E2175 REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN FERGHANA VALLEY WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROJECT – Public Disclosure Authorized PHASE 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Public Disclosure Authorized 14 March 2009 Public Disclosure Authorized CONSULTANTS: Various national and international (Team Leader Mr Wandert Benthem) Under Management of the Project Implementation Unit Public Disclosure Authorized REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT This report has been compiled in accordance with guidelines of the World Bank for Environmental Assessment reports and guidelines of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Goskompriroda) for conducting State Ecological Expertise (SEE). The present report has been prepared by a team of independent consultants. The findings, conclusions and interpretations expressed in this document are those of the consultants alone and should in no way be taken to reflect the policies or opinions of the World Bank or the Government of Uzbekistan. Ferghana Valley Water Resources Management Project (Phase 1) / Environmental Assessment Table of contents 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Objectives................................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Methodologies .......................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Scope and Status of the Present Report .................................................................................. 5 2 Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework......................................................................................... 7 2.1 Environmental Sector ............................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Uzbekistan EA Requirements................................................................................................. 11 2.3 World Bank EA Requirements ................................................................................................ 12 2.4 Irrigation and Drainage Sector................................................................................................ 14 2.5 Regional Organisations .......................................................................................................... 24 3 Project Description ............................................................................................................................ 26 3.1 General................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Location of the Project Area ................................................................................................... 26 3.3 Project Development Objectives and Key Performance Indicators......................................... 26 3.4 Project Components and Costs .............................................................................................. 27 3.5 Conceptual Model Zones........................................................................................................ 29 3.6 Physical Interventions............................................................................................................. 31 3.7 Institutional, Agricultural Development and General Project Support ..................................... 31 3.8 Environmental and Social Context.......................................................................................... 31 4 Current Environmental Conditions................................................................................................... 36 4.1 Physical Resources ................................................................................................................ 36 4.2 Water Resources.................................................................................................................... 39 4.3 Land Resources...................................................................................................................... 48 4.4 Biological Resources .............................................................................................................. 58 4.5 Social Resources.................................................................................................................... 60 5 Assessment of Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................... 64 5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 64 5.2 Impacts by (Physical) Intervention Type................................................................................. 64 5.3 Impacts by Project Location.................................................................................................... 67 5.4 Impacts during Project Implementation and Mitigation ........................................................... 68 5.5 Impacts by Project Component............................................................................................... 71 Final EA Ferghana Valley project 14.3.09 (ENG) i Ferghana Valley Water Resources Management Project (Phase 1) / Environmental Assessment 5.6 Long-term Impacts and Mitigation Measures.......................................................................... 73 5.7 Overall Project Impact in Phase 1........................................................................................... 75 6 Analysis of Alternatives..................................................................................................................... 78 6.1 Summary of Alternatives and Methods Used.......................................................................... 78 6.2 “Without-Project” Situation...................................................................................................... 79 6.3 “With-Project” Situation........................................................................................................... 81 6.4 Proposed Alternative .............................................................................................................. 82 7 Analysis of Emergency Situations ................................................................................................... 84 7.1 Type of Events........................................................................................................................ 84 7.2 Mitigation ................................................................................................................................ 84 8 Project Benefits.................................................................................................................................. 86 8.1 Benefits resulting from Improved Irrigation & Drainage Systems............................................ 86 8.2 Benefits from Institutional and Agricultural Development Support .......................................... 87 9 Environmental Mitigation Plan.......................................................................................................... 88 9.1 General................................................................................................................................... 88 9.2 Mitigation of Negative Impacts from Component A................................................................. 90 9.3 Mitigation of Negative Impacts from Component B................................................................. 91 10 Environmental Management Plan..................................................................................................... 93 10.1 General................................................................................................................................... 93 10.2 Environmental Measures Related to the Construction and Rehabilitation Works ................... 93 10.3 Environmental Due Diligence ................................................................................................. 97 10.4 Environmental Protection and Enhancement.......................................................................... 97 10.5 Training................................................................................................................................... 98 10.6 EMP Measures after Project Completion................................................................................ 99 11 Environmental Monitoring Plan ...................................................................................................... 100 11.1 Parameters ........................................................................................................................... 100 11.2 Agencies............................................................................................................................... 101 11.3 Equipment ............................................................................................................................ 102 11.4 Costs .................................................................................................................................... 103 12 Compliance of the Project with World Bank Safeguard Policies ..............................................