Acknowledgements 11. Acknowledgements

Eng Safwat Adly Deif Health Safety Specialist, Manpower Directorate Abdl Aal Aly Mohamed Abdl Rahman Youth Specialist, Youth and Sports Directorate Gamal Abdel Baset Ahmed

Eng Hamdan Abdel Sattar Chief, Fisheries Department Eng Ahmed Hassan Gamal Fish Incubator Chief

Yacoub Said Abidou Social Affairs Adel Fawzi Lika Moussa Mahmoud Abdel Mongheth Mohammed Fou’d Wahbalia Ebeed Alla Armees

Mohamed Medhut Fahmy Supply Directorate Mohamed Abu Ouf Naser Mohamed Radwan

Ahmed Radwan Ahmed Roads and Transportation

Mohamed Mah Abu El Hasen Manager, Veterinary Department

Dr Khalaf Moh Adam This document, like its companion Station Manager, Shandaweel Research Centre

- “ Governorate Environmental Profile” - Atef Nagaty Mohamed has had many contributors. Director, Chamber of Commerce Entec and the Technical Cooperation Office for the Environment (TCOE), as compilers and facilitators of this initial Governorate Environmental Action Plan (GEAP), wish to thank all those who have generously contributed time, ideas, administrative skills, support and written inputs.

First, foremost and with special emphasis, we acknowledge the contributions made by all of the Stakeholder Groups consulted within the Governorate. This document responds to the ideas and concerns voiced during the many meetings that were held during the course of the GEAP process and in compiling the Plan. It is normal for such plan-making to take time - we thank all involved for their patience and willingness to assist us in the process.

51 11. Acknowledgements Contents

Ashraf Selim Hassan Abdel Shafi Upper Association Reffar Sayed Kotb Introduction 1 Samya Samir Hanna Ayoub Hanna Anwar El Minyawi Essam Moh Attwa Businessmen’s Association Undersecretary, Housing Department Rafaat El Gabalawi Cicil Sobhi Ibrahim Youssef Badawi Moh 1. Sohag at a Glance 2-3 Mokhtar Salah General Manager, Irrigation Department Emad Ahmed Osman Mrs Karima Ahmed Canals Officer Kareem Morgan Hamed Ahmed Neeman Street Vendors’ Association Drainage Undersecretary 2. Setting the Scene 4-7 Aly Mohammed Al Azghal Dr Fawzy Borei Undersecretary Environmental Enhancement Association Sabri Mokhtaar Abu Shama Dr Ahmed Aziz Monem Dar El Salaam 3. The Vision 8 Sayed Abdel Baset (and volunteers) Essam Abdel Hak Nage Yacoub CDA Undersecretary, Education Directorate Farouk El Halawanii Mr Rashad (and volunteers) Community Schools Supervisor 4. Priority Issues 9-10 El Boha CDA Sabri Abu Hussein Undersecretary Abul Foutouh Boulous Moh Ahmed Gad Tunis CDA Environment and Population Mohamed Abdel Latif Abdel Wahid Ahmed Moh 5. Actions That Are Needed 11-35 Mohamed Mohamed Ismail Hamdy El Nahaas Abdel Hafeez Mutwalli Shandaweel CDA Hisham Hassan Ahmed Sabri Youssef El Adawi Residents: Hassan Moh Abu El Kheer 6. What Actions Can We Take 36-38 Aref, Sohag Yousef Ghatas Bendary Amery, Sohag Tunis, Sohag Dr Sherifa El Maraghi Kasheh, Dar El Salaam Undersecretary, Health Directorate Nage El Koom, Beit Dawood, Dr Soad Attia Abdel Samad 7. Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building 39-41 El Kosha, Dar El Salaam Preventive Medicine Chief Yousseff Nabil Gorgi Hannalla Benga Environmental Health Dept Mubarak Zein Abd El Hadi 8. Implementing The Plan 42-43 Farmers Epidemic Department Quarry workers Sarwat Kameel Fishermen Laboratory Poultry farm staff Romani Rizk Azer Dairy farm staff Water Treatment 9. Financing The Plan 44-45 Sohag Slaughterhouse staff Mohamed Abdelaal Sohag Dump Site staff Basic Health Care Dump Site staff Sobhy Kadry Andrames Sewage treatment works staff Moustafa Abase Mahmoud Compact unit staff 10. The GEAP Cycle 46-47 Dr Yehia Al Masri Dr Suzan Abdel Hamid Head, Antiquities Authority Media Complex Chief, Sohag Media and Information Centre Eng Gamil Noss’hi Field Inspector Eng Fawzy Behnan 11. Acknowledgements 48-51 First Undersecretary, Agriculture Directorate Zaki Missak Iskarous Eng Ahmed Fouad Abbas Survey Directorate Extension Inspector Dr Moh Mah Abul Hassan Insurance Department Manager

50 Acronyms 11. Acknowledgements

Acronyms Omar Hafez Elias Attya Elhawawech, Akhmim Merit Biscuits, El Kawther CDA Community Development Association Ahmed Sery Mohamed Eng Adel Attia Hasanein DFID Department for International Development Elsharkeya, Akhmim General Manager, Spinning Factory EA Environmental Audit Gameel Elsayed Hamada Eng Mikhail Youhanna EEAA Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency Elkola, Akhmim Department Manager EIA Environmental Impact Assessment Ahmed Hasen Salem Spinning Factory ELO Environmental Liaison Officer Awlad Esmael, EMPS Environmental Management and Planning System Mohamed Ahmed Mostafa Hanna Morcos EMU Environmental Management Unit Elkheyam, Dar El Salaam Segregation Unit Chief, El Nil Cotton Co EU Environmental Unit Aly Mohamed Elsayed GEAP Governorate Environmental Action Plan Om Doma, Tima Abul Wafaa Selim Ahmed GOE General Office for Environment Mohamed Hazem General Manager, El Nasr Company for Drying Agricultural Products NEAP National Environmental Action Plan Bany Hamel, Ahmed Amin Mohamed NGO Non Governmental Organisation Ahmed Abd Elnaby Mohamed Production Specialist NOPWASD National Organisation for Potable Water and Sanitary Drainage Banga, Tahta ORDEV Organisation for Development Abd Elmenem Ahmed Abdelmenem Mohamed Moustafa Elebiary SEAM Support for Environmental Assessment and Management Elkousheh, Dar El Salaam Vice President, Sugar and Integrated Industries Company, Girga SEC Supreme Environment Council Khayrey Ahmed Edrees SFD Social Fund for Development Awlad Salem, Dar El Salaam Dr Fathi Abdel Neeem STW Sewage Treatment Works Saad Yousef Abd Ellatef Company Manager, El Nasr Co for Chemicals SW Solid Waste Awlad Yehya, Dar El Salaam Moh Salah El Din Bakkar Area Chief SWM Solid Waste Management Gad Zaky Abdul Magea SWMS Solid Waste Management Strategy Neda, Akhmim Fouad Abdel Fattah TCOE Technical Cooperation Office for the Environment Shams Eldin Yousef Assuit Regional Office Manager, Social Fund for Development TOR Terms of Reference Abydos, El Baliana Ahmed Ramzy Abdel Shafy WHO World Health Organisation Deputy Regional Manager Mohamed Reihad Abdalla Abdel Hamid Director, City Council, Saquolta Assistant Abdul Wahab Mohawed Abdel Rehim Osman Moh Head of Agricultural Office Assistant Gamal Shereif Abdel Hafeez Agricultural Office Public Works Department Chief

Officials Mohamed Ashraf City Council, Dar El Salaam CARE International Safwat Khella Officials Samir Sedki City Council, Tahta Aymen Sedeek Mahmoud El Hamdy Abdel Maged Handicapped Children’s Association Manager of Environmental Affairs, City Council, El Maragha Rageb Abdel Kareem Moh Kamal Abdel Ghany Medhat Mahmoud Director, Cleansing Dept, Tima Essam Atta Fahmy Salah El Din Abdl Hafeez Caritas Industrial Zone Chief, El Kawther Businessman’s Association Amir Fikry Lotfalla Abdel Rehim Ali Ismail Marseil Maher Maher Moawed Mossad Sami Godoun Mozid Ramzy Mossad Women’s Affairs and Training Association Eng Deputy Chief, Company for Oil and Detergents, Sohag Mohamed Fouad Kamal Samuel Moustafa Wishahi Nancy Yacoub Factory Manager, Egyptian Bottling Company Nahid Samuel Sayed Azouz Deputy Manager

49 11. Acknowledgements Introduction

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Susan Jones (Social Development Advisor) Hossam Aziz (Entec) Contributors Farag Abu Daif Farag (Entec) John Sidwick (Entec) Derek George (Entec) David Joyce (Entec) His Excellency the Governor, General Ahmed Abdel Aziz Bakr Consultees:

His Excellency the Secretary General, Helmy Abdel Hameed Mohamed As a newly appointed Minister I am very pleased to be able to help launch this Governorate Action Plan. It is one of the first to have been General Yehia Abdel Latif Bardees, El Baliana undertaken on the basis of full stakeholder consultation, and Sohag should be justly proud of the efforts involved. Rgab Abd Elwahed Hassan His Excellency the Deputy Secretary General, Seflak, Saquolta In time I expect to see the effort rewarded, and I believe that this is, even now the case. Also I hope that other Governorates will follow the General Abdel Atti Ghazali Ebraheem Elsayed Mostafa approach adopted in Sohag to help sustain and improve Egyptian environmental conditions, for our own and our children’s future. Eneebes, Geheina Sohag Environmental Management Unit Abd Elrahim Shehata Ahmed Arabet Aby Dahab, Sohag Mohamed Mahmoud Mezeid Abd Elhameed Moh. Farag Mr. Rashad Meshta, Tima Hassanen Awad Hassanen Minister of the Environment Local Technical Coordinator Elzewak Elgharbeya, El Manshaa Ahmed Abu Daif Ahmed Professor Dr. Ahmed Kamal Shafei Nazlet Elkady, Tahta El Nokrashy Mahmoud Hashem Technical Authors Elrayayna, Tima Wahdan Hassan Elsayed Dr. Abd El Maguid Ragab Fouda Salamoon, Tima Dr. Ahmed A El Khatib Abd Elfatah Mohamed Elsayed Dr. Ahmed Aziz Abdel Moneim Shatorra, Tahta Professor F M El Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Dr. Ahmed Soliman Gezeret Shandaweel, Sohag Dr. Nader K Wasif Mohamed Elsayat Mahmoud Dr. Emad A Ghattas Awlad Hamza, El Menshaa Professor Dr. Nashaat F Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed Hegazy It gives me great pleasure to lend my support to this document, the paper presentation of the Process for environmental action planning for Professor Dr. Hammam Mohamed Hammam Awlad Salama, El Menshaa Sohag. The process has been lengthy and, sometimes, frustrating, but I firmly believe that the benefits that will come out of the Process and Dr. A El Shater Adel Abd Elatif Plan will help to steer Sohag into the 21st Century, and help us to ensure that our development as a Governorate will be sustained. Professor Dr. Mohamed Abdul Sattar Othman Rwafe Elesawaeya, El Menshaa Dr. Abu Al Qasem Mohammed Kamel Zahra Safwat Foad Yousef It is with personal thanks to all who have contributed to this Plan that I confirm the commitment of the Governorate to progressing all aspects Dr. Mounir Boushra Elkwamel Gharb, El Menshaa of environmental policy management and control, as contained within this Plan and those that will be developed from this Plan in the future. SPAAC Abd Elhalim Elsayed Hasanen Dr. Laila Gamal Neda, Akhmim Mohamed Abd Elrahman Abu Eldahab SEAM Team Elberba, Girga Aly Farag (Support for Environmental Under the Command of our President Elawamer Bahary, Girga Assessment and Management) Mohammed Hosni Mubarak Talal Haider Elbaroudy Dr. Tareq Genena (TCOE/EEAA) Elmagabra, Girga Dr. Ahmed Ragheb (TCOE/EEAA) Taha Mohamed Abd Elhafez Dr Dina El Naggar (TCOE/EEAA) Rawafe Elkoseer, Sohag Rasha Abulazm (TCOE/EEAA) Mohamed Elhandaweely General Ahmed Abdel-Aziz Bakr Philip Jago (Entec) Balasfora, Sohag Governor of Sohag John Warburton (DFID) Kamal Elsayed Amer Dr. Janet Williams (Entec) Elsalaa, Sohag Ralph Cobham (SWRC)

