Initial Environmental Examination

March 2013

Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Greater Mekong Subregion East-West Economic Corridor Agriculture Infrastructure Sector Project

Prepared by Fraser Thomas Partners Ltd. for the Asian Development Bank.

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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website.

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. ACRONYMS

ADB - Asian Development Bank ASEAN - Association of South East Asian Nations DAFO - district agriculture and forestry office DCO - district coordination office DOI - department of irrigation EA - executing agency EDL - Electricity du Lao EMP - environmental management plan EIA - environmental impact assessment FGD - focus group discussion FHH - female headed household FWUGs - farmer water user groups GMS-EWEC-AIP - Greater Mekong Sub-region East West Economic Corridor Agricultural Infrastructure Project IA - implementing agency IEE - initial environmental examination IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development GoL - Government of Lao IMF - irrigation management fund IMT - irrigation management and transfer JICA - Japanese International Cooperation Agency KN - kip – Lao currency LMC - left main canal MoNRE - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment NGO - non-government organisation NPMO - national project management office NT2 - Nam Theun 2 (Dam) NTFPs - non-timber forest products O&M - operations and maintenance PAFO - provincial department of agriculture and forestry PPMO - provincial national project management office PPTA - project preparation and technical assistance RC - reinforced concrete SEDP - Socio-economic Development Plan 201-2015 WUG - water user group

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION ...... 1 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBPROJECT ...... 1 A. Subproject Scope ...... 1 B. Present Condition and Characteristics of the Scheme ...... 1 C. Improvements...... 3 III. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ...... 6 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ...... 8 A. Physical Resources ...... 8 1. Location and Topography ...... 8 2. Geology and Soils ...... 8 3. Climate ...... 8 4. Water Resources ...... 9 B. Ecological Resources ...... 10 C. Items of Historical and Archaeological Significance ...... 10 D. Human and Economic Development ...... 10 1. Local Economy ...... 10 2. Land Use ...... 10 3. Quality of Life ...... 10 4. Unexploded Ordinance...... 11 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ...... 12 A. Method of Assessment ...... 12 B. Environmental Impacts Related to Location ...... 12 C. Environmental Impacts Related to Construction ...... 12 D. Environmental Impacts Related to Operation ...... 13 E. Global, Transboundary and Cumulative Impacts ...... 15 VI. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ...... 16 VII. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION ...... 17 VIII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ...... 18 IX. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ...... 21 A. Responsibilities for Environmental Management ...... 21 B. Approach to Environmental Monitoring ...... 25 X. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ...... 28

SCHEDULE OF TABLES

Table 1: Pump station details ...... 2 Table 2: Current estimated canal flow capacity ...... 3 Table 3: Project Main Steps of Grievance Mechanisms ...... 19

SCHEDULE OF FIGURES

Figure 2: Agricultural Access Layout of the Vapy Neua Scheme, showing tracks to be upgraded (in blue) ...... 5 Figure 3: Saravane mean monthly precipitation data 2004 ...... 9 I. INTRODUCTION

1. The Greater Mekong Sub-region East West Economic Corridor Agricultural Infrastructure Project (GMS-EWEC-AIP) will comprise improvements to productive rural infrastructure (PRI) and provide technical and advisory support to beneficiary communities in formation and strengthening of water user groups, technical support and capacity building for extension services and support in post harvest handling, product storage and marketing. It will provide project management support and capacity building for provincial and district level offices which will take a lead role in project implementation, in accordance with the Government’s decentralization policy of 2000. It is a sector project, and specific subprojects for the improvement of productive rural infrastructure in the two project provinces will be prepared and implemented.

2. This document provides an initial environmental examination of the Vapy Neua productive rural infrastructure subproject, a subproject under the GMS-EWEC-AIP involving irrigation scheme rehabilitation and agricultural access road improvement that has been selected as one of three representative subprojects under the project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA) for the PEP. Full subproject preparation, including feasibility study and safeguards assessment and planning, is included to demonstrate subproject preparation requirements. The IEE is prepared according to the ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement of June 2009 and the EIA decree of April 2010.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBPROJECT

A. Subproject Scope 3. The Vapy Neua irrigation scheme is located in Vapy District and was constructed in 1997/98 through a joint initiative between the Department of Irrigation (DOA), and the Water Users Group (WUG). Like a considerable number of irrigation developments in Saravane Province the Scheme is a pumped scheme served by a station operating from a moored pontoon located on the Xe Done river, The total irrigable area (command area) is in the order of 220 ha and dry season irrigated rice is grown on 77 ha1. Improvements are to enable dry season cropping in the remaining 157ha and to include an extension of 50 ha. The improved scheme is to have a command are of 270ha, yielding both a wet and a dry season crop.

4. The Scheme water source is the Xe Done River which is a perennial river with regular fluctuations in water level throughout the year. The water source is undoubtedly assured and the potential demand has been estimated at 10 million cubic metres per annum. At some juncture the river basin management plan for the river demanded by the IWRM principles, and currently being developed by the DOWR. River level data to hand shows a fluctuation of only 0.3 m over the annual cycle.

B. Present Condition and Characteristics of the Scheme 5. The Scheme has deteriorated and suffers from poor Operation and Maintenance (O&M). Some of the secondary assets have virtually been abandoned and few operable structures exist on the main canal. No structures were installed by the farmers when they constructed the secondary network and what control exists is through temporary earth and brush wood checks. Rehabilitation of the Scheme has been planned on the basis of a command area of 220 ha plus a northern extension of approximately another 50 ha.

1 PAFO, Saravane, Irrigation Department Irrigation Scheme Data Base, 2012

1

6. The Scheme is laid out in a ‘herringbone’ formation with a central main canal running along the spine serving a series of secondary canals. Water is delivered via a conventional electrically powered pumping plant using a pair of centrifugal pumps mounted on a floating pontoon, a technique commonly used. The overall Scheme is shown in Figure 1. Water is pumped into a stilling basin from where it discharges by gravity into the lined main canal. Flow is then distributed by gravity through a set of secondary canals to discrete field blocks.

