ADDENDUM - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES - SEPTEMBER, 2006
ADDENDUM
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
SEPTEMBER, 2006
I. Environmental impacts related to civil works
Construction activities generate varied kinds of waste which have the potential of polluting the neighbouring air, water and land. The neighbourhood and surrounding areas of any construction can be adversely affected by the huge amounts of construction materials, waste and large number of temporary construction workers, if they are not managed properly. Health, safety and sanitation of these temporary workers is an added concern which needs to be addressed during the course of the construction activity.
Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, Government of Tamil Nadu will ensure that all these new constructions and up gradations /extensions are being done on land which is belongs to the Government and/or is free of any occupation or "encroachment". If there is any issue related to relocation of encroachers, the Bank should be informed accordingly. During the course of the program, if Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project decides to undertake a major construction, (such as a complete building, treatment and in-patient centres and/or which require land acquisition etc, the Bank will need to be informed well in advance and the appropriate environmental plan will need to be developed.
II. Construction Guidelines
The design and construction of the planned facilities under the World Bank aided Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project should comply with the existing set of codes, regulatory guidelines and manuals of the Government of India / Government of Tamil Nadu, as listed below and as applicable :
• National Building Code of India / Tamil Nadu Building Practices Volume 1 and Volume 2
• IS 1172-1983: Code of basic requirements for Water Supply, drainage and Sanitation
• IS 2065-1983: Code of practice for water supply in buildings
• IS 1742-1983: Code of practice for building drainage
• IS 1200: Code of practice for water supply and drains
• Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) manual on Water Supply & Water Treatment
• CPHEEO manual on Sewerage & Waste Treatment
• CPHEEO manual on Solid Waste Management.
• Tariff Advisory Committee (TAC) manual on Fire Protection System
The construction practices shall also comply with the national standards and code of practices established by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and other environmental agencies.
The following construction guidelines will be followed during the implementation of World Bank aided Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project for renovation, up-gradation of health care and laboratory facilities. Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project will ensure that the requirements defined in the Addendum as applicable, are included into the bid documents with civil works contractors. Additionally, experts in environmental planning and designing should review and approve all designs before construction. Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project will undertake periodic reviews of construction practices and ensure these guidelines are being adhered to.
III.a) Site selection
When a health care facility renovation /up-gradation is planned, site selection is an important consideration. A site wrongly chosen can result in environmental problems that will persist throughout the operation of the health care facility. This should be avoided. In this section, guidelines for selecting a suitable site are given.
The following points should be given due consideration prior to the selection of the up gradation/renovation of site for a health care facility:
• The chosen site should have adequate water supply, both for washing / cleaning and drinking purposes. In particular, the quality of water should be tested, as poor quality of drinking water could be a health hazard.
• Prior land use of the proposed site should be determined, as the facility should necessarily be built only on non-hazardous land.
• The drainage pattern of the site and the region should be studied to determine whether the site would be subject to flooding and stagnant water. The chosen site should be free from water logging problems.
• The setting of the upgraded/renovated facility should not harm natural habitats or biodiversity of the region, e.g. forest areas, wet lands, historic, archaeological or religious sites.
• The setting of the upgraded/renovated facility should not be in close proximity to areas susceptible to health or other hazards (such as slow-moving or stagnant water bodies, industrial waste disposal sites, municipal landfills and/or any other probable source of infectious diseases).
III.b) Guidelines for design
Designing a layout of a facility or up-gradation of a building is important as any deficiency can result in health and environmental issues during its operation. In this section, some guidelines for design have been included.
General
• The facility should be large enough to provide service delivery for target populations. Coherent and responsive planning should be included based upon present and projected needs.
• Facility design features must ensure adequate space and equipment for health service delivery.
Equipment-related Specifications
• Appropriate standards for non-medical equipment (solar hot water, pumping systems, sanitary equipment, etc) are to be in compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards, if available.
• Specifications for medical equipment should be in compliance with applicable norms.
Bio-medical Waste Management Facilities
• Medical waste segregation, collection, storage, treatment and disposal are to be practiced or outsourced as per the Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) (2000) Rules.
• In designing the layout of a facility, proper waste movement should be planned.
• Storage bins and collection equipment for different categories of waste should be provided.
• Lockable storage space should be provided for segregated infectious waste prior to disposal or transport to other facilities for disposal.