48 1 1. Sohag at a Glance 10. The GEAP Cycle

1. Location: found in Sohag (23%), with Tahta and Girga at 17% and 15% This report will enable the SEC to take appropriate action. respectively. To be sustainable the GEAP process needs to be dynamic and flexible. 467km south of Cairo, and some 7 hours journey time by car or Workers are employed in the following sectors: 1)Agriculture The policies, programmes and projects that combine with consultation train 66%. Main crops are sugar and cotton. Maize and millet are to form the GEAP process must be updated to reflect changing Assuit to the North being increasingly grown. Onions are also grown and provide conditions and local circumstances. In addition, the progress reports Qena to the South raw material for the onion drying and onion oil manufacturing should document the lessons learnt during the process so that Hurghada on the Red Sea Coast is 360km distant by existing factory in Sohag city. A little over 80% of cultivable land is in improvements can be incorporated into future actions. road, but would be only 200km by proposed new link road. the top two soil quality classes. Akhmim has the highest markaz percentage of poorest soil quality class (32%). 2) Commerce: The GEAP programmes should be updated on an ongoing basis. 2. Total Area: 1,687 kms2 of cultivated land. (Total area of 10%. 3) Industry: 10%. Main industries are sugar, weaving, oil Progress reports should be produced annually and the GEAP itself Egypt is 1,002,000 km2 , of which 55,039 km2 is populated). and soap, and food processing. 4) Private Sector: 10%, updated every 2-3 years. In the GEAP cycle it will be necessary to: 5) Government 3%. 3. Settlements: l Annually prepare and update forward (3-5 year) detailed 8. Pollution and other Environmental Problems implementation plans and budgets for the priority actions; 11 Markazes. 10 cities. 270 mother villages. 1217 kafr (small) villages. High water table in some places, especially close to the Nile. Soil salinity. Water quality: groundwater contamination with l Carry out monitoring and evaluate progress and implementation performance; 4. Total Population is 3,135,872. (About 6% of the total bacteria from septic tank discharge and seepage, and also contains Egyptian population, 10th largest Governorate population). 78% high levels of iron and manganese. Poverty and poor awareness l Assess difficulties encountered and identify alternative ways of of these numbers live in rural areas, the remaining 22% are urban combine to adversely affect the urban poor in particular. achieving objectives; dwellers. Illiteracy is high at 36%. Population density 1,881persons/km2 (average). 2,739 persons/km2 (Sohag).940 9. Natural and Cultural Features of particular l Continue consultation with primary and secondary stakeholders persons/km2 (Geheina). 2,255 persons/km2 (Girga). importance include: Limestone hills. Historic Sites and Monuments: including 12 listed Islamic monuments, 23 listed and to incorporate their views and support for forward 5. Infrastructure and Basic Services: Christian, 6 Pharonic and 2 Roman/Greek monuments. Including environmental plans; Merit Amoun, Abydos, and . 69% of Housing has access to a water supply, of which 64% l Identify new actions that become necessary due to changing are on a network supply and 5% area on ‘other’. Data for 1995 Tourist Attractions. El Kawther Village. Sohag Museum (under circumstances; shows 67% of housing to have access to sanitation. Earlier data construction). Karraman Island Park. shows that only a small percentage of this figure is to a sewage l Revise and set new targets and actions as appropriate; network, with only 12% on a network system and 86% on ‘other’. 10. Economic Features (The network systems are growing with networks being planned/ l Accelerate investment in certain areas as a result of outside Per capita annual income level LE2395 (Cairo LE5630; all Egypt constructed in El Monsha City and Awlat Hamza, Geheina and changes; Maragha). 80% of housing has an electrical supply. The figures LE3461 relate to formal housing developments, if informal developments 11. Strategic Plan for Comprehensive l Continually lobby for external investment from Central were to be included, the figures would show much less utility Government, private sector and the donor agencies; provision. Development: Published in 1994, concentrates on five themes for l Keep abreast of technological improvements that may provide 6. Health development in Sohag. 1) Industry: centred on the sugar industry more cost effective solutions to environmental problems; Throughout the Governorate there are 3500 hospital beds, and in Girga, with factory extension and use of by-products as the about 150 rural health units. There are 261 family planning centres main driver, the plan also identifies possible mineral resources l Respond to changing requirements for institutional but Sohag has the lowest use of family planning measures in Egypt. for use including cement and brick factories; expansion in fields strengthening and capacity building. Infant mortality rate 88/1000; national average ~40/1000. 88/ of mining; engineering; chemical; metal; textile; electronic; and 1000 was the national figure about 20 years ago. food industry sectors. 2) Agriculture: crop diversification to Sohag reports vaccination rate of 57%, below the national average improve value of agricultural produce, expanding into growth of of 63% and well below the best performance of 77% in the New perfume and medicine plants, and utilising crop strains requiring Valley. Human Development Index (based on longevity, less water. 3)Tourism: expansion of tourism sector, making use knowledge and income) lowest for all of Egypt. Signs of of local sites of antiquity including Abydos, and Akhmim artefacts malnutrition in Akhmim, Dar El Salam, Tema and Sohag markaz, recently excavated together with newly developed tourist village in rural areas. at El Kawther. 4) Housing: new settlements to cater for growing population in housing supplied with adequate services including 7. Employment water and sanitary provision. 5) Unemployment alleviation: including changes to the curriculum and retraining. Firms employing >100 workers: - 30. Many smaller establishments exist: with 274 “small industries”, and 2,638 “workshops”. The greatest concentration of workshops is

2 47 10. The GEAP Cycle 1. Sohag at a Glance

10.THE GEAP CYCLE 310 35\ Assuit Governorate of Sohag and Governorate each year summarising: 0 The policies, programmes and projects that combine with consultation 30 Markazes: Key Factors to form the GEAP process must be updated to reflect changing Tama conditions and local circumstances, and also to provide reports on l The progress achieved in implementing agreed actions; progress that has been achieved, and to document the lessons learnt Tahta Sakolta 250 during the process so that improvements can be incorporated into l Improvements obtained to the environment; future actions. Geheina l Areas that need to be addressed due to non-performance or El Maragha

A GEAP cycle is needed, see diagramme below to make this happen, difficulties; Akhmim by updating programmes and measuring their progress against the Sohag targets set, and for reviewing and adopting new project proposals. l Recommended changes to on-going action that are necessary due to changing circumstances. 260 30\ El Monshah The EMU/GOE will be responsible for reporting progress and providing the initial contact point for information concerning the GEAP. Preparation of the report should be coordinated through the EMU. It is expected that annual reviews can be held and Annual Reports Contributions, however, should come from all EUs and ELOs that have been and will be established throughout the Governorate as part Girga published that set out the benefits of the GEAP and the improvements Dar El Salam made possible. A “State of the Environment” report should be prepared of the EMPS.

El Baliana

Qena The GEAP Cycle - Sustaining the Process Governorate

SOHAG SAKOLTA

KEY ISSUE Capital city - most people, most investment. Solid waste dump site in Fish farming, main crop cotton, well served by tile drains, agriculture REAPPRAISAL - PROGRESS unused canal. Fast urban growth and encroachment. key markaz activity. SOLUTION DESIGN AND REAPPRAISAL (Identification of new or improved TAHTA AKHMIM technology and management techniques - identified with help of technical experts) Markaz has attempted large reclamation projects, these have not Tourism (Merit Amoun), El Kawther Industrial Estate and Tourist ACTION PLAN been wholly successful due to their large size and lack of associated Village weaving, “grey” water communal disposal tanks. Fast UPDATE BY ALL services and facilities. Scrap metal is recycled in the markaz, solid urbanisation. STAKEHOLDER GROUPS: waste is dumped in a canal. Tahta city is renowned for its transport FEED BACK REVIEW AND businesses, but agricultural is main markaz activity. EL MONSHAH l BUDGETS REVISION l OBJECTIVES OF ALL Solid waste disposed of on Nile banks. Local initiative on CO-ORDINATION l POLICIES COMPONENTS TAMA construction of waste containers. THROUGH l PROGRAMMES PARTICIPATION l PROJECTS Solid waste disposal in unused canal, scrap metal recycling active. CONSULTATION l PRIORITIES GIRGA CONSENSUS l BUDGETS EL MARAGHA Sugar factory. Capital city till 1950s. Solid waste disposed of on Local workshops good and enterprising. Solid waste disposal in banks of Nile. Scrap metal recycling active. Propose extension of unused canal, canal also used by squatters to farm, agriculture key sugar factory and development of sugar related industry (and from MONITORING, markaz activity. recovered sugar by-product) key developmental areas. ANALYSIS, EVALUATION BY ALL STAKEHOLDER GEHEINA DAR EL SALAM GROUPS: IMPLEMENTATION AND Remote, flood hit. Segregated hazardous waste disposal in desert. CAPACITY BUILDING: No Nile frontage. Remote. Solid waste dumped in desert, but l POLICIES encroachment of local development. Reclamation projects affecting Well known for wood and metal work expertise. l PROGRAMMES l PERSUASION water table, 30% of agricultural land saline to an extent, potable water l PROJECTS l TRAINING l PRIORITIES l ENFORCEMENT quality - saline, wheat and maize main crops. EL BALIANA l BUDGETS Abydos. New sanitary waste system being installed. Existing waste disposal site in unused canal, next to housing causing considerable nuisance. Solid waste and liquid waste disposed of together.

46 3 2. Setting the Scene 9. Financing The Plan

Why We Need the Plan.

enterprises is so important. These need to cover all economic sectors, - Lobbying Commercial Sponsors especially agricultural (e.g. fisheries and medicinal plant crops), tourism - Lobbying Central Government Funds/Grants PROBLEM KEY ISSUE SOLUTION and industrial enterprises. In this context the development of market - Introduction of Performance Related Pay Schemes outlets, through investment in market research and promotion is (e.g.: reduction in water leakages; improvement in waste regarded as being very important. The linkages between local, self- collection etc.) help revenue-generation, international technical assistance and the funds - Savings through improved management (monitoring & required to implement the GEAP over 15 years, are regarded as accountability) Inadequate collection, transfer, important. In raising resources consideration should be given to the - Savings and service efficiency improvements through operation Solid Waste Management Improve Level of Service and Control treatment and disposal of solid waste following: of maintenance budgets - Improved financial planning to achieve more effective use of 1. Financing Improved Water Supply and Sanitation Services available funds

Poor water quality, including high - Increase Water Supply Tariffs (full cost recovery) - Investment in improved technology and lower operating costs salt content and levels of some - Sewage Charges (full cost recovery - Improved management (via training) leading to technical metals, inadequate, unreliable supply. Potable Water Supply Improve Level of Service and Quality Loss of water from leaking pipes, - Licence Fees for Ground Water Abstraction (full cost recovery efficiency gains poor maintenance and contamination - Consent Fees for Discharges to drains and waterways (cf - Harness customer willingness to pay established via ‘research’ of supply - sewers)(full cost recovery) - Adoption of energy saving/efficiency programmes - Collection of renewables - Investment in Sustainable Development projects to generate

Untreated sewage discharge to water - Establishment of “Utility Chest” increased Government revenues/taxes courses and farmland. Septic tank Improve Collection and Treatment, Sanitary Drainage and Treatment - Savings from privatisation - Laboratory charges and fees; Advisory fees charged to other overfilling and contamination of ground or and Level of Service aquifer. Some houses with no facilities - Revenues from waste water re-use and sewage sludge sales organisations

2. Financing Improved Solid Waste Services Air pollution from high sulphur fuels, - Annual Fee for Collection/Use of Landfill Site brick piles and cars. Dust from (full cost recovery) construction activity and desert. Monitoring, Pollution Prevention and Water and Air Pollution Water pollution by sewage, farming Control, Enforcement of Laws - Gate-fee for Composting Facilities (full cost recovery) and industry. Clogging of canals - Gate fee for Landfill Site (full cost recovery) by weed growth - Savings from Waste Exchange Schemes - Revenues from Compost Sales Improve Awareness, Literacy and Levels of literacy and environmental Environmental education at all levels. - Revenues from Recycling knowledge poor, exacerbate lack of Public Health, Awareness, Training for those with defined - Levies for hazardous waste disposal from institutions: understanding. Poverty and pollution and Institutional Strengthening environmental responsibilities. growth further undermine choice Addressing other linked issues will hospitals,University, schools, companies etc. (full cost also help. recovery) - Waste minimisation plans/projects - Savings from privatisation Rising groundwater levels and Reclamation, Zoning, - Charges for Domestic & Institutional Collection Services increasing soil and water salinity, Conservation and Use of Soil Drainage, Soil Conditioning limited land (full cost recovery)

3. Financing Improved Industrial Pollution Prevention/Control Services - Pollution fines (“polluter pays principle”) Managed crop protection, Pesticide use /misuse Agrochemical Use and pollution prevention and control, and poor crop quality Crop Protection - Pollution permit fees (full cost recovery) better crops and better marketing - Tax on Marzot to encourage switch to natural gas - Vehicle Licence Fees - Charges for Vehicle Testing

Better use of resources: Land use conflicts, nuisance, 4. Financing Other/General Environmental Services Development Planning including Tourism; Agriculture; pollution impact, employment needs Urban and Industrial Land Use Planning - Removal of all inappropriate subsidies; replacement with - income support grants - Establishment of Utility Chest - Establishment of Environmental Bonds/Environmental Trust INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING - Funds - Levy on Top Soil sales PUBLIC AWARENESS & INVOLVEMENT - Fees for EIA Evaluation - Lobbying Donors

4 45 9. Financing The Plan 2. Setting the Scene

How the Plan was Prepared

9. FINANCING THE PLAN loss of inward investment if poor or inadequate supporting facilities What is the plan? agriculture, tourism, housing, and employment. are in place. Risks of Doing Nothing This document describes the Action Plan for the environment in Sohag. The Strategic Development Plan is a very important document for It should be noted that experience in other countries indicates the cost The plan is a description of the actions necessary to protect the Sohag; it identifies how the Governorate proposes to address the In today’s world environmental improvements are an integral part of of pollution remediation is 10-100 times the cost of pollution environment in Sohag from the adverse environmental impacts that need for development to respond to the need for jobs, income and economic growth. As Sohag strives to increase the value of its prevention. might be associated with development of all kinds. It is a plan that progress in Sohag so that Sohag can relinquish its position as one of agricultural output, accelerate industrialisation and, at the same time, helps to identify the issues that affect the inhabitants of Sohag and the poorest Governorates in Egypt. The GEAP and Strategic Plan cope with the demands of an increasing population and urbanisation, The costs associated with the implementation of the projects developed starts to identify solutions, that are practical and affordable, for the should work hand in hand to shape the future of Sohag. the pressure on the environment will mount considerably. during the preparation of this report are estimated to add up to about resolution of these issues in ways which address the technical and LE 45 million. This substantial investment will be recovered in terms social effects of the problem. It is a Plan for Action. Without action the consequences of continued environmental of health improvement and a reduction in lost days due to environmental degradation in the longer term can be substantial. The risks to the illness (e.g. diarrhoea, bilharsia, renal failure, goitre, etc.), a reduction Why do we need an Action Plan? people and to the economy of Sohag are potentially: in costs associated with environmental clean-up, and better value from Technical Reports (Including Strategic Environmental t Working

invested capital as equipment lasts longer. Over the last decade Sohag has recognised that it must develop an t Development Plan) Profile Group l Adverse Health Impacts: industrial base to cope with the demands of a growing population.

