Initial Environmental Examination July 2011 UZB : Water Resources Management Sector Project Report of Suvli Subproject [Final Report] Prepared by Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Republic of Uzbekistan for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 3rd June 2011) Currency unit – sum (SUM) SUM1.00 = $0.00059 $1.00 = SUM1,701.83 ABBREVIATIONS AP – Affected Person/ Party ADB – Asian Development Bank BCP – Best Construction Practices BISA – Basin Irrigation System Administration CDR – Control and Distribution Room (of pump house) CE – Construction Environmental Management Plan CEMP – Construction Engineer employed by PM Consultants DCEC – Department of Pump Stations, Energy, and Communications DPSO – Department of Pump Station Operations DWM – Directorate for Water Management EA – Executing Agency EARP – Environmental Assessment and Review Procedure/ Framework ECL – Environmental Consequences Listing EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMP – Environmental Management Plan EMU – Environmental Management Unit GDP – Gross Domestic Product GNI – Gross National Income GoU – Government of Uzbekistan HAE – Hydro-geological Ameliorative Expedition I&D – Irrigation and Drainage IA – Implementing Agency IEA – Initial Environmental Assessment IEE – Initial Environmental Examination ISA – irrigation system administration LARF – land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework LARP – Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan MAWR – Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources MCA – Main Canal Administration MoF – Ministry of Finance NES – National Environmental Specialist NGO – Nongovernment Organization NPC – National Protection Committee (Goskompriroda) O&M – Operation and Maintenance PCB – Polychlorinated biphenyls PIU – Project Implementation Unit PM – Project Manager PMO – Project Management Office PNPC – Provincial National Protection Committee (Oblkompriroda) PPTA – Project Preparatory Technical Assistance CEE – Provincial Directorate for Ecological Expertise (Gosecoexpertisa) R&U – Rehabilitation and Upgrading ii SCLRGCSC – State Committee on Land Resources, Geodesy, Cartography and State Cadastre SE – Site Engineer (Contractor‟s Employee) SEE – Main Directorate for State Ecological Expertise (Glavgosecoexpertisa) SES – Sanitary and Epidemiological Services WRMSP – Water Resources Management Sector Project WSP – Worker Safety Plan WUA – Water Users‟ Association GLOSSARY Dehkan – Household plot used for household‟s immediate food requirements and sale of surplus. Given to head of family for the livelong ownership. Size of dehkan farms–irrigated land is 0.35 ha and 0.50 on non-irrigated area. Goskompriroda – State Committee for Nature Protection hokimiyat – Local Government Authority makhalla – The Smallest Administrative Group In a Community [Collection of Villages to Create a Community Village] Oblast – Russian Version of Viloyat (Region) Oblkompriroda – Provincial Level of State Committee for Nature Protection Oliy Majlis – Parliament Picket – 100 m section Rayon – Russian Version of Tuman (District) Shirkat – Cooperative Farm, Successor of Former Kolkhoz Tuman – District, Smaller Administrative Unit of The Viloyat Uzbekgydrogeologiy – State Hydro-geological Enterprises a Uzgidromet – Center of Hydro-meteorological Service Viloyat – Provincial Administrative Unit of Uzbekistan. [ Uzbekistan has 12 Viloyats (or Provinces) and 1 Autonomous Republic Karakalpakstan vodokanal – Water Supply And Sanitation Agency NOTES (i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government of Uzbekistan and its agencies ends on 31st December. FY before a calendar year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends, e.g., FY2011 ends on 31st December 2011. (ii) In this report, "$" refers to US dollars. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. iii IEE Study of the Suvli Subproject Contents A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 A.1 Purpose of the Report and Project Background .............................................................. 1 A.2 Extent of the IEE Study .................................................................................................. 2 B. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBPROJECT ......................................................................... 3 B.1 Type and Category of the Project .................................................................................... 3 B.2 Need for the Project......................................................................................................... 4 B.3 Description of Project Facilities ...................................................................................... 5 B.4 Project Rehabilitation Work ............................................................................................ 7 B.5 Proposed Schedule for Implementation .......................................................................... 9 C. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT .................................................................. 10 C.1 Physical Resources ........................................................................................................ 11 C.2 Ecological Resources .................................................................................................... 17 C.3 Economic Development ................................................................................................ 20 C.4 Social and Cultural Resources....................................................................................... 23 D. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................................................................................................ 29 D.1 Potential Environmental Impacts .................................................................................. 29 D 1.1 Issues / Concerns Relative to Siting ............................................................................. 29 D.1.2 Issues, Concerns Relative to Design ............................................................................ 33 D.1.3 Project Alternatives..................................................................................................... 34 D.1.4 Issues / Concerns / Impacts during Construction ........................................................... 34 D.1.5 Issues / Concerns / Impacts during Operation ............................................................... 38 D.2 Mitigation of Environmental Impacts ........................................................................... 39 D.2.1 Mitigation Measures during Designs ............................................................................. 39 D.2.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction ...................................................................... 41 D.2.3 Mitigation Measures during Operation .......................................................................... 47 E. INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ... 49 E.1 Laws and Institutional Roles of GOU ........................................................................... 49 E.2 Responsibilities of Implementing EMP......................................................................... 51 E.3 Reporting Requirements ................................................................................................ 54 E.4 Redress Grievance Mechanism ..................................................................................... 54 E.5 Costs of Environmental Measures ................................................................................. 56 F. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ........................... 56 F.1 Public Consultation ........................................................................................................ 56 iv IEE Study of the Suvli Subproject F.2 Information Disclosure .................................................................................................. 58 G. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................... 58 H. CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................................................. 59 I. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 60 Annex –A: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .............................................. 61 ANNEX – B: PUBLIC CONSULTATION FOR THE SUB-PROJECT ............................ 77 ANNEX- C: PHOTOS OF THE FIELD VISIT ................................................................. 91 ANNEX- D: ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE GRANTED BY PROVINCIAL NATURE PROTECTION COMMITTEE ........................................................................... 93 v IEE Study of the Suvli Subproject A. INTRODUCTION A.1 Purpose of the Report and Project Background 1. This report is the description of the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) study of the proposed Suvli subproject of the Water Resources Management Sector Project (WRMSP) of Uzbekistan funded