Figure 1: Scheme layout

7. The Scheme is served by a pump station operating from a moored pontoon located on the Xe Done river which delivers water through twin 250 mm diameter welded steel rising mains. Pumping is via centrifugal units driven by electric motors powered off the national grid. Scheme pump station details are set down in Table 1.

Table 1: Pump station details Description Detail Pump (No) 2 Capacity (l/sec per pump) 270 Motor (No) 2 Motor (Kw per motor) 75 Theoretical pump head (m) 15-20 Actual measured pump head (m)2 14

8. Condition surveys undertaken by the PPTA team confirmed that the overall condition of the E&M equipment is clearly deficient. It was not been possible to start the pumps and carry out any testing during the visits.

9. The Scheme’s current command area (220 ha) is unlikely to have been fully irrigated. The lined sections are narrow trapezoidal sections and the unlined sections were previously wider

2 Measured during the field asset condition surveys

2 trapezoidal sections. Almost all of the unlined canals have lost their shape with eroded side slopes, and heavily silted-up inverts. The lined main canal has seen little use and there is an apparent defect, in that there is a step of around 1m at the start of the scheme. This compromises the operation of the scheme with insufficient remaining head to delivery water to the tail of the scheme. The rehabilitated design will make use of the available head and grade to service the extreme areas of the scheme

10. The estimated total length of main, secondary and tertiary canals is 1,036 m, 1,930 m, and 370 m respectively, some canals are in cut and others are in fill. In general, the former applies to the main canals and the latter to the secondary and some tertiary canals. Flows in the canals are unregulated and the Scheme is free running apart from at some secondary canals where temporary measures are used to route flows into specific farm units. As a consequence scheme efficiency is low and therefore would incur a higher pumping cost per ha than necessary. As expected the canal dimensions vary widely and using typical dimensions and assuming a canal slope of 1:500, and an appropriate water depth, indicative discharges for each are given in Table 2.

Table 2: Current estimated canal flow capacity Canal Breadth Invert width Depth (m) Water depth Flow (m) (m) (m)+ (cumec)* Main lined 2.4 1.2 0.7 0.5 1.20 Main unlined 2.6 1.4 0.5 0.5 0.85 Secondary lined 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.20 Secondary 1.6 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.29 unlined Tertiary 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.07 *Theoretical maximum and + assumed

11. Where existing, on-farm canals are open channels served by off takes from the secondary canals. Off takes usually simply discharge water into a bunded farm plot through an RC pipe which controls inflow with a plug of earth in a plastic bag. The pipes vary in size (200 mm to 400 mm typically) and are moved around and set in the canal embankment as and when farmers need water. Some old diversion structures and off takes still exist but few are gated or in an acceptable state of repair. There is evidence that regulating gates had been installed on some structures but these are no longer in place. No functional drainage network remains and water is simply routed through and around the farm blocks via the natural drainage system. There is a natural collector which takes flows from one of the main canals under Road 9 and this serves as the scheme drain. The drain is about 1,990 m long and is likely to have to be relocated as part of the improvement works.

C. Improvements 12. Scheme rehabilitation will follow the original irrigation canal layout constructed by the PAFO (main) and farmers (secondary and tertiary canals). The rehabilitation plan is aimed at improving the whole of the existing irrigation and drainage network (220 ha) and extending the network northwards with an extension of the main canal bringing an additional area (50 ha) into production. The improvements include the construction of a new permanent pump station, the construction of a new lined canal, and the cleaning and desilting of all the secondary canals and drainage collectors. Existing structures will be repaired and where this is not possible, or they need relocating, new ones will be built.

3 13. The pump station will be rehabilitated, and located at a mid point on the river bank, well above flood levels. The number, type and capacities of new pumps is yet to be determined. The pump sets will be driven by electric motors powered via the national grid.

14. Canal rehabilitation will comprise 736m of lined main canal, 400m of unlined main canal, 484m of lined secondary canal, 2,446m of unlined secondary canal and some minor rehabilitation of tertiary canals (370m). Lining will be in RC. The main canals will have 150 mm thick) wide paved invert levels at 500 m intervals to preserve and assist future O&M desilting operations. Reinforced concrete marker posts will be installed along the top of the embankment (out of the way of transport vehicles) next to the paved inverts to enable the sections to be located.

15. Existing structures will be repaired and new structures constructed with reinforced and mass concrete. The maximum use possible will be made of existing structures but it is expected that most are beyond repair and/or are located in the wrong places. Steel gates will be installed on off takes and canal regulators to enable water to be managed effectively. In addition, measuring weirs will be introduced at key locations to enable the WUG to apportion flows, quantify losses, and monitor usage.

16. Broad-crested weirs will be included to enable flow measurement at critical locations, such on the main canal. The adopted design would typically have a sloping face of 1:3 upstream and 1:6 downstream.

17. Rehabilitation of the 3,550m of drains will take place, comprising resectioning of the main collectors and possible extending them further down the flood plane to improve overall scheme drainage.

18. Essential river protection improvements will be carried out around the pump station, consisting of RC revetments (concrete open block work panels) combined with the use of bioengineering measures to protect the stations from debris and prevent scour.

19. The agricultural access road upgrading will consist of construction of a narrow, but adequate width concrete pavement and improved drainage over 4.8km of existing track. No realignment will take place and widening will be minimal, maintaining a 2.5m carriageway width but extending to a 4.5m to accommodate shoulders where this can be done without land acquisition. Road lengths to be improved are shown in blue in Figure 2 below. Scheme rehabilitation and farm access road improvements will be based on designs and documentation prepared by the implementation consultants and construction carried out by a contractor, appointed by public tender in accordance with ADB procurement rules. Supervision of construction should be carried out by the design consultants. The base cost of the works has been estimated at $US 890,316. Detailed design, procurement and construction supervision and physical and financial contingencies incorporated into the COSTAB assessment of the investment are also additional to these base construction costs. Capacity building and training of the WUG and the PAFO, PPMO and DAFO, DCO staff, are also additional and will form part of the capacity building and training provisions of the GMS-EWEC-AIP investment project.