The greatest expenditure estimates are associated with Solid Waste Without appropriate awareness, planning, controls and supporting t - Ambient air pollution can be the cause of acute and chronic Management (LE 13.5 million), Pollution Prevention and Control (LE infrastructure services growth will not be sustainable and may damage t respiratory disease and lung cancer; 10 million), Potable Water Supply (LE 7.5 million). the agricultural potential of the Governorate. t t - Contaminated water supplies and poor sanitation can cause As stated earlier the inclusion of a project in the action plan does not The environmental action plan, therefore, aims to address the following: CONSULTATION diseases that vary in severity from mild gastro-enteritis to mean that it has funding. Funding is expected to come from a variety

l t severe and sometimes fatal dysentery. Incorrect dumping of of different sources, including Government, Governorate, Donor Efficient provision and management of the Governorate t solid or liquid waste will pollute waterways and increase the Agencies and large non-governmental organisations. At Governorate infrastructure and environmental services (solid waste, potable t incidence of disease from vermin or insects; level funds already allocated to projects such as increasing the provision water, sanitary drainage); t of sanitary waste collection and treatment will, of course, contribute t t - Use of polluted irrigation water on edible crops will further to the overall success of environmental management in the l The planning, sustainable development and management of the t aggravate the problem. Governorate. The same applies to the expenditure by the Agricultural natural (land, water, air and cultural) resources of the Governorate. Projects t Action Plan Programmes t t Department on, for example, the integrated pest management and tile l Depletion of Natural Resources: drainage project programmes. How was it prepared?

- Loss of agricultural land, excess consumption of water, and There are financial benefits of the plan, for example, in improving The development of the Governorate Environmental Action Plan pollution impacts of industry on agriculture or fishing will have access to potable water and sanitary drainage services it is probable (GEAP) has followed a process that has included preparation of economic impacts. that approximately LE 2 million per year can be saved in treatment technical reports on the environmental conditions found in Sohag; Whose plan is it? costs of diarrhoea and recovery of wages lost to days off work due to this information forms the basis for the Environmental Profile. l Increased Cost of Essential Services: illness. Following preparation of technical reports, the process has revolved Stakeholders are all those with an interest in Sohag’s environment. around consultation with stakeholders. The GEAP Process Diagram The stakeholder groups that have been involved in the development - Increasing pollution of surface and groundwater resources from It is generally expected by the consultees that local stakeholders will opposite illustrates the process that has been followed and shows of the plan through meetings and discussions, and the development of industrial and municipal sources will lead to higher costs for make whatever contributions in kind are feasible. In discussing projects consultation is central and that the process is iterative. This means the programmes and projects which are components of the plan, are treating the water to achieve necessary standards. and issues with consultees a willingness to pay a contribution to funding that, as new information, ideas or conditions arise, they will need to shown on page 7. This Plan belongs to these people. It is important requirements was expressed. Whereas this shows a commitment to be incorporated into the Plan, and the plan will require to be updated. to take into account the views of as many people as possible in l Loss of Market Share: environmental quality improvement, willingness and ability to pay must The consultation process has been important in formulating this edition developing such a plan. By adopting this approach, the plan has been not be confused. It is often the poorest communities that are in greatest of the GEAP and must continue to be so, keeping the GEAP up to produced by many different people working together. This is the first - To compete effectively in the international market it will be need of improvements but are the least able to make a contribution to date in the face of changing local circumstances. important step to improving the environment in a sustainable way - essential to have sound environmental practices. This will have getting them done. working together towards a common goal. This is the first GEAP in the greatest impact on industry as Western countries are in The GEAP follows the production of a National Environmental Action Egypt to be produced in this way and is a significant feature of the creasingly placing more emphasis on sourcing their materials The expectation is that all other funding for these initial actions will Plan (NEAP) and the findings of the Governorate process support level of cooperation that has been forthcoming in the Governorate from suppliers who follow this approach. need to come from either Central Government or NGOs or donors. and reinforce the recommendations of the National level initiative. The Governorate budgets are already committed to short, medium There are some differences, as would be expected between the key The aim of the GEAP is to respond to the environmental concerns and Other risks of environmental degradation include: social unrest due and longer-term expenditures on the provision of essential issues that were highlighted in the NEAP and that were identified in problems in Sohag; to produce a practical and useable Action Plan to deteriorating living conditions; reduced agricultural output due to environmental service facilities. the GEAP. that all Sohag residents - whether in the Governorate, in the private increased salinisation and impacts of using polluted irrigation water; sector, in Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community increased building damage/maintenance from air pollution; increased The generation of additional revenues and employment to finance the The GEAP also works in conjunction with the Strategic Development Development Associations (CDAs) and at the village and community industrial inefficiency due to in-plant wastage; loss of tourism due to environmental improvements (especially the proposed Programmes) Plan for Sohag which focuses on development issues within the level - were involved in and can understand and recognise as a response damaged archaeological artefacts; unsightly garbage dumps; possible is where diversification and sustainable development of new business Governorate until the year 2005 and uses five themes of industry, to their own and Sohag’s environmental concerns.

44 5 2. Setting the Scene The Plan

The Benefits

Who will make it work? What happens now?

Some of the stakeholders have a defined role to play in the Up until now environmental issues have not been dealt with in an BENEFITS WILL BE implementation of the GEAP. These include the Governorate integrated way. This lack of focus results in duplication of effort and departments and officers and advisors who have a designated role, gaps in the work necessary for sustainable development and good including the members and advisors of the Supreme Environment environmental practice. Some good work has been undertaken in improved health Council (SEC), the Environmental Management Unit (EMU) and the Sohag by the Governorate and others which has helped to address Environmental Units (EUs), all of which have important formal roles some of the key issues. This includes work by the different departments increased civic pride to play in the management and planning of environmental issues in in providing potable water and sanitary drainage systems, work on Sohag. The roles each of these groups will play will be defined in field drainage and control of application of agricultural chemicals - increased awareness greater detail as one of the first actions of the GEAP. these issues are being dealt with in some parts of the Governorate, but BENEFITS FROM THE GEAP KEY ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED more needs to be done, particularly to ensure that issues are addressed improved allocation of resources The media has an important role which should not be overlooked, and in all parts of the Governorate, not just those that are most accessible, WILL LEAD TO BY SOLUTIONS THAT should play an active role in heightening public awareness of or most noticeable. Work by the Social Fund for Development (SFD), employment opportunities environmental matters and issues as well as disseminating information NGOs, CDAs and the Shorouk programme have made important A Healthy Environment are practical about actions being undertaken that can be duplicated or replicated contributions to environmental matters but have only tackled a small poverty alleviation elsewhere. part of what is needed overall. benefit a range of stakeholders better planned living and working NGOs and CDAs already have specific roles within the community The Action Plan will serve to coordinate and consolidate these activities Sustainable Development are replicable environments and this role must be extended to cover environmental considerations. as well as identifying other things that must be done. Their environmental duties within the GEAP will be to act as are sustainable help to identify sources of funding communication conduits, both “upwards” and “downwards” so that What Benefits will come from the Plan? the views of the community are passed upwards to decision makers involve stakeholders focus attention on priority issues and takers, but also that the actions taken by the Governorate to address Benefits of the plan will come from many places. They will occur due the community concerns are explained to the communities who should to shared information, co-ordinated action that stops duplication, and Maintenance of Cultural and Historic are part of a comprehensive plan be benefiting from these actions. It is vital that the opinions of primary programme and project preparation and follow up that makes sure Resources stakeholders are included in the development of projects. In this way actions are appropriate and therefore continue to be of use well into take into account resource management solutions fit not only the technical issues, but also the social issues the future. Benefits will fall into three main categories, and and conservation raised by a particular problem. will relate to: Integrated Development benefit vulnerable groups Similarly, educationalists have a remit to include environmental matters Human and social resources, - like improved health through provision in the school and university curriculum so that a new generation of of environmental services and training, increased civic pride, greater involve and require participation environmentally aware Sohagians emerge to carry responsibility for scope to participate in project and programme design and the future. implementation; this will come from consultation, involvement, a identify self-help measures reduction in the need for environmentally destructive coping strategies The community too has a role in the GEAP and can have an active and an increased awareness of environmental issues, and an take into account what people think is role in improving the environment. This role cannot be emphasised understanding of the impacts of certain bad practices, and the benefits important too much. Communities have a part to play not only in voicing opinions of improved habits; about dissatisfaction to decision makers, but can help in identifying Knowledge Based Decision Making illustrate environmental awareness solutions to the problems that cause the feelings of dissatisfaction. Economic/financial resources, - like improved planning and allocation and Taking The GEAP must provide mechanisms to allow these opinions to be of resources, improved employment opportunities, poverty alleviation, demonstrate that the Governorate is at heard, by the right people at the right level and at the right time. It better planned living and working environments, improved forefront of environmental management must be recognised that the solutions should be practical and not opportunities to identify and invest in environmentally appropriate present other problems but this helps in heightening awareness about technology, help to identify sources of funding; An informed, Involved, Committed remove the need for environmentally bad practices and the benefits of environmentally acceptable Community damaging strategies alternatives. Communities have a direct role in contributing to projects, Natural environmental resources, - like improved and safer quantities/ both financially and in kind. More importantly in some circumstances quality of irrigation and industrial water, improved land drainage and empower people to take effective action they can bring pressure to bear on their peers to make sure bad practices soil conservation, cultural heritage features conserved and restored. are brought to light and eradicated - like stopping littering or throwing develop environmental awareness at dirty water in the street. Benefits have already occurred due to the GEAP process - like raising community level environmental awareness and providing a means of focusing attention on the problems that need to be addressed.

6 43 8. Implementing The Plan 2. Setting the Scene

8. IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN l Coordinate policy development within the overall Action Plan through the consultation process; Implementation Priorities l To develop standards through the consultation process; WHOSE PLAN IS IT The three top priority key issues that must receive urgent action are: l Advise other agencies and stakeholders on implementation and l Solid waste management; the progress of implementation; l Potable water supply; and l Where a number of agencies are involved, plan and coordinate management; l Sanitary drainage and treatment l Manage specific issues or areas of specialisation; SOHAG GEAP STAKEHOLDERS It is also recognised that without institutional strengthening and public awareness and involvement, the benefits of the GEAP will not l Monitor outcomes and provide feedback; Stakeholders for the Sohag GEAP include all those be fully achieved. l Report to Central Government on the level of success of the Implementation will occur at different levels in the Governorate. The policies programmes and projects; with an interest in Sohag’s environment. Governorate Officials must enforce the principles of the GEAP and support any legislation changes that may be necessary to fully l Carry out agreed programmes. The following groups have been involved in the development implement the Policies and Programmes formulated. They must ensure that any development proposals put forward by the various The general role of key players will be to have the following of this plan through meetings and discussion. Governorate departments are compatible with the GEAP policies and responsibilities: programmes and do not interfere with the implementation of actions to address the key GEAP issues. The supporting measures will help as l Be involved in consultation; Governorate Officials: including HE the Governor, the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General. tools to ensure that the policies can be adhered to. The project ideas and the project proposals will help to crystallise the solutions to the l Consult with their organisational membership; Governorate Departments: including Departmental Heads and their representatives from the EMU, Health, Social Affairs, Agriculture, Fisheries, Irrigation, Education, Housing and Utilities, Roads, key issues. The demonstration projects (funded by the SEAM project) Manpower and Training, Youth and Sports, Media and Culture, Tourism, Antiquities, and EUs within Directorates. as part of the GEAP inception will help to publicise the benefits of l Provide information to Lead Agency; environmental improvement. District Level Officials from all Markazes l Monitor role of Lead Agency; and An important early step in the EMPS will be to agree and ratify targets NGOs and CDAs for the programmes. l Carry out agreed programmes and projects. Social Fund for Development A very important element of the GEAP is to give publicity to the The relevant people and organisations involved should: successes and to promote awareness and involvement in environmental Industry; including major Sohag industries (Oil and Soap, Sugar, Textile, Food and representatives of El Kawther Industrial Zone); and representatives of Small Businessman’s Association issues. l Establish a 3-5 year implementation plan and budget; Farmers and Fishermen. Similarly, monitoring of the benefits and progress of the GEAP is an l Strengthen monitoring capabilities; important requirement. Monitoring will need to take into account the University and Research Institutes. project successes and to make recommendations for modifications l Disseminate and promote the GEAP to attract additional where necessary. It is likely that an independent advisory committee resources; Primary stakeholders, including urban and rural communities in cities, villages and hamlets. should be established, reporting to the SEC to chart and map the progress of the GEAP, to assess whether targets are being met, and to l Establish an effective legal and economic framework; Technical Cooperation Office for the Environment (TCOE), provide a forum for wider dissemination of the benefits derived from Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), donor agencies. this particular GEAP process. l Attract the private sector into utility services. THIS PLAN BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF SOHAG In each of the sections identifying the actions necessary to tackle the Implementation will fall to both primary and secondary stakeholders, key issue, a list of ‘Who Should Be Involved?’ is provided. In each those with formally designated responsibilities include the SEC, case there will be a lead agency and key players. The lead agency will EMU(GOE), EU and ELO. Others will also be included. need to be identified and agreed for each of the key issues. This task will be undertaken as one of the first issues to be addressed by the SEC, in conjunction with the EMU and the EUS of the Line Ministries. The general role of the lead agency is to:

42 7 3. The Vision 7. Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building

3. THE VISION The vision will enable us

Environmental Management and Planning Organisation Chart The overall vision or aim of the GEAP can be simply stated as: l To provide the means by which the quality of both the environment and the lives of all residents of, and visitors to, the Governorate “to improve the quality of the environment and the lives of all are enhanced; persons living and working in the Governorate.” l To facilitate and encourage the improved provision and Primary Stakeholders (Natural Resources Users, Managers and Environmental Service Consumers) At the present time this means that the key issues affecting the people management of all the infrastructural services, upon which the Environmental Liaison Officers and their environment must be addressed in such a way that improves quality of theGovernorate’s environment depends: potable water the environment, improves people’s quality of life, and in solving one supplies; sanitation; treatment of all wastes; pollution prevention/ problem does not introduce another. It also means that local natural control measures; and public health facilities; resources (including the ancient monuments) must be used wisely so that future generations can continue to reap the benefits. In satisfying l To support the conservation, wise use and sustainable Industrial Companies Farmers and/or Co-ops Local Communities Public Institutions e.g. Other the aim, the GEAP must recognise that people require education and development of all the Governorate’s natural and associated Schools, Hospitals etc gainful employment, as well as access to services, including a good resources, so that the capital stocks of resources are kept intact quality water supply, health facilities, waste collection and disposal, for the benefit of future as well a present generations; Large Medium Micro Elders Women’s Youth electricity, and other things people value in their lives. Groups Groups l To uphold the key principles, underlying the aim and objectives The GEAP vision can be directly linked to the aim of the Strategic of the Plan and its implementation. Plan which is similarly linked to improving lives of persons in the Governorate by increasing the wealth of the Governorate.

