Page 1 REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN MINISTRY OF MELIORATION AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION FERGHANA VALLEY WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN THIRD DRAFT 4 March 2005 E1129 Page 2 Draft 04/03/05 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background 1.2. Objective 1.3. World Bank Safeguard Policies 1.4. Methodology 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT SITUATION 2.1. Description of Physical and Biological Environment 2.2. Description of Socio-economic Context 2.3. Description of Stakeholders and Beneficiaries 3. POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 3.1. Policy Context 3.2. Legal Framework for Environmental Assessment/Management 3.3. International Framework for Water Resources Management 3.4 Institutional Framework for Environmental Assessment/Management 4. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED 4.1. Description of Project 4.2. Analysis of Project Alternatives 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND PREVENTIVE ACTIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 5.1. Anticipated Positive Social and Environmental Impacts 5.2. Potential Negative Environmental and Social Impacts 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN 6.1. Mitigation Plan 6.2. Monitoring Plan 6.3. Institutional Strengthening 6.3.1. Training/study Tours 6.3.2. Equipment 6.3.3. Consultant Service 6.3.4. Special studies 6.3.5. Public Awareness 6.4. Schedule 6.5. Institutional arrangements 7. CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL NGOS AND BENEFICIARIES 7.1 Initial Environmental Screening Mission 7.2 Project Workshop in Khojand 7.3 Consultation on Draft EAMP 8. PROPOSED BUDGET Page 3 D raft 04/03/05 ACRONYMS CPIU Central Project Implementation Unit CDW Collector and Drainage Waters CSF Collective/State Farms EAP Environmental Action Plan EA Environmental Assessment EAMP Environmental Assessment and Management Plan EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan FAO Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations FVWRMP Ferghana Valley Water Resources Management Project GDP Gross Domestic Product GOT Government of Tajikistan IPM Integrated Pest Management MFC Main Ferghana Canal MMWRM Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources Management MOA Ministry of Agriculture NFC Northern Ferghana Canal NGO Non-governmental organization PIU Project Implementation Unit PPU Project Preparation Unit RPIU Regional Project Implementation Unit SCEPF State Committee for Environmental Protection and Forestry SES Sanitary and Epidemiological Station SEE State Ecological Expertise SLC State Land Committee WHO World Health Organization WRMD Water Resources Management Department WUA Water Users Association Page 4 D raft 04/03/05 2 1. INTRODUCTION This Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (EAMP) has been prepared for the proposed World Bank Ferghana Valley Water Resources Management Project (FVWRMP) in Tajikistan in order to ensure that the proposed project incorporates sound environmental and social management principles and practices and thus complies with World Bank environmental safeguard policies, as well as with the environmental requirements of the Government of Tajikistan (GOT). It was prepared by a multi-disciplinary team of national environmental experts under the direction of an FAO environment officer 1 . 1.1 Background Tajikistan is a mountainous country with an area of 143 thousand square km and a population of about 6.2 million people. It is a landlocked country, the poorest among the Central Asian republics. Estimates are that 85 percent of the population is not able to satisfy their food, education and health care needs. Agriculture is a dominant sector of the economy and forms 30 percent of GDP. Some 50 percent of the population is engaged in the agricultural sector and about 70 percent of the population lives in rural areas. The overwhelming majority of poor people (around 5 million people) live in poverty due to economic breakdown and civil war in the country. Decreasing unemployment by means of economic growth will improve their living standards. One of the main obstacles to rehabilitation of agriculture in Tajikistan is the bad condition of irrigation infrastructure. The Ferghana Valley forms an important part of the Syr-Darya River basin in Central Asia (see map in Figure 1). It is rich with fertile lands and water resources, including ground waters, with a population of 11 million people, 70 percent of whom live in rural areas. During Soviet times the valley was the main object of water resources infrastructure investment. The Syr Darya River and its tributaries were the basic sources of water for 1.5 million ha suitable for agricultural irrigation and for huge potential for electric power production. Unfortunately, severe budget cuts and insufficient appropriations for irrigation and drainage system maintenance led to its present state of deterioration. This deterioration resulted in significant decreases in soil fertility and in agricultural crop yields and in increases in problems connected with drainage, such as impoundment of lands and decrease in cultivated area suitable for agricultural production. Further deterioration of irrigation and drainage systems will affect agricultural production and the living standards of the local population involved in agriculture. Furthermore, poor land and water resources management has led to additional problems, including an increase in strained relations with different neighboring countries due to the conflicts connected with water supply. The FVWRMP will be the World Bank’s first project in the irrigation and drainage sector in the Ferghana Valley of Tajikistan and represents part of the Bank’s overall program for improving water resources management in the Ferghana Valley countries of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The proposed project is designed to help the GOT improve the overall state of water management and irrigated agriculture in Soghd Oblast, the Tajik portion of the valley. The valley’s principal water control features are the Toctogul Reservoir on the Narin River (main branch of the Syr Darya River) located in Kyrgyzstan and the Kayrakkum Reservoir located on the Syr Darya River upstream from Khojand. The 1 The EAMP team consisted of S. Isomaddinov, A. Hamidov and A. Abduvaliev in Khojand; R. Rahmatiloev, M. Babadjanova, A. Holmatov, F. Murtazaev, A. Hisoriev, H. Muhabbatov and U. Murtazoev in Dushanbe; and D. Colbert in Rome. Page 5 D raft 04/03/05 3 Kayrakkum Dam functions to control irrigation releases to downstream agricultural areas in Uzbekistan and provides hydropower generation for Tajikistan. Adjacent irrigated valley lands are served from the reservoir and river by large pumping stations, two main irrigation canals and a number of tributaries of the Syr Darya River. The main sources of groundwater flows into the area are inflowing groundwater from irrigated uplands in Kyrgyzstan and inflows from the Kayrakkum Reservoir (whose head has a huge negative role in increasing the local water table). Numerous drainage pumping stations and Figure 1 - Map of Ferghana Valley in Tajikistan irrigation/drainage tubewells are designed to discharge drainage flows and control high groundwater levels. This water resource management infrastructure has both physical and operational problems that significantly impede effective management of the water resources in the valley. The FVWRMP is designed to address some of these problems by rehabilitating selected irrigation and drainage infrastructure in irrigated areas south of the Kayrakkum Reservoir in Kanibadam and Bobojon Gafurov Raions (covering about 30,000 ha.) and by undertaking needed Kayrakkum Dam and Reservoir safety and regulation improvement measures. A more detailed description of the proposed project can be found below (see Section 4.1). The GOT’s Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources Management (MMWRM), based in Dushanbe, is responsible for land melioration and management of water resources in Tajikistan and has field offices in Soghd Oblast and in the two project raions. MMWRM established a Project Preparation Unit (PPU) to work with the World Bank and manage preparation of the FVWRMP . The PPU is composed of irrigation engineers, financial and procurement officers, but no environmental specialist. MMWRM and the World Bank asked that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide an international environmental specialist to identify and manage a team of national environmental specialists for preparing the EAMP. This document is the result of their work. 1.2 Objective Page 6 D raft 04/03/05 4 The objective of the environmental assessment (EA) in Sections 1-5 of this document is to identify the significant environmental and social impacts of the proposed project (both positive and negative) and to specify appropriate preventive actions and mitigation measures (including appropriate monitoring) to prevent, eliminate or minimise any anticipated adverse impacts. The environmental management and monitoring plan (EMMP) contained in Section 6 of the document is the mechanism that ensures that the environmental prevention and mitigation measures identified in the EA and the monitoring plan and institutional strengthening activities recommended will be properly undertaken during implementation of the proposed project. The EMMP also establishes the necessary institutional responsibilities, proposes a timetable for implementing these activities and estimates their costs for the proposed project budget. 1.3 World Bank Safeguard Policies The World Bank’s Integrated Safeguard Data Sheet for the FVWRMP classified it as a Category “B” project, triggering the Bank’s safeguard policies for environmental assessment, projects on international waterways, and safety of dams. The EA confirmed the Category “B” designation for the proposed project, finding no significant, irreversible, cumulative or long- term adverse impacts. In fact, the EA identified a number of positive impacts of the proposed project and only minor negative impacts that could be effectively prevented or reduced through application of appropriate preventive actions or mitigation measures (see discussion of impacts in Section 5). The EA also confirmed the application of the three safeguard policies specified above and examined but rejected application of the Bank’s safeguard policies for pest management, involuntary resettlement, cultural property, forestry, natural habitat, indigenous peoples or projects in disputed areas. A discussion of the EA’s findings with respect to these policies follows. 1.3.1 Environmental Assessment (OP 2 4.01, BP 3 4.01, GP 4 4.01) The anticipated environmental and social impacts of the infrastructure improvements (i.e. irrigation and drainage rehabilitation and dam operational improvements) in the proposed project trigger this safeguard policy. Because the anticipated adverse impacts will not be significant or irreversible, however, and because they can be prevented or reduced through appropriate preventive actions or mitigation measures, the project is classified a Category “B” project, which requires only partial environmental assessment under this policy. This EA, with its EMMP ensuring that recommended preventive actions and mitigation measures will be taken, satisfies this Bank safeguard policy. 1.3.2 Projects on International Waterways (OP 7.50, BP 7.50, GP 7.50) The Syr Darya and Isfara Rivers and the Kayrakkum Reservoir, which provide most of the water to the irrigation systems to be addressed in the proposed project, are international waterways and thus trigger this safeguard policy. The EA examined the potential impacts of the project on these waterways. The proposed civil works do not include construction of any new canals or head works that would allow increased water abstraction from these international waterways. 2 Operational Policies (OPs) are short, focused statements that follow from the World Bank’s Articles of Agreement, the general conditions, and policies approved by the Board. OPs establish the parameters for the conduct of operations; they also describe the circumstances under which exceptions to policy are admissible and spell out who authorises exceptions. 3 Bank Procedures (BPs) explain how Bank staff carries out the policies set out in the OPs. They spell out the procedures and documentation required to ensure Bank-wide consistency and quality. 4 Good Practices (GPs) contain advice and guidance on policy implementation, for example, the history of the issue, the sectoral context, analytical framework, best practice examples. Page 7 D raft 04/03/05 5 Therefore, the EA concluded that the project would not have a significant impact on the quantity or quality of water flowing through these waterways and thus has no adverse effect on the rights of the other riparian states. Therefore, given the expected negligible impacts of the project on international waterways, the EA recommends that the Bank seek a waiver pursuant to paragraph 7(a) of OP 7.50 for this safeguard policy. 1.3.3 Safety of Dams (OP 4.37, BP 4.37). The project component involving improvement measures for the safety and regulation of the Kayrakkum Dam triggers this safeguard policy. The EA, however, does not address this policy issue as the Bank’s dam safety specialist (Mr. Koltsov Gennadiy Aleksandrovich) will perform a separate dam safety assessment in order to ensure project compliance with this safeguard policy. 1.3.4 Pest Management (OP 4.09, BP 4.09). The EA determined that the project does not trigger the pest management safeguard policy. The project will not procure any pesticides nor will the project alone induce an increase in the use of pesticides. Current pesticide use levels in the project area are low due to economic conditions; farmers simply cannot afford chemical inputs. The recovery of the agricultural sector (increased agricultural productivity) is likely to increase pesticide use in the longer term. However, a return to the high use levels of the Soviet period is not foreseen, given that agro-chemicals are no longer subsidised by the GOT. Furthermore, any change in farmers’ ability to invest in inputs is expected to be gradual and take place mainly after the completion of the project, since several other agricultural development issues need to be addressed first to alleviate the financial constraints. The EA recommends measures, such as training and agricultural extension on integrated pest management (IPM), to decrease future pesticide demand and minimise the environmental impacts from any pesticide use. 1.3.5 Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12, BP 4.12). The EA also determined that the project, as currently designed, does not trigger the involuntary resettlement policy. The project will not involve any physical relocation of local populations, nor will it result in any loss of assets (e.g. farmlands) or access to assets, or loss of income sources (e.g. crops) or means of livelihood. On the contrary, the project is specifically designed to improve the value of farm assets and thus increase farm incomes. Furthermore, the project will not impose any restrictions on access to local farmlands; any interference with access to farmlands resulting from the rehabilitation works at pumping stations, tube wells, irrigation canals or drainage collectors will be temporary, short-term and insignificant in nature. 