4 Figure 2: Agricultural Access Layout of the Vapy Neua Scheme, showing tracks to be upgraded (in blue)

5 III. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

20. Government policy on environmental protection is expressed in the seventh National Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP), for the period 2011 – 20153. One of the main goals of the SEDP is to ensure sustainability of development by emphasising economic development with, cultural and social progress, preserving natural resources and protecting the environment.

21. The formation of the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MoNRE) in June 2011 out of the Water Resources and Environment Administration (WREA), the National Land Management Authority, the Geology Department and some divisions of the Department of Forestry was a move to strengthen environmental protection and management within government. Specific policy for environmental management of investment projects is stated in the objectives for the Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment, April 2010 which states that all investment projects that may create adverse environmental and social impacts, are to be designed with the correct and appropriate environmental and social impact prevention and mitigation measures or environmental management and monitoring plans (EMMP) and social management and monitoring plans (SMMP) (Article 1).

22. The law governing the protection of the environment, including the assessment and management of projects, is the Environmental Protection Law (EPL), 1999 which is further elaborated on by the Decree on the Implementation of the EPL, of 2002. Responsibilities and procedures for Environmental Assessment, together with requirements for environmental monitoring of projects, have been revised and are set out in a new Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA decree), dated April 2010.

23. The decree sets out the principal institutional arrangements, assigning primary responsibility for undertaking environmental assessment of projects to the project developer, which may be an individual or private sector entity as well as a Government Department. In the case of development projects, the relevant line Ministry is responsible to review and assess draft environmental assessments and issue its own approval before submission to MoNRE and local administrations, as appropriate. The MoNRE is responsible for review and approval of environmental assessment reports, co-ordination of monitoring and evaluation, and issuance of compliance certificates, acting through the head office in Vientiane or through its provincial departments. Public participation and discussion with local administrations is required throughout the environmental assessment process.

24. Investment projects are categorized according to a schedule to the EIA decree into category 1 – small scale, requiring an initial environmental examination (IEE) or category 2-large scale, requiring an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Where a project is of a type that is not listed, an investment application is submitted to MoNRE for screening. For irrigation projects, those with a command area of between 100 and 2000 ha are in category 1, and those with a command area greater than 2,000 ha are in category 2. (The corresponding category in the ADB’s classification system is B, which, similarly, requires an Initial Environment Examination (IEE).

25. Lao PDR is signatory to the following international environmental agreements: • ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources • Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

3 GoL. Working Document for 2010 Round Table Meeting, Vientiane, Oct 2010.

6 • Agreement on the Cooperation for Sustainable Development of Mekong River Basin • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification • United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change • Convention on Biological Diversity • Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer • Vienna Convention for the protection of the Protocol of the Ozone Layer • Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer • Millennium Declaration • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants • Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention)

26. The decree sets out in detail procedures, rights and responsibilities for the preparation and approval of IEEs and the preparation, approval, implementation and verification of environmental management and monitoring plans (EMMPs).

7 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

A. Physical Resources 1. Location and Topography 27. The command area at Ban Vapy Neua lies on the northern side of a large bend in the Xe Done River, the major river in Saravane Province. The area is generally flat along the broader river margins where the irrigation scheme is located and rises to higher ground to the north. The elevation at Ban Vapy Neua is around 130 masl.

2. Geology and Soils 28. As is common to the lowland areas adjoining the Mekong River in Southern Laos, underlying rock is mostly recently deposited mudstone, underlain by older sandstone bedrock.

29. Soils on the command area are mostly derived from alluvial deposits and are classified as alisols, which are strongly acidic, have good water holding capacity and have high activity clays in the subsoil and generally lack nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), as well as phosphorus (P) to a lesser degree. They are suitable to shallow rooting crops such as rice, and intensive irrigated and rain fed agriculture. Yields can be significantly improved through the application of mineral fertilizer.

3. Climate 30. Lao PDR has a tropical monsoon climate which features a season (November to February) and a wet season (May to October). The dry season is generally cooler, though temperatures rise significantly in March and April prior to the onset of the rains.

31. The average annual precipitation in Saravane is around 1,800 mm, although this is highly variable from year to year. The peak period of rain occurs between May to September. However the dry season is particularly pronounced, with rainfall in December and January almost insignificant, while evaporation rates are at their highest. The monthly distribution is illustrated in Figure 3 below, while rainfall minima and maxima within Saravane province and evaporation rates for neighbouring Savannakhet province are shown in Table 3.

8 Figure 3: Saravane mean monthly precipitation data 2004

Regional mean monthly precipitation data in 2004 (data from department of meteorology and Hydrology,2004)

450.0

418.4 400.0

350.0 348.0

300.0 282.6 256.1 250.0 233.8

200.0 Hydrology

150.0

117.7 100.0

50.0 34.6 34.6 24.1 22.5 7.3 0.0 0.3 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Set Oct Nov Dec Monthly

Table 3: Meteorological data supplied by the Department of Hydrology (Rainfall) and World Meteorology Organisation Station No 48947(Evaporation) Description Period Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Laos PDR Evaporation 122 130 149 132 80 74 61 70 92 122 125 117 1,274 (mm) Vapy district average (sample 2000 to 2011) Rainfall (mm) 0.2 4 14 63 184 220 398 466 343 189 8 0.5 1,890 Khongsedone district average (sample 2000 to 2011) Rainfall (mm) 0.5 18 39 94 263 256 364 400 334 107 15 4 1,895

32. Temperature averages 27oC over the year, with lowest temperatures of around 16 oC occurring in December and January and February, and reaching 35oC in April. Monthly maximum temperatures are above 30 oC for most of the year.

4. Water Resources 33. The Xe Done River is a tributary of the Mekong, which originates in Cambodia. It has a catchment of 5,760 sq km and a mean annual flow of 175 cumecs4. Several gauging stations are installed on the river, the one nearest to the scheme at Khongsedone. Data from the station provided The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology within the PAFO in Saravane relating to the period 2000 to 2011 show a mean average water level of around 1.4m, varying only between 1.3m and 1.6m and showing little fluctuation over the year.

4 Mekong River Commission, HYMOS database, quoted in 2007 MRC Flood Report

9 B. Ecological Resources 34. Three National Biodiversity Conservation Areas, being part of 21 different areas covering in total around 3 million ha in Lao PDR, are located within close proximity to the subproject area. These NBCAs were established in 1993 in order to promote biodiversity conservation and ensure the sustainability of natural scenery, ecotourism, education, and scientific research sites.

