Republic of Uzbekistan: Water Supply and Sanitation Services Investment Program

Environmental Assessment Report Updated Initial Environmental Examination for Rehabilitation and Improvements of Karakalpak Water Supply and Distribution System Document Stage: Final Project Number: 42489-UZB August 2016 Republic of Uzbekistan: Water Supply and Sanitation Services Investment Program Prepared by PCU Uzbekistan Communal Services Agency (UCSA) of the Republic of Uzbekistan and EPTISA Servicios de Ingenieria S.L. (EPTISA) (Spain) for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) The initial environmental examination document is that 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. CONTENTS Page 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Purpose of the Report and the Project Background 1 Extent of the IEE Study 2 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 3 Project Brief Description 3 Environmental category of the Project 5 Need for Project 6 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 7 Physical resources 7 Ecological Resources 8 Socio-Economic Environment 9 4. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND THEIR MITIGATIONS 9 Impacts due to Location 9 Potential Environmental Impacts Related to Design 10 Potential Environmental Impacts during Construction 10 Biological Environment 12 Socio-Economic Environment 12 Potential Environmental Impacts during Operation 12 Environmental Management Plan 13 5. INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN 14 Institutional Arrangements 14 Grievance Redress Mechanism 15 Environmental Monitoring Plan 15 Reporting of Environmental Monitoring Results 16 Budget for Environmental Monitoring 16 6. PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 16 7. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 17 8. CONCLUSIONS 17 APPENDIXES: Appendix 1: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Appendix 2: Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Appendix 3: Consultation Meetings Appendix 4: Public consultation meeting in Khodjeyli district ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank EH – Exposed Household EA – Executing Agency EMP – Environmental Management Plan EMU – Environmental Monitoring Unit FGD – Focus Group Discussions GOU – Government of Uzbekistan HH – Household IEA – Initial Environmental Assessment IEE – Initial Environmental Examination IRTM – Interregional Trunk Main LAR – land acquisition and resettlement NWSDP – National Water Supply Development Program O&M – operation and maintenance PIA – Project Implementation Assistance PIU – Project Implementation Unit PPMU – Program Preparation and Management Unit PCU – Project Coordination Unit PPTA – Project Preparatory Technical Assistance PVC – Polyvinylchloride REA – Rapid Environmental Assessment (ADB checklist) SES – Sanitary and Epidemiological Services SCNP – State Committee for Nature Protection TA – Technical Assistance UCSA – Uzbekistan Communal Services Agency WDC – Water Distribution Unit WEIGHTS AND MEASURES LPCPD – liters per capita per day NOTE In this report, "$" refers to US dollars. 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. Map 1: Uzbekistan showing subproject location KARALPAKSTAN REPUBLIC Map 2. Karakalpakstan Republic Rehabilitation and Improvement of Karakalpak Water Supply and Distribution System Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 1. INTRODUCTION Purpose of the Report and the Project Background 1. This report presents the findings of an initial environmental examination (IEE) of the “Improvement of Karakalpak Republic Water Supply Facilities” (Karakalpak sub- project). This sub-project is funded by the MFF-0036 Water Supply and Sanitation Service Investment Program under the Tranche 3. The Tranche 3 of this MFF has 4 sub-project components. The IEE was conducted during the subproject preparation period from August 1 to September 20 2011 by the Consultant. 2. The MFF Investment Program has the following objective: to improve access to safe, reliable and sustainable water supply and sanitation (WSS) to about 3 million residents with priority needs identified in terms of the industry development. The Investment Program implements by the Uzbekistan Communal Services Agency (UCSA) in coordination with local governments, trans-regional water lines and town level vodokanals (water supply companies). The investment program focuses on the physical and institutional improvements to water supply and sanitation sub-sectors. 3. This subproject includes the rehabilitation and reconstruction of water supply facilities in Amudarya, Beruni, Kegeyli, Khodjeyli and Shumunay districts of the Karakalpak Republic to effectuate the benefits generated from works under the ADB Loan 1903- Western Uzbekistan Rural Water Supply. It is expected that this sub- project will be able to provide water supply services for the population total of 47.9 thousand people, who currently do not have an access with clean water pipeline. 4. This sub-project developed in accordance with the Annual Government’s investment programs approved by the Presidential Decree dated December 21, 2010 № PP-1446 "On the acceleration of infrastructure development, transport and communication construction in 2011 - 2015" and the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers dated November 26, 2010 № 267 on inclusion of Shumanay sub-project. The Investment Program 2012 – 2016 includes all the sub-projects in Tranche 3. 5. The present IEE is needed to be updated due to the changes in project, in particular changes of project detailed design in Khodjeyli district. The project provided total length of water networks in Khodjeyli district is 43,7 km, where 11,5 km have been constructed in 2015 at the own expenses of Uzbek Government. The local municipality of the Republic of Karakalpakstan insisted on construction of additional networks in other streets of the same villages (Gonetaslijap, Kumbulaul, Tozabaz, Shodlik, Kolab and Sabikaul) instead of already constructed networks which are constructed for other financing sources. Thereby, the ADB project remains the project provided parameters. At present, the detailed design document for construction of new 11.5 km of water networks has been developed. New water networks will provide drinking water to 300 houses, in particular 1800 people in 6 rural villages in Khojeyli district. 6. At this stage, paras. 26-27, 78-79, 95-96 of IEE are updated and Appendix 4 is added, which includes the information on new public consultations meeting in Khodjeyli district. 2 Rehabilitation and Improvement of Karakalpak Water Supply and Distribution System Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Extent of the IEE Study 7. The IEE was carried out and updated in accordance with the ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009, especially for environmental safeguard, and relevant Government’s laws and regulations on environmental issues. 8. Since Independence, many laws and regulations on environmental issues have been developed in Uzbekistan. The Law on Nature Protection (January 1993) established a legal, economic and organizational framework for environment protection, ensuring sustainable development and defining principles, including the conduct of environmental studies. 9. The State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Goskompriroda) is a specially commissioned super departmental co-coordinating body which exercises state control and inter-sectoral management in the fields of nature protection, the use and reproduction of natural resources, it is subordinate and accountable to the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 10. In addition to the Law on Nature Protection, Goskompriroda uses the following additional legal instruments to manage environmental issues related to water supply and sanitation: • On water and water use (June 12, 1993). Regulation of water relations, rational use of water for the population and economy, water protection from pollution and depletion, prevention and eradication of harmful effects of water, improvement of water bodies and protecting the rights of enterprises, institutions, organizations, farmers and farmer households and citizens in the area of water relations. • On Air Protection (January 3, 1997). Preservation of the natural composition of the atmosphere. Prevention and reduction of harmful chemical, physical, biological and other impacts on air. Legal regulation of activity of state bodies, enterprises, institutions, organizations, associations and individuals in the field of air. • On Protection and Use of Flora (January 9, 1998). Conservation in the wild species composition, its gene pool. Preserving the integrity of natural plant communities and habitat protection of wild plants. Ensuring the rational use and reproduction of plants. Legal regulation of businesses and individuals in the protection and use of flora. • On Protection and Use of Fauna (January 13, 1998). Regulates relations in the sphere of use of wild animals in the wild on land, sea, air and soil, permanently or temporarily inhabiting the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as contained in the semi-free conditions or artificial habitats for scientific or conservation purposes. The objective of the legislation on the protection and use of wildlife is to regulate relations in the protection, use, restoration and reproduction of animals in order to ensure the conditions of its existence, the conservation of species

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