1.3.6 Cultural Property (OPN 11.03). Based on the field assessment of the project area performed by the EAMP team, the EA concluded that the project will not involve any “cultural property” as defined by the safeguard policy. The project by definition will be implemented on already existing irrigation and drainage systems on long-established agricultural lands adjacent to the Kayrakkum Reservoir, which were largely converted to agriculture some 50 years or more ago during Soviet times. Furthermore, the project will not involve any extension of these lands into non-agricultural areas. While these farmlands and the associated man-made assets in the area are perhaps of national and local importance in terms of their agricultural productivity and economic output, they are without any particular archeological, historical, religious or cultural significance for Tajikistan. 1.3.7 Remaining Safeguard Policies. The EA also found that, consistent with the initial ISDS determination, the remaining safeguard policies were not triggered by the project for the following reasons: Page 8 D raft 04/03/05 6 · Forests (OP 4.36, BP 4.36). The project will involve no forested or woodland areas, which would trigger this policy. · Natural Habitats (OP 4.04, BP 4.04). The project will involve no conversion of natural areas or critical natural habitats, which would trigger this policy. · Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.2). The project will involve no indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities or tribal groups, which would trigger this policy. · Projects in Disputed Areas (OP 7.60, BP 7.60). The project will not be implemented in a disputed area, which would trigger this policy. 1.4 Methodology At the request of the GOT, the World Bank asked the UN FAO to field an international environmental specialist to work with the PPU in identifying several national environmental specialists to conduct the EA and to prepare the EAMP. Work on the EA began with the first mission (11-23 November 2004) by the FAO environment officer, who worked with the EAMP team of specialists, gathering the baseline information for the EA, visiting the proposed project areas, viewing various irrigation and drainage sites, and meeting with national and local officials, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), farmers and other beneficiaries of the proposed project. Working with the FAO environment officer, the PPU contracted a larger group of national environmental specialists to gather and analyse additional information for the EA in the areas of biodiversity and natural habitat, soil and water quality, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The background technical reports prepared by the team of national specialists are contained in Annex A. During a second EA mission (14-17 December 2004) the EAMP team presented the preliminary work of the national specialists in a project workshop in Khojand attended by local government officials, international experts and project beneficiaries. The project workshop allowed the EAMP team to exchange ideas on the technical, social and environmental aspects of the project. Additional workshops/public consultations were held in the project areas, B. Gafurov on 4 March and Kanibadam on 5 March 2005, and in Dushanbe 10 March 2005, where members of the EAMP team presented the draft EAMP for discussion and comment by local officials and project beneficiaries. The minutes of these consultations are contained in Annex B. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT SITUATION 2.1 Description of Physical/Biological Environment 2.1.1 Physical Features The project area is located in Soghd Oblast, the northernmost portion of Tajikistan, which borders Kyrgyzstan to the south and Uzbekistan to the east, north and west. Soghd Oblast is situated within the bounds of the Ferghana Valley at an average absolute altitude of 2000-2700 meters above sea level. The descent occurs from northeast to southwest (414 m). Its area forms 25.4 square km. The valley region is mainly agrarian, with basic cultivated crops of cotton, corn, wheat, apricot, vine and vegetables. The project area includes Kanibadam Raion and part of Bobojon Gafurov Raion, which are situated on the southern and eastern shores of the Kayrakkum Reservoir. The total area of these raions is 166 493 ha (Kanibadam – 32 436 ha, B. Gafurov – 134 057 ha). The irrigated areas are 34 514 ha in B. Gafurov Raion and 22 623 ha in Kanibadam Raion. The irrigated area in B. Gafurov Page 9 D raft 04/03/05 7 rayon is 60-70 percent of the total agricultural area, which indicates the dependence on water resources. The distribution of land to gardens, ploughed fields and pastures is shown in Table 2.1. The total forested area is 220 ha, 176 ha of which are in B. Gafurov Raion. Table 2.1 - Land Use in the Project Raions (ha) Raion Total Area Irrigated Area Arable Land Gardens Pastures Total Ag. Land Forests B. Gafurov 134 057 34 514 24 824 9 435 90 893 126 823 3 266 (irrigated) 21 426 9 433 26 30 891 176 Kanibadam 32 436 22 623 10 873 7 791 9 295 27 959 44 (irrigated) 10 873 7 791 18 664 44 Source: Soghd Oblast SCEPF 2.1.2 Hydrogeology The project raions border the Kayrakkum Reservoir, which is 65 km in length, 8-20 km in width, with a surface area of 513 km². The total capacity of the reservoir is 3 413.5 million m³, net storage volume (project data) – 2 743.0 million m³. However, silting of the reservoir during the last 50 years has decreased net storage volume to 1 930 million m 3 . The length of the Kayrakkum Dam is about 30 km, the main part of which is on the left bank of the reservoir. The current condition of the earthen dam poses serious dangers to the surrounding low-lying agricultural lands; meteorological conditions on the reservoir have resulted in severe water erosion and dam maintenance in these areas has been neglected in recent years. In many places (approximately 18.0-20.0 km) the dam has been washed out by water and in some places there is a danger of water breaking through to flood agricultural fields in the area. The main river resources of the area are the Syr Darya, Isfara, Zaravshon and Khojabakirgansai Rivers. The sources of water for agricultural irrigation in Kanibadam are the Isfara River (which flows into Tajikistan from neighboring Kyrgyzstan), the Big Ferghana Canal (which transports water from Uzbekistan), the Kayrakkum Reservoir (from two pumping stations) and groundwater (from wells). The minimum flow of the Isfara River is 2.3-2.5 m 3 /second, which occurs during March and April. The sources of water for B. Gafurov are the Kayrakkum Reservoir (from three pumping stations) and the Syr Darya River (which flows into Tajikistan from neighboring Uzbekistan). The minimum flow of the Syr Darya River, 350-360 m 3 /second, occurs in May. The availability of water poses a real problem in the Soghd region. In the rural areas, 65-70 percent of rural settlements do not have access to drinking water. Furthermore, because of the lack of financing for maintenance, some 30 percent of water supply systems are not currently operating. (Nationwide, estimates of complete deterioration of water supply systems are 65 percent, of which some 43 percent are in the Soghd Oblast region.) These conditions not only complicate the ecological situation in the project area but pose public health problems as well, given that diarrhea, hepatitis and tropical diseases (e.g. malaria) are widespread. 2.1.3 Soils The soil cover of Tajikistan differs in its mixed character and origins. The project area in the Ferghana Valley consists of light sierozems (i.e. soils brownish grey at the surface and lighter below, based in a carbonate or hardpan layer, and characteristic of temperate to cool arid regions), which have light grey humus horizontals gradually transitioning to loam. Degradation of the lands in these areas leads to further deterioration due to land slides (which damage settlements, roads and farm lands together with irrigation systems, water delivery systems), soil erosion (which undermines agricultural productivity) and silting of water Page 10 D raft 04/03/05 8 delivery systems used for drinking and irrigation purposes. These lands, however, have good and productive potential which remains unused. The realization of such potential by means of ecologically suitable methods will both improve the livelihoods of people in the areas and decrease the pressure on less suitable lands. A map of the soil and ecological conditions of the irrigated lands of the project area is included in the appendix. Data on the existing ecological and soil conditions of the irrigated areas of B. Gafurov and Kanibadam districts are indicated in the Table 2.2. . Page 11 D raft 04/03/05 9 Table 2.2-Ecological and Soil Conditions of Irrigated Areas (B. Gafurov and Kanibadam Raions) Ecologic and land reclamation condition assessment, Ha Reasons District Irrigated area, Ha G o o d S a t i s f a c t o r y U n s a t i s f a c t o r y U n a c c e p t a b l e d e p t h o f w a t e r L a n d S a l i n i z a t i o n U n a c c e p t a b l e d e p t h o f w a t e r a n d s o i l s a l i n i z a t i o n B. Gafurov 32 522 22 769 3 247 6 506 5 490 618 328 Kanibadam 21 788 9 787 2 064 9 936 8 635 78 1 223 2.1.4 Climate The climate in the project raions is characteristic of the Ferghana Valley, with mountain-valley wind conditions linked to the geographical position of the area. The amount of annual precipitation varies from 160 to 660 mm, with an average annual temperature between 13 – 15 o C. The mountain wind influence has both positive and negative impacts on environmental pollution in the project area. The positive impacts include a high level of turbulence in the surface layer of the atmosphere and a low occurrence of temperature inversions, which leads to an intensive dispersion of harmful substances in the atmosphere and thus to a reduction of any concentrations in the atmosphere (mainly dust from industrial institutions and agricultural work in the area). Data on background pollution in the project area consists of: dust- 1.2 mg/m³; sulfurous anhydride – 0.1 mg/m³; nitric oxide – 0.3 mg/m³; carbonic oxide – 1.5 mg/m³. 2.1.5 Biological Features The project area includes habitat for a number of rare species of flora and fauna, especially in the Kayrakkum Reservoir. The fauna includes the Syr Darya pheasant, the white-eyed pochard and a number of members of the falcon family, all included in the Red Book.of Tajikistan. Among the waterfowl, there are more than 3 600 geese and 3 500 ducks. There are also different species of mammals in this area, including otters, musquashes (muskrats), jackals, foxes, wolves and rabbits. The native reptiles include different species of lizards and amphibians. The reservoir and rivers are home to 35 kinds of fish, including the following listed in the Red Book: the Syr Darya barbel and Aral barbel. (The pumping stations situated in the basin of reservoir are currently not equipped with fish protection structures and have a negative impact on reproduction of fish supply. In terms of flora, the most widespread varieties of plants are tamarisk, cane and reed mace. 2.1.6 Protected Areas There is one specially protected area in the project area – an officially designated Ramsar wetland site, at the upper reaches of the Kayrakkum Reservoir on several islands in Kanibadam Raion. It is an important stopping point for many migratory birds that are in the Red Book of Tajikistan and in the International Red Book. According to the latest data, there are some 50 varieties of ornitho-fauna found in this area during winter migration, with populations ranging from 30 000-40 000. When the water level in the Kayrakkum Reservoir drops during the irrigation season (under international agreements with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan), seven lakes are created at the upper reaches of the reservoir in the Ramsar site area. These lakes have a surface area of 172 ha and are an important source for gathering Page 12 D raft 04/03/05 10 valuable food fish for the local population. Every year, however, reclamation efforts are required to dig canals between the lakes and the Syr Darya River in order to guarantee the survival of the fish. 2.1.7 Biodiversity Tajikistan has identified more than 20 types of ecosystems, which can be classified into 12 dominant communities of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems. Mountainous areas provide some 70-80 percent of the biological diversity and 90 percent of the natural communities of Tajikistan. Low-lying lands include deserts, waterlogged areas and the majority of agricultural, urban and degraded ecosystems. Current estimates are that about 50 percent of mammal species and 45 percent of reptile species are vulnerable and threatened with extinction. Many herbs and endemic plants are being illegally gathered and used in domestic conditions. The prevalent vegetation on the lands in the project area is semi-shrubby and shrubby and herbaceous vegetation. Herbaceous and rather semi-shrubby formations are natural forage reserve of cattle-breeding. Vegetation which consists of crooked semi-shrubby ice-holes and saltwort, occupies a wide space. Tajikistan is divided into natural zones according to the relief character and the level of anthropogenic influence. The Syr-Darya basin of the project area belongs to the foothill- valley zone. The foothill-valley zone is the most used by humans with a prevalence of highly degraded vegetation. The area of Soghd Oblast includes foothill semi-arid and arid, water and water bank and anthropogenic ecosystems. The foothill semi-arid and arid ecosystems have natural soil protection anti-erosion properties and serve as a pasture in the winter period. The main dominants are Haloxylon persicum, Calligonum litvinovii, Salsola richteri, Artemisia tenuisecta, Hammada leptoclada, Carex physodes, Halostachys belangeriana, Halocharis hispida. Ruderal, degraded ecosystems are in the areas of human activity. These comprise such species as Colchicum luteum, Thermopsis dolichocarpa, Trichodesma incanum, Heliotropium dasicarpum, Artemisia. Main dominants are from the following families: Compositae, Gramineae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, Guttiferae and Labiatae. In low lands Cynodon dactilon, Prosopis farcta, Cousinia olgae, C.polycephala, C.ambigens, C.dichromata, C.microcarpa, C. radians, and C.pseudoarctium prevail. Red Book species of interest include: · Mammals: Rhinolophus ferrumequninum Schreber, Citellus fulvus oxianus Thomas, Allactaga severtzovi Vinogradov, Mustela Putorius eversmanni talassica Ognev, Haaena hyaena Linnaeus. · Birds: white stork (Ciconia ciconia asiatica Sev), black stork (Ciconia nigra L.), pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.), drofa (Otis undulata macqueeni), Gray, (Burhinus oedicnemus astutus Hart.), Pterocles orientalis orenarius Pallas. · Reptiles: geccon - Teratoscincus scincus rustamowi Szczerbak, Phrynocephalus helioscopus said-alievi Szczerbak et Satt, Varanus griseus Daudin, Ablepharus deserti Strauch, tataricus Lichtenstein. · Fishes: Aspiolucius esocinus Kessler, Barbus brachycephalus Kessler, Teratoscincus scincus rustamowi Szczerbak. · Insects: Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, Empusa pennicornis Pallas, Porphyrophora sophorae Arch., Reduvius fedtschenkianus Osh., Anodonta bactriana Rolle Tajikistan has committed itself to conserving its national biodiversity (as indicated in the National Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan of 2003) and has signed several international conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (1997) and the Ramsar Page 13 D raft 04/03/05 11 Convention on Wetlands (2001) . Furthermore, Tajikistan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2002) emphasized the need for adoption of environmentally sound agricultural practices, restoration and rational use of nature resources and better management of water resources as national priorities. 