35. The Dong Hua Sao NBCA, comprising some 110,000 ha, lies at the headwaters of the Xe Done River some 90 km upstream from the subproject area. The Phu Xiang Thong NBCA, comprising some 100,000 ha of semi-dry evergreen forest and extensive areas of bamboo lies, 15 km to the west of Ban Vapy Neua between Road 13 and the Mekong River. It is thought that Asiatic black bear, banteng, clouded leopard, Douc langur, elephant, gibbon, guar, Siamese crocodile and tiger and inhabit this area.

36. The Xe Buan NBCA (126,000 ha) lies some 12 km to the north of the Xe Done River and straddles the border of Savannakhet and Saravane Provinces.

37. An extensive area of highly modified secondary forest lies to the east and south of the Xe Done River at Ban Vapy Neua.

C. Items of Historical and Archaeological Significance 38. There are no known items of historical or archaeological significance, as confirmed in community consultations.

D. Human and Economic Development 1. Local Economy 39. A socio-economic survey undertaken during the PPTA found that villagers’ incomes are based on rice plantation or lowland farming, animal raising, fishery, and cash crop cultivation (corn, cassava, and vegetables such as chillies eggplants and cucumbers). Villagers stand to benefit significantly from the irrigation and market access improvements. Rice accounted for over the majority of household incomes in 2009 and 2010 but this dropped dramatically in 2011 due to severe flooding that occurred that year, illustrating the risks associated with rice based livelihoods. The second largest source of income is employment in industry. Around 10% of households live below the poverty line.

2. Land Use 40. The land use in the subproject area is predominantly irrigated and rain fed rice though other cash crops are also grown. Much of the surrounding area immediately outside the stream is not under regular cultivation, while the land to the south of the river is generally wooded.

3. Quality of Life 41. Communities in the subproject area are generally poor, and have a relatively limited economic base from which to develop, dominated by growing and distributing rice. Sales are made at the farm gate and at the time of the survey, prices being paid for rice were considered adequate. School enrolment is around 73%. Literacy is 68% and shows a strong disparity between men. Very few families are landless and the average farm size is more than 1ha. Around 22% of the households live below the poverty line. Improved roads and increased foreign direct investment in commercial activities around the province as well as Saravan town may herald improved economic prospects, though the ability of the communities to benefit from

10 these is limited by agricultural road access and the ability to improve agriculture based incomes through increased production, greater diversity, improved quality and improved understanding of and information about market conditions.

4. Unexploded Ordinance. 42. Data on bombs dropped by US forces between 1965 and 1973 is available from the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action and has been reviewed. Records on any ordinance arising from ground fighting or from bombings by Southern Vietnamese, Lao or Thai air forces, are not available. These records do not show the locations of cluster bomb munitions.

43. While Saravane was intensively bombed, especially to the east of the province, maps showing records of US forces bomb drops focussed on largely forested land to the south of the Xe Done river and not in the lowland agricultural area where the subproject is situated.

11 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

A. Method of Assessment 44. Potential impacts have been assessed by means of site visits, discussions with local authorities and beneficiaries and the use of secondary sources of information. This section summarises the potential environmental impacts and required mitigation, which is incorporated into the Environmental Management Plan prepared for this subproject.

B. Environmental Impacts Related to Location 45. Construction of agricultural access roads and irrigation canals will result in the removal of topsoil and other material containing vegetative matter that is not suitable for re-use on the road but can be utilised locally for house construction and other common community uses within or near the village. Villagers confirm there is a substantial demand for this material.

C. Environmental Impacts Related to Construction 46. Environmental impacts related to construction will be temporary, and can in most cases be mitigated before and during the construction period. Mitigation measures are listed in the EMP which is to be included in the bidding documents for contractors, so that the cost of compliance with the mitigation can be included in the bid price.

47. Excavation work associated with farm access road upgrading, the preparation of canals for the installation of lining and borrows areas will result in the movement and deposition of silt away from the source, except when works are carried out during dry conditions. However if the works are well supervised and timing of works is controlled, quantities will be small, and will either be carried away by the irrigation water when the scheme is completed, or will settle on roads, paths and fields where it will not cause a problem. The use of silt fences may be required at spoil disposal and borrow sites if there is a risk of moderate erosion as a result of surface water flows. Each borrow or disposal site must be addressed individually to determine whether silt fences or other mitigation works are required. Silt fences will generally not be necessary for canal lining operations but careful placement of excavated material will be essential in order to reduce the likelihood of sediment movement into adjoining agricultural land.

48. Mitigation of any risks of sediment runoff will be achieved by (i) the Contractor site supervisor being on site for all excavation work, (ii) confining excavation operations to the dry season (iii) use of silt traps where warranted, according to instructions from the construction supervisors and supervising agency and (iv) disposal of spoil from excavation works at sites approved by the construction supervising agency. Surplus spoil should be used as fill, for example backfilling of culvert walls, wherever possible.

49. Construction operations may involve the temporary closure of the irrigation systems. This may have significant impact on the crop and livestock production and on local livelihoods so it is critical that user communities be involved in scheme planning and construction. Ensuring that local farmers are aware of the construction schedule will further mitigate the effects of temporary closure. In some situations this can be mitigated by the use of temporary diversions, either in channels or by the use of flexible pipes and pumps where necessary. However it is unlikely to be feasible to maintain full irrigation flows while the works are taking place.

50. Excavation works will result in localised concentrations of airborne particulate matter, which may pose a significant dust nuisance where it occurs in proximity to villages or dwellings.

12 Where excavation operations carried out during dry and windy conditions are within 50m of an occupied dwelling, excavated sites should be sprayed with water to control dust release. The operation of plant is not expected to cause a significant increase in air pollution, as most construction tasks are likely to involve hand labour. Only light plant such as cement mixers and water pumps are likely to be used.

51. Similarly, as most construction will involve hand labour or small plant, noise nuisance is not expected to be significant.