Line Ministries/Directorates/Departments including Environmental Units and Extension Services at Through the GEAP process we have developed a vision for the KEY PRINCIPLES Governorate and Markaz Levels environment of Sohag; this vision is contained within the statements Execution (Enforcement and Persuasion) Roles opposite. These principles will be used to guide us to achieve this vision. To facilitate sustained development and The vision will give us poverty alleviation Environmental Units Committee l A healthy environment - access to clean water, safe food, clean Implementation air, good soil; Coordination To conserve and protect natural and EMU / GOE l Sustainable development - which provides us with income to grow Media Co-ordination and Advice NGOs Monitoring and Enforcement and buy the things we want but does not pollute the environment associated resources Solid Waste or deplete resources for our children’s use; Training l Maintenance of cultural and historical resources - so that tourists will still want to visit the Governorate and our children grow up To repair depleted or degraded resources in the knowledge of our ancestors; l Integrated development - that does not create new problems for EEAA RBO Research Organisation University every one that is solved; TCOE EEAA To establish an efficient environmental Cairo Cairo Sohag l Knowledge-based decision making and taking - so that we address any potential issues and take steps to prevent them from affecting management and planning system our environment, our decisions are based on economic and The Supreme Environment Council environmental factors and we share information with our (Policy Advice) The Technical Unit colleagues; (Scientific Counsellor) To be self-financing and l An informed, involved, committed community. to foster self-help initiatives H.E. The Governor

8 41 7. Institutional Strengthening & 4. Priority Issues Capacity Building

most appropriate means of expanding/intensifying environmental 4. PRIORITY ISSUES solved, and who should be involved in putting these solutions into awareness campaigns. This has included discussions with NGOs, the practice. EMU and the EUs. Training Needs The NEAP published in 1992, provided a nationwide perspective on the Environmental issues faced by Egypt. The NEAP identified that All of the information collected during the study has been distilled At the present time, the Actions identified so far, including Policies, environmental problems and issues are dominated by the need to into a series of “key issues”. These key issues are the issues that affect Programmes and their supporting measures and Projects will be Stakeholder Group Training Type manage the scarce resources of water and arable land to effectively nearly everybody in Sohag, either directly or indirectly as a consequence managed and implemented by the EMPS described. meet the demands of a growing Training of Environmental Environmental population. The Government, Trainers Control Management through the NEAP report, Training and Public Awareness and Involvement Technology Proposed New Development Projects in identified the need to focus on Sohag Governorate (Strategic Plan) From stakeholder discussions it is clear that there are three priority Line Ministries actions for more efficient use of 35% action prerequisites to a sustainable GEAP process which need to be natural resources, particularly 30% implemented during the first 12 to 24 months. All of these issues are Ministry EUs land and water, and to stop the related to training to some degree and are as follows: degradation of the Egyptian 25% Markaz EUs heritage and the urban l The preparation and execution of a comprehensive training environment. The report also 20% programme. This is to be designed to assist institutional Social Development noted that air pollution in NGOs strengthening of all stakeholder groups in relation to the industrialised areas and solid 15% different levels of activity: technical on-site operations; monitor waste management, including Environmental NGOs ing and analysis of emission levels; environmental management hazardous waste from industrial 10% and planning, including law enforcement; activities were growing issues. Economic NGOs 5% l Institutional strengthening with respect to coordinating, overall Development is of critical EMU monitoring and updating of the GEAP. Due to local financial importance to Sohag, which like constraints, this should be undertaken through the provision of the rest of the country has a Food Metal Textile appropriate external advisory contributions from EEAA and growing population to support. Mining

possibly consultants. In the past, the residents of Sohag, Chemical Electronics like much of Upper Egypt have Engineering The organisation and execution of effective public awareness campaigns suffered from disproportionate covering all stakeholder groups. These should be supported by the investment, and Upper Egypt is poor, relying (with few notable of the links between health, water quality, waste (solid and liquid) production and presentation of appropriate audio-visual aids, especially exceptions) on subsistence level agriculture. The development disposal and the other environmental issues. both general and specific technical videos. prospects and opportunities for Sohag have been appraised within the Governorate, and are described in an innovative Strategic Plan for Some of these key issues echo the national level concerns and key The content and quality of the latter should be such as to win the Comprehensive Development. The strategy for development, together issues identified by the NEAP. However in Sohag, the problems interest and support of significant sections of the population. with the local environmental concerns and issues form the background associated with air pollution and hazardous industrial waste are not to this current work, the Environmental Action Plan. yet critical key issues, (albeit they may become so if they are not Following on from training to build capacity of local stakeholders in properly taken into account in future development). these key areas, stakeholders will be able to formulate additional The Strategy for Comprehensive Development is based on five themes programmes and projects to address the overall aim, and update the considered central to the future of Sohag. These themes are integrated On the basis of these key issues and in response to the suggestions for GEAP Manual (the accompanying document which provides lists of into the GEAP so that environmental issues raised by strategic solutions to these issues, several Actions arise which are incorporated the actions or a “tool kit” for the GEAP). development concepts can be incorporated at the planning stage of into this first Environmental Action Plan for Sohag. the development and managed effectively. To be most effective the Strategy and GEAP must work hand in hand. Control

Priority issues to be dealt with by the GEAP in Sohag were identified by a process that revolved around discussion and consultation. During the many meetings held during the GEAP process a number of things were referred to when people were asked what concerns or worries they had in relation to the environment and how it affected them. These concerns sometimes backed up the findings of the technical reports that were prepared by experts, but sometimes new issues were raised, or raised from a different perspective. During the meetings, people were asked not only about the things that worried them, but also ways in which the problems that caused these worries could be

40 9 4. Priority Issues 7. Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building

The key issues are Pollution Prevention and Control of industrial pollution sources needs 7. INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING function as a communication channel, not only for views and a means to occur. At the moment Sohag does not have a strong industrial AND CAPACITY BUILDING of expressing concerns but also for publicity, raising awareness and l Solid Waste Management; base, and so problems that exist are relatively small scale; this is the increasing involvement in environmental decision making. It is l Potable Water Supply; best time to start managing an issue, before it has become so bad that The foregoing sections describe basic elements of the GEAP, i.e. the considered that most of the new organisation structure could be l Sanitary Drainage and Treatment; pollution from the factories affects the whole of the population of the framework, bricks and mortar of the development. However, one established through the redeployment of existing human resources, l Pollution Prevention and Control; Governorate. important element is missing, the architect that keeps a day to day although key positions may require outside recruitment. Additional l Public Health; watching brief to make sure that the building is developing according financial resources will be required to achieve an effective and l Conservation and Use of Soils; Public Health - need to raise levels of awareness, and encourage to the plans. In terms of the GEAP the architect is the Environmental comprehensive EMPS. l Use of Agrochemicals and Crop Protection; involvement, including family planning, recreation and employment. Management and Planning System (EMPS) behind the Action Plan. l Development Planning - Urban, Rural, Agriculture, Tourism. Steps already taken in setting up the EMPS in Sohag are: Conservation and Use of Soils - important due to limited land. Up until now each of the individual groups of people with some Typical actions required in each of these key areas are as follows: environmental responsibility have been working independently of each l Establishment of Environmental Units in a series of Line Use of Agrochemicals and Crop Protection - relates to pollution other. This is wasteful of resources and leads to duplication of effort, Directorates/organisations, which already have important l Solid Waste Management prevention, exposure to health hazards, and also to the quality of goods and some areas of concern are overlooked completely. The GEAP environmental management responsibilities both at headquarters and hence their value. helps to address this by focusing attention on all matters relating to in Sohag and in the Markazes. The organisations involved in Improve level of service including collection and disposal. Waste the environment in one coordinated and cohesive system of planning. nominating two to three staff members for these Units are the (including hazardous waste) needs to be disposed of at controlled Development Planning - relates to wide ranging management and This is the EMPS. Successful implementation of the actions outlined Directorates/Department of Agriculture, Social Affairs, and managed sites. This is of particular concern in urban areas. planning issues that provide the links between control of the issues in the GEAP will result in a more efficient use of resources, but will Education, Health and Supply, both at Governorate level head Poor waste disposal can lead to health problems. affecting the environment, including development of tourism, also require new investment particularly in the proposed infrastructure quarters and in each of the Markazes. The Businessmen’s preventing loss of agricultural land due to urban encroachment, developments. However for these actions to be sustainable, much Association of El Kawther has been similarly involved; l Potable Water Supply planning reclamation projects and zoning of industrial land use so that greater attention must be given to the organisational structures, people are not adversely affected by the development. processes and incentive systems needed to achieve them. l Formulation of proposals to strengthen and expand the The supply of potable water needs to be extended so that all of Environmental Management Unit (EMU) through the the Governorate population has access to a clean, wholesome Those that are of most concern to most people are the issues that are Environmental Management and appointment of two senior people. These appointments will help water supply. highlighted: solid waste management; potable water; and sanitary Planning System (EMPS) the Unit to fulfil its principal role, namely: coordination of the waste. It is also recognised that, without institutional strengthening Plan’s implementation in pursuit of environmental planning and l Sanitary Drainage and public awareness and involvement, the benefits of improvement The Action Plan sets out the issues that drive the need for environmental management improvement. Other changes are proposed for the cannot be maximised. These are the priority issues. management in Sohag. The initial implementation of the plan will EMU, to strengthen it and to provide additional support for the Needs to be extended so that both collection and treatment is start the management process. This process involves a management EMPS as it grows. These proposals, that have been agreed in increased. Poor sanitary drainage leads to water pollution and This Governorate Environmental Action Plan identifies means by which structure that is based on the existing Governorate management system. principal, are to develop the unit into a General Office for the health problems. the issues can be addressed, thereby helping to improve the quality of Integrating environmental management into the daily activities of Environment. The tasks of the GOE will be four-fold, and life of Sohag residents. running the Governorate means that issues that affect the environment Departments will be set up specifically to deal with stand a better chance of being picked up. Environmental management a) coordination and advice; b) monitoring and enforcement; Waste Accumulation in Street in Sohag is in the early stages of development and will continue to c) solid waste and d) training. These changes will significantly develop and reflect changes learnt from experience. At the present improve environmental management and planning in the time it is vested in a tiered approach that relies heavily on continued Governorate; consultation between stakeholders. l Preparation of guidelines for the evolution of the GEAP Steering Overall it is expected that The Supreme Environment Council will Committee into a Supreme Environmental Council under the provide policy advice and direction, the Environmental Management Chairmanship of His Excellency the Governor; Unit will provide a central coordination and service role together with advisory and training aspects. It is proposed that the EMU will grow l A preliminary assessment of the environmental training needs in into a General Office for the Environment (GOE), and will have a the case of all key stakeholders: Government Officers and NGOs Department for Solid Waste. The Environmental Units and Committee (those of the private sector and local communities will follow comprise the implementation and coordination roles of the various later); Ministries represented by EUs and extension services. These Environmental Management bodies already exist in Sohag and have l Suggestion for Environment Liaison Officers to aid started to work out ways in which they will work together to make communication system between stakeholders. ELO will be the GEAP function. The proposed organogram for the environmental nominated for each mother village (and other villages if management and planning system shows all the parties that will be necessary); industry groups, and commercial groups will also involved. The parties include local community representatives (ELOs), nominate representatives. The ELOs will act as information and it is important to remember that the EMPS should provide a forum channels to and from the EMPS to the various stakeholder groups. for information exchange, and that information should go from the “bottom up” as well as from the “top down”. The EMPS should The second initiative has involved preliminary consideration of the