• Areas should be earmarked for sharps pit and deep burial pits, if there isn’t any access to centralized bio-medical waste treatment facilities.
Building-related Specifications
• Proper ventilation and natural lighting should be provided so that there are no adverse health impacts. Lighting and ventilation standards should be in compliance with Indian norms.
• Good indoor air quality and ventilation should be ensured in the building design.
• The flooring design should be such that it does not lead to falls, slippage and retention of infectious material.
• Good construction practices should be planned. This should include the usage of environment friendly construction products such as fly ash.
• Building materials should be fire resistant and there should be provision for evacuation in the event of fire.
Water Supply and Quality
• Adequate provision for storage of sufficient volumes of water should be provided to ensure continuous availability of water to all designated locations within the building during any period and when water supply is interrupted.
• Water supply must be assured on a regular basis. A fallback mechanism should be made, if the water supply fails.
• Water supply and distribution standards should be in compliance with Indian norms.
• Water supply should be planned to all required points of use in the facility in sufficient volumes and pressure to satisfy needs.
• Wherever possible the facility should get the water supply from the water board and adequately treat it and make it potable.
• Water quality must meet acceptable norms. If not, provisions for clean drinking water in sufficient quantities should be made. Specific plans to address any particular issues of water quality, such as arsenic and fluoride contamination, should be made if that is required.
• Water quality should be monitored and controlled periodically.
• Rainwater harvesting systems should be planned in all the buildings in the facility.
Wastewater and Sanitation
• Sanitary standards for waste water treatment storage and disposal should be in compliance with Indian norms
• Possible improper and indiscriminate disposal of solid waste, garbage, blocked drains, stagnant water within and outside the health care facilities needs to be addressed at the planning stage itself.
• Sufficient number of toilets should be provided.
• Wastewater and effluents should be treated and recycled wherever feasible.
• Provisions should be made for septic tanks and soak pits in all Health care facilities.
• Adequate drainage and evacuation arrangements should be made at all points where water is available.
General / Communal Solid Waste
• Sufficient number of bins should be provided to collect general solid waste
• Wherever the collection of garbage/municipal solid waste is not streamlined by the municipality / panchayat, a pit to decompose organic waste should be provided for.
• For recyclables, storage locations should be planned.
Miscellaneous
• The facility / building should have an emergency egress.
• Easy access for the physically challenged should be provided.
• Unsafe building materials such as asbestos should be avoided
• Low-cost lead-based paints, anti-termite chemicals and other pest management using chemical pesticides should be avoided.
III.c) Construction Management Guidelines
Any up gradation/renovation of a building creates environmental impacts, which can be minimized through good construction management practices. This section includes some guidelines on how these impacts can be mitigated or reduced.
• Generation of dust is common in a construction site. In order to reduce dust emissions, periodic watering should be done. In addition, temporary fencing should be provided along the boundary so that the emissions do not affect the immediate neighbours.
• Noise pollution due to operation of different types of equipment and machinery during construction activities may disturb the surrounding premises, including residential dwellings, schools, hospitals etc. Construction should be carried out only during the daytime and as per permitted timings. If there is an educational institution in the neighborhood, proper temporary noise barriers should be erected to reduce construction-related noise impacts.
• Labour camps on site should be as per Indian norms. Clean and well-maintained toilets should be made available at the construction site.
• If there is any eco-sensitive habitat in the vicinity of the construction site, care should be taken to ensure that there are no adverse impacts on the habitat. Any existing streams and drains within, and adjacent to the site should be kept safe and free from any debris and any excavated materials arising from the works.
• Construction waste generated should be properly stored on site and disposed by filling low-lying areas after obtaining the required local permissions.
• Liquid spills of lubricant, fuel and oil within the site should be attended at the earliest in order to minimize land & groundwater contamination.
• Temporary fencing around the project site should be provided to regulate the entry and exit of material, personnel and equipment.
• Construction workers, managers and visitors to the site should use personnel protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, safety boots and goggles.
• Waste water generated from wash-pits, wheel washing, equipment cleaning, etc can be a source of water pollution if the drainage system is ineffective. Additionally sanitary waste generated by the temporary construction workers can pollute the surface/under-ground water. There is the added risk of mosquito breeding, if water around the construction site is allowed to stagnate. Temporary drainage works should be constructed and maintained.
