Initial Environmental Examination January 2021 Kyrgyz Republic: Climate Change and Disaster-Resilient Water Resources Sector Project – Kojo-Kaiyr Subproject Prepared by the State Agency for Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Regional Development of the Kyrgyz Republic for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). TA 51081-002 KGZ - IEE January 2021 Page 1 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 on ADB’s 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. Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 1 List of Figures .......................................................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Weight and Measures ............................................................................................................................. 8 Currency Equivalents .............................................................................................................................. 8 Notes ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 9 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 15 1.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................. 15 1.2 Identification of the Project and Project Proponents ................................................................ 15 1.3 Purpose of the Report .............................................................................................................. 17 1.4 Boundaries of the IEE .............................................................................................................. 17 2 POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................................... 25 2.1 National and Local Legal and Institutional Framework ............................................................ 25 2.1.1 Environmental Protection Law and Policy................................................................................ 25 2.1.2 Project Status Regarding Environmental Regulations ............................................................. 30 2.1.3 Other Legislation and Standards ............................................................................................. 31 2.1.4 Institutional Framework ............................................................................................................ 34 2.2 International Agreements Relevant to the Project ................................................................... 36 2.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure ........................................................................ 37 2.4 ADB Requirements .................................................................................................................. 38 2.4.1 Policies ..................................................................................................................................... 38 2.4.2 Guidance .................................................................................................................................. 38 2.4.3 Environmental and Social Screening & Categories ................................................................. 39 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................................ 40 3.1 Expected Project Impact and Outcome ................................................................................... 40 3.1.1 Objectives of the Project .......................................................................................................... 40 3.1.2 Project Outputs ........................................................................................................................ 40 3.2 Kojo-Kaiyr Subproject .............................................................................................................. 41 3.2.1 Setting ...................................................................................................................................... 41 3.2.2 Present Status of the Kojo-Kaiyr Irrigation System .................................................................. 42 3.2.3 Project Components ................................................................................................................. 45 3.2.4 Organization of the Construction Works .................................................................................. 60 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................... 64 4.1 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................... 64 4.1.1 Current Climatic Conditions ..................................................................................................... 64 4.1.2 Climate Changes ...................................................................................................................... 65 4.1.3 Geology .................................................................................................................................... 65 4.1.4 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................. 66 4.1.5 Soil ........................................................................................................................................... 68 4.2 Biological Environment............................................................................................................. 68 4.2.1 The Aquatic Environment ......................................................................................................... 68 4.2.2 The Terrestrial Environment .................................................................................................... 73 4.3 Protected Areas ....................................................................................................................... 79 4.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 82 4.5 Social and Economic Conditions ............................................................................................. 84 4.6 Archaeological, cultural areas .................................................................................................. 85 4.7 Focus on the environmental impact areas ............................................................................... 85 5 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................ 94 5.1 Rationale for Basic option of Project implementation .............................................................. 94 5.2 Design Concept Summary ....................................................................................................... 95 6 ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .................. 98 6.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 98 TA 51081-002 KGZ - IEE January 2021 Page 1 6.2 Direct Impact Zone Number 1 .................................................................................................. 99 6.3 Direct Impact Zone Number 2 ................................................................................................ 108 6.4 Direct Impact Zone Number 3 ................................................................................................ 115 6.5 Direct Impact Zone Number 4 ................................................................................................ 122 6.6 Direct Impact Zone Number 5 ................................................................................................ 131 6.7 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................ 139 6.7.1 Impacts on air quality and its significance .............................................................................. 139 6.7.2 Impacts on Surface and Groundwater quality and its significance ........................................ 140 6.7.3 Impacts on soil and land their significance ...........................................................................