10 39 6. What Actions Can We Take 5. Actions That Are Needed

Some initial funding had been provided by the SEAM project for initial l Encouraging employers to be more environmentally responsible 5. ACTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED Measures, which provide the ‘mortar’ linking and binding the projects, community level action. Proposals that had a strong environmental and assisting them by not leaving taps running, by minimising are essential. They also serve to provide a supporting infrastructure message could be more easily developed, might be replicated and, waste and so on; Actions are required to allow the vision to be achieved and these are for the preparation and implementation of more projects as the Action where local support could ensure they were implemented, were the main content of this plan; they fall into several different types, Plan evolves. As time passes and environmental awareness and proposed as pragmatic entry points. Projects now being designed, l Advising your local Environment Liaison Officer of pollution namely involvement grow, the necessary supporting measures will change focus developed and implemented with the community as illustrations of incidents. and the mix of measures seen as necessary will also change; this possible GEAP action are: l Policies underlines the need for the GEAP to be flexible and to be able to Strengthening NGOs l Programmes respond to changing circumstances and needs. -Potable water supply and sanitation in the villages of Naga El Deir l Projects and Nage El Karakra NGOs identified particular problems in developing successful proposals Supporting measures fall into two broad categories: persuasion for the variety of funding sources available for community development Policies measures and command and control devices. The design of supporting - Developing an environmental curriculum for adult literacy classes; work. Action was proposed to develop NGO capacity and help them measures involves the selection of “packages” of measures, which are fully take part in the GEAP plan process. NGOs will now be able to: Policies are statements made by the Governorate which provide deemed to be most appropriate to the particular needs under - Environmental awareness and hygiene improvements at two guidance for subsequent Governorate activities. In this context they consideration. Details of the proposed supporting measures are given community hospitals, Geheina and Sohag; Prepare environmental proposals to “unlock” donor funds. provide the basic goal (ie the aim) that the actions should meet. All in the GEAP Manual. programmes, supporting measures or projects will have to meet the - Provision of ablution facilities, improving maintenance and raising This workshop was the first step. NGOs will be fully involved in requirements of the policies and the principles set out on page 8. This environmental awareness (with community involvement) at two GEAP consultations and stakeholder meetings. applies not only to the actions of the GEAP but to all Governorate regional primary/secondary schools in Sakolta and El Maragha activities. Markazes; Future Partnership Action It will be the function of the policies, formulated by the Supreme - Rehabilitation of an area of polluted surface water and creation of As part of the Plan process it is proposed to further strengthen NGOs Environment Council (SEC), to provide a framework, within which a community facility, Naga El Hager, Geheina Markaz; and help them to support communities develop and implement actions are prepared and implemented in appropriate parts of the sustainable environmental action. It is also proposed that the role of Governorate. - Solid Waste collection with community involvement for the villages NGOs, communities and the private sector as partners in the GEAP of Bardees, El Baliana Markaz. process will be consolidated in future GEAP discussions, initially Policies have been drafted for this document by the GEAP team and through their involvement in the EMPS. (see Section 7.) are given later in this section as the overall aim for each of the key These actions will provide a first illustration of how “we”, the issues. It is expected that in the future, policy formulation and revision communities of Sohag Governorate, can take action within the GEAP will be a main function of the SEC. framework. Communities have been assisted in developing the design Waste Transport of these initiatives to ensure that the action could be replicated Programmes elsewhere and that the impact on people’s lives and their environments Projects can be measured by the communities. The actions that the community Programmes are broad action steps that will allow the key can take are: environmental issues to be addressed at a Governorate level; they are Projects are discrete components that address a particular issue, or a series of statements of strategic requirements that must be followed part of an issue, in a defined area, or for a defined set of beneficiaries. l Participating in developing projects to meet specific needs; if the overall aim is to be met by the various actions that are It is important that the projects address not only the technical issues, recommended. but also the particular concerns of the target group, and that the project l Giving full support to projects that are so designed; is developed with the participation of the beneficiaries. In this way l Taking messages from awareness campaigns into their homes and The programmes need to be agreed and this will be one of the jobs the project will fit the problem and will be successful. A successful passing them on to others; that will fall to the Supreme Environment Council, the central project can be replicated elsewhere thus providing knock-on benefits Environmental Management Unit and the Environmental Units in the to other cities, villages or communities. Projects have been identified l Sustaining the operation of projects (eg by not using waste Line Ministries in Sohag. The programmes shown need to be developed and developed during the GEAP process by the various stakeholders containers for other purposes), and by not littering when by the respective responsible parties to give agreed targets, and dates involved. They represent stakeholders’ ideas about how to respond alternatives are provided, or by not stopping others from for target achievement. Programmes need supporting measures; these to some of the issues. As the GEAP cycle continues projects will using taps or other services by not using them properly;. are the tools that the various line ministries and other stakeholders continue to be suggested. The criteria which a GEAP project must require to allow the projects to be effectively implemented and fulfil and the process for developing such projects are given in the l Collectively instilling a civic pride in the community in which supported, so that the projects will support the programmes and GEAP Manual. Some are ready for implementation, some require you live by not littering, organising clean-up campaigns and therefore work together to achieve the aim. additional development work. More details are given in section 6. discouraging persistent offenders; To be effective an Action Plan cannot be sustained by a framework The projects form the basic building blocks upon which this initial l Supporting NGOs and CDAs and encouraging them to work with (the policies) for environmental improvement alone. As with any Plan is founded. They require to be implemented at different levels the Governorate and businesses to bring about environmental framework it needs materials so that it can be built. Thus the policies within the Governorate, variously involving support from all improvements; can be likened to the design and plans, and the supporting measures stakeholder groups: Governorate Directorates and Departments; and projects as the “mortar” and the “bricks”. This is why Supporting community interest groups; industry; Markaz officials; local village

38 11 5. Actions That Are Needed 6. What Actions Can We Take

l Begin to open the channels for discussion about industrial In addition technically the GEAP is concerned to ensure projects are: List of GEAP Projects hazards and means of control alongside more positive action; l Practical; Solid Waste Management Soil Conservation l Self monitoring. l Provision of waste transport vehicles l Reclamation research l Involve vulnerable groups - women, elderly, unemployed youths, l Upgrading of Sohag City waste management equipment l Local composting This is an initial step in drawing the private sector into the GEAP children, poorer communities, and target areas with few services l Improved disposal of clinical waste process as one of the partners. Representatives from the private sector and facilities; Use of Agrochemicals and Crop Protection l Training and information exchange will be part of the EMPS to ensure that their participation and l Disease free vegetable nursery l l Preventive maintenance and stores control involvement in environmental improvements will be developed and Inject into projects participatory approaches; l Utilising mixed water resources for crop irrigation encouraged. l Metal reclamation l Involved with training that provides practical environmental l Public awareness Planning for Development Community Based Action support; l Composting l Fish farm demonstration project l New landfill site l Use of drains for fish culture Considerable dialogue took place with local communities and the l Concerned with how people/villages etc. are chosen to benefit; l Street cleaning l Fish cultivation NGOs that support them in Sohag as part of GEAP plan preparations. l Provision of warehouse for fresh fruit and vegetable storage Qualitative assessments of the environmental problems for urban and, l Trying to ensure that benefits such as employment opportunities Pollution Prevention l Resource mapping particularly rural communities, were undertaken by specialist Egyptian are evenly allocated. l Effluent treatment plant for Nile Company for Oil l Controlling groundwater levels around Abydos social development consultants. Discussions were held with various and Detergents Hydrogenation Factory l Training in tourism management NGOs undertaking community development and integrated rural l Environmental monitoring at El Kawther development projects in the Governorate. Discussions were held with l Architecturally interesting buildings list Awareness l Relocation of Sohag City workshops various CDAs and Ministry of Social Affairs staff who support l Facelift of the West Bank Corniche l Improving waterlogged areas community action. Visits were made to a number of villages and l School maintenance some community-based projects. Potable Water l Environmental management and tree planting at El Kawther l Potable water supply infrastructure improvement In particular, during the GEAP plan-making process, a dialogue began Environmental Awareness l Demonstration village with local NGOs that had formed into a network. Sohag faces l Adult literacy l Increase availability of potable water particular community problems with remote and poorly serviced rural l Tree planting settlements. While some donor support has been provided for Sanitary Drainage l Environmental messages community action (such as the Social Fund for Development) and the l Assistance for septic tank provision l Environmental education Government provides support to community based action through l Waste water and solid waste technology comparative l Support for NGOs the Shorouk project, most action is organised and delivered by these assessment local NGOs with limited funding and support.

Public Health l Contact with the NGOs and with stronger CDAs in Sohag was l Environmental health information centre important as a way of assessing possible community action. From the visits and meetings a wide range of ideas for action were developed. They were very disparate ideas. Communities did leaders; right down to individuals. All concerned have stewardship added. Likewise, it has not been possible to set targets for each not necessarily think solely in terms of environmental problems. and ‘duty of care’ responsibilities. Stakeholders with specific roles to of the issue programmes. Where this is the case, a priority of They had not necessarily had experience in designing such projects. play in tackling each of the key issues are shown in the following the ongoing Action Plan process should be the setting of, and It was agreed to review these ideas and to help develop them sections but everybody has something they can contribute. agreement upon, realistic and achievable targets by all the relevant further. It was agreed to look for some pragmatic community In practice, project proposals will be implemented as funds are stakeholders. action to: identified. Therefore care needs to be taken to ensure that, individually as well as collectively, GEAP projects address the key issues and are Section 7 describes the Action taken so far to address the necessary l Gain enthusiasm; compatible with the GEAP vision and its policies and programmes. policy changes and support for programmes within the Governorate management, and Section 10 describes the GEAP cycle - the things l Give confidence; The following sections give the “why”, the “what”, and the “how” it that must be done to keep the GEAP working. is proposed to take the necessary Action to address each key issue. The GEAP Manual gives more details about the supporting measures l Show responses to environmental issues people feel are that are considered necessary and projects that have been proposed important; The actions identified in this report are not, nor are they intended so far. to be, a comprehensive list of all the issues which could have l Demonstrate to communities how the GEAP can relate to them. been addressed in an Action Plan. Rather they are a synthesis of Programmes and projects will continue to be developed as part of the the priority issues identified during stakeholder discussions. GEAP process. The GEAP Manual gives details about how this should As the GEAP process continues, so additional issues can be be done.

12 37 6. What Actions Can We Take 5. Actions That Are Needed

6. WHAT ACTIONS CAN WE TAKE l Governorate staff supporting communities, and SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT general refuse and disposed of on sites which are then scavenged. This poses a significant health risk not only to scavengers but to all Partnerships l NGO’s action involving the private sector. Current Status and Improvement Aims - “Why?” who traverse waste sites. Refuse collectors are also at risk. The disposal of hazardous waste would also pose similar problems. The concern of this GEAP has been to generate action and a sense of The Private Sector Solid Waste Dump Site ownership. The GEAP has to be a product that everyone in the These are the issues that need to be addressed. Governorate - public and private sectors, rural and urban communities, The private sector is seen as having a key role in GEAP responses but men and women, - believes they own. Beneficiaries must be given a this will require considerable development of this role and joint work Because solid waste management is of particular concern, it has been voice and a say in what happens. It cannot be driven by top-down with other stakeholders, particularly the Governorate. What have the subject of a separate, detailed study within the Governorate. This solutions imposed on beneficiaries. If a wide range of people can see been identified, at this stage, are some initial activities/projects initially Solid Waste Management Strategy (SWMS) study has resulted in its relevance to their lives and its responsiveness to their needs, they exploring the action that the private sector can take itself to improve proposals which, when implemented, will address the issues of will give it greater importance. If they can recognise their own ideas environmental conditions. pollution, contamination and health linked to solid waste. in the Plan they will feel more of a responsibility to make the ideas work in practice. This is important since many of the environmental A wide range of industries were approached as part of the GEAP The issues associated with solid waste are different in cities and villages. issues cannot be resolved without the direct participation of people. process It became apparent that some (like the Sugar and Integrated In the cities collection is the main issue, whereas in villages, where It is also hoped that greater involvement will also lead to communities Industires Company, Sugar and Distillation Factory in Girga and the more waste is recycled (e.g. as soil conditioner or animal food), it is taking greater action themselves to improve environmental conditions Egyptian Bottling Company Sohag Factory) had already taken steps the interim storage of waste prior to reuse that is the main problem, in their areas. to improve the environmental performance of their operations. These although the disposal of ash from domestic ovens along road-sides is steps have helped them to identify how to develop and run their a local problem in some villages. The availability of suitable disposal A key part of the GEAP process has been to explore these issues of businesses in the future. One way in which the GEAP is helping industry sites is a universal problem, particularly if the site that is available is at partnership and ownership. All stakeholders were involved in the is by publicising the lessons learnt by these factories to other businesses, a distance from the source of waste and collection and transport is not process of identifying needs and environmental issues (discussed in during consultation. arranged, effective or regular. Section 2). They have also been equally encouraged to identify action and propose projects that respond to the environmental issues. In particular, attention was focused on the new El Kawther Industrial This key issue is a priority issue and the actions should have an Estate and the strong environmental enthusiasm shown by the managers immediate term focus. This has meant taking a special approach. It is easy to involve of this estate. Working with the estate and Governorate staff, a project Governorate staff in strategic plan making. This is their job. It is not has been developed. Supporting action, via the GEAP, to improve This issue addresses concerns expressed at all stages of the waste “What?” necessarily so easy for other stakeholders, such as the private sector, the environment of the estate will help to maintain the value of this management cycle, including: NGOs, communities and vulnerable groups to operate at this level. area as a “showcase” for industry. The overall aim for improving solid waste management is to: The GEAP has been concerned to look initially at environmental action l Collection, that they will understand. In addition, smaller-scale business interests have been consulted and l Transfer and Collect and satisfactorily reuse, recycle or dispose of solid waste consideration given to small-scale business and employment action as l Disposal, throughout the Governorate, including waste generated in cities and A pragmatic approach to environmental action has to be taken, part of community-based action. Environmental improvements in villages, and by industry. especially at the community level. People have particular concerns market areas, more effective waste disposal by butchers, joint as well as the intermediate steps in between. Concerns stem not only and special local problems that they want addressed. These may not community, shops and street vendors clean-up campaigns have all been from the visual evidence of overstretched collection service, for LE / Tonne Value of Waste for Recycling necessarily be key environmental issues but are seen by them as proposed as possible small-scale and immediate action that can be example: important. They may not have considered their problems as specific taken. 1200 3000 environmental issues before. They may not be able to immediately l Piles of refuse in streets, 1100 articulate what their needs are. Possibly once they see responses to The main role of the private sector will be to: l Litter, 1000 immediate problems, they will then be more able or willing to consider l Burning piles of refuse, 900 broader environmental issues that affect their communities or l Embrace the principles of the GEAP in running their business - l Scavengers, 800 businesses. It may change attitudes and motivate communities to especially environmental audit; 700 become more self reliant and take more action themselves, rather than but also the use of incompatible collection vehicles, access of vehicles 600 depend on the Governorate. l Show to others the benefits of environmental action on industrial into narrow streets, the effects of privatisation of collection services, businesses; the lack of space remaining at managed disposal sites, the location of 500 Most stakeholders are likely to be cautious of a Plan. Their concern is disposal sites close to the Nile, and old canals - that might lead to 400 to see what it can deliver. The GEAP, therefore, has been promoting l Develop a dialogue with the Governorate on industrial issues water pollution, and the haphazard disposal of refuse and ash in rural 300 some initial and demonstration action that could respond to need, and develop beneficial partnerships; locations. Recycling and reuse of materials is also a critical component 200 illustrate environmental responses and show how the GEAP can help of the waste disposal issue. 100 to solve environmental problems. Particularly at community level, l Seek ways to provide private services (eg waste collection, promoting this small scale action is seen as an “entry point”, a way of water meter reading) to assist Governorate in its tasks; Litter is an often-quoted problem as it provides a visible reminder to Steel Bone

helping stakeholders to see what an Action Plan can do for their lives Glass

all of the issues. There are other less visible but no less concerning Paper Plastic and businesses so they will promote and support the GEAP. It is also problems. In particular the disposal of clinical waste. Waste from Copper Cardboard seen as the initial way of promoting greater joint action and partnerships clinics, dental surgeries, and from some hospitals is collected with Aluminium between different stakeholders: for example, 36 13 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