52. Temporary use of land, will receive compensation in the form of rents payable during scheme construction period and land will be re-instated in accordance with the Resettlement Framework.

53. While the Contractor will be encouraged to engage local people for the works, some skilled workers and possibly supplementary labour will need to be brought to the site from elsewhere in Lao PDR. These workers are likely to be accommodated in buildings rented by the Contractor, though temporary accommodation may also be built. Interactions with local residents can potentially lead to the spread of communicable diseases, or incidences of disharmony, and temporary toilet facilities can release raw sewage. These potential effects can be avoided or mitigated by (i) consultation with local people on acceptable areas for the siting of facilities, (ii) installation of suitable toilets such as pit latrines and grey water drainage facilities such as soakage pits (iii) arrangements for collection of solid waste, (iv) briefing of workers and awareness raising of the local population on dangers of communicable diseases and (v) assignment of responsibility for worker and local peoples’ welfare to a senior member of the Contractor’s staff. The Contractor will have an appropriate Camp Management Plan to address these and other public health issues.

54. Some construction activities, including excavations and use of plant and the use and handling of fuels or other hazardous materials, will pose a small safety risk to workers and to local people. These will be mitigated by the allocation of responsibility for site safety to the Contractor’s site supervisory staff who will ensure that all reasonable safety measures, such as use of safety clothing and equipment and placing of hazard warnings are taken. The Contractor will have an appropriate Health and Safety Plan to address these issues.

55. Hydrocarbons and other hazardous materials may also cause soil contamination or pollution of waterways. These risks can be mitigated by having a clearly defined storage site at least 20m from any watercourse that is surrounded by a compacted earth bund of a suitable size such that it is able to contain the total volume of fluids stored within. The use of commercial fuel providers operating in the area is another option for the management and storage of these materials on the construction site. All waste hydrocarbons, including fuel and oil filters, will be deposited in sealed containers and removed from the site for recycling or safe disposal as appropriate. The Contractor will have an appropriate Hydrocarbon and Hazardous Materials Plan in place.

D. Environmental Impacts Related to Operation 56. Agriculture practised by beneficiary farmers will intensify in areas beyond the current effective command area. This will bring significant long term benefit to users. Users who are not currently using water pumps to obtain irrigation water will begin to practice irrigated agriculture, or to resume irrigated agriculture if they were in areas where irrigation water was formerly available. The potential for increased use of pesticides has been addressed by extension

13 activity in the area, supported by the Sustainable Natural Resources and Productivity Enhancement Project (SNRMPEP). This has included the introduction of the use of organic pest repellents prepared from locally available plant sources, encouragement of traditional methods such as use of moist pits to trap snails, and appropriate use of chemicals when necessary. Advice to farmers, including emphatic discouragement of the use of persistent pesticides should continue through PAFO and DAFO.

57. The expansion of the command area will increase the irrigated area of paddy fields that are seasonally inhabited by fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic insects. The project will improve the seasonal aquatic ecosystem in the agricultural land and have only minor impact on the river at the pumped intake location.

58. While the intensification of agriculture often leads to greater use of inorganic fertilisers, extension activity in the area, supported by the Sustainable Natural Resources and Productivity Enhancement Project, has raised awareness of risks of excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and provided training on appropraite application rates. Risks associated with the use of inorganic fertilisers such as raising the nutrient status of the water released at the outflow of the system, increasing the chemical oxygen demand of the water, are therefore not considered significant.

59. The incidence of waterborne diseases in local communities is significant. Irrigation water is used as a supplementary source for domestic purposes, and this practice will increase after construction when the more water may be flowing through the system. Risks will come both from waterborne pathogens, and from any increase in ponding that may result from wastages, as ponds provide a habitat for insect vectors of disease. These risks can be mitigated by (i) promoting improved operation and maintenance of the schemes as part of the training and support provided to water user groups so that canal blockages or failures of the canal walls that can result in ponding of water are rapidly repaired, and (ii) raising awareness, during training and support to water user groups, on the hazards posed by poor sanitation, water logging and use of untreated irrigation water for drinking.

60. The scheme provides supplementary irrigation during the wet season, but almost all crop water requirements during the dry season. Excessive extraction of water during the dry season prevents sufficient downstream flows to maintain aquatic and riparian ecosystems. A guideline of 0.1 m3/sec/100 sq km of catchment area for maintenance the aquatic and riparian ecosystems, recommended in a previous ADB study5 is used to estimate the minimum riparian flow. Data provided by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology at the PAFO in Savannakhet gives average river height and dry season level, which shows very little variation between average and dry season flow. Using these values an assumed river cross section and values for roughness coefficients, a dry season flow in the order of 140 to 150 m3/sec is estimated. Based on the guideline requirement of 0.1 m3/sec/100 sq km of catchment area, a minimum flow of 5.7 m3/sec is needed. From the engineering feasibility study report, a peak demand of 1.5 m3/sec is estimated. The remaining flow is therefore well in excess of the minimum flow required for maintaining aquatic and riparian ecosystems.

61. Competition with other water uses, population growth and increasing incomes will place increasing demands for domestic water supply, as well as for irrigation. At present, the water for

5 ADB (2009): TA 6456-REG: Preparing the Greater Mekong Sub region Flood and Drought Risk Management and Mitigation Project.

14 domestic use is obtained from a variety of sources including open wells and from streams. Water from the irrigation canals is used for washing and in some cases, drinking and cooking.

62. Also with increasing population and use of irrigated agriculture, the demand for irrigation water will grow and potentially lead to conflict among users. This can be substantially reduced by collaborative action among users to optimize the use of irrigation water and to ensure that allocations to all users, including those situated at the periphery of the network, are fair.

63. In common with all irrigation schemes, an increase in soil salinity may occur as a result of the accumulation of salts that are dissolved in the irrigation water, and upward transport of salt deposits in lower soil horizons in the case of over-irrigation. These risks are low for the scheme, as any salt not taken up by growing plants will be subject to natural flushing by rainwater in the wet season. Over-irrigation is prevented both by the relative shortage of irrigation water towards the edges of the command area, and by water regulation for areas closer to the primary canal. While salt build-up may occur in these areas, risks of widespread soil salinity over irrigated fields are low.

