Overview on Building of Multifunctional Channel Danube-Sava
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OVERVIEW ON BUILDING OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL CHANNEL DANUBE-SAVA Table of Contents 1. Introduction: ............................................................................................ ..1 2. Background: .............................................................................................. .2 3. Factors, Challenges of Building Multifunctional Channel Danube-Sava……….4 3.1. Economic Benefits for Republic of Croatia……………………………………………4 3.2. Ecological and Environmental Challenges……………………………………………..5 3.3. Social Inclusion Challenges……………………………………………………………………6 4. European Union Directive on Water Management .................................. ….7 5. The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) ..................................................... 8 6. Croatian Disaster Risk Reduction measures and activities pursuant to…………… HFoA and EU Regulations………………………………………………………………………………10 7. Conclusion. .............................................................................................. …13 8. Bibliography: ............................................................................................ ..14 Zagreb, May 2015 1. Introduction Following flooding in May 2014, the worst that Croatia has ever experienced since independence, which also affected three minefields in the vicinity of human settlements project „Immediate Response to 2014 Floods in Croatia“was initiated through emergency allocation in order to assist national and local authorities in developing needs assessment for the 3 mine suspected area therefore assuring preconditions for safe return of the affected population. Multi-sectoral cooperation between National Protection and Rescue Directorate (NPRD), Croatian Institute for Public Health (CIPH), Vukovar-Srijem County (VSC) HQ for Protection and Rescue and Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC) was enhanced in their efforts of providing first-hand early recovery needs to the affected population. Soon after the flooding UNDP expert team have visited Vukovar-Srijem County and held meetings with representatives of NPRD, CROMAC, Vukovar-Srijem County Protection and Rescue HQ and other relevant local DRR actors (including local municipal Protection Rescue Services, Croatian Red Cross etc). Expert team also paid a visit to all three flooded minefields (Gunja, Somovac and Debrinja) where it witnessed firsthand how the flooding affected minefields in terms of mine migration and damages to the mine warning signs. Following the compilation of all the information collected through desk review and field visits “UNDP Mine Action Recovery Needs Assessment for Flooded Areas in Eastern Croatia” report (http://goo.gl/ml6xgm) aimed at restoring/improving pre- disaster conditions in regards of mine affected areas affected by flooding was developed. Conducted Needs Assessment has noted recommendations regarding flood management which included researching into possible Danube-Sava channel route that would provide future drainage to Spacva forest and therefore be of use as a preventive measure in terms of future potential flooding incidents. This assessment found some strong advocates of such a channel, whilst others were noting it only as a part of the solution that would also had to include Sava river drainage, upstream system of dams and provision of additional natural retention areas that would all, put in one combination, form a successful system for flood control. The extent of natural disaster, damages that were caused by flooding followed by the pressure that was created in overall community have led the local level authorities to become far more interested in DRR issues. In that sense they are on the right track to improve their capacities to lead and coordinate the early recovery process. Overall process should first and foremost rely on prevention and preparedness and therefore Overview on Building of Multifunctional Channel Danube-Sava 1 | P a g e the first step for developing successful disaster response system is to get educated in preparing and submitting DRR projects. Enhanced communication, meetings and planned activities, as part of this project, between UNDP and VS County HQ for Protection and Rescue have also initiated joint efforts between two parties in participating EU DG ECHO Civil Protection Mechanism Financial Instrument call for proposal process. Truth be said, these improvements were visible first of locally as, being faced with the natural disaster of such magnitude, Vukovar-Srijem County have raised interest in preparation and submission of projects in the DRR field, with particular emphasis on prevention as the basic prerequisite for a successful disaster response. This fact, among other reasons, have led UNDP and VS County to set up a more formalized system of cooperation and as a result of this Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership of two institutions was signed regulating also all future duties and responsibilities and joint approach on all DRR activities of mutual interest in the in the area of Vukovar-Srijem County (http://goo.gl/rMFNJ3). In that context, findings of this report are recognized and valued as the background information for joint future projects in the field of disaster risk reduction. 2. Background According to the UN / ECE classification of international waterways from 1992 and pursuant to AGN Agreement on Main Inland Waterways with significant International Importance which Croatia signed in 1997, project related to building of Multifunctional Channel Dunav –Sava is necessary to be developed according to the parameters Vb class-so called waterway parameters which are determined in compliance therewith for each individual waterway based on the navigable channel morphology, through the morphological, technical and economic analysis. 1 With the completion of the Rhine - Main – Danube, European network of waterways is very well connected with the seas. This allows the overseas traffic to arrive directly to the largest number of European countries. Investments in building of Danube – Sava channel would help in creating a quality transport corridor between Danube and Adriatic, which would be beside navigable Europe highway (Rhine - Main - Danube the most useful route from the Adriatic Sea to Central Europe, as well as it, would connect the Croatian Danube with the Black Sea ports. 1 http://vodniputovi.hr/projekti/vkds/vi%C5%A1enamjenski-kanal-dunav-%E2%80%93-sava.html International waterway classes IV, Va and Vb relevant to the Sava River. The parameters have been defined through the comparative analysis based on international classification of inland waterways, the available theoretical assumptions, and available and published physical model researches. The minimisation of development costs is generally achieved by the introduction of one-way navigation at certain points because of the state border and zoning problems. https://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/513280.DETERMINING_INLAND_WATERWAY_PARAMETERS_WITH_APPLICATION_TO_THE_SAVA_RI VER.pdf Overview on Building of Multifunctional Channel Danube-Sava 2 | P a g e The Danube - Sava from Vukovar to Šamac is recognized as one of the most important infrastructure projects of great importance for the development of the Croatian combined transport, agriculture and water management. The route of the channel (length of 61.4 km) mainly goes through specialized areas or beside the rivers of Vuka, Bosut, Bija and Berava. For the most part it passes through farmlands and troughs natural watercourses, and to a lesser extent through the land under the forest vegetation. The investment in the building of the Channel, except connecting relevant navigation systems in Europe, will also help in providing better surface drainage, construction and operation of the drainage systems, constructions of new land reclamation systems (surface and underground drainage), the stability of the existing production levels and increase the capacity for new production. The route of the channel length of approximately 61.4 km from Danube near Vukovar to Sava at Šamac, is divided into four separate sections: First section from km 0 + 000 to km 10 + 000 of the Danube region Second section from km 10 + 000 to km 19 + 000 Nuštarska beams Third section from km 19 + 000 to km 48 + 000 Central part Fourth section from km 48 + 000 to km 61 + 400 Sava area In 2011 Croatian Government discussed the issues related to the building of the channel and Parliament brought the decision on the development of Channel Danube -Sava Spatial Plan. 2 The project would cover two counties – Vukovarsko- Srijemska and Brodsko-Posavska and involvement of 12 local governments. It is planned to build five ports and harbours and 23 road and pedestrian bridges. The route of the channel length of 61.4 km starts at Danube in Vukovar, and ends at Sava River near Slavonski Šamac. The channel would have three main functions - irrigation of 35,750 hectares of agricultural land, surface drainage on about 173,000 acres and underground drainage on around 62,000 hectares, and navigation with the possibility of performing river cruise tourism. The Danube-Sava Channel is planned to be built in four phases. The first phase would include the section of Sava River to the compound of the watercourse Biđ, the second phase would cover the section of the Danube (Vukovar) to the river Bosut, third from Vinkovci to the village Cerna, and the fourth stage, which is a final functional and will serve the purpose of regulation of the fairway "Danube-Sava" which ends with full profile of the channel and construction of all other