
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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be carried

out for the stages; construction and operational and
maintenance separately
Impacts during the construction stage are relatively short
term and in case of operational and maintenance are
rather long term

Involved parties of an EIA

Project Proponent (PP): the person/organisation/company
who put forward the project, i.e. the developer
Project Approving Agency (PAA): the organisation who
gives the final approval for the project to be commenced
Public & other stake holders

Environmental Impact Assessment- A case

study-Havelock City Mixed Development
Project, Sri Lanka

Site for the Havelock city

project

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11

N
12

N
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Technical and Economical aspects

Technical feasibility
The 2004 master plan of the UDA (although not yet officially sanctioned) identified
the need for vertical development considering the space limitations of the Colombo
City. Considering the large-scale vertical development that is proposed, the most
important issue in technical evaluation is the capacity of the urban environmental
infrastructure. This study shows that the prevailing infrastructure in the area is
already over-stretched and in bad condition to meet even the present needs. Thus
the project will invest significantly for the improvement of environmental
infrastructure and services in the project area. These investments will benefit not
only the proposed project but also the entire project area and beyond.
Economic feasibility
Total investment will be in the range of 250 million US Dollars (USD). This will be a
significant boost to the national economy. Also significant number of employment
opportunities will be crested by this project both during design/construction and
operation stages. In fact the long-term employment opportunities available as a
result of this project will exceed 1000. This is considering the large work force
required to operate and maintain the facilities created under this project consisting
of over 1000 housing units, 300 rooms hotel, shopping complex etc. Other than the
direct employment there will significant number of indirect employment
opportunities by way of provision of ancillary services.

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Skeleton road

Proposed
bridge

Mayura Lane

Religious
centers

Old flats

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Nature of the Project

Havelock City is urban development project based on the
concept of City within a City. Accordingly it consists of all
facilities, such as shopping, marketing, recreation and
pleasure, parking and other services required for modern
living. Hotel mainly catering to the needs of businessmen is an
added feature in this development.

Project components and salient features

Havelock City consists of two main components, namely a
residential complex and commercial complex. In addition it will
also include several other facilities to support the needs of the
residents and visitors.

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Project components and salient features

Residential (Apartment) Complex
Number of Towers
Number of units
Car park
Gross floor area*
Commercial Complex
Retail Mall
5-star Hotel
Cinema (6 Nos)
Car Park
Gross floor area*

8 (of each with 22-29 storey)

1080
1360 slots (floor area: 42,960 m2)
170,888 m2

41,460 m2
35,160 m2
4,250 m2
810 slots (floor area: 27,537 m2)
85,259 m2

Other Facilities
Club house including sports complex
Internal road network including a bridge across the canal connecting to Skeleton
Road (The access to the Skeleton Road is limited to permanent residents of the
apartment complex only).
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Constructional Activities
The construction methods will be typical to high rise building construction. In comparison to
building works the other construction activities will be minor in nature. These will include
internal road network, the bridge over the canal connecting the site to Skeleton Road, water and
sewer pipe laying and finishing works. Landscaping is also a key component of the development
plan.
Earthwork will range from shallow to deep excavations for construction of apartment car parks
and commercial complex basement. The site was previously used as an industrial site. Therefore
it was fully developed and there is no need for clearing of vegetation.
Project will also invest in upgrading/improvement of the infrastructural facilities in the site area.
These include water supply, sewer network, electricity and roads. The construction work related
to these activities will be carried out by the respective government agencies, such as the
NWSDB. The project proponent) will meet the cost of upgrading.
The project plans to construct a bridge over the canal to link with Skeleton Road. Also a new
access road via Darmarama Road to Duplication Road is planned. However, the main access to
the site will be through the Havelock Road. The project proponent envisages some improvement
to the Havelock Road in order to facilitate the traffic and avoid congestion. However plan for this
improvement has not yet being developed. The project proponent intends to consult the RDA and
CMC in the future for this purpose.
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The Construction Management System

Initial capital Investment
Land
= Rs. 750 million
Equity
= Rs. 1875 million
Total
= Rs. 2625 million
Life time of equipment
Not relevant
Operating cost
Not relevant. The construction costs are given below.
Apartment
= Rs. 17,198 million
Commercial
= Rs. 8,990 million
Total
= Rs. 26,188 million
Method of financing
Equity and Land/presales
= Rs. 14729 million
Equity contribution for commercial
= Rs. 7260 million
Loan facilities
= Rs. 4200 million
Total
= Rs. 26189 million

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Justification of the project

An idling land of nearly 3000 perches will be put into productive use.
Replacement houses for the occupants of five dilapidated apartment blocks in
the adjoining land. (There is a significant opportunity cost1 in leaving these
prime lands as it is).

Furthermore proposed project will not compromise the environmental and

social assets in the project area. Therefore the no action alternative is not an
acceptable option.
1The

opportunity cost includes all the forgone benefits of not using this
economic space in the commercial capital, Colombo. Forgone benefits
includes mainly:
Satisfying the housing demand by 1080 dwelling units
Provision of material and spatial support for investors
The probable impetus to the local economy
The foreign investment of US $ 250 million
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Environmental Impacts of Havelock City Project

Construction
stage

Operational
stage

Flora and fauna

Traffic , transport and parking
Water and energy
Waste generation and disposal
Strom water management
Relocation
Work force

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Description of the Existing Environment

Physical

Biological

Social

Locations of centers of
populations and settlements
Population characteristics
Available infrastructure
Housing and sanitation
Economic activities
Land value
Religious and cultural centers

Hydrology and
drainage/surface water
bodies and water quality
Land use
Air quality
Noise

Flora and Fauna

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Physical Environment

Horology etc

The project area falls into western lowlands. The average annual rainfall is
around 2500mm. Most of the rainfall is received from Southwest Monsoon
(May to September). The average annual temperature is about 270C.
The only surface water body is the Wellawatte canal, which was built during
the Dutch period. Canal connects to the Diyawanda Oya and drains to the
sea at Wellawatta, and the water hardly has any use due excessive
pollution.
Storm water drains to canal
Available ground water not good for drinking

Land use

The project area is highly built up area consisting of residential, public,

business and commercial buildings, road network and several
playgrounds. The project site is in mixed commercial land-use zone.