64. Risks of increasing erosion and scour are minimal. Land either side of the canal alignment is gently sloping and not readily prone to erosion. There may be some risk to water flows by the deposition of material excavated for house building or other construction purposes, or from dumping of solid waste into the system. The road alignment follows flat terrain. Some minor erosion may occur on embankments, which is mitigated by inclusion of planting as a bioengineering measure, in the road improvement design.

E. Global, Transboundary and Cumulative Impacts 65. The controlled use of irrigation water and the use of potentially harmful chemicals in pest control are, to some extent, transboundary issues. Risks of the use of harmful substances or excessive use of less harmful substances in irrigated agriculture are heightened by ready availability from neighbouring countries. These risks can be reduced by improved information collection on agrichemicals available on the local market, and dissemination on their proper use.

66. Irrigation schemes always cause some reduction in downstream water flows as a result of water being pumped out of the river. For a small scheme such as this one at Vapy Neua scheme, the transboundary impact is minimal but any successful promotion of efficient use of irrigation water will both minimize wastage in the scheme itself and also provide a source of knowledge for adoption by practitioners of irrigated agriculture in the neighbouring area.

67. Similarly, any improvements in managing irrigation systems, use of agrichemicals and in group capacities for co-operative action will have a potentially cumulative impact in the area, by contributing to a build-up of knowledge and skills among communities who interact with neighbouring communities.

15 VI. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

68. The Vapy Neua scheme is one of a number of candidate subprojects selected for the GMS-EWEC-AIP. Alternative subprojects that meet the agreed selection criteria are mainly irrigation schemes with agricultural access road improvement. Other rural infrastructure improvement subprojects could comprise any of a combination of irrigation, agricultural access road and rural market improvement.. The Vapy Neua irrigation scheme and farm road improvements has been identified by the Saravane PAFO and selected through a screening process that included sited visits and consultations with principal stakeholders to other candidate subproject sites.

69. The existing irrigation system, including pumping equipment, control structures, main canals and secondary and tertiary canal network is existing but requires rehabilitation to improve efficiency and overcome difficulties with distribution of water due to seepage losses and failed control structures. The Xe Done river is the only viable water source for the scheme. While groundwater is used in some towns in western Saravane province, for water supplies, it is generally unreliable in the dry season and there are no indications from geological information that any substantial groundwater reserves exist in the area. The proposed scheme makes use of existing infrastructure, is relatively simple to construct and inexpensive to operate.

70. The “no project” alternative would, in this case, simply mean the substitution of the Vapy Neua irrigation scheme and access road with an alternative subproject, likely to be based on a different irrigation scheme within Savannakhet or Saravane provinces.

16 VII. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION

A. Consultations and information disclosure during subproject design 71. Consultations were conducted during visits Vapy and nearby Khonexai on 3 November 2012 which included a focus group discussion during which the subproject was disclosed to community representatives and environmental and other issues discussed.

72. Farmers have been receiving some technical assistance from the DAFO in the use of improved rice varieties, around 50% of farmers participate. The rice crop is very vulnerable to flooding. The operation and maintenance is managed by the WUG, and while the WUG is able to collect around 80% of charges, there is no reliable system of reporting, and management of maintenance is only partially effective.

73. Outbreaks of sting bugs (Leptocorisa oratorius) are a constant problem. A product from Thailand is used, with mixed success, there are no clear instructions for its use. Recently, an alternative method using tobacco and leaves from custard apple trees has been promoted but has proven ineffective in killing the insects.

74. Some villagers expressed concern about the quality of construction work, as the quality of the existing scheme is obviously inadequate. Villagers suggest that they should be involved in construction supervision, and two qualified engineers live in the village. Assistance with scheme operation and correct use of pesticides and fertilizer was called for.

B. Further Information Disclosure 75. This draft IEE will be presented to commune officials and the public, to district administrations and to the PAFO and provincial MoNRE in Saravane. Copies will be left for review for a period of 30 days.

76. During construction and operation, communities in and around the subproject area will kept informed of construction activities that are likely to cause noise and dust nuisance, or disruption to irrigation flows or roads and pathways.

17 VIII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM

77. The Grievance Redress Mechanism has been developed to provide a redress mechanism for grievances that may arise over effects on private property and the environment. Persons affected by the project activities, or concerned about environmental impacts are entitled to lodge complaints regarding any aspect of it.

78. The objective of the grievance redress mechanism is to resolve complaints as quickly as possible and at the local level through a process of conciliation; and, if that is not possible, to provide clear and transparent procedures for appeal.

79. A well-defined grievance redress and resolution mechanism will be established to resolve grievances and complaints in a timely and satisfactory manner. All affected persons will be made fully aware of their rights, and the detailed grievance redress procedures will be publicized through an effective public information campaign.

80. The grievance redress process includes five steps. Complaints will ideally pass through 4 stages before they could be elevated to a court of law as a last resort. However, complainants are entitled to lodge complaints regarding any aspect of the preparation and implementation of the resettlement plan or of other project activities without prejudice to their right to file complaints with the court of law at any point in the process.

81. It is recognized that, in many cases, complainants do not have the writing skills or being able to express their grievances verbally, however, complainants are encouraged to seek assistance from the independent monitor, the nominated local NGOs or other family members, village heads or community chiefs to have their grievances recorded in writing and to have access to the project documentation, to ensure that where disputes do occur all the details have been recorded accurately enabling all parties to be treated fairly.

82. The PMO/PPO will shoulder all administrative costs incurred in the resolution of grievances and complaints within the project-level grievance redress mechanism. If the complainant seeks grievance redress through country-level judicial and administrative mechanisms, the requirements and procedures applicable to the relevant jurisdiction shall apply.

83. All complaints and resolutions will be properly documented by the concerned resettlement committee and be available for the public and review for monitoring purposes.

84. Safeguard monitoring reports will include the following aspects pertaining to progress on grievances: (a) number of cases registered with the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC), level of jurisdiction (first, second, and third tiers), number of hearings held, decisions made, and the status of pending cases; and (b) lists of cases in process and already decided upon may be prepared with details such as name, ID with unique serial number, date of notice, date of application, date of hearing, decisions, remarks, actions taken to resolve issues, and status of grievance (i.e. open ,closed, pending).

