Environmental and Social Effects of Road Construction Projects on the Livelihood of Local Community: A Case on Mizan - Dima Road Construction Project
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Date
2020-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study is aimed to assess the environmental and social impacts, evaluate the project
implementation and its barriers of implementation of the developmental projects on the
livelihood of local community taking Mizan-Dima road construction project. Mixed methods
designs which include both qualitative and quantitative were used. The participants of the study
were household heads of project affected communities, the road construction project staff of
Mizan-Dima Road construction project site. Purposively selected road section was taken from
project stretch and all households from selected section were participated in the study. In order
to collect the data the researcher developed survey questionnaire, semi structured interview,
focused group discussion guiding questions. Secondary data were also included. Most of the
participants were suggested that the road construction project has positive impacts in enhancing
economic or livelihoods activities of the local communities’. Another majority of the participants
reported the road construction has caused soil erosion, environmental pollutions and faunas and
floras disruption. Meanwhile, adverse impacts from project’s selected material extraction and
processing sites like quarry and borrow sites, crusher and asphalt plant have also disturbed the
surrounding communities convenience. Generally, the finding shows that there are negative road
construction effects in Mizan-Dima. Therefore, prevention and mitigation measures are vital in
order to enhance the positive impacts and mitigate the adverse project induced social and
environmental impacts on water resources, wildlife species, soil erosion, sound pollution,
livelihood and other related impacts. Moreover, the contractor should comply the basic
principles of EIA and implement the Environmental management plan appropriately to the
ground during construction to minimize the negative impacts of the project. Future researches
should endeavor to examine how to mitigate the impacts of road construction projects.
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Keywords
Environment, Social, Impacts, Road, Road construction, Mizan-Dima