Programmes and their Supporting Separate hazardous (clinical and industrial) waste from ordinary l Additional media campaigns; Action taken so far Measures - “How?” domestic or commercial waste; l GEAP publication/dissemination to reach all parts of l NGO training; This aim can be achieved by the implementation of programmes that Implement the Solid Waste Management Strategy (SWMS). community; l Consultation; are designed to address: l SW collection survey and interviews. l Waste Collection l Demonstration projects described and replicated; l Waste segregation; l Collection; Introduce effective waste collection services; l Provide feedback mechanism for local communities into GEAP l Transport; process; l Treatment; Use private companies where appropriate; l Disposal; l Nominate local village/markaz representatives as part of GEAP l Attitudes of different stakeholder groups to waste. Provide collection bins of a size compatible with the amount of management system - involve in regular meetings, (Environment waste and collection frequency; Liaison Officer);

l Amount of Waste Generated in Urban Areas Maintain quality and quantity of collecting containers at Publication of environmental success stories and the steps that (Tonnes per Day) necessary level; are underway to address other issues of concern. 90 Pay workers a proper wage to dissuade them from scavenging; Supporting measures for these programmes include the dissemination 80 of information to others. It should be considered as a duty by all to 70 Extend collection to keep pace with urban growth; further the awareness and involvement of others in environmental 60 matters and issues, whether at work, at school or in the home. 50 Implement SWMS. 40 30 l Waste Transport 20 Educational Status In Sohag Governorate 10 Provide effective transport for local conditions, including size 40 of streets, amount of waste; 35 30 Tahta Tama Gerga Sohag 25 Gehina

Sakalta Plan vehicle collection routes to coincide with collection bin

Akhmim % El-Balina size, and amount of waste collected; 20 El-Maragha El-Momshaa

Dar El-Salam 15 Plan vehicle maintenance,include a preventive maintenance 10 programme; 5 The programmes should be designed to take into account the differences between urban and rural areas, and to work hand in hand Provide training; Under School with law enforcement, efficient prosecution and the imposition of fitting Literate Illiterate Education Graduates penalties. Implement SWMS. Graduates

Targets for timing for the programmes should initially focus on dealing l Waste Treatment with waste from cities. Sohag as the capital of the Governorate, is the Projects most visible city and therefore the benefits of improving waste Identify best treatment options for different waste - including management practices (across the board) will be most evident. Lessons industrial waste, hazardous waste and domestic waste, (eg This key issue is the community counterpart to the institutional learnt in dealing with waste in Sohag City shall be passed on to other composting); strengthening described above. Without improvements in this area, cities. Where Sohag can learn from other cities this must happen. many of the benefits associated with the GEAP will go unnoticed and, Other priority areas are those with existing industry (Akhmim, Tahta, Implement SWMS. furthermore, full implementation will not occur. Tima, Girga) or areas where industrial expansion is planned (El Kawther, Saqolta). Akhmim has the most waste to deal with, and so l Waste Disposal Projects include the preparation of information that can be used in recycling of waste in this city might be expected to generate the most adult literacy classes that has environmental messages at the appropriate return. Identify new disposal sites that will be properly managed as level. landfill sites; l Waste Segregation Who Should Be Involved? As existing dumps are filled, close them beneficially for Recover reusable and recyclable materials from city waste subsequent re-use; l All primary stakeholders. paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass and bone;

14 35 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING Who Should Be Involved - Share information at Markaz level; The projects identified so far cover issues raised by stakeholder groups, including collection services in urban areas; health hazards Current Situation and Aim of Plan - “Why?” l All secondary stakeholders. - Identify disposal options for industrial waste especially toxic/ to workers and scavengers; maintenance and management issues; hazardous waste; training of work-force and managers; and focus on several different Under resourcing of Governorate Departments to deal with their Action taken so far areas of Sohag to allow wide dissemination of ideas. Proposals have existing (and newly established) environmental responsibilities; lack - Prepare plan/strategy for dealing with additional industrial waste been formulated by responsible Governorate departments and at a of law enforcement, and little or no monitoring data to check l Initial training needs analysis; as industry sector grows; community level by NGOs and CDAs. Replication of the projects in compliance or otherwise; no forum for Governorate-wide other cities and villages would be possible in time. environmental management - these are the underlying background to l Setting up embryo EMPS with SEC and EU Committees. - Implement SWMS. the need for strengthening. Section 7 deals with this issue in more They include capital equipment investment proposals for means of detail. l Attitudes collection and transportation of waste, and are associated with the ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS segregation and disposal of clinical wastes. In response to discussion “What?” - Public awareness campaigns to prevent/control littering, and during the GEAP process, some hospitals are recommissioning Current Situation - “Why?” promote new collection strategies; incinerators so that clinical waste can be disposed of safely and is not The overall aim to remedy this is: mixed in with general refuse. Primary Stakeholders - Control scavenging; To strengthen the capacity of local Governorate officials and others One of the SEAM Solid Waste Management demonstration projects to deal effectively with their environmental roles and responsibilities. - Training for operators and supervisors; links strongly to public awareness programmes by undertaking a widespread questionnaire survey to understand users views of local Programmes and their Supporting - Training for managers; waste disposal. Measures - “How?” - Implement SWMS. Programmes to achieve this aim are as follows: Average Waste Content Projects Dust 40% l Provide training to Governorate staff to allow them to undertake their environmental responsibilities effectively; l Commence waste recycling, start with two cities as pilot projects Waste Food 10% then expand to others as experience grows. Suggest start with Animal Waste 10% l Appoint new staff with backgrounds and experience to Sohag and Tahta, and replicate in others (1 year starting in 2000). Glass 5% complement existing disciplines; A significant barrier to environmental improvement is seen as a lack Include tin can recycling, composting, plastics, rubber, paper, etc. Metal 5% of awareness of the repercussions of a practice which results in Plastic 5% l Establish effective mechanisms for GEAP implementation; environmental degradation, for example the dumping of refuse in canals l Commencing with pilot programme in two cities (Sohag and Paper 25% and drains. Coping strategies adopted by communities to deal with Girga), introduce appropriate collection containers and vehicles, l Establish effective mechanisms for GEAP dissemination and difficulties often result in additional problems and knock-on effects train staff to segregate clinical waste, for separate collection. publicity; for other parts of the population or community. The aim of addressing this key issue is, therefore, to l Develop a management plan for Akhmimdump site, including Who Should Be Involved l Establish effective mechanisms for GEAP involvement; consideration of a recycling transfer station and mixed disposal Increase the level of understanding of environmental issues of municipal and liquid waste. l City Heads l Enforce environmental laws and standards; throughout the Governorate population, and promote involvement in l Health Department decision making at all levels. l Provide new collection containers and vehicles for cities and l Village heads l Develop capacity amongst stakeholders to plan and implement villages, target 1 city/year, and 3 largest villages per year for next l Markaz Officials self help environmental improvement project and programme Programmes - “How?” 5 years. Redistribute older vehicles to other locations for l EMU/GOE (see section 7) initiatives. replacement with more suitable vehicles as time progresses. l Communities and CDAs Programmes to achieve this aim must focus not only on the overall l EUs Projects aim, but also on the provision of alternatives to replace behaviour that l Target managers of cleaning departments for training workshops l Private Companies leads to bad environmental conditions e.g. littering. Programmes in years 1-3, and require this expertise to be disseminated amongst Much of the activity associated with the GEAP in the early years of suggested at this stage are: staff. Enlist help of EMU/University Departments for training in The specific roles of these groups in managing the actions required to implementation will relate to this key issue. Strengthening the Sohag. address this key issue (as with the other key issues addressed in organisations responsible for environmental management will help with l Introduce environmental issues into curriculum at primary, following sections) will be determined by the EMPS. However, each the implementation of both supporting programmes and projects. It secondary and tertiary education levels; l Publicise new containers, make people aware of collection days, party’s role will relate to existing areas of specialisation and their will also foster and encourage the development of new projects and identify a contact point in cleansing department for complaints existing role in daily management of the Governorate. Thus City and the updating of the GEAP, including identification and prioritising of l Provide environmental education in adult literacy classes; and grievances to be made. Make waste management issues a Village heads will be responsible for ensuring waste is effectively issues. Furthermore, this activity will help towards the integration of regular agenda item at Environmental Management and Planning collected, recycled, and disposed of in their areas according to the the GEAP process and principles into day-to-day Governorate l Introduce regular “environmental news” slot in local System (EMPS) meetings, require action feedback to prevent SWMS. The EMU/GOE Solid Waste Department will have a specific activities. newspapers, radio and television programmes; similar problems recurring or occurring in other districts, villages, role in ensuring implementation of the SWMS is complete throughout or cities. Start now. 34 15 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

the Governorate and that all areas are properly responding to the How much? requirements of the plan. Communities will have responsibility for disposing of their waste at the designated place and not littering or Section 9 provides a breakdown of the costs associated with the SWM otherwise putting their waste in the wrong place where it could cause projects so far identified. pollution, encourage flies, or other nuisance. t stauran Houses Re Coffee Actions taken so far Amoun Nile Merit Kawther os El- el Abyd . l SWMS developed Hot ...... Ships Museums ...... ruise - ...... C ohag‘‘.. l Projects on: rd from S ’’Post Ca - Containers/vehicles;

Housing Development - City SWM including survey and collection design; There is also agreement that legal enforcement measures should be The issue is strongly linked to land use zoning, law enforcement, and - Composting pilot plant- implemented. extended to involve the payment of compensation, as well as the prevention of misuse of resources. It should be borne in mind that execution of restoration works, in situations where land or water such planning relates to the management of all Sohag resources l Proposals for SWM strengthening; features have been polluted. Appropriately, this represents the most including, natural, physical and cultural resources. rigorous application of the “polluter must pay” principle. l Repair and use of hospital waste incinerators. Who Should Be Involved Projects l SEC Six projects have been proposed, and provide the starting point for l EMU dealing with the issue. The issue has many facets, and it is only with l EUs experience that it will begin to be adequately addressed and managed l Youth & Sports Directorate Solid Waste Dump Site for the future. Many of the supporting programmes will assist in l Roads & Transport Directorate addressing this issue. In particular the first steps are to increase l Manpower Directorate awareness of environmental management and planning techniques, so l Line Ministries that they might be included in project design. l Markaz Officials l Village Heads l Communities Abydos l University l Department of Agriculture l Department of Tourism l Department of Antiquities

16 33 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

Urban and rural planning and development needs to be improved with POTABLE WATER SUPPLY programmes show the sort of actions that could help. Actions should respect to the provision of networks of environmental services be selected and put together in agreed programmes (particularly potable water, sanitary drainage, and solid waste Typical Concerns, and Aims of Actions - “Why?” collection). New development needs to include provision of services l Extend the reticulated pipe work system in cities and villages, and be subject to environmental assessment as a matter of routine. link increased demand for water to increased supply. The other measures in addition to institutional strengthening, which are recommended to form part of the supporting package include: - Extend reticulated supply such that it provides reliable service public awareness campaigns concerning the benefits of sound planning; to all houses in cities and mother villages; formal education; technology transfer in the case of both reclaiming desert lands for agriculture and the use of traditional building materials; - Increase water production so that a reliable supply is provided Nile Transport expansion of the extension services; environmental management - match the supply to the population figures (on a district and training; and law enforcement. The latter applies particularly because village level) and rate of growth so that water production of the need to ensure that developers are strictly required to comply matches a per capita use of 200 litres per day; with planning standards, laws and regulations. EIA procedures have an important role to play in strengthening urban and rural planning - Increase coverage as urban development occurs to maintain services. supply provision;

The supporting programmes should take due note of traditional Village potable water supply - New house approval only if connected to reticulated system or behaviour and customs, particularly where they are compatible with access to properly installed well; environmental improvement. This issue causes considerable concern throughout Sohag, in urban, rural and all economic sectors of the population. This issue is a priority - Identify satellite village requirements, introduce programme to The resolution of this issue is of fundamental importance, and is very issue amongst the key issues identified during consultation. Supply address satellite village requirements;

Road Transport strongly linked to institutional strenghtening requirements, described shortfalls exist in terms of the quantity, physical, chemical and biological in section 7. Stakeholders feel it calls for greater use of controlling quality and reliability of supply and relate to ground, surface, pump - Set a capital investment target for each of the next ten years, l Develop an effective and comprehensive Environmental supporting measures. Thus strict legal enforcement, backed by the and network supplies alike. The degree of severity of problems vary review expenditure and reset targets annually; Management and Planning System; imposition of “on-the-spot” fines are seen as the most important from district to district and community to community, but most users measures. The achievement of this level of enforcement will almost are dissatisfied for one reason or another. In addressing the - Introduce effective meter readings at all premises (houses, - Develop and keep updated an information database on the state certainly involve empowering the appropriate officials of both Central improvement of supply of potable water, it is important to match water factories and workshops) with working meters (by 1999); of the environment in Sohag; and Markaz-based Directorates to administer the penalties. However, supply with waste water collection, and to realise that increased it is well recognised that such innovations should be prefaced by availability of potable water increases the volume of waste water for - Consider requiring all premises to have working meters by 2005; - Provide training to all who need it, keep up to date. adequate public education, the definition of realistic emission standards, treatment and disposal. the provision of the necessary monitoring facilities and the introduction - All new water supplies to be metered; l Fully develop potential of Governorate in tourism, industry, fishing of appropriate technology (e.g. cars with more efficient exhaust “What?” and agriculture, in a sustainable way; systems). - Use water usage as basis for charging, water supplies that are The aim for this key issue, and therefore the main supporting policy metered could be charged at a lower rate than unmetered supplies Merit Amoun - Developing tourism potential including linking antiquity tourist objective is to: to promote meter use and water conservation; attractions with supporting facilities of hotels, restaurants, travel arrangements etc; Improve the supply and quality of potable water throughout the - Introduce water conservation measures including public Governorate. awareness campaigns. - Developing fisheries potential of the Nile and other surface water-courses both as a source of food for population, income Programmes and their Supporting l Improve the maintenance of water tanks and pipework.· from sales outside the Governorate and as a means of weed Measures - “How?” control; - Introduce regular maintenance programme on markaz basis; This aim can be achieved by the following programmes and associated - Police management of fisheries; actions and targets. The programmes and targets need to be agreed - Preventive maintenance plans in place and operational by 1998; by the responsible parties and organisations involved in the management - Identify locations suitable for fisheries - sell/market these to of this issue. Targets for timing of the actions should focus on a - Reduce water losses from pipe leakage and tap faults, by a locals; balance between providing an accessible, clean water supply to percentage of losses each year, in five years, reduce losses by everyone in the Governorate and keeping pace with population growth 75% of present level; · - Training of Officials in resource management including tourism; and maintenance requirements. Key targets are those communities who already suffer ill health due to polluted water, particularly where - Ensure adequate stocks of spares are held. - Empowerment of Officials; the pollution is from sanitary waste. Poorly installed and maintained hand-pump wells are particularly vulnerable to this problem. Such - Diversify agriculture. supplies are prevalent in small, poor rural communities. The following

32 17 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

l Improve the reliability of treatment by compact units; l Law enforcement; PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT “What?”