2.2 Description of Irrigation and Drainage Network 2.3 Description of Socio-Economic Context 2.3.1 Population There are approximately 1.962 million people living in the Soghd Oblast region, including 509 000 living in cities and 1.453 million in rural areas. The density of the population is roughly 77 people per km 2 . The population of Kanibadam Raion is 168 200 people, 70 percent of whom live in rural areas. The population of B. Gafurov Raion is 220 000 people, 162 400 living in rural areas. The Soghd Oblast region is mainly agrarian, with basic cultivated crops of cotton, corn, wheat, apricot, vine and vegetables. Textile, food processing, machine building, chemical and ore mining and processing industries are well developed in the cities of Khojand, Chkalovsk, Kayrakkum, Istravshan, Kanibadam, Isfara and Penjikent. 2.3.2 Rural Poverty (see Social Assessment Report) 2.3.3 Public Health As noted above, the availability of water poses a real problem in the Soghd Oblast region. In the rural areas, 65-70 percent of rural communities do not have access to suitable drinking water. Furthermore, because of the lack of financing for maintenance, some 30 percent of water supply systems are not currently operating. (Nationwide, estimates of complete deterioration of water supply systems are as high as 65 percent, of which some 43 percent are in the Soghd Oblast region.) These conditions not only complicate the environmental conditions in the project area but pose severe public health problems as well. Diarrhea, hepatitis and various tropical diseases, including malaria, are widespread. As a whole, public health conditions in Soghd Oblast, as indicated by available sanitary- epidemiological data, are better than in the rest of Tajikistan. Conditions vary, of course, across the oblast depending directly on the location and condition of the lands where the population resides, particularly in those densely populated areas and settlements which border the Kayrakkum Reservoir. Data presented here in Table 2.3 are taken from those areas and settlements within the project area, namely B. Gafurov and Kanibadam Raions and the city of Kayrakkum. It is common knowledge that the level of infectious diseases found in the area, especially typhoid, bacterial dysentery, diarrhea, viral hepatitis and acute respiratory infections, depends on the source of infection, which in more than 70 percent of cases remains contaminated water sources. Table 2.3 Public Health Data from the Project Area (2002/2003) Disease Kanibadam Raion B. Gafurov Raion Kayrakkum City Soghd Oblast Typhoid 37/16 20/7 3/10 176/136 Diarrheal 740/968 546/1086 98/102 510/612 Page 14 D raft 04/03/05 12 diseases Malaria 42/31 25/14 206/92 134/85 Bacterial Dysentery 8/16 38/39 7/2 34/35 Respiratory Infections 667/686 526/604 61/105 492/564 Tuberculosis 48/55 30/39 36/38 34/35 Brucellosis -/5 6/21 -/4 21/37 Data for the level of typhoid cases in the areas indicate a decrease in the level of the disease from 2002 to 2003 in nibadam and B.Gafurov (as a result of international donor-funded public health programs), while there was an increase in Kayrakkum City. Overall, the number of cases remains high in comparison with other areas of Soghd Oblast. It is also necessary to note the significant growth of typhoid cases in Soghd Oblast over the longer term, in particular in B.Gafurov and Kanibadam Raions where cases have more doubled since 1997. Though the reported cases of diarrheal diseases as a whole for Soghd Oblast (612) are below the national average (976.5), the oblast is marked high growth of these diseases in B.Gafurov (1086) and nibadam (968) Raions (50 and 23 percent, respectively), where the numbers are much higher than oblast and national ones. Such growth is attributed to insignificant fluctuations of the water level. Overall, there are difficult epidemiological conditions for malaria in the oblast, even though in 2003 the number of cases of the disease fell below the earlier year's levels. The number of reported cases now stands at 85, but it should be noted that before 1992 there were no reported cases of malaria in the raions of Soghd Oblast. Now, however the disease is reported in 11 raions of the oblast, which makes 61 percent from all districts of the area, i.e. the geographical area of malaria in the region is extending. The epidemiological situation in the raions of Soghd Oblast makes it difficult to connect the levels of disease and the transfers of infection connected to water sources for bacterial dysentery and acute respiratory infectious. Bacterial dysentery in the region reports 35 cases for 100 thousand population, whereas only 39 in B.Gafurov and 16 in Kanibadam. The significant growth in bacterial dysentery (50 percent in Kanibadam and 11 percent in B. Gafurov) is attributed to the water levels. Cases of acute respiratory infections reported in the oblast for 2002 were 492 and in 2003 564: with B.Gafurov at 604 and nibadam 686, both exceed the regional and national levels of the diseases. As a whole, the reasons for the growth and distribution of diarrhea, dysentery, malaria and acute respiratory infections in the project area are: · The high level of groundwater, which promotes the distribution and favorable development of parasites, microbes and disease vectors, like the malarial mosquito. · The wide circulation of shoalinesses near settlements which also is potential of growth diseases; Page 15 D raft 04/03/05 13 · Insufficient implementation of epidemiological preventive actions because of insufficiency of financial assets and personnel potential. · Delayed diagnosis and radical treatment of the diseases transmitted by water sources; · The increase in population shift within the country and beyond its limits; · Absence of vigilance of medical workers to the identifying factors. Furthermore, research done since 1997 on the area indicates that the growth of diseases like tuberculosis, brucellosis and measles is significant and more or less depends both on the standard of living and the place of residence of the population. Water supply to the population of the region makes - 67.1 percent: city population of 96 percent, rural population of 35 percent. Other population for economic - drinking needs use water from open reservoirs ( ryks, , , the rivers, channels, ) without preliminary clearing and disinfecting, unsafe in the epidemiological relation. Water supply to the population by water pipe below regional so in Pendjikent (52.4 percent), Isfara (54.6 percent), Ganchi (56.5 percent), B.Gafurov (54.6 percent), nibadam (56.1 percent) districts, and Mountainous Matcha is not provided at all with piped water. It should be noted that piped water, especially in the rural areas, is not subject to treatment. A water supply system contains in a unsatisfactory sanitary-engineering condition, replacement of out-of-date pipes is not carried out and spare parts are absent. For these reasons there have been registered incidents of typhoid in nibadam, B.Gafurov, and Isfara districts, a major factor of which is the transfer of infection via the waterways. Analysis of the sanitary-epidemiological situation of the two raions ( nibadam, B. Gafurov) and yrakkum City of Soghd Oblast suggests the following conclusion: The filling of the yrakkum reservoir from March till June causes sharp increases in the level of ground waters in the aquifer and in the areas of nibadam, B.Gafurov districts and irakum. During this period, according to reports of the regional centers of sanitary epidemiological control, the population struggles against tropical illnesses, infectious diseases and vectors, transmitted by water sources or connected with the water-related factors, such as malaria. The expert estimation and processing of statistical materials by a method of the least squares (criteria of Student and Fisher in an interval +0,6 + 0,8), testifies about enough close dependence of the marked cases of the diseases transmitted by a waterway for the period 01\12\2000 - 31\12\2003 years. 2.3.4 Education 2.4 Description of Stakeholders and Beneficiaries The stakeholders for the FVWRMP include the national and local institutions directly involved in water management (i.e. MMWRM and the Soghd Oblast WRMD) and in its agricultural, environmental and social impacts (i.e. MOA, SEC, MOH and their local offices), local government institutions (i.e. raions and jamoats), local associations (i.e. WUAs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the project areas, and the beneficiaries themselves, the farmers, farm families and local population likely to benefit from the project (see social assessment). The EAMP team met with representatives of most of these stakeholders to discuss environmental and social aspects of the project (see list of stakeholders met in Annex B). A brief description of the various stakeholders and their attitudes/interests in the FVWRMP follows. Page 16 D raft 04/03/05 14 2.4.1 Farmers, Farm Families and Local Communities The intended beneficiaries of the FVWRMP are obviously the farmers reached through the WUA institutional development and infrastructure rehabilitation components of the project. They will see the direct benefits of the project in terms of better organization and management of the irrigation and drainage system, rehabilitation of critical infrastructure supporting their farming activities and improved management of the groundwater levels that have caused so many problems with agricultural productivity, soil fertility and the health and well-being of much of the local population. In addition to the farmers, their families, their neighbors and local communities should also benefit from the project in terms of improved health and well-being, increased agricultural output, improved employment opportunities and expanded economic base. The EAMP team met with a number of farmers, villagers and other locals in the project areas visited in both formal and informal settings. 2.4.2 Water User Associations The primary institutional beneficiaries, and the means by which the project will reach the farmers, are the WUAs that will be established and strengthened under the project. The WUAs will benefit from the capacity building and training provided by the institutional development component of the project (see Section 4.1), as well as from the accompanying irrigation and drainage infrastructure rehabilitation. There is only limited experience with WUAs in Tajikistan, so establishing and sustaining participatory and self-sustaining local organizations capable of operating and maintaining the irrigation infrastructure and water management system represents a significant challenge for the FVWRMP . These institutions will be critical, however, to the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure improvements made by the project. Because there are no WUAs in the project area at present, the EAMP team was not able to meet with any. However, some representatives of farmer organizations did attend the project workshop held in December 2004. 2.4.3 Local Government Institutions The local institutions of government in the project areas, the raion hukumates and the village jamoats, should benefit from and have an interest in the FVWRMP in terms of irrigation infrastructure improvements, increased agricultural productivity and improved water management (particularly groundwater levels). The jamoats, as the elected self-government at the village level, have an obvious interest in the economic base of the village and the social well-being of the population. At the raion level, the hukumates have a similar interest in the economic conditions and social well-being of their communities. The EAMP team met with a number of hukumate and jamoat government officials during its initial field assessment of the project areas. 2.4.4 Non-Governmental Organizations The NGO community is still in the process of development in Tajikistan. A number of environmental and social NGOs, at both the national and local levels, have shown interest in contributing to the preparation and implementation of the FVWRMP and thereby advancing the interests of their communities. The EAMP team met with a number of environmental and social NGOS in Dushanbe and Khojand to discuss potential environmental and social impacts of the project (see list of NGOs in Annex B). The PIU/RPIU should work to define a role for NGOs in project implementation in terms of training, public awareness campaigns, information collection and dissemination or local participation. 2.4.5 National Government Institutions The primary GOT stakeholder for the FVWRMP , of course, is MMWRM, who will serve as implementing agency for the project. MMWRM Page 17 D raft 04/03/05 15 and its Soghd Oblast and raion offices obviously stand to benefit from both the institutional development and the infrastructure rehabilitation components of the project (see Section 4.1). MMWRM’s limited technical and financial capacity have hampered its operation and maintenance of the country’s irrigation and drainage system and limited its ability to manage water resources in the Ferghana Valley effectively. The FVWRMP will address many of these capacity limitations. Additional national government stakeholders include the MOA, with its overall responsibility for the agriculture sector, the State Environment Committee, with its mandate to protect the country’s water resources and natural heritage, and the MOH, whose public health programs address a number of water-related diseases in the project areas. The EAMP team met with numerous officials from these national government institutions to receive input for the EA. Representatives from these institutions participated in national workshop/public consultation on the EAMP held in Dushanbe on 10 March. 3. POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 3.1 Policy Context The Constitution of Tajikistan guarantees “favourable ecological conditions” to every citizen (Article). It further states that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the environment for future generations and for the creation of optimal conditions for socio- economic growth. 