Rehabilitation of Park in Village Alaverdi
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SFG3426 V1 Public Disclosure Authorized Rehabilitation of Park in Village Alaverdi Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental and Social Screening Report Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized February 2017 Project Description The village of Alaverdi of Akhmeta municipality is located in Kakheti region, adjacent to the Alaverdi Church. Alaverdi is an intermediate point on a tourist route Tbilisi-Telavi-Tusheti. A tourist heading for Tusheti or going to visit the Alaverdi Church, has to pass village Alaverdi on his way. The Alaverdi Monastery founded by St. Ioseb of Alaverdi, one of 13 Asuretian Fathers, in the VI century, is located on Alazani Valley. The St. George Church built by Kvirike, the King of Kakhetians, in place of an old small church, in the first quarter of the 11th century, is one of the biggest Cathedral Churches in Georgia with its height of over 50 m. On October 24, 2007, the Alaverdi Monastery was inscribed on the pilot World Heritage List of UNESCO. As per the data of the Visitors’ Center of Tusheti Protected Areas, the number of visitors to the Alaverdi Church and Tusheti for the last 3 years amounted to 7663 tourists in 2013, 9786 tourists in 2014 and 9676 tourists 2015. In addition to the tourist season in Tusheti (from May through October), Alaverdi hosts tourists a round year, as a famous Alaverdi Monastery is found in the village, while there is an ethnographic museum and administration building of Tusheti Protected Areas in Kvemo Alvani. Unfortunately, Alaverdi Center is not improved well enough to enable the tourists to get ready for or to travel to Tusheti in a comfortable manner. There are no chairs, pavilion or recreation park for tourists to have a rest before continuing their long trip (from Tbilisi to Tusheti and vice versa). Therefore, it is desirable to have a duly improved environment in the village centers for the visitors and tourists. The following works are planned within the scope of the sub-project (SP): 1. installation of the public garden fence – 11 m; 2. installation of 6 benches; 3. installation of 3 refuse bins; 4. installation of 3 light posts; building 59 m2 of paths with concrete slabs; 5. making 26 m of curbs; 6. building a metal fence and concrete; 7. Installation of 170 m of forge gate; building 1 children’s entertainment center (1 swings, 1 seesaw and 1 triangle ladder). Environmental Screening and Classification (A) Impact Identification Has sub-project a tangible impact on the The SP construction phase covers 3 months’ period. environment? As a result, the SP will have a small-scale and short- term impact on the environment only in the construction phase, while its long-term impact on the natural and social environment will be positive. What are the significant beneficial and SP is expected to have positive long-term adverse environmental effects of the environmental and social impact through subproject? arrangement of park in village Alaverdi, in the vicinity of multifunctional Monastery Complex Alaverdi and will improve touristic attraction. The increased tourist flows will have positive social impact through improvement of income generation opportunities. The expected negative environmental and social impacts are likely to be short-term: as a result of installation of benches, tables, concrete curbs, dust and emissions from the operation of construction machinery will be increased, background noise and vibration levels will rise insignificantly, generation of different types of construction waste is expected. The flow of traffic not expected to be obstructed. Taking into account the significant number of important heritage monuments and sites in the region of the targeted area, it is highly recommended that information on the cultural heritage of the region, showing their location and distances on the map to be included in the plan of the park. National Agency for Heritage Preservation of Georgia has to be approached for the provision of the needed accurate information on the sites. Reduction of adverse environmental impact during the initialization works will be possible through protecting the following key conditions: fencing the construction site and fixing the relevant signs throughout its perimeter, proper management of waste and constant monitoring, ensuring the technical functionality of machinery used during construction works, selecting less sensitive period (daytime) for construction works. If necessary, the population should be properly explained. Initialization works will not cause cut of trees on the project territory. In case chance find is encountered in the course of earth works, the contractor will immediately stop any physical activity on site and inform the Biological Farming Association “Elkana”. “Elkana” will promptly notify the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection in written. The Ministry will take over responsibility for the following course of action. Works may resume only upon receipt of written permission from the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection. In operation phase, increased tourist flows may have indirect negative environmental impacts: waste generation, etc. Does the sub-project have any significant The long-term social impact of the SP will be potential impact on the local communities? beneficial (improvement of local population living conditions and growth of tourist flow), which will cause significant improvement of social conditions of local population and tourists. Significant social impact of rehabilitation activities, such as change of local demographic structure, influx of new settlers, secondary development is not envisaged. Negative environmental impacts described above will be short term and limited to the construction site. What impact has the sub-project on the The SP is not expected to have any effect on human human health? health. (B) Impact Mitigation What alternatives to the sub-project design At the designing stage, a no-project alternative was have been considered and what mitigation considered, which was discarded, as the measures are proposed? implementation of the project will help attract both, the local and foreign visitors what will have a positive impact on the social standing of the local population. Have concerned communities been During community mobilization phase, several involved and have their interests and priorities were identified, including rehabilitation of knowledge been adequately taken into the public park, drinking water system and waste consideration in sub-project preparation? disposal. Rehabilitation of the public park was selected. (C) CATEGORIZATION AND CONCLUSION Conclusion of the environmental screening: Sub-project is declined □ Sub-project is accepted ■ Sub-project is classified as environmental Category B and needs EMP ■ Sub-project is classified as environmental Category C and does not need EMP □ Social Screening Yes No Social safeguards screening information 1 Is the information related to the affiliation, ownership and land use status of the sub-project site available and verifiable? (The screening cannot be completed until this is available) 2 Will the sub-project reduce people’s access to their economic resources, such as land, pasture, water, public services, sites of common public use or other resources that they depend on? 3 Will the sub-project result in resettlement of individuals or families or require the acquisition of land (public or private, temporarily or permanently) for its development? 4 Will the project result in the temporary or permanent loss of crops, fruit trees and household infrastructure (such as ancillary facilities, fence, canal, granaries, outside toilets and kitchens, etc.)? If answer to any above question (except question 1) is “Yes”, then OP/BP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement is applicable and mitigation measures should follow this OP/BP 4.12 and the Resettlement Policy Framework Cultural resources safeguard screening information Yes No 5 Will the project require excavation near any historical, archaeological or cultural heritage site? 6 Will the project require excavation near any historical, archaeological or cultural heritage site? If answer to question 5 is “Yes”, then OP/BP 4.11 Physical Cultural Resources is applicable and possible chance finds must be handled in accordance with OP/BP and relevant procedures provided in the Environmental Management Framework Environmental Management Plan Rehabilitation of park in village Alaverdi March 2017 PART A: GENERAL PROJECT AND SITE INFORMATION INSTITUTIONAL & ADMINISTRATIVE Project title Empowering Poor Communities and Micro-Entrepreneurs in the Georgia Tourism Sector Sub-Project title Rehabilitation of park in village Alaverdi Scope of site-specific activity (i) installation of the public garden fence – 11 m; (ii) installation of 6 benches; (iii) installation of 3 refuse bins; (iv) installation of 3 light posts; building 59 m2 of paths with concrete slabs; (v) making 26 m of curbs; (vi) building a metal fence and concrete; (vii) installation of 170 m of forge gate; building 1 children’s entertainment center (1 swings, 1 seesaw and 1 triangle ladder). Institutional arrangements Task Team Leader: Safeguards Specialists: (WB) Gloria La Cava Darejan Kapanadze, Environment Rebecca Lacroix and David Jijelava, Social Implementation arrangements Implementing entity: Works supervisor: Works contractor: (Borrower) Biological Farming Biological Farming (tbd) Associaltion Associaltion “Elkana” “Elkana” SITE DESCRIPTION Who owns the building to be Akhmeta Municipality