- Ensure cleaning frequency of compact units is commensurate - Enforce laws which are designed to protect drinking water Typical Concerns and Aims - “Why?” The overall aim for this issue is to: with flow and maintenance of water quality; quality, (eg prohibiting discharge of sewage and industrial waste into groundwater aquifer); Planning for development control was a theme highlighted by Develop an integrated and sustainable development plan for - Keep log to optimise cleaning schedules; stakeholders in terms of incompatible neighbouring land uses, including Governorate; l Training; industrial workshops, and overcrowding affecting the quality of urban - Ensure quality of supply to compact unit is compatible with life. Problems associated with the location of discharge and abstraction Develop an effective and comprehensive Environmental what compact unit can achieve by way of treatment; - Improve training for leak detection; points in water courses were a common concern. Other factors such Management and Planning System; as the provision of recreation services may be considered in this - Ensure compact unit abstraction (intake) points are not affected l Awareness; category, as may requirements relating to the visual attributes of new Fully develop potential of Governorate in tourism, industry, fishing by polluting discharges; buildings. The category also includes consideration of the sustainable and agriculture, in a sustainable way. - Build people’s awareness of links between water and health, use of cultural resources for tourism. Tourism is a significant potential - Protect abstraction points; and sources of drinking water pollution (eg sanitary drainage, source of development in Sohag and needs to be carefully managed to Fish farm littering, animals, storage in unhygienic conditions etc). allow its potential to be maximised without putting unacceptable - Phase out first generation compact units and units which do not pressure on the antiquities of tourist value. Tourism is of sufficient provide appropriate level of treatment to achieve WHO importance to be classed as a stand-alone key issue. standards. Potable Water Supply As a Governorate, Sohag has plentiful mineral, cultural, natural and 70% l Ensuring supplies (whether well or reticulated) meet WHO Current human resources that can effectively be harnessed in the future to standard guidelines; 60% allow economic development. A central theme of the GEAP is to Future 50% develop and conserve resources so that development can be sustained. - Identify units able to remove iron and manganese concentrations 40% There are many ideas, including those from the Strategic Plan (industry, to meet necessary standards, use these units when water agriculture, tourism), and stakeholders for development, and in order 30% concentrations exceed Fe and Mn standards; to ensure that these are compatible with environmental concerns and 20% other demands placed on the environment this issue is a vital - Check all wells meet standards for installation (depth, protection 10% component. from sanitary drainage etc); Network Other Unknown El Kawther Industrial Zone - Rectify well installations that do not meet installation standards; · - Increase public awareness of necessary hygiene practices to keep Technology transfer features in the package of measures developed Programmes and their Supporting wells safe. on account of the need to find cost-effective methods of dealing with Measures - “How?” the high concentrations of iron and manganese in ground water l Protect surface water sources from pollution; supplies. This will require some institutional strengthening, which l Develop integrated and sustainable development plans; will also enable both maintenance and monitoring activities to be - Protect water resources from pollution/contamination sources improved. In the longer term water supply and sanitary drainage - Preparation of social development plans based on consensus, including solid waste disposal (particularly hazardous wastes), provision need to be managed in an integrated fashion. An accessible, for each Markaz; sewage, agricultural chemicals, oil and/or fuel stores, industrial good quality water supply, leads to an increase in the volume of water development; used and hence an increase in the volume of waste water for disposal. - Require settlement plans to be developed for each city, and In planning for new communities it may be beneficial to look at a mother village - to be produced locally with incentives for l Protect ground water sources from pollution; three-tiered system of potable, flushing and waste water. demonstration of participation;

- Protect water resources from pollution/contamination sources Measures which lead to improving the conservation of water by all - Reclamation planning; including solid waste disposal (particularly hazardous wastes), users are recognised to be important. Here there is scope for improving sewage, agricultural chemicals, oil and/or fuel stores, industrial both the methods and rates used in levying water charges. Currently - Promote the use of riverine transport of goods; development; the full costs of water treatment and distribution are not reflected in the water charges. If poorer sections of communities are unable to - Improving settlement structure plans; - Undertake research into ways to alleviate rising groundwater pay the full costs, the difficulty can be overcome by using other financial - Preparing local level EAP for Markazes; levels, (including consideration of groundwater abstraction rates, support mechanisms, such as direct income supplements, in place of leakage from canals, and irrigation techniques - see also key subsidised water charges. - Developing zoning guidance for developments; issue on soils). Three project proposals were developed during the GEAP process, - Prevent loss of agricultural land to development. (details can be found in the GEAP Manual), and these have been further

18 31 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

developed by the SEAM project and community environment projects are being undertaken which help to address local level issues in particular, and short term improvements. These are described in Section 6.

The projects clearly pick up on a major key issue, identified by all stakeholders, particularly in relation to quality and quantity. Water conservation is not universally identified as a key issue by Sohag stakeholders. However, it is an issue that will require to be addressed in future. Utilising water resources in a manner that acknowledges quality and quantity constraints and opportunities for management will be important steps.

Agrochemical Who Should Be Involved:

Projects l EMU l EUs Closely related to the conservation and use of soils, this issue can be l NGOs directly linked to crop quality and hence revenue generation and health. l CDAs · Housing and Utilities Directorate · Prevention of misuse of chemicals has direct links to the prevention of l Social Affairs Directorate pollution and ill health. l Ministry of Health l Ministry of Housing Potable water storage tank As with soil conservation, the Governorate has already made significant l Directorate of Water Supply reductions in the use of agrochemicals, particularly in the field of insect pest control by the use of pheromones replacing a significant quantity Action taken so far of pesticide use. Similarly the use of Mabruck fish in drainage canals as a means of controlling weed growth is a significant contribution to l NGO/CDA organisations are active in providing local level the use of environmentally more acceptable control techniques. support in villages, but are only able to address a small part of what is needed. The GEAP will help to coordinate this activity In addressing this particular issue, care must be directed to education and identify best practice to ensure that actions that are and training associated with the storage and use of chemicals. This appropriate and comply with peoples needs, technical issues has also already been addressed in Sohag by requiring that where and environmental legislation. chemicals are to be used they are applied by trained operators under l Community Environment Projects the supervision of the Department of Agriculture. Disposal or appropriate reuse of empty containers also needs to be considered.

Continued diligence and awareness is required to ensure that chemical use continues to be controlled by close scrutiny and involvement and policing the “black market” suppliers who coerce farmers into using chemicals by promising non attainable goals by non sustainable techniques.

Who Should Be Involved l Department of Agriculture l EMU l EUs l Shandaweel Research Institute l NGOs l CDAs l Social Affairs Directorate l University

30 19 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

SANITARY DRAINAGE AND TREATMENT risks associated with contamination of such resources with pathogens USE OF AGROCHEMICALS AND - Ensure farmers have access to extension workers and to up to SERVICES or bacteria are not well recognised. CROP PROTECTION date information;

Typical Concerns - “Why?” “What?” Typical Concerns and Overall Aim - “Why?” l Improve value of Agricultural activities to Governorate;

Grey water disposal tank This issue is a priority issue and the overall aim and hence supporting Closely linked to the issue of conservation and use of soils, the use of - Diversify agricultural production; ·Reduce crop spoilage by policy objective is to: fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides is an important issue. Sohag has improved harvesting, storage and marketing; significantly increased the use of biological control measures replacing Improve collection and treatment of sanitary drainage and to prevent chemical use, including the use of pheromone traps for insect control, - Apply local research results and knowledge. water and land pollution and thereby improve public health. and also the use of fish species to help in weed control in canals and drains, but the benefits of this need to be promoted to a wider audience. Much effort has already been expended upon the introduction and This can be achieved by a set of integrated programmes to: The issue is related to pollution prevention and control and to public widespread application of Integrated Pest Control systems and health. techniques, including the use of pheromone traps. Experience has led l Improve the collection and treatment of sanitary drainage; to the present situation whereby the minimum use of pesticides is l Increase wastewater treatment; Farmer irrigating fields restricted to the production of fruit and vegetable crops. l Reuse treated water for irrigation; l Extension of coverage of services to keep pace with urban growth; The principal components of the proposed supporting measures centre l Control of untreated and treated effluent discharge locations to on: prevent water, groundwater and land pollution. l Appropriate research into the particular vegetable and fruit crops Programmes and their Supporting which are able to yield better in the face of minimal pesticide and Measures - “How?” insecticide use levels;

These aims can be achieved by the introduction of the following steps. l Public awareness and formal education to increase recognition As with the other issues the list needs to be agreed and can be of the benefits associated with “natural’ foods; supplemented as necessary to deal with changing concerns and conditions. l The introduction of improved technology, based on proven results, coupled with increased training in environmental l Improve the collection and treatment of sanitary drainage; “What?” management for both extension service staff and farmers;

- Plan for provision of sanitary drainage for all households - short The overall aim for this issue is to: l Continuing efforts to improve the Integrated Pest Control At present the collection and treatment of sanitary waste water is at term - to include reticulated systems in cities and larger villages systems and techniques adopted, in which an increasing role is an early stage of development in the Governorate. One sewage and discharge to communal tanks and septic tank treatment in Reduce use of agrochemicals (chemical fertiliser, pesticides, played by biological methods. treatment works treats waste collected in Sohag, others are planned rural areas; herbicides) consistent with crop production and environmental for the other cities of the Governorate, and are being designed for management. The Agriculture Department is already committed to this issue; to Geheina and El Maragha at the time of writing this first GEAP report. - Plan for routine emptying of septic tanks at Markaz level, ie a support their work, and the actions suggested above, improved access These two facilities are based on oxidation systems and will treat service that can be provided as necessary to all households with Programmes and their Supporting to training for extension workers is necessary. 50,000m3 each. Collecting networks are already under construction septic tanks - short term, by 1999; Measures - “How?” in Akhmim, El Baliana and Girga and are planned for El Monshaa, Geheina and El Maragha. - Consider the benefits of privatising this service; · As a Governorate that relies on agriculture, the aim is already the subject of much effort in Sohag. The following programmes are Irrigation In areas where networks exist, concerns include connection - Provide managed sewage discharge points at Markaz level to proposed to assist and will work in concert with existing Agricultural requirements, blockages, and costs of maintaining the system. control pollution of surface water courses and agricultural land, Department initiatives and also support the agricultural diversification Problems for communities that rely on septic tanks are: capacity of identify, mark and fence sites by end of 1997; plans of Sohag’s Strategic Development Plan. collecting tanks, frequency of emptying, and disposal of tank contents. Some communities and families have no facilities whatsoever. Akhmim - Fines for non use of allocated points - by 1999; l Reduce agrochemical use; has a “grey” water collection system utilising communal tanks in the city into which sullage is discharged. This approach could provide an - Introduce a charging scheme for cost recovery; - Extend integrated pest management systems; interim management measure for all cities and mother villages until such time a reticulated service is in place, but solid waste must not be - Train technicians/operators - short term; - Apply local research results and knowledge; thrown into these tanks. The existing treatment works is overloaded, both in terms of the quantity and quality of influent. The use of effluent - Set a capital investment target - for each year over the next ten, - Training of extension workers in new techniques, appropriate (treated or untreated) as a source of irrigation water is recognised as revise targets as necessary; chemicals and advances in research; a potential benefit, as is the use of sludge as organic fertiliser. The