3.2 Legal/Regulatory Framework for Environmental Assessment/Management The Law on Nature Protection, enacted in 1993 and revised in 2003, is the fundamental law governing environmental protection. This law establishes the organizational framework for providing and strengthening environmental protection; authorizes the collection of fees and fines related to natural resource use and environmental degradation; provides the legal basis for the provision of training in environmental protection measures; and establishes the broad legal authority for the State Committee for Environment Protection and Forestry (SCEPF) to review any investment projects initiated by the State. Other provisions in the law include: · Conservation of soils as biologically living media to increase their regenerative ability and protection of fertility, · Provision of the necessary quality and quantity of water to meet the requirements of the population and the economy, · Protection of biodiversity and conservation of conditions for the reproduction of historically significant fauna and · Protection of environmental equilibrium and the development of monitoring to assist in that effort. According to the environmental legislation in Tajikistan, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) or “Otsenka Vozdeistviya na Okruzhaushuiy Sredu” (OVOS)) is the responsibility of the project proponent. State Ecological Expertise (SEE), the mandatory State review of project design along with the EIA for all investment projects, is the responsibility of the SCEPF and its regional offices. Furthermore, according to the recently passed Tajikistan Law (2003) on Ecological Expertise, all civil works, including rehabilitation works, should be assessed for their environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures reviewed and monitored by SCEPF. Page 18 D raft 04/03/05 16 Tajikistan also has a number of supporting laws, regulations and resolutions addressing specific environmental issues. Those relevant to the project are summarized in Table 3.1: Table 3.1 - Significant Environmental Laws, Regulations and Resolutions Laws, Regulations and Resolutions Authority Forestry Code (1992) Regulates forestry and is directed at creating conditions for rational use of forests, their safe keeping and protection, conservation and improvement of the natural environment, production of timber and agricultural products. Water Code (2001) Regulates the use of water, ensures the needs of the population, economy, industry are provided for and ensures the protection of this valuable resource from pollution, obstruction and exhaustion. Also aims at improving the condition of Tajikistan ’s water reserves and protecting the legal right of citizens, enterprises, associations and institutions that require water. Protection and Use of the Animal World (1993) Regulates activities to protect wildlife by protecting habitat for maintenance, reproduction and growth of wildlife and regulates interaction of humans by carrying out scientific research. Land Code (1992) Regulates rational land use and conservation of fertility and maintenance and improvement of natural resource base. Resolution on the Unauthorized Collection of Substances (1990) Regulates the use of medicinal materials, including the hundreds of wild species of plants found in nature. Resolution on State Ecological Review (1994) Assigns the SCEPF the responsibility to review all government- proposed development projects with the objective of enforcing environmental protection laws to ensure rational use of natural resources within socio-economic limitations. Resolution on State Ecological Program (2003) Defines fundamental goals and tasks for the ecological- economic development of Tajikistan Law of Ecological Expertise (2003) Regulates the organization and conduct of EIA and the mandatory project review State Ecological Expertise (SEE) to determine project relevance to sustainable development Resolution on Commission on Chemical Security (2003) Regulates chemical security, quality control, transport, storage and use of agrochemicals 3.3 International Framework for Water Resources Management International cooperation on water issues is reflected in Article 145 of the Water Code, the Nukuss Declaration of Central Asian countries, the Agreement signed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan (i.e. “About the Cooperation in the Field of Joint Management of Trans-boundary Water Resources Use and Protection”) and other documents. A summary water consumption limits established under these international agreements for the Syr Darya and Isfara Rivers is shown in Table 3.2. Table 3.2 – Water Consumption Limits Established by International Agreement River Country Consumption Limits Syr Darya River Uzbekistan 25.49 km 3 /year (51.68%) Kazakhstan 15.19 km 3 /year (31%) Kyrgyzstan 4.88 km 3 /year (9.9%) Tajikistan 3.66 km 3 /year (7.42%) Isfara River Uzbekistan 0.02 km 3 /year Kyrgyzstan 0.09 km 3 /year Page 19 D raft 04/03/05 17 Tajikistan 0.02 km 3 /year The Joint Commission on Water Economy Issues of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (organized by both governments) makes decisions on water allocation every year, documented by appropriate protocols, according to the water capacity of the Isfara River and other its tributaries. The most important document for the Syr Darya River is the agreement between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for use of water-energy resources of the Syr Darya basin signed in March 1998. Tajikistan later joined this agreement signing a Protocol in June 17, 1999. In 2002, the Program of Actions on Improvement of Environment and Social-economic Status in Aral Sea basin was developed and approved for the period 2003-2010. This program includes the drafting of agreements and water management regulations, particularly for the Syr Darya basin, and the development of economic mechanisms for water use. There is also the recent conception of a water-power consortium for Central Asia, however, it is necessary to develop its technical-economic foundation for signing an inter-governmental agreement. Currently, the preparatory works on improvement of the agreement of March 17, 1998, on the Syr Darya basin are going on with the assistance of USAID. Resolution XVII of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization states that “The right of people and nations for sovereignty of their natural resources must be performed in the framework of national development interests and improving of the livelihoods of populations of related states”. This is why Tajikistan has a right to revise existing criteria and principles of inter-governmental management, distribution, use and protection of water resources. 3.4 Institutional Framework for Environmental Assessment/Management The organizational structure of the SCEPF is presented in Figure 2. This organization has regional committees in each of the oblasts. The oblasts have offices in each raion, which constitute the smallest administrative unit of the SCEPF. The raion inspectors (two to three in each raion office) perform the functions of field agents providing support to the oblast SCEPF in environmental inspection and enforcement. For the FVWRMP , the raion inspectors are considered the most appropriate personnel for oversight of compliance with the project’s EA and EMMP mitigation and monitoring requirements. 4. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED 4.1 Description of Project 4.1.1 Project Objectives As noted above, the overall objectives of the FVWRMP are (i) to increase the productivity of irrigated agriculture and the income of the rural population in the Ferghana Valley by improving land and water management and (ii) to improve the safety and regulation of the Kayrakkum Dam and Reservoir in order to enhance water management and efficiency at the basin level. 4.1.2 Project Scope The main focus of the project is the Ferghana Valley and the irrigation and drainage systems in the southern part of the Kayrakkum Reservoir. The project will be financed by an International Development Association credit, with additional contributions from the GOT and the beneficiaries. Page 20 D raft 04/03/05 18 4.1.3 Project Components The FVWRMP includes the following six components: (1) Surface and Subsurface Irrigation and Drainage System Improvements (USD 11.55 million) This component includes rehabilitation or improvement of (i) main off-farm irrigation and drainage gravity and/or pumped water supply, conveyance, delivery, removal, evacuation and protection infrastructure systems, and (ii) selected inter-farm and on-farm irrigation and drainage distribution and collection systems. These include both surface and subsurface water control and usage systems. These improvements will be implemented in an integrated area-based and system-based approach. Inter-farm and on-farm system improvements will be considered only for those areas that have undergone meaningful land reform privatization. The approach is considered an important means of helping to achieve long-term sustainability of project interventions and involves integrating physical, socio- institutional, agricultural and environmental interventions in the project area. (2) Water User Community Development and Support (USD 0.80 million) This component covers the institutional development of WUAs at local system and community levels. The WUAs would assume full responsibility for water management and for operation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems at the on-farm and inter-farm levels, as well as contribute to and participate jointly in higher-level systems water management and operation and maintenance with the MMWRM/Soghd Oblast WRMD. This will all be based on formal and legal organization of the WUAs and on irrigation and drainage service contracts instituted between the WUAs and the MMWRM/WRMD. Technical assistance, training and equipment will be provided for the establishment and strengthening of WUAs, and for the changing responsibilities and roles of the MMWRM/WRMD. (3) Agricultural Development Support (USD 0.60 million) This component will help secure the increases in agricultural production and farmer income that are projected to result from the infrastructure and institutional development investments. The focus will be on farm-level irrigated agriculture improvements, including (i) introduction and demonstration of modern soil and land improvement methods, cropping practices and irrigation technologies, (ii) relevant training for farm communities in land and water management and in agricultural production and marketing and (iii) support for irrigation and agricultural extension and information services. The first two of these activities will be directed at farm communities in areas of privatized lands and are to be integrated with on-farm improvements and WUA establishment activities. The third activity will be focused on government agriculture and water agency branches or alternative service providers at the raion level. (4) Kayrakkum Dam and Reservoir Safety and Operational Improvements (USD 0.70 million) This component will include improvements in main dam safety and in dam and reservoir operation (the rehabilitation of reservoir embankments degraded by erosion is incorporated into the infrastructure improvements in component 1). The potentially large scope and scale of the dam safety improvements needed, as well as their transnational impacts, preclude any major interventions under the FVWRMP , however, the project will undertake some initial dam safety actions identified as critical by pre-project consultancy studies and investigations. Activities to improve dam and reservoir operations will include (i) reservoir storage and sedimentation studies, including volume quantifications through a bathymetric and topographic survey, assessments of future changes, and formulation of physical and/or operational improvement options, and (ii) reservoir inflow/outflow gauging system improvements. Page 21 D raft 04/03/05 19 (5) Environmental Impact Mitigation (USD 0.30 million) . Under this component support will be provided to the GOT to finance the preventive actions and mitigation measures needed to address the potential adverse environmental impacts identified in the EAMP. It will also finance the monitoring plan and institutional strengthening activities identified in the EAMP. These preventive actions and mitigation measures will include (i) purchase and installation of fish protection nets at water intake pumping stations, (ii) small-scale investments in rehabilitating natural sites set aside near irrigated lands, (iii) ... The component will also finance implementation of the ecological and social monitoring program and the institutional strengthening activities recommended by the EAMP (e.g. training and study tours, consultant services, special studies, public awareness campaigns and equipment). (6) Project Management, Technical Assistance and Training (USD 0.75 million) Assistance to the GOT for project implementation will be provided under this component. This will include (i) establishment and support of two Project Implementation Units (PIUs), namely a Central PIU (CPIU) in Dushanbe within the MMWRM and a Regional PIU (RPIU) in Khojand within the Soghd Oblast WRMD, (ii) local and international technical assistance for managerial, technical, financial and administrative supervision of implementation activities, (iii) setup and operation of a project monitoring and evaluation system and (iv) an institutional strengthening program including relevant training and study tours. 4.2 Analysis of Project Alternatives 4.2.1 Natural State Alternative Leaving the project area in its ‘natural state’ is not an option in this case since the project deals with the rehabilitation of existing irrigation and drainage systems supporting lands that have long been converted to agricultural use. The project will not involve the conversion of any additional natural areas. On the contrary, the project will make small-scale investments to restore natural conditions on sites located in marginal or otherwise inaccessible agricultural lands. 4.2.2 No Action Alternative The ‘no action’ alternative is not desirable from an economic, ecological or social point of view. This alternative would allow the existing systems to continue to deteriorate, further reducing the productivity of the agricultural lands, further increasing the loss and irrational use of water resources, and further exacerbating the living conditions, health and well-being of the local population because of the rising levels of groundwater. Given the importance of agriculture to the welfare of the local population and the critical role the Ferghana Valley plays for the country as a whole, the ‘no action’ alternative would not be an acceptable option. 4.2.3 Other Alternatives Another alternative involving less infrastructure construction would be to decrease the maximum operating level of water in the Kayrakkum Reservoir by 1.5-2.0 meters. This alternative would address many of the problems associated with the high groundwater levels (e.g. waterlogging, soil quality, public health) without the major investment in strengthening the reservoir embankment or in rehabilitating the drainage wells. This option, however, would involve certain economic losses as a result of decreasing electric power generation from the Kayrakkum Dam. Given the already limited amounts of electric power generated by the dam and the likelihood of increasing demand as the Ferghana Valley develops over the coming years, this alternative would not present an acceptable option. Page 22 D raft 04/03/05 20 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND PROPOSED PREVENTIVE ACTIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES The FVWRMP is designed to provide economic, social and environmental benefits, through the development of WUAs and rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, to the farmers, farm families and rural communities in the project area. The overall environmental impact of the proposed project is expected to be positive. In fact, the EA identified many positive impacts of the project, including increased agricultural productivity, improved soil fertility and enhanced management of water resources. The EA also identified some potential negative impacts on social and environmental conditions in the project area that will require attention, preventive action and appropriate mitigation measures in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance phases of the project. Fortunately, the potential negative impacts are relatively minor and are far outweighed by the positive economic, social and environmental impacts the EA considered. A discussion of these impacts follows. The proposed project will address the potential environmental impacts raised by the SCEPF and MMWRM. These include the following environmental issues that relate to the irrigation and drainage sector in general: (i) ineffective water resources management; (ii) increasing areas affected by waterlogging and soil salinization caused by inefficient irrigation water management and improper working of drainage systems; (iii) soil erosion due to poorly managed farm management systems and (iv) improper discharge of waste waters into main waterways resulting in pollution of water resources. The proposed project activities would finance repair and rehabilitation of parts of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure to improve water use efficiency, check the process of salinization and waterlogging, arrest the process of land degradation and improve drinking water supply systems in a few selected villages. All these works will be of a minor nature. Community involvement in the operation and maintenance of the irrigation infrastructure will be based on formation of WUAs, as a bottom-up institution of the water users expected to instil a greater sense of individual and community responsibility, and even encourage measures to protect the surrounding environment. The rehabilitation of the main and subsidiary inter-farm irrigation and drainage canals will improve the ability to enhance field level water use and conveyance efficiency with possible beneficial applications for monitoring and control of the environment. 