85. ADB’s Accountability Mechanism will also be explained to people from households that will be affected by the project.

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Table 3: Project Main Steps of Grievance Mechanisms Steps, Actions and Levels of Intervention Time ▼ V I L L A G E 1.1 Complainant explains problem/issue verbally. 1.2 In communities existing village mediation committees (VMCs) would be the first contact for affected persons (APs), or complainants on environmental matters, to address their concerns. 1.3 VMC would be responsible for land acquisition and compensation (LAC) issues or the village 5 1 would establish a sub-project related village LAC committee. days 1.4 The committee aims at clarifications and solution within its village and with the complainant. 1.5 This mediation aims at a sub-project internal immediate solution. If the complaint cannot be solved at this stage, the next step is to apply. ▼ S U B – P R O J E C T If not solved before: 2.1 Complainant presents complaint/s or grievance/s verbally or in writing. 2.2 A sub-project grievance committee (SPGC) would be the second contact for Further complainants to address their concerns. 2 10 2.3 Registration of the complaint by SPGC. days 2.4 In collaboration with VMC and complainant this SPGC would elaborate on the complaint. 2.5 This mediation aims at a sub-project internal amicable solution. If the complaint cannot be solved at this stage, the next step is to apply. ▼ D I S T R I C T If not solved before: 3.1 APs would address their complaints to the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC). Further 3.2 Involvement of authorities and departments 3 10 3.3 Collaboration with complainants, SPGC and village committee. days 3.4 This mediation aims at a mutual arrangement to solve the complaint. If the complaint cannot be solved at this stage, the next step is to apply. ▼ P R O V I N C E If not solved before: 4.1 Complainants with or without support from CSO/NGO, but with assistance from the sub-project would address their complaints to the provincial departments and possibly governor’s office. Further 4.2 Shall involve GRC. 4 10 4.3 Can involve independent, external advice on the issues of the complaint. days 4.4 At this level, a formal agreement would be the objective to agree upon. 4.5 Before applying step 5, provincial and district staff should make final efforts to find an agreement with the AP. If the complaint cannot be solved at this stage, the next step is to apply. ▼ C O U N T R Y If not solved before: Open, 5.1 Final step to solve land acquisition, boundary and/or compensation issue. but 5.2 Court will take note and register the case. 5 further 5.3 Court to provide final juristic decision. 20 5.4 In case of required actions the complainant and/or sub-project proponent days have to follow.

Notes N-1: Concerning step 1 the village should decide about its internal approach and time required N-2: The shown approach is in line with the Technical Guidelines on Compensation and Resettlement of Affected People by Development Project, March 2010.

19 Steps, Actions and Levels of Intervention Time N-3: The shown days per step should be understood as a maximum duration. N-4: The grievance procedures are also applied for environment related complaints.

20 IX. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

A. Responsibilities for Environmental Management 86. Table 4 describes the mitigation measures required for design, construction and operation of the scheme, as well as the cost and responsibility allocation arrangements. Overall responsibility for implementing the Environmental Management Plan rests with PAFO, which during design and construction will be supported by the provincial project management office (PPMO) in Saravane province, and during operation will involve co-operation with the DAFO of Vapy District and through DAFO the scheme users. Responsibility for incorporating mitigation into scheme design rests with PAFO, supported by the project implementation consultants who will have appropriate specialists based at the national project management office (NPMO) in Vientiane.

87. Responsibility for carrying out environmental mitigation of construction impacts again rests with the PAFO, as the agency responsible for construction supervision. However, the EMP should form part of the works contract documentation so that the contractor in each case incorporates the cost of mitigation into the bid price, including provision of staff and equipment n necessary to carry out all mitigation tasks in full. These plans must be approved and adhered to throughout construction and will be monitored with the assistance of the staff of the District Coordination Office (DCO) established within the Vapy DAFO under the supervision of the Safeguards Officer appointed to the Provincial Project Management Office (PPMO). Being closer to the construction site, the staff of the DCO will be the main point of contact for the PPMO with delegated responsibility for: (i) assisting with community development initiatives through the associated investments; (ii) coordination of resettlement activities; (iii) coordination of environment management activities; (iv) coordination of all other safeguard and gender activities; (v) assistance in the identification of associated investments; (vi) monitoring of implementation of the subproject; and (vii) reporting on progress of implementation.

88. During scheme operation, responsibility for mitigation rests primarily with the scheme users, supported by PAFO.

21 Table 4: Environmental Management Plan Summary

Potential Environmental Mitigation measure(s) Cost Allocation Responsibility for Impact Implementation Pre-Construction Stage Construction Contractor Safety Hazards to workers and Preparation of plans by the Contractor, allocating responsibilities for safety, health and Cost local people, and effects of welfare to senior staff; preparation of plans for first aid and emergency procedures; temporary worker populations preparation of plans for satisfactory accommodation of workers, and of information and in the area instruction to be disseminated to workers regarding risks of communicable diseases.

RF budget NPMO / Effects on homes and property Completion of land acquisition and compensation tasks as detailed in the Resettlement Consultants Framework for the sector project

Design task PAFO / PPMO / Effects of the construction of a Selection of the alignment of the access track to minimize extent of earthworks (negligible DCO temporary vehicle access necessary; securing of agreements with affected landowners cost) track

Impacts from Construction Construction Contractor Effects associated with the (i) re-use of excavated material to the extent practicable, (ii) obtaining materials from Cost extraction of materials licensed quarries and (iii) forming appropriate agreements with landowners for borrow sites, and landscaping works to used borrow sites, in accordance with the agreements made with landowners.