20 29 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

- Use crops suited to local conditions, types that are less water degraded by misuse of agricultural techniques, soil is improved by the - Consider and develop role of private sector and introduce or The transfer of appropriate technology, along with the organisation of demanding where a choice can be made, and use appropriate use of soil conditioners, pollution does not cause soil contamination seek support of if/when appropriate; public awareness campaigns and formal education, feature prominently salt tolerant species; etc. in the necessary supporting measures. Considerable institutional - Provide separate septic tanks for workshops. strengthening and environmental management training (especially for - Ensure species conservation considerations are included in The Governorate Agriculture Department is already addressing this technicians and operators) is also required. reclamation plans; issue by improving the coverage of tile drainage, which helps to control l Increase wastewater treatment; groundwater levels and associated salinisation and water logging The same comments, as made above for the levying of charges for - Map waste disposal sites, to prevent disturbance due to problems. - All urban areas to be linked to STW and treated effluent to be potable water services, apply in the case of sanitary drainage and reclamation; used in irrigation schemes; treatment services. Who Should Be Involved l Restore degraded soils; - STW to match water supply and treatment capacity to match Projects l EMU 200l per capita supply target; - Conserve and restore land through drainage and prevention and l EUs Three project proposals which address this key priority issue have removal of unacceptable levels of soil and irrigation water l Department of Agriculture - Promote use of appropriate technology in rural areas (septic been compiled. At a central level within the Governorate, funds are salinity, use salt tolerant species. l Shandaweel Research Institute tanks, bio gas generators, reed beds); currently being directed to extending the network provision of sewerage and treatment works. Activity is concentrating on the main Overall this is an issue which the Directorate of Agriculture is already - Prevent discharge of sanitary and industrial liquid waste to urban areas. The proposals developed in the Plan are complementary committed to addressing. To further support their activities, two boreholes where it can pollute groundwater; to this and relate to smaller scale schemes in rural areas where principal supporting measures are thought to be required: technology connection to a network and thence to a treatment works is not likely transfer and institutional strengthening through the provision of - Consider the provision of a central treatment works for the in the short term. additional staff resources. industrial zone, specially designed to meet the treatment needs of industry; · Who Should Be Involved Projects - Major new industrial developments (e.g. cement factory, fertiliser l EMU For this initial GEAP, two project proposals have been developed to factory etc.), must have own treatment works specially designed l EUs address this issue. However, one of the other project proposals to treat their effluent and to achieve the necessary discharge l Housing and Utilities Directorate (classified as pollution prevention and control) considers the issue of standards. l Agriculture Department the control of surface ponding as result of rising groundwater levels; l Social Affairs Directorate this is a closely related issue. l Effective /efficient reuse of treated water; l Irrigation Department l CDAs and NGOs Themes that will eventually need to be covered when addressing this - Link treated liquid discharges from water treatment plants to l NOPWASD key issue, which is strongly linked into the Strategic Plan for shelter belt plantations or other non edible plantations. l ORDEV Comprehensive Development and the Planning for Development key l Markaz and Village Officials environmental issue described on page 31, include such diverse issues l Control of untreated and treated effluent discharge points; l Directorates of Water Supply and Sanitation as land-use zoning to ensure land capable of supporting high yield crop growth is conserved, soil quality is managed by identifying - Identify specific locations for waste discharge. Action taken so far irrigation techniques which minimise salinisation problems, soil is not l Law enforcement; l Projects on community level sewage treatment at two villages Farmer irrigating fields have been implemented as demonstration projects (see section 6) - Enforce laws relating to prohibiting discharge of sewage and industrial waste to groundwater aquifer. Population Percentage of Informal Settlements to City Population in Sohag Governorate l Training; 90% 80% - Training for employees, particularly at operator level, on hygiene, 70% and need for strict control of discharge locations; 60% 50% 40% - Training on groundwater monitoring to detect sanitary drainage 30% 20% problems. 10%

l Awareness; Total Tahta Tama Gerga Sohag Gehina Sakalta Akhmim El-Balina El-Maragha

- Develop public awareness of the health effects of sanitary waste, El-Momshaa Dar El-Salam and the adverse effects of using untreated effluent and sludge.

28 21 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL important tool in preventing future problems. Using El Kawther CONSERVATION AND USE OF SOILS industrial area as a focus for new industrial development was seen as Current Status and Aims - “WHY?” a means of managing industrial pollution. Typical Concerns and Overall Aim of the Plan - “Why?” “What?” Soil is a vital natural resource to Sohag and with the advent of the The overall aims are seen as: Aswan High Dam is no longer annually replenished by the flood waters of the Nile. Soil conservation is therefore an important issue. Quality The control and reduction of emissions of air and water point pollution problems relate principally to agricultural practices, particularly sources - from industrial, agricultural and domestic sources; irrigation and reclamation. Soil salinisation and an increasing groundwater level are particular issues, as is the use of soil to Maintenance of environmental quality - including air, water (surface manufacture bricks to provide local housing for population growth. and ground) and land; The control of development such that it does not encroach onto high quality agricultural land is also important. Reclamation of desert land Improvement of impaired environmental quality (including air, water is an important means of keeping pace with the demands for land. and land). Reclamation needs to be undertaken in a well planned and phased Liquid effluent discharge into the Nile manner. Brick making Concern was expressed by stakeholders about industrial pollution “What?” sources which, although relatively few in Sohag (compared to other Future Distribution of Industrial Activities in l Prevent and control soil degradation; Egyptian Governorates), are seen by locals as significant problems. Sohag Governorate (Strategic Plan) The aim for this issue is to: As the industrial base of Sohag increases (in response to strategic - Continuous training for extension staff - involve local institutions, growth and development proposals), care needs to be taken to ensure 60 Use soil so that the natural resource is sustained. including the Shandaweel Research Institute and the University in training; that the pollution burden of the Nile and atmosphere in Sohag is not 50 similarly increased. However sources such as vehicles and local brick Programmes and their Supporting manufacture (kammayen) should not be overlooked. Similarly, local 40 Measures - “How?” - Increase tile drainage coverage - target 5000 feddans per year; % bakeries can often present a significant local source of pollutants as 30 they are fuelled on mazot or sola which have a high sulphur content. This aim can be achieved by a variety of programmes to prevent and - Maintain and repair existing tile drainage systems as required; 20 control soil degradation, increase productive areas by reclamation and Discharges of polluted water from sanitary waste systems that seep where soil degradation has occurred in the past, take steps to recover - Reduce groundwater levels by pumping and reduction of flood 10 into the ground, are not generally recognised as ‘polluting’ although the resource quality. irrigation, (also maintenance of reticulated water supply system) when the discharge is formalised through a pipe, as in case of the target water table level at 80cm throughout Governorate by overflow discharge from the waste water treatment plant they become Brick making year 2010; a recognised source of pollution. Nevertheless pollution of water Food Textile Mineral - Consider lining canals to prevent water loss;

bearing strata is potentially a significant environmental issue, as it will Chemical adversely affect the resource potential of the aquifier. Engineering - Establish resource data base (soil and water quality); Related issues in this category include the need for monitoring of environmental quality and emissions from polluting sources to help in - Use organic compost to improve soil quality and structure; prevention and control requirements. Law enforcement was often Programmes and their Supporting cited as a means of improving the level of pollution control and is an Measures - “How?” - Identify alternatives to bricks made from alluvial muds - encourage use of alternatives; These aims can be achieved by programmes designed to support: l Reclamation; Main Labour Activities in Sohag Governorate l Enforcement of existing Laws requiring certain controls and - Reclaim land by the most suitable techniques having regard to Agriculture emission levels and environmental impact assessment; effects on soil quality, sustainability and ground water levels; Industry l Introduction of planning zones; - Improve soil quality and structure in reclaimed areas by use of Trade l Clean up of areas already polluted so that pollution does not organic compost; Handicrafts disperse into the wider environment. - Promote the use of BPEO irrigation techniques; Administration

22 27 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

l Public awareness campaigns on radio, in newspapers and on The following tasks and action targets for programme implementation - Designate zones as soon as possible in all markaz, identify special television; are suggested as a starting point; the list can of course be extended. EMPS committee; l Training of extension workers. l Enforcement of existing Laws requiring certain controls and - Identify different zones for different types of industry - taking emission levels and environmental impact assessment. account of prevailing conditions and pollution potential of the Awareness campaigns, technology transfer, law enforcement and the specific industries; imposition of stiffer/more appropriate penalties are the principal - Identify non complying industries - by 1997; supporting ingredients needed to make these programmes work. - Develop guidance about what industry each zone can - Enforce compliance with law by March 1998, unless approved accommodate; Projects pollution abatement plan exists. -Monitor emission quality - lab and technician and field staff facilities operating by 2005, - Guidelines can be strict - but areas can be made attractive to Public health is linked to all key issues, and stands as a key issue in (involve University skills); prospective developers by helping them to achieve strict itself. Almost all the projects proposed have elements that link them guidelines by providing central water treatment and waste through to health improvement either directly or indirectly. It is - Monitor ambient environmental quality - introduce programme management. expected that as experience grows in managing and identifying Agricultural Land Encroachment by 2005; environmental issues, the associated benefits for health will be widespread. These will stem from improved income, education, access - Impose fines on non complying industries - by 1998; to services and improved overall health care associated with other Who Should Be Involved Governorate wide initiatives to improve access to choice. A specific - Require cleanup programmes for licence renewal - from 1998; project proposes the establishment of an environmental health data l EMU base - to help in decision-making and formulating priorities. l EUs - Require all new factories to comply with the EIA system -from l Department of Health now; l Social Affairs Directorate · l NGOs and CDAs - Promote EA at all established factories-with incentives for l Media implementing recommendations;

- Introduce requirement for use of cleaner fuels in bakeries by A Common Dumping Ground 2005, elsewhere by 2010, incentives for early adoption of Sugar Factory Effluent Treatment change;

- Car emission testing with licence renewal; l Clean up of areas already polluted so that pollution does not disperse into the wider environment. - Consider spot testing and fines for grossly polluting vehicles being driven on the highway; - Map areas in each markaz that might be polluted, including illegal waste disposal sites from industry, areas where liquid - Training for EUs and others in responsible industries in industrial waste is or was dumped, areas where agricultural Environmental Management - start process as soon as possible, chemical containers may have been stored or discarded; EMU to be involved in training; - Analyse levels of potential pollutants in soils and groundwater - Training programme for SFD personnel to be aware of in vicinity of these dump sites; environmental implications of projects - by 1998; - Set levels at which clean up should be affected; - Set up “Nile Protection EMPS Task Force Committee”, to review all decisions affecting the Nile and to collect data base - Identify clean up programmes and implement associated actions. of Nile water quality. The strengthening of monitoring and law enforcement provisions are l Introduction of planning zones - for industry, housing, special seen as being essential to the success of the programmes, and would protection areas, agriculture etc. stick to plan. need to be accompanied by a quartet of persuasion measures: public awareness campaigns; environmental management training; institutional - Use zones for planning location of new industry and workshops, strengthening to enable the measures to be effected, and, of course, to assist in prevention of bad neighbour issues of nuisance, the adoption of more environmentally appropriate technology. These measures are underlined by the managers of the El Kawther industrial zone who suggest means to make the area more attractive to industry, including centralised waste management schemes.

26 23 5. Actions That Are Needed 5. Actions That Are Needed

Projects PUBLIC HEALTH Public Environmental Health Three project proposals to help address this issue have been developed Typical Concerns - “Why?” during the course of the GEAP process. These cover large and small Information Exchange industrial enterprises, and have been designed to deal with existing Public health is generally poor in Sohag because of the level of poverty EMU pollution problems and to prevent pollution problems arising in the in the Governorate. Although access to health care is improving, future. Two of the proposals are being addressed by SEAM malnutrition, cost of treatment and traditions serve to compound the NGOs demonstration projects, including pollution control for the Nile effects of inadequate levels of service provision. Public health benefits CDAs Company for Oil and Detergents Hydrogenation Factory in Sohag, will accrue not only from the implementation of actions to address Extension and environmental management guidelines for the El Kawther this key issue, but also from other key issue actions. Disposal of Workers Communities Industrial Zone. Also at El Kawther, a solid waste recycling project is polluted sullage water in villages is a key source of ill health. Diarrhoea Nurses being undertaken. The latter project also addresses issues linked to and diseases carried by vectors including flies, mosquitoes and snails another key issue, planning for development - land use zoning being are seen as key concerns. Kidney disease as a result of poor water Doctors quality is a growing problem in Sohag. an important means of controlling development to minimise impacts Teachers on neighbouring communities. Elements of the original proposal ideas remain to be addressed, and these will need to be picked up in future “What?” Pollution Prevention issues of the GEAP. The aim for addressing this issue revolves around the need to: And this can be done by: Significant links are likely to be promoted through the projects between Who Should Be Involved the new environmental management functions of ministries and Seek to provide equality in health care provision throughout the Ensuring that health messages get to their targets, providing services directorates, the private sector and NGOs. One of the projects in l Department of Agriculture Governorate in both urban and rural populations. that are affordable, and in the right place, and at the right time, providing particular provides a strong link between communities and pollution l EMU services that address prevention as well as cure. control. Emphasising local responsibilities in pollution control, and l EUs Programmes and their Supporting providing the educational link between pollution and day to day l El Kawther Businessman’s Association Measures - “How?” Programmes revolve around providing the right service, and in raising activities will help to boost support for the GEAP initiatives. l Industrial Companies environmental awareness and involvement among the communities. l SFD This aim can be achieved by programmes designed to: The priority areas should be those that currently suffer from the poorest The project linked to pollution control of a major polluter is potentially l Small private sector workshops and factories health, and this is likely to be the rural and urban poor and under- significant in terms of the opportunities for publicity; many local l Manpower & Training Directorate l Address children’s, women’s and men’s health issues equitably; privileged. Here poor health will be exacerbated due to malnutrition residents and organisations view the Nile Company for Oil and l Ministry of Information and inability to afford preventive treatment, and overcrowding and Detergents, Hydrogenation Factory as a significant source of l Roads & Transport Directorate l Improve personal health/hygiene standards including at abattoirs unhygienic home environments which help to spread infection. The environmental pollution, the solution to this issue will deserve and cafes. areas of the Governorate where public health is most critical are the widespread publicity. Action taken so far isolated areas, furthest from the cities, and where urban areas are Primary Stakeholders growing so rapidly that services cannot keep pace. These features are Other projects can be developed from the list of tasks identified in the l Audit of Nile Company for Oil and Detergents, Hydrogenation found in Dar El Salam and Akhmim, but occur wherever there are programme tasks identified above. One important project yet to be Factory; particularly under-privileged communities. developed is making sure that the benefits of pollution prevention l Waste segregation plans implemented; measures are given a wide audience. l Project proposal being developed; The sorts of actions that might arise from these needs are: l Audit of El Nasr Company for Drying Agricultural Products; l Sugar and Integrated Indusries Company and Egyptian Bottling l Training established extension worker staff in environmental Labour Distribution in Sohag Governorate Company have already invested significant effort in pollution health matters; According to Production & Service Activities control measures. l Appoint new staff trained in environmental health to disseminate the messages to a wide audience (in schools, at markets, in clinics, Agric & Fish wherever the opportunity exists); Target 1 new environmental Transformation health trained staff to each 750 of population. Staff must be Construct & Build based in Markaz; Trans, Supplies General Services l Establish data base to monitor health levels; Mining & Quarries Elect, Irrig & Water l Improve local environment with respect to climate control (e.g. Trade, Rest & Hotels shelter belts for dust control) and recreation facilities (e.g. to Fund, Insurance, Real Estate remove risk of swimming in contaminated waters); Free Standing Activities

l Provide public taps in markets and food preparation areas;

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