5.1 Anticipated Positive Social and Environmental Impacts 5.1.1 Improved Agricultural Productivity Agricultural productivity in the project area, as in Soghd Oblast as a whole, has declined in recent years, in large part because of the significant deterioration of the irrigation and drainage systems. The direct results of this deterioration have been decreasing delivery of irrigation water, increasing water losses, decreasing fertility of soils, expanding areas of fallow agricultural land and rising groundwater levels. The infrastructure improvements planned under the FVWRMP should restore and improve productivity by increasing delivery of irrigation water (reducing water losses), improving the fertility of soils and expanding the area of agricultural lands returned to production. Furthermore, the establishment and strengthening of WUAs should improve water resource and soil fertility management and promote consistent operation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems. Page 23 D raft 04/03/05 21 5.1.2 Increased Farm Income, Alleviation of Poverty The economic and social benefits of improved agricultural productivity are difficult to quantify; however, the estimates of the project preparation team suggest they will be significant. These benefits should result from expected increases in crop yields. From these direct benefits to farmers flow a number of important indirect benefits to the farm families and rural communities in the project area. Assuming improvements in marketing the agricultural products over time, increased agricultural productivity should lead to increases in farm family incomes, improved employment opportunities on and off-farm and an overall reduction in rural poverty in the project area. 5.1.3 Improved Public Health The abnormally high levels of groundwater in recent years in much of the project area have taken their toll on the health of local communities. Where groundwater levels have reached the surface or just below, the resulting dampness in flooded homes and buildings has resulted in various illnesses, including respiratory problems, hepatitis and dysentery. Further, certain water-related diseases (e.g. malaria) are a real concern in rural communities where stagnant water stands in drainage collectors. These conditions have exposed the rural populations near drainage collectors to common disease vectors (e.g. mosquitoes). The FVWRMP , by restoring drainage systems to full function and thus improving groundwater management, should reduce the problems related to high groundwater levels and standing drainage water. Furthermore, better irrigation and drainage system management by the WUAs, supported by increased awareness regarding the hazards of water-related disease vectors, should encourage farmers and their families to play a more active role in improving health conditions in rural areas. 5.1.4 Reduction in Water Losses Estimates are that significant amounts of the water currently entering the irrigation system are lost as a result of infiltration, evaporation and inefficient, non-rational use of water. These water losses from the system contribute to the high levels of groundwater, the salinity of the soils and the occurrence of waterlogging in low-lying areas. The irrigation and drainage improvements of the FVWRMP should help curb many of these water losses. The rehabilitation of irrigation canals and installation of control structures should permit better management and monitoring of water delivery, prevent significant water leakage and minimize water erosion. The reduction in losses and improved irrigation distribution will, besides the equity amongst farmers, reduce seepage losses from main canal and over-supply of irrigation, with a beneficial effect for the area: a lower water table, a lower risk of salinity, and less stagnant water pools in the village causing health problems. 5.1.5 Improved Water Resources Management The semi-arid climate of the Ferghana Valley in Tajikistan makes its agriculture heavily dependent on irrigated cultivation (60-70 percent of the agriculture in B. Gafurov raion is irrigated) and should provide ample incentive for rational management of water resources. Yet, the management of water resources in the project area remains far from rational. The FVWRMP should help improve water resources management. For example, the installation of better irrigation water measurement and control structures should contribute to more rational water management. ... 5.1.6 Improved Soil Fertility Drainage system improvements undertaken by the FVWRMP should have positive impacts on the large areas of poorly drained agricultural land in the project area. Situated between the highlands of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kayrakkum Reservoir, much of the project area has high levels of groundwater (as much as 60 percent of the agricultural lands have groundwater shallower than the critical 1.5 m depth). The depth of Page 24 D raft 04/03/05 22 the groundwater is critical for the incidence of secondary salinity in the soil, particularly where the groundwater itself is saline and accumulated salts in the soils are not periodically leached. Regular leaching of the soils has stopped in most areas. Reducing soil salinity would lead to improved yields of most salt-sensitive crops, help prevent significant erosion and increase agricultural productivity. 5.2 Potential Negative Environmental and Social Impacts Potential negative impacts of the project would include (i) construction-related damage caused by contractors during construction activities, including dumping of excavated sediments and other materials from irrigation canals and drainage collectors; (ii) increased surface water contamination from various sources, including agrochemical pollution resulting from the possible increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; (iii) soil erosion associated with the maintenance of existing practices of agricultural production; and (iv) improper and indiscriminate use of on-farm irrigation water, such as resorting to flood irrigation by the farm owners rather than modern water conservation techniques and methods. Further, as the proposed project is in the upper watershed for the Aral Sea basin, there is a need to guard against any possible ecosystem and hydrological system issues, including the international waterways issues. 5.2.1 Construction Impacts The infrastructure improvements under the FVWRMP for the most part will involve rehabilitation of secondary (and some tertiary) canals and drains, pumping stations and tube wells, as well as rehabilitation of embankments along the Kayrakkum Reservoir. All civil works will be designed and operated in accordance with environmentally sound engineering practices and governed by applicable environmental standards. These works will require the use of heavy machinery (i.e. excavators, bull dozers) but will be small in scale and will take place on lands already under agricultural use or already reservoir embankments. The principal construction impacts will involve management of dredged sediment and construction debris but may also include (i) interference with access and movement; (ii) disturbance of agricultural activities resulting from access restriction, soil compaction, trenching; (iii) waste, noise, mud and dust at sites and on access roads; (iv) damage to trees or other vegetation along canals and (v) disturbance of wildlife at sites close to ecologically sensitive areas. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures The EA recommends a combination of preventive actions and monitoring to minimize potential construction-related impacts. First, all construction contracts should have standard environmental, health and safety covenants required by Tajikistan legislation (see Section 3) and World Bank procedures. Second, all contractors will need to follow a set of environmental management guidelines (EMG) for contractors (see Annex C) prescribed by the FVWRMP , as well as any construction standards applied by Tajikistan, that describe in detail the measures to prevent and mitigate construction-related environmental impacts. Third, preparation of a site-specific environmental management plan, along with training for staff, should be a condition of all contracts. The scope of the plan and the training requirements should depend on the scale of the proposed activities. Monitoring The RPIU should conduct site inspections prior to, during and upon completion of construction activities to ensure full compliance with the contract conditions and the EMG. Final payment to the contractor should be contingent on the final inspection, with particular attention to the requirement to restore the site to its original condition upon completion of Page 25 D raft 04/03/05 23 construction activities. The environmental monitoring of the construction sites will include regular sampling of soil and water within and around the construction sites; the involvement of the SCEPF in monitoring and evaluation will help in developing systematic environmental monitoring on rehabilitated sites (see Section 6.2). The provision of basic laboratory equipment and training (see Section 6.3) will help to improve the long term monitoring of soil and water quality. 5.2.2 Water Quality Impacts There is some potential for pollution of water resources (surface and groundwater) from drainage water discharged into the Kayrakkum Reservoir and Syr Darya River. This pollution might come from three main sources: (i) increased drainage from saline soils, (ii) improper management of pumping station and tube well fuels and wastes and (iii) increased agrochemical pollution as agricultural production increases over time. Besides the potential ecological damage to the receiving waters, this pollution may result in public health problems where rural households take water for domestic use from these sources. The drainage improvements in the highly saline lands of the project area will likely result in a modest increase in the salinity of waters in the drainage collectors. Waters from the collectors are pumped directly into the Kayrakkum Reservoir and Syr Darya River, but the impacts of these discharges will likely be negligible. Rehabilitation and operation of certain diesel- powered (?) pumping stations and tube wells in the project area presents the risk of fuel/oil spills contaminating surface and groundwater. Measures need to be taken to ensure proper management of fuels and wastes at these sites. Finally, in the long term, increased agricultural production may lead to increased use of agricultural chemical inputs. With the awareness of most farmers of the ecological and health risks associated with pesticide use being inadequate, there is some risk of improper or over-application of pesticides and consequent contamination of surface and groundwater resources. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures The EA recommends preventive actions rather than mitigation measures to address these potential sources of water pollution. The FVWRMP should ensure that farmers in the project area receive information and training, through the WUA training program, on proper irrigation and agricultural practices in order to minimize impacts of drainage from saline soils, on proper management and disposal of fuels and wastes generated at pumping stations and tube well sites, and on safe pest management practices, including integrated pest management (IPM), and proper application of pesticides. Monitoring The RPIU should ensure that the WUA training programs include the above topics. The RPIU should also make routine site inspections to high saline lands and pumping stations and tube wells to ensure that proper management practices are being used. The Soghd Oblast SCEPF should conduct periodic water quality monitoring at the major pumping stations to monitor the quality of water (salinity, presence of petroleum products or agrochemicals) discharged into the Kayrakkum Reservoir and the Syr Darya River. 5.2.3 Impacts on Agricultural Soils 5.2.4 Impacts on Biodiversity and Habitat Under current practice the pumping stations drawing water into the irrigation system in the project area, from the Kayrakkum Reservoir and the Syr Darya River, do not have protection devices on their intake pipes to prevent fish and other aquatic life from being drawn into the pipes and carried into the irrigation canals. Page 26 D raft 04/03/05 24 This results in the injury or death of a large number (hundreds/thousands?) of fish every year, including many species listed in the Red Book of Tajikistan and protected by law. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures The EA recommends a simple preventive action to address the problem of fish and other aquatic life being drawn into the pumping stations. That is, the FVWRMP should purchase and install fish protection devices (screens or nets) at the project pumping stations to ensure that fish and other aquatic species are not damaged by operation of the pumps. ... Monitoring The RPIU will make periodic visits to the pumping stations in order to inspect the fish protection devices and to ensure that they are functioning properly. 5.2.5 Impacts on Public Health As noted above, the abnormally high levels of groundwater in much of the project area have taken their toll on the health of local communities. Flooded homes and buildings have resulted in a catalog of illnesses in the local population, including respiratory problems, hepatitis and dysentery. Furthermore, where stagnant water stands in drainage collectors certain water-related diseases (e.g. malaria) are more common health problems in rural communities. The FVWRMP will need to ensure that its infrastructure rehabilitation will restore drainage systems to full function and thus improve groundwater management. This should reduce some of the public health problems related to high groundwater levels and standing drainage water. Furthermore, better irrigation and drainage system management by the WUAs, supported by increased awareness regarding the hazards of water-related disease vectors, would encourage farmers and their families to take an active role in improving their own health conditions. Many communities in the project area do not have access to suitable drinking water. In some communities that rely on groundwater for drinking water supply, the aquifer is too mineralized and not suitable for drinking purposes. Other communities rely on surface water taken from irrigation canals or drainage collectors for want of a better source. While the FVWRMP is not intended to address domestic water supply problems, it cannot ignore the public health concerns of the local communities in the project area. The project can study the environmental causes of the drinking water problems in particular communities, disseminate information about the quality of the water used for domestic consumption and recommend simple measures for the local people to take to improve water quality. In some cases the project may make small-scale investments to connect communities to suitable water supplies. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures The EA recommends that the FVWRMP ensure that the planning for infrastructure investments include specific analysis of the public health implications involved. That is, investments should address the abnormally high level of groundwater in much of the project area (i.e. rehabilitation of critical pumping systems) and irrigation canal and drainage collector rehabilitation should minimize public health risks (i.e. covered canals or drains near populated areas). The project should also study any environmental causes of the drinking water problems found in communities in the project area. Once the studies are complete, the project should disseminate the results to the communities, along with recommendations for simple measures to take to improve the quality of the water or to find other sources for drinking purposes. Depending on the technical feasibility and financial resources available, the project should finance a number of small- scale investments to provide communities with suitable drinking water supply. Page 27 D raft 04/03/05 25 Monitoring The RPIU will inspect infrastructure investments to ensure that critical public health concerns have been addressed in the surrounding area. The RPIU will also oversee the study on the environmental causes of drinking water problems in the project area, including any water quality sampling, analysis and monitoring performed. In areas of particular concern, the water quality monitoring should continue throughout the life of the project. Page 28 D raft 04/03/05 26 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN The EMMP contained in this section is the mechanism that ensures that the environmental prevention and mitigation measures identified in the EA will be properly undertaken during implementation of the proposed project. The EMMP also includes the monitoring plan and institutional strengthening activities that help ensure that the project will have beneficial impacts on the project area. Finally, the EMMP establishes the necessary institutional arrangements, proposes a schedule for implementing these activities and indicates their costs in the proposed project budget. 6.1 Mitigation Plan The preventive actions and mitigation measures recommended by the EA above are shown in the mitigation plan in Table 6.1. The plan identifies these measures according to the phase of project implementation in which the potential impacts are likely to occur: · the construction phase, which covers the actual civil works financed by the project in the irrigation and drainage system and on the earthen Kayrakkum Dam and involves the immediate construction impacts and sediment/waste disposal impacts described in Section 5.2.1 above, and · the operational phase, which covers the rest of the project after actual construction of the civil works has been completed and involves the continuing and longer-term impacts on water and soil quality, biodiversity and habitat, and public health. The plan then identifies the recommended preventive actions and mitigation measures, estimates the costs of installation (e.g. purchase price for equipment) and operation (e.g. operating costs for equipment or sampling/monitoring) for these measures where appropriate and assigns the institutional responsibility (e.g. PIU/RPIU, MMWRM or SCEPF) for ensuring that the measures are effectively implemented. Page 29 D r a f t 0 4 / 0 3 / 0 5 T a b l e 6 . 1 M i t i g a t i o n P l a n C o s t I n s t i t u t i o n a l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y C o m m e n t s P h a s e I s s u e P r e v e n t i v e A c t i o n / M i t i g a t i o n M e a s u r e I n s t a l l O p e r a t e I n s t a l l O p e r a t e C o n s t r u c t i o n C o n s t r u c t i o n i m p a c t s S e d i m e n t m a n a g e m e n t C o n s t r u c t i o n w a s t e E n v i r o n m e n t a l c o v e n a n t s ; E n v i r o n m e n t a l M a n a g e m e n t G u i d e l i n e s f o r C o n t r a c t o r s ; s i t e m a n a g e m e n t p l a n s S a m p l i n g , a p p r o p r i a t e d i s p o s a l A p p r o p r i a t e d i s p o s a l 0 0 0 ? ? ? P I U n / a n / a C o n t r a c t o r s C o n t r a c t o r s C o n t r a c t o r s R P I U s i t e i n s p e c t i o n s t o e n s u r e c o m p l i a n c e S a m p l i n g a t e a c h n e w c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e S i t e i n s p e c t i o n s O p e r a t i o n T h r e a t s t o b i o d i v e r s i t y : f i s h a n d o t h e r a q u a t i c l i f e f r o m p u m p i n g s t a t i o n s L o s s o f n a t u r a l s i t e s T h r e a t s t o w a t e r q u a l i t y : d r a i n a g e f r o m s a l i n e s o i l s F u e l / o i l s p i l l s / l e a k s f r o m p u m p i n g s t a t i o n s a n d t u b e w e l l s A g r o c h e m i c a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n T h r e a t s t o p u b l i c h e a l t h : d r i n k i n g w a t e r p r o b l e m s w a t e r - r e l a t e d d i s e a s e s I n s t a l l a t i o n o f f i s h p r o t e c t i o n d e v i c e s a t p u m p i n g s t a t i o n s R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f n a t u r a l s i t e s T r a i n i n g i n i m p r o v e d w a t e r a n d s o i l m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s P r o p e r m a n a g e m e n t a n d d i s p o s a l o f f u e l / w a s t e s a t p u m p i n g s t a t i o n s / w e l l s T r a i n i n g i n i m p r o v e d p e s t m a n a g e m e n t / p e s t i c i d e p r a c t i c e s E n v i r o n m e n t a l s t u d i e s , i n f o r m a t i o n d i s s e m i n a t i o n , s m a l l - s c a l e i n v e s t m e n t s I n f o r m a t i o n d i s s e m i n a t i o n , s m a l l - s c a l e i n v e s t m e n t s ? ? 0 0 0 ? ? 0 0 ? ? ? 0 0 M M W R M M M W R M n / a n / a R P I U R P I U M M W R M n / a R P I U R P I U R P I U n / a n / a R P I U s i t e i n s p e c t i o n t o e n s u r e c o m p l i a n c e R P I U / W U A s e l e c t i o n c o n t r a c t o r R P I U / W U A t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m R P I U / W U A t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m R P I U / W U A t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m R P I U / M O H c o l l a b o r a t i o n R P I U / W U A c o l l a b o r a t i o n Page 30 D raft 04/03/05 6.2 Monitoring Plan As part of its overall responsibility for execution of the FVWRMP , the PIU will perform the regular monitoring and evaluation of project activities and periodic reporting required by the World Bank. In addition, in the project areas the RPIU will be responsible for the environmental and social monitoring activities identified above as part of the preventive actions and mitigation measures proposed to address potential adverse impacts. This monitoring will be incorporated into the overall FVWRMP project monitoring plan required by the World Bank as part of project performance. The results of such monitoring will be recorded and maintained by the PIU throughout the life of the project. The PIU will report the results of its monitoring program in the periodic progress reports it submits to the World Bank; Bank supervision missions will review the results of the monitoring program on a regular basis. 6.2.1 Monitoring Implementation of Preventive Actions and Mitigation Measures The RPIU will be responsible for monitoring proper implementation of the various preventive actions (e.g. fish protection devices) and mitigation measures (e.g. rehabilitation of natural sites) required by the EA or by the SCEPF. This will entail periodically making site visits to verify that the appropriate preventive actions and/or mitigation measures have been implemented. The RPIU also will conduct random evaluations of project sites to determine the effectiveness of measures taken and the impacts of project activities on the surrounding environment. 6.2.2 Monitoring Ecological and Social Indicators During the life of the FVWRMP , the RPIU (in collaboration with the Soghd Oblast WRMD, Agriculture Department and SCEPF) will carry out periodic monitoring and analysis of the soils, water resources, ground water levels and mineralization in the project area. This will include the ecological and social monitoring activities identified above in the EA as part of the preventive actions and mitigation measures proposed to address potential adverse impacts. As detailed in Table 6.2, this monitoring will include regular analysis of: · the quality of soils, including salinity and humus content (content of phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen), groundwater levels and mineralization · the quality and quantity of waters discharged, including collector-drainage water discharges (chemical and bacteriological analysis, i.e. pH, residual solids, chlorides, hardness, pesticides, etc) · the state of public health with respect to the incidence of water-related diseases in the local population, based on health statistics routinely gathered by the raions Where these monitoring activities are not routinely performed by the relevant state institutions (i.e. Soghd Oblast WRMD, SEC, MoH), the RPIU will undertake the appropriate monitoring directly or contract additional technical support as needed. Page 31 D r a f t 0 4 / 0 3 / 0 5 T a b l e 6 . 2 E c o l o g i c a l a n d S o c i a l M o n i t o r i n g P l a n C o s t R e s p o n s i b i l i t y P r o j e c t P h a s e P a r a m e t e r L o c a t i o n M e t h o d / E q u i p m e n t F r e q u e n c y P u r p o s e I n s t a l l O p e r a t e I n s t a l l O p e r a t e B a s e l i n e ( t o b e s p e c i f i e d i n f i r s t y e a r ) C o n s t r u c t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l m a n a g e m e n t g u i d e l i n e s S e d i m e n t q u a l i t y C o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s C o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s S i t e i n s p e c t i o n s S e d i m e n t s a m p l i n g / a n a l y s i s O n c e p r i o r t o , d u r i n g a n d u p o n c o m p l e t i o n O n c e a t b e g i n n i n g o f c o n s t r u c t i o n E n s u r e c o m p l i a n c e D e t e r m i n e q u a l i t y f o r m a n a g e m e n t o f s e d i m e n t 0 0 0 ? n / a n / a R P I U R P I U / S C E P F O p e r a t i o n S o i l s a l i n i t y S o i l h u m u s c o n t e n t G r o u n d w a t e r l e v e l s W a t e r q u a l i t y , q u a n t i t y d i s c h a r g e d P u b l i c h e a l t h s t a t i s t i c s P r o b l e m a r e a s P r o b l e m a r e a s C o l l e c t o r o u t f a l l s M o H o b l a s t / r a i o n o f f i c e s S o i l s a m p l i n g / a n a l y s i s W a t e r g a u g e m e a s u r e m e n t W a t e r s a m p l i n g / a n a l y s i s R e v i e w o f r e p o r t s M o n t h l y ? M o n t h l y ? M o n t h l y ? S e m i - a n n u a l l y ? D e t e r m i n e a n y i m p r o v e m e n t s i n s o i l q u a l i t y D e t e r m i n e w a t e r l e v e l s D e t e r m i n e q u a l i t y o f w a t e r d i s c h a r g e d M o n i t o r p u b l i c h e a l t h 0 ? 0 0 ? ? ? ? ? S C E P F ? W R M D ? W R M D ? R P I U / M O H Page 32 D raft 04/03/05 6.3 Institutional Strengthening In order to ensure proper implementation of the various environmental activities (preventive actions/mitigation measures, monitoring and evaluation) recommended in this EMMP, the FVWRMP will support the necessary institutional strengthening in the PIU/RPIU and the Soghd Oblast SCEPF and WRMD, as well as essential capacity building in environmental management in the WUAs and the local populations. This institutional strengthening will comprise the delivery of training and study tours, the purchase and installation of necessary equipment, the provision of specialized consultant services as needed, the completion of any special studies/analyses identified and development of essential public outreach and awareness campaigns. Each of these activities is described below. 6.3.1 Training and Study Tours The FVWRMP will provide appropriate environmental training to the range of relevant stakeholders (i.e. PIU/RPIU, SCEPF, WUAs, local populations) under the project, both to raise general environmental awareness and to strengthen overall environmental management capacity in the project area. Furthermore, this training will address the specific technical skills necessary to perform the environmental management and monitoring functions required and may include study tours to similar World Bank projects in the region. The training program will raise the environmental management capacity within the PIU and RPIU by training management and technical staff. In addition, an environmental specialist will be employed full-time in the RPIU based in Khojand for the initial years of the project. This specialist will oversee implementation of all environmental activities identified by the EA and EMMP (see terms of reference in Annex D). The training program will reinforce existing capacity within the Soghd Oblast SCEPF (and raion-level staff) by providing specialized training to enhance environmental assessment, management and monitoring skills and practices. Finally, the program will provide environmental outreach and consultations with local water user communities (and WUAs as they are established) in order to improve the existing situation and to enable them to take full responsibility for keeping their irrigation networks in good condition long after rehabilitation. 6.3.2 Equipment The FVWRMP will provide the basic office equipment necessary for the environmental specialist in the RPIU, plus any additional environmental mapping, data processing and other equipment needed to perform the environmental functions required. This may include some basic mobile field sampling equipment in order to enable the environmental specialist to perform sampling and analysis where needed, in addition to the monitoring assigned to the Soghd Oblast WRMD and SCEPF. The FVWRMP will also provide a limited amount of laboratory equipment necessary to perform the environmental monitoring, sampling and analysis recommended by the monitoring plan. This will include basic laboratory analysis equipment for use by the Soghd Oblast SCEPF. The Soghd Oblast SCEPF already has a central laboratory that performs analyses on samples from local land and water resources. But, for various reasons (e.g. limited financial resources, outdated equipment) the laboratory cannot function at full capacity. In order to conduct the necessary laboratory analyses required for project monitoring and to fully identify the environmental impacts in the project area, it will be necessary to Page 33 D raft 04/03/05 2 provision the laboratory at the SCEPF with some additional equipment, as well as conduct training/seminars on the latest laboratory techniques for the workers. 6.3.3 Consultant Services The FVWRMP will provide additional, specialized technical support for environmental assessment and management through the services of a limited number of national and international environmental consultants as needed. These consultants will be used to enhance the environmental capabilities of the RPIU in specific technical areas (to be identified), such as analysis of radionuclide and agrochemical contamination of surface and groundwater resources. The environmental specialist in the RPIU will be responsible for identifying and supervising these consultants and ensuring that their work serves the purposes of the FVWRMP . 6.3.4 Special Studies In addition to the consultant services to be identified during project implementation, the FVWRMP will finance a number of already-identified, specialized technical studies addressing environmental issues that were not fully analyzed in preparation of the EAMP. For example, the issue of radionuclide contamination of water resources, which was raised by one of the local NGOs in Khojand, was not addressed during preparation of the EAMP. Furthermore, the use of agrochemicals and contamination of water resources, as well as the environmental causes of drinking water problems in local communities in the project area should be analyzed further during project implementation. 