Construction Contractor Release of silt (i) Adequate supervision of the works, (confining excavation works to the dry months, (iii) Cost discretionary use of silt traps where warranted and (iv) careful placing of excavated material

Construction Contractor Temporary closure of the Use of temporary diversions using pipes and pumps where necessary; involvement of Cost irrigation system scheme users in planning of the works

Construction Contractor Dust generation Wetting of excavation sites and stockpiled material during dry and windy weather, when Cost within 50m of an occupied dwelling

Construction Contractor Use of land for storage and as Compensation to landowners according to the LARP and restoration of land to former Cost works depots condition or better, according to agreements formed with landowners

Construction Contractor Effects of construction of (i) careful supervision of earthworks to ensure minimal damage to farmland and Cost temporary vehicle access vegetation, (ii) reuse of surplus spoil, distribution to users in or near the subproject area, track or disposal at a site approved by the PAFO / PPMO.

22 Potential Environmental Mitigation measure(s) Cost Allocation Responsibility for Impact Implementation Construction Contractor Effects of temporary worker (i) consultation with local people on acceptable areas for siting of facilities, (ii) installation Cost populations of suitable toilets such as pit latrines and grey water drainage facilities such as soakage pits (iii) arrangements for collection of solid waste, (iv) briefing of workers and awareness raising of the local population on dangers of communicable diseases and (v) assignment of responsibility for worker and local peoples’ welfare to a senior member of the Contractor’s staff.

Construction Contractor Safety hazards to workers and Allocation of responsibility for site safety to the Contractor’s site supervisors staff, who Cost local people will ensure that all reasonable safety measures, such as use of safety clothing and equipment and placing of hazard warnings are taken.

Impacts from Operation Included in Contractor / PAFO Erosion and scour Grass planting on embankment slopes as a bioengineering measure. project design Included in PAFO Obstruction of water flows in Support to water user groups so that users discourage or prevent any placing of material project design the canals from sediment or or solid waste in the canals. other deposits

Included in PAFO Extraction of water during the Monitoring of river flows and extraction levels, ensuring that an adequate riparian flow is project design dry season maintained.

Included in PAFO Competition for use of Reliable collection of information on water levels in the reservoir and canal system, to project design irrigation water and with other enable sound planning of further water use development plans water uses

Included in PAFO Collapse of canals Routine and periodic maintenance, according to a well designed and adequately project design resourced maintenance program

Included in PAFO Leaching of nutrients Promotion of sustainable irrigated agriculture and soil management methods project design Included in PAFO Occurrence of water related (i) promoting improved operation and maintenance of the irrigation scheme and road project design diseases through water user groups (ii) raising awareness on hazards posed by poor sanitation, water logging and use of untreated irrigation water for drinking.

23 Potential Environmental Mitigation measure(s) Cost Allocation Responsibility for Impact Implementation Included in NPMO Risks of increasing road Awareness raising among roadside and road user populations on road traffic hazards project design accidents resulting from and their avoidance. increased traffic

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B. Approach to Environmental Monitoring 89. Environmental monitoring will cover (i) compliance monitoring, to ensure that mitigation specified in the EMP is carried out to an adequate standard, (ii) community feedback to obtain views and information on relevant environmental parameters and (iii) water quality testing.

90. Water quality testing is necessary to detect any deterioration of water quality and it is inevitable that some scheme users will use the water in the irrigation system as a supplementary source of domestic water supply, to ensure that it is not dangerous for that purpose. Testing against drinking water quality standards is therefore not warranted. In order to determine the safety of the water, it should be tested for levels of coliform bacteria, chemical and biological oxygen demand. The following parameters and limits are recommended:

Parameters Maximum Value Ph 5.5 - 9 Faecal Coliforms <1,000 per 100 ml Biological Oxygen Demand (20oC) <25 mg/l Chemical Oxygen Demand <35 mg/l

91. Samples should be taken prior to, during and after construction and taken to an appropriate laboratory for analysis.

25 Table 5: Environmental Monitoring Plan

Impact to be Monitored Parameters Location Measurements Frequency Responsibilities

Design and Preconstruction Phase

Level of pathogens in water for Ph; Faecal Coliform; Selected sample Collection of sample Quarterly, PAFO irrigation / domestic use Biological Oxygen Demand sites in the command and laboratory approximately 12 (20oC) and Chemical area analysis months prior to Oxygen Demand construction

Health and safety and welfare of Compliance with EMP All work sites / Compliance Once PAFO / PPMO workers and the public worker accommodation

Construction Phase

Prevention of accumulation of Changes as perceived by Participating villages Consultations To be decided by PAFO / PPMO excessive pathogens in water for irrigation scheme users PAFO / PPMO at the irrigation / domestic use start of the works

Ph; Faecal Coliform; Selected sample Collection of sample Twice yearly PAFO / DAFO Biological Oxygen Demand sites in the command and laboratory (20oC) and Chemical area analysis Oxygen Demand

Adequacy of and effectiveness of Opinions of users Participating villages Consultations To be decided by PAFO / DAFO the scheme: quantity of water; PAFO / PPMO at the increases in crop yields; occurrence start of the works of disputes

Implementation of construction Compliance All work sites Consultations To be decided by PAFO / DAFO mitigation measures detailed above PAFO / PPMO at the start of the works

Operation Phase

26 Prevention of accumulation of Changes as perceived by Participating villages Consultations To be decided by PAFO excessive pathogens in water for irrigation scheme users PAFO / PPMO at the irrigation / domestic use start of the works

Ph; Faecal Coliform; Selected sample Collection of sample Quarterly PAFO / WUG / Biological Oxygen Demand sites in the command and laboratory WUA (20oC) and Chemical area analysis Oxygen Demand

Adequacy of and effectiveness of Opinions of users Participating villages Consultations To be decided by WUG / WUA the scheme: quantity of water; PAFO / PPMO at the increases in crop yields; occurrence start of the works of disputes Water flow monitoring Weir outflow Measurements Monthly PAFO / DAFO

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X. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

92. The initial environmental examination process has found that the subproject will not cause significant negative environmental impacts. Potential negative impacts relate mainly to the construction phase and can be managed and brought to acceptable levels through the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan. No further environmental assessment is therefore required.

93. The subproject is therefore be classified as Category B according to the ADB’s classification system. This refers to projects that are judged to have some adverse environmental impacts, but of lesser degree or significance than those for Category A projects.

94. It is recommended that the Environmental Management Plan is included in contract documentation for works contracts, and in agreements formed with water user groups. Emphasis should be placed on regular monitoring of stream water flows.

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