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(a)
UDA Land-use (a) Zones for Colombo City (b) Building densities

(b)
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Noise

According to these data the prevailing ambient noise levels

already exceed the standards

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Biological Environment

Flora and
fauna

Few species of economically important trees were observed in project

area. No endemic or threatened floral species were observed. All
most all faunal species were commonly found in home gardens

Water hyacinth
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Social/socio-economic Environment
The social investigation covered the area within half a kilometer from the
project site boundary. Based on the reconnaissance survey carried out by the
sociologist this was determined as the key impact area. Regional and national
impacts are positive in nature and thus not considered in detail.

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Anticipated Environmental Impacts (selected)

Construction stage
The construction works that could obstruct the natural drainage pattern of
the area are earthwork, which include excavation for basements, filling and
excavations of trenches for pipe laying
Dust levels in the ambient air can be raised by almost all construction
activities.

Noise due to construction machinery

However, considering the busy traffic conditions it is possible that large
trucks blocks could block the Havelock Road under following conditions
causing significant congestion

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Operational stage
Impact of additional traffic and related

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Proposed Mitigation methods

Construction stage
Drainage pattern: The project site was once a developed land thus there
are no natural drainage. All man made drainage paths are directed towards the
Wellawatta Canal. The site borders the Wellawatta canal thus existing drainage
paths are very short as well. The construction plans include drainage
management so that runoff will be directed to the canal. Where the construction
work affect existing drains or storm water carrying pipes the contractor will
reroute the storm water through temporary drains. Construction activities will
not upset the natural drainage pattern of the project site.
Dust control: paved the internal roads and start spraying water to keep the
exposed soil moist as measures to minimize dust problem
Noise control: Quieter equipment, Barrier protection, Work activity
scheduling and planning
Traffic issues: Only use Havelock Road access by construction vehicles,
such as trucks, All construction vehicles shall enter the site coming from
Kirulapona direction and leave in Tibirigasyaya direction
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Operational stage
Traffic related issues: Consultants recommend the implementation of four
access points (north, south, west and east). This is vital to minimize the traffic
load on Havelock Road.
It is also recommended that walk through access to the apartments through the
Skeleton Road access be available only for the residents. This is in order to
prevent visitors to the apartments parking their vehicles along Skeleton Road.

It is also recommend that the developer plan the Havelock Road access in
consultation with the RDA and CMC taking into account the proposed widening
of the Havelock Road
Consultants recommend that MCL shall further discuss with the Skeleton Road
Residents Association and obtain their confidence with regard to access
connection to the said road.

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Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation methods for the Social

environment

Positive Impacts
The project area and the vicinity will have an attractive look and it will add
to enhance the significance of land-use in the area.
The project will induce further improvements in the area including
improvements to environmental services and canal will be cleaner than what
it is today.
The improved systems for managing solid waste and wastewater may
establish in the area as a whole.
The access roads in the project impact area will be improved (at least few
sub-roads those may be connected to proposed project site)
The properties, especially land values will go up significantly in the project
impact area.
There will be economic gains to the area and shop keepers expect
significant boom to trading and sales.
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Negative impacts
The negative social impacts of the project are rather minimal. The people
have perception that the project will overload the existing urban services such
as water supply, wastewater disposal, drainage, solid waste disposal and
electricity. This is mainly because their lack of knowledge about the
improvements proposed for the infrastructure facilities under this project. Due
to planned improvement overall improvement to urban services is expected
for the entire area. It is important that developer carry out a public awareness
building in the project impact area.

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Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation methods for the

Biological environment

Terrestrial ecology of the proposed project area is already permanently

disturbed. Wellawatta Canal is the main aquatic habitats present in the
project area, which is highly polluted and highly disturbed. The land
used for construction of Hotel and Housing Complex is an abandoned
factory. There is no presence of endangered or threatened animal
species or significantly important plants in the proposed project site.
Therefore it can be concluded that the impact of the project on the fauna
and flora as none. Furthermore, most of the faunal species recorded are
highly mobile species with the ability to survive under disturbed
conditions and thus it is unlikely that the proposed project will affect
their populations in an adverse manner.

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EIA reports not only assess environmental impacts and

propose mitigation methods, also it gives an environmental
monitoring program as well. It includes;
System of Checking the anticipated impacts and how the
developer addressing them in the context of mitigatory
methods.
Institutional arrangement
Reporting procedure
Expertise required etc

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References:
EIA report for the Havelock city mixed development project,
prepared by EML consultants in September 2006.
Team members of the EIA
Mr. A. Jayathilake
E. Sivasudhan
Dr V.K Siriwardhena (team leader)
Mr K Jinapala
Dr P.M.C Bandara
Dr K. Weerasekara
Eng. P.I.A. Gomes
Ms. Shanthi Dharmawardhana.

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