6.3.5 Public Awareness Finally, the FVWRMP will organize community outreach and public awareness campaigns on water conservation and environmental management issues. In order to implement this project it will be necessary to attract not only state institutions but also hukumates, communities, jamoats, villages and individual households. Therefore, it will be necessary to organize public awareness campaigns on such issues as rational water use, conservation and protection of water resources and simple sanitary-hygiene practices. The SCEPF has experience with such public awareness campaigns and appears willing to support project initiatives in this regard. Local environmental NGOs may also play a role in public awareness raising and will be considered in the development of local programs. Page 34 D raft 04/03/05 3 The set of activities included in this institutional strengthening program is presented in summary form in Table 6.3. Table 6.3 Institutional Strengthening Program Component Activity/Unit Recipients Training and study tours Environmental awareness, assessment, management Environmental assessment, mitigation, monitoring Environmental management, maintenance Study tours PIU/RPIU management and technical staff Soghd Oblast WRMD and SCEPF staff WUA members, local communities PIU/RPIU specialists, SCEPF staff Equipment (to be specified) Office equipment, mobile monitoring unit Laboratory analysis equipment PIU/RPIU Soghd Oblast SEC laboratory Consultant services (to be specified) Specialized technical capabilities PIU/RPIU, SCEPF, WUAs Special studies (to be specified) Radionuclide contamination Agrochemical contamination Drinking water analyses Biodiversity habitat Soghd Oblast SCEPF Soghd Oblast SCEPF Soghd Oblast WRMD Soghd Oblast SCEPF Public awareness (to be specified) Rational water use Conservation and protection of water resources Sanitary-hygiene practices Local communities Local communities Local communities 6.4. Schedule Implementation of the activities described in the EMMP will begin in the first year of project implementation, with an immediate review and refinement of the details of the mitigation plan, monitoring plan and institutional strengthening program proposed above. The PIU/RPIU, under the direct supervision of the environmental specialist based in Khojand, will then undertake implementation of the mitigation and monitoring plans and institutional strengthening program, as appropriate given the schedule of infrastructure rehabilitation and establishment of WUAs under the project. The mitigation measures for construction impacts, for example, will obviously track the pace of infrastructure rehabilitation; WUA training in best soil and water management practices will follow establishment of WUAs in the local communities. These activities will continue, as appropriate, throughout the life of the project. The institutional strengthening activities, for example, will take place over the life of the project, on the basis of identified needs, with scheduled training for PIU/RPIU and Soghd Page 35 D raft 04/03/05 4 Oblast WRMD and SCEPF staff occurring early in project implementation, followed by the training activities with the WUAs and outreach and public awareness campaigns in the local communities. The national and international consultant services will be provided to the PIU/RPIU on an as-needed basis, part-time for the life of the project. The monitoring plan will be implemented throughout the life of the project, with periodic monitoring used to evaluate the impacts of mitigation measures and track baseline environmental and social conditions in the project area. Most of the purchase and installation of equipment should take place in the first year of the project, but additional needs may be identified at later times. The proposed schedule for implementing EMMP activities is shown in Table 6.4. Table 6.4 EMMP Implementation Schedule EAMP Activities Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Mitigation Plan: -- Construction impacts -- Fish protection devices -- training on best practices -- drinking water studies -- rehabilitation of natural sites Monitoring Plan: -- Soil quality (baseline) -- Groundwater level (baseline) -- Water quality (baseline) -- Health statistics (baseline) Institutional Strengthening: -- Training and study tours -- Equipment -- Consultant services -- Special studies -- Public awareness campaigns 6.5 Institutional Arrangements Responsibility for implementation of the EMMP will be shared by MMWRM, the PIU/RPIU and SCEPF. MMWRM, working through the PIU, will have overall responsibility for implementation of the FVWRMP and will ensure that the EMMP is fully integrated into implementation of the project, including the monitoring and reporting required by the World Bank. More specifically: · The MMWRM will assume responsibility for (a) the design and assessment of the physical works in accordance with Tajik environmental norms, regulations and requirements and (b) the physical implementation of the activities under the project. MMWRM’s design engineers of the Design Institute and externally engaged consulting engineers will assume the primary responsibility for providing designs and for preparation of the bidding documents with specifications taking into account environmental protection requirements. Contractors will be responsible for implementation of the rehabilitation works in accordance with environmental requirements specified in the bidding documents and the environmental management guidelines (EMGs). Page 36 D raft 04/03/05 5 · The RPIU’S environmental specialist will ensure that all preventive actions and mitigation measures identified by the EA and included in the mitigation plan are undertaken in a proper and timely manner and will take the necessary actions to monitor their effectiveness. The local SCEPF staff in the project raions will assist the environmental specialist in monitoring implementation of the mitigation plan (see diagram of institutional arrangements and communications flows in Figure 3). Where it becomes apparent that different or additional measures are required to minimize potential negative impacts, the environmental specialist, with the advice of the SCEPF staff, will recommend such measures to the Project Coordinator in the PIU. · The environmental specialist will also oversee implementation of the ecological and social monitoring plan specified in the EMMP, ensuring that the monitoring assigned to the Soghd Oblast WRMD, SCEPF and MOH is performed effectively and that the information is shared promptly with appropriate project and GOT officials (see diagram of institutional arrangements and communications flows in Figure 4). The specialist will package the results of the ecological and social monitoring in quarterly reports to the PIU Project Coordinator, national and local GOT officials, and World Bank staff. In addition, the World Bank environmental specialist will monitor adherence to the EMMP by the various agencies during supervision missions. · The environmental specialist will directly manage the institutional strengthening activities recommended by the EMMP, including scheduling training and study tours, overseeing the purchase and installation of equipment, allocating environmental consultant services as needed, supervising completion of the special studies and managing efforts to raise public awareness. MMWRM and SCEPF will work closely with the PIU in implementing the EMMP. In particular, MMWRM will support the environmental specialist in working with the Soghd Oblast and raion WRMD offices and with the WUAs in their training on improved environmental management practices. SCEPF will be the primary monitoring agency for FVWRMP activities and will support the environmental specialist in the assessing the environmental impacts of project activities, evaluating the effectiveness of the preventive actions and mitigation measures taken and performing the ecological monitoring assigned. This collaboration will require that the environmental specialist meet regularly with his counterparts in the Soghd Oblast WRMD, SCEPF, MOA and MOH. Field staff of SCEPF will collect the soil and water samples and arrange to get them analyzed in the Soghd Oblast laboratory and, depending upon the results, recommend appropriate mitigation measures to the environmental specialist, the farmers and the community. Finally, once the WUAs have been established in the project area, they will collaborate with the environmental specialist to ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated into their activities, not only in the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage infrastructure but in improved practices for agricultural, water and soil resources management among their members. Page 37 D raft 04/03/05 6 Page 38 D r a f t 0 4 / 0 3 / 0 5 7 F i g u r e 3 - I n s t i t u t i o n a l A r r a n g e m e n t s a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n F l o w s f o r I m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M i t i g a t i o n P l a n · F i g u r e 4 – I n s t i t u t i o n a l A r r a n g e m e n t s a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n F l o w s f o r I m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M o n i t o r i n g P l a n W a t e r a n d s o i l s a m p l i n g b y f i e l d s t a f f o f S C E P F i n K a n i b a d a n R a i o n W a t e r a n d s o i l s a m p l i n g b y f i e l d s t a f f o f S C E P F i n B . G a f u r o v r a i o n A g r i c u l t u r a l S o i l s a n d D r a i n a g e W a t e r D i s c h a r g e s f r o m F a r m s a n d P u m p i n g S t a t i o n s i n P r o j e c t A r e a F e e d b a c k o n T R A I N I N o i s e E n v i o r n m e n t a l S p e c i a l i s t / R P I U R e v i e w b y S C E P F s t a f f i n B . G a f u r o v r a i o n R e v i e w b y S C E P F s t a f f i n K a n i b a d a m r a i o n D u s t S e d i m e n t , d e b r i s a n d s o l i d w a s t e d i s p o s a l D a m a g e t o V e g e t a t i o n R e c o m m e n d e d M i t i g a t i o n M e a s u r e s R e c o m m e n d C h a n g e i n c o n s t r u c t i o n r e g i m e / s t o p p i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k I n S e v e r e c a s e s D o c u m e n t a t i o n , r e p o r t i n g a n d a r c h i v i n g S a t i s f a c t o r y W o r k E x e c u t i o n R e p o r t s U n s a t i s f a c t o r y W o r k E x e c u t i o n R e p o r t s – N o n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h E n v i r o n m e n t a l M a n a g e m e n t G u i d e l i n e s a t C o n s t r u c t i o n S i t e s L o c a l N G O s , j o u r n a l i s t ’ s r e p o r t s , c i v i c s o c i e t y c o m p l a i n t s a t r a i o n l e v e l O n S i t e C o n t r a c t o r C o m p l i a n c e w i t h E n v i r o n m e n t a l M a n a g e m e n t G u i d e l i n e s d u r i n g C o n s t r u c t i o n W o r k S t a t e L e v e l – P r o j e c t S t e e r i n g C o m m i t t e e P r o j e c t C o o r d i n a t o r / P I U N a t i o n a l l e v e l N G O s , j o u r n a l i s t ’ s r e p o r t s , c i v i l s o c i e t y c o m p l a i n t s Page 39 D r a f t 0 4 / 0 3 / 0 5 8 Page 40 D raft 04/03/05 7. CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL NGOS AND BENEFICIARIES 7.1 Initial Environmental Screening Mission The EAMP team began the process of consulting the relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project during its environmental screening mission in November 2004: meeting with officials in the MMWRM, the SCEPF and other national institutions; with Soghd Oblast water and environmental officials and their counterparts in the two project area raions; with representatives of national and local environmental and social NGOs; and with farmers and other beneficiaries of the project in the field. The list of stakeholders met during the environmental screening process can be found in Annex B. 7.2 Project Workshop in Khojand The EAMP team continued the consultation process during its second mission in December 2004 in participating in the project workshop in Khojand with a number of stakeholders and beneficiaries. The workshop included government officials from MMWRM, SCEPF and MOA, local officials from various hukumates and jamoats, as well as representatives from farmer associations. The report from this workshop and list of participants are contained in Annex B. 7.3 Workshops/Consultations on Draft EAMP The PPU held a series of workshops/ consultations on the draft EAMP in March 2005. The workshops were held in the project areas, B. Gafurov and Kanibadam, on 4-5 March, respectively. A number of NGOs and beneficiaries attended these two sessions and provided constructive comments and suggestions. The national workshop took place in Dushanbe on 10 March. The minutes of these consultations are contained in Annex B. 8. PROPOSED BUDGET The estimated costs of implementing the various activities specified by the EMMP are displayed in Table 8.1. The costs are broken down in terms of personnel expenses (i.e. the full-time environmental specialist and part-time national and international consultants), monitoring plan costs (i.e. the ecological and social monitoring), institutional strengthening expenses (i.e. training and study tours, special studies and public awareness campaigns), equipment costs (i.e. office, monitoring and laboratory equipment) and other investment costs (e.g. fish protection devices, small-scale investments in water supply). The FVWRMP will finance these expenses as part of the project budget under Component 5. The project should make every effort, however, to ensure that the GOT shares some of the costs that support government functions (e.g. monitoring by the Soghd Oblast WRMD, SCEPF, etc.). The costs of the EMMP will be included in the total costs of the FVWRMP and will be financed with funds from the International Development Association credit. No additional costs are envisaged in implementation of the EMMP. Page 41 D raft 04/03/05 2 Table 8.1 - Proposed EMMP Budget EMMP Component Quantity Unit Rate US$ Cost US$ Personnel : RPIU environmental specialist (5 years) Consultants (national/international, part-time) - national consultants for RPIU (1 m/year) - international consultants for RPIU 60 m* 5 m 1 m 500/m 1,500/m 25,000/m 30,000 7,500 25,000 Monitoring Plan : - RPIU ecological and social monitoring expenses 10,000 Institutional Strengthening : - training, study tours, etc. - special studies - public awareness campaigns 10 m 10 m 1,500/m 1,500/m 20,000 15,000 25,000 Equipment, Materials : - office (computer, mapping, supplies, etc.) - monitoring (laboratory equipment, field supplies, EC/pH meters, h/m gauges, gauge boards, etc.) ? ? ? ? 20,000 50,000 Small-scale environmental investments : - fish protection devices - investments in drinking water supply systems - planting/rehabilitation of natural areas ? ? ? ? ? ? 10,000 50,000 15,000 TOTAL 277,500 * person months of labour Page 42 D raft 04/03/05 3 ANNEX A TECHNICAL REPORTS PREPARED BY NATIONAL SPECIALISTS Page 43 D raft 04/03/05 4 ANNEX B CONSULTATIONS HELD AND STAKEHOLDERS MET BY EAMP TEAM List of Stakeholders Met during Screening Mission Khojand and Dushanbe, 11-23 November 2004 NAME ORGANIZATION POSITION 1 Ubaidullo Mirvaidulloev UNDP Area Manager 2 H. Muhiddinov Soghd Oblast WRMD Head 3 Halim Hojiev Soghd Oblast WRMD Irrigation Engineer 4 Maksud Murodov EKOSAN (NGO) Leader 5 Hotam Murtazoev Ecology and Scientific Progress (NGO) Leader 6 Nazarova Mukaddas Women for Ecology & Progress (NGO) Leader 7 Saidamin Isomaddinov Soghd Oblast SCEPF Deputy Director 8 Askar Abduvaliev Soghd Oblast SCEPF Ecological Specialist 9 Azamjon Homidov Soghd Oblast SCEPF Ecological Specialist 10 Pulatov Ergashevich Institute of Hydraulic Eng./ Land Rec. Director of Research 11 Cen. Asia Regional Ecological Center Director 12 Rustam Latipov SCEPF Deputy Chairman 13 R. Rahmatiloev Center for Agriculture Privatization Chief Engineer 14 Malika Babadjanova Ecological Specialist 15 Report on the National Workshop on Ecological, Technical and Social Aspects of the Project Khojand, 16-17 December 2004 The workshop was conducted under the leadership of Mr. A. Ahrorov, the Project Coordinator, on December 16-17, 2004, in Chkalovsk City of Soghd Oblast. Invitations to participants preceded the event. At the workshop there were representatives of the GOT, MMWRM, Project Preparation Unit, World Bank, international and national consultants, the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Aral Sea, representatives from the project areas of B.Gafurov and Kanibadam and other interested organizations (see list of participants below). The purpose of the workshop was the familiarization of the community, organizations and interested parties with the preliminary results of project preparation on technical, ecological and social aspects, the definition of priorities and more an effective utilization of the planned credit of the World Bank. The workshop addressed the technical, ecological and social aspects of the project; as well as the formation of the community organizations for operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems, etc. The Project Coordinator informed participants of the purpose of the workshop and the program. A series of presentations were then made by: · Mr. Usaid El- Hanbali, World Bank Task Team Leader, on the purposes, components, cover areas and expected results of the project; Page 44 D raft 04/03/05 5 · Mr. David Colbert, FAO Environment Officer, Ms. Malika Bobodzhanova and Mr. Uktam Murtazaev, local consultants on environmental assessment from Dushanbe, and Mr. Isomaddinov Saidamin, environmental official from Khojand, on ecological aspects of the project; · Mr. Kian Tajbakhsh, World Bank consultant, and Mr. Vahidov Saidali, the local consultant from Khojand, on social aspects of the project. Special support to the workshop was given by the participation and speech of the Minister of Melioration and water Resources Management, Mr. A.A. Nazirov. Presentations were also made on various aspects of the project by the FAO Water Resources Engineer, Mr. Walter Klemm, the consultant of the World Bank, Mr. Michael Sandoz, the Chief of Soghd Oblast WRMD, Mr. H.I. Muhidinov, the representative of the Asian Development Bank Project, representatives of the water resources management from Gafurov and Kanibadam districts. In addition, the leading expert of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Mr. Habib Gaibullaev and representatives of the local administrations of project areas made comments. Consultants exchanged with participants the national and international experience which meets standards and norms of environment, laws for associations of water-users and community management of general irrigation systems. The role of MMWRM, the SCEPF, management and functions of regional laboratories for analysis of water and soils, methods of distribution cost/value between the governmental both local bodies and local associations were discussed. In the second day of the workshop, participants were divided into three groups, according to technical, ecological and social aspects and held discussions in groups and presented the priorities and directions on these aspects of the project (see results below). A summary of these discussions follows: · Participants came to the unanimous conclusion that the results of the components of the proposed project will be strengthening steady development of agriculture, switching technologies, a policy and the actions directed on integration of social and economic principles, concerning to preservation of the environment. It will promote development and increases in agricultural production and economically will help farmers to prevent threat of reduction in efficiency of the agricultural lands, protect nature and prevent degradation of soil fertility and water quality, as well as monitor the level of soil erosion. · It is expected that the project will promote steady and effective utilization of the lands of the Ferghana Valley and water conservation technologies, introducing environmental methods of management, increasing opportunities for improvement of the environment. Restoration and improvement of the lands and methods of preservation of soils will help to improve efficiency of use of water and land, to reduce land degradation through erosion monitoring systems and introduction of approaches of the integrated pest management and monitoring of pesticide contamination for reduction of pollution from irrational use of pesticides. · Based on the above, the workshop concluded that the project is technically feasible, will not result in significant environmental harm, will be socially acceptable and will receive all-round cooperation for its successful realization. · The meeting also emphasized that it is very beneficial to organize such a meeting. Earlier the population as a whole did not inquire about requirements regarding impacts on the environment and also the rights, the responsibility and a role of people in Page 45 D raft 04/03/05 6 realization of the project. Therefore, it was noted that it is necessary to give more attention to consultation (informing) so that people (i) know more about impacts on the environment and the responsibilities and task of each citizen; (ii) consider the general and technical principles of procedures on environment and roles of the governments and the private organizations; (iii) familiarize themselves with the existing legislation, norms and procedures of the Republic Tajikistan. It is expected that the project will promote steady and effective use of the irrigated lands and water resources, introduction of safe and steady methods concerning environmental management, an increase in responsibility for the environment. Rehabilitation and improvement of irrigation and drainage systems will help to improve efficiency of water use, to lower waterlogged soils and erosion, and also to reduce the pollution of water caused by degradation of soils. Furthermore, the project will promote improvement of the health of the population in project areas. List of Participants at the National Project Workshop Khojand, 16-17 December 2004 NAME ORGANIZATION POSITION 1 hrorov, . Project Preparation Unit – FVWRMP Project Coordinator 2 Ganieva, G. Project Preparation Unit – FVWRMP Office Manager 3 Sharipov, . The Executive Office of the President Agriculture Specialist 4 Nazirov, A.A. MMWRM Minister 5 Hamidov, M.J. MMWRM Deputy Minister 6 irandozov, . MMWRM Chief of department 7 Mirzoev H. MMWRM Power engineer 8 Khamidov . Independent expert 9 Koltsov G. Independent expert 10 Gaibullaev H. International Fund for Saving Aral Sea Leading expert 11 Babadjanova . Ecological Consultant 12 urtazoev U. Ecological Consultant 13 Muhidinov H.I. Soghd Oblast WRMD Chief 14 Homidov A.A. Soghd Oblast WRMD Deputy chief 15 Sanginov . B.Gafurov Raion WRMD Chief 16 orijumaev . B.Gafurov Raion WRMD Deputy chief 17 Sharipov Z. nibadam Raion WRMD Chief 18 Kasymov A.A. Khodjabakirgan project unit Chief engineer 19 Usaid El-Hanbali World Bank Leader FVWRMP 20 Michael Sandoz World Bank Inter. Consultant 21 Yatimov, Bobojon World Bank Resident Mission Dushanbe Rural Dev. Officer 22 Walter Klemm UN FAO Water Res. Engineer 23 David Colbert UN FAO Environment Officer 24 ian Tajbakhsh World Bank – Social Assessment Team Inter. Consultant 25 uminova Umeda World Bank – Social Assessment Team Project assistant 26 Vakhidov Saidali World Bank – Social Assessment Team Social Specialist 27 Negmatulloev Alisher World Bank – Social Assessment Team Social Specialist 28 Anvar Atabaev UNDP Page 46 D raft 04/03/05 7 29 Djamshed Kadirkulov UNDP 30 Frank Paepke GAA 31 irzabaeva Z. GAA Assistant to Manager 32 Ahmedov T.J. ACTED Program Manager 33 Gileva Ksenya NGO Dasti Madad 34 Atabaeva Shahlo Khojand Technical Institute Student 35 Djabarov, . Hukumate of nibadam Deputy Chairman 36 minjanov, H. Hukumate of nibadam Employee 37 shurov, H. Jamoat Lahuti, nibadam Chairman 38 urakulov R. Jamoat Hamrabaeav, nibadam Chairman 39 Kholmatov . Kanibadam Chairman 40 Babadjanov, H. nibadam SCEPF Chief 41 uchkarov Sh. Farmer Association, Kanibadam Chairman 42 Ismailov R.S. B.Gafurov Agriculture Department Chief 43 Usmonov I.I. Jamoat Isfisor, B. Gafurov Chairman 44 Hodiboev M.H. Jamoat Kostakoz, B. Gafurov Chairman 45 Tcherkasova V.U. Jamoat Sharipov, B. Gafurov Chairman 46 Toshmatov M.M. Leninabad «Barki Tojik» Deputy chairman 47 Negmatov . Regional agroprom Chief engineer 48 Isomaddinov S.A. Soghd Oblast SCEPF Deputy Chairman 49 Abduvaliev A.K. Soghd Oblast SCEPF Senior Specialist 50 H omidov . Soghd Oblast SCEPF Senior Specialist Report on the Project Area Workshop on the Draft EAMP Khojand, 4 March 2005 Report on the Project Area Workshop on the Draft EAMP Kanibadam, 5 March 2005 Report on the National Workshop on the Draft EAMP Dushanbe, 10 March 2005 Page 47 D raft 04/03/05 8 Page 48 D raft 04/03/05 9 ANNEX C ENVIRONMENTAL CLAUSES FOR BIDDING CONTRACTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR CONTRACTORS Environmental clause for bidding documents and contracts: For environmental damage possibly caused by contractors during construction activities, such as noise, dust, solid wastes, excavated sediments and other materials from irrigation and drainage canals and structures and any damage to natural vegetation etc. appropriate mitigating measures would constitute an integral part of the design and implementation, including the contracts binding the contractors to carry out the environmental obligations during construction. The standardized environmental clauses will be included in each contract in FVWRMP framework and during the design. Other clauses specified by the raions will be included in the awarded contract and will provide additional details for following environmental precautionary clauses. The key mitigating measures against the potential negative impact that is being envisaged under the project EMMP with regard to each of the items are as follows: “The natural landscape should be preserved to the extent possible by conducting operations in a manner that will prevent unnecessary destruction or scarring of natural surroundings. Except where required for permanent works, quarries, borrow pits, staging and processing areas, dumps, and camps, all trees, saplings, and shrubbery should be protected from unnecessary damage by project-related activities. After construction any unavoidable damage should be restored to quasi-original conditions where appropriate; “The contractor’s operations should be performed so as to prevent accidental spillage of contaminants, debris, or other pollutants, especially into streams or underground water resources. Such pollutants include untreated sewage and sanitary waste, tailings, petroleum products, chemical, biocides, mineral salts, and thermal pollution. Wastewater, including those from aggregate processing and concrete batching, must not enter streams without settling ponds, grave filters, or other processes, so as not to impair water quality or harm aquatic life; “The contractor should ensure proper disposal of waste materials and rubbish. If disposal by burial or fire, it should not cause any negative impact to either the air, soil nor ground water supplies; “The contractor should minimize air and water pollution emissions. Dust from the handling or transporting of aggregates, cement, etc., should be minimized by sprinkling or other methods. Materials, brush or trees should only be burned when the owners permit, under favourable weather conditions; The contractor’s facilities, such as warehouses, labour camps and storage areas, should be planned in advance to decide what the area will look like upon completion of construction. These facilities should be located so as to preserve the natural environment (such as trees and other vegetation) to the maximum extent possible. After project construction, camps and building should either serve as permanent residences and form future communities, if such Page 49 D raft 04/03/05 10 use can be foreseen and approved, or be torn down and the area restored to its quasi-original condition in order to avoid deterioration into shanty towns; Borrow pits should be landscaped and planted according to an ecological design to provide some substitute area for lost natural landscapes and habita ts.” Page 50 D r a f t 0 4 / 0 3 / 0 5 E N V I R O N M E N T A L M A N A G E M E N T G U I D E L I N E S A c t i v i t y I s s u e s A n t i c i p a t e d / P o t e n t i a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t E f f e c t s o n e n v i r o n m e n t A c t i o n s o r M i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s S m a l l - s c a l e w o r k s o n i r r i g a t i o n a n d d r a n a g e s y s t e m a n d r e s e r v o i r r e c o n s t r u c t i o n / r e h a b i l i t a t i o n D u s t , n o i s e , s e d i m e n t a n d s o l i d w a s t e d i s p o s a l d u r i n g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n w o r k s I n i t i a l e r o s i o n . P o o r i r r i g a t i o n p r a c t i c e s m a y l e a d t o s u r f a c e s o i l l o s s , m i n e r a l l e a c h i n g a n d / o r s a l i n i z a t i o n . B e t t e r w a t e r u s e s h o u l d d e c r e a s e e r o s i o n . I n c r e a s e d g r o u n d c o v e r b y i n c r e a s i n g c r o p p i n g . M i n i m i z e e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l , b e t t e r c o n t r o l o f w a t e r f l o w , g r e a t e r a l l - y e a r r o u n d u s e o f a r a b l e l a n d s , d e c r e a s e o r g a n i c e m i s s i o n s a n d i m p r o v e b i o d i v e r s i t y A p p l y c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a n d a r d s a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l m a n a g e m e n t g u i d e l i n e s . R e v e g e t a t e c a n a l b a n k s w i t h g r a s s e s a n d s h r u b s . P r o v i d e f a r m e r t r a i n i n g i n d r i p a n d s p r i n k l e r i r r i g a t i o n a n d p r o p o s e p r o p e r w a t e r p r i c i n g Page 51 D raft 04/03/05 ANNEX D TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST IN THE RPIU The environmental specialist should have a PhD in Environmental Sciences or Water Resources Management, along with good experience in environmental assessment and management. The specialist should have at least 10 years work experience specifically related to water resources management and agriculture and irrigation impacts on environment. The specialist should be familiar with the procedures for environmental monitoring and have knowledge of national and international environmental standards and requirements for drinking water, irrigation and lands, public health and technical parameters and safety standards. The specialist should have at least four years work experience in private, local or national government administration, and some experience with international organizations. Working within the RPIU, the environmental specialist will perform the following tasks: · review the environmental status of the project area and set up the baseline for the major environmental parameters , as well as the long-term ecological and social monitoring program for key environmental and social indicators as part of general project monitoring and evaluation; · monitor implementation of the EA and EMMP preventive action, mitigation measure and monitoring requirements; · organize the training and study tour program; · submit periodic reports to the PIU on the adequacy of preventive actions and mitigation measures taken in preventing adverse environmental or social impacts; · provide guidance for project staff in the PIU/RPIU in reviewing the procurement documents for the observance of the environmental covenants; · serve as a liaison between the environmental staff in the SCEPF and the PIU/RPIU · guarantee that all relevant documentation and reports related to environmental aspects of the project are kept by the PIU and RPIU . Page 52 Draft 04/03/05 2