China - Fourth Inland Waterways Project

Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Updated) Report No: AC434 Section I - Basic Information Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 12/23/2003 A. Basic Project Data (from PDS) I.A.1. Project Statistics Country: CHINA Project ID: P077137 Project: Fourth Inland Waterways Project Task Team Leader: Graham Smith Authorized to Appraise Date: August 19, 2003 IBRD Amount (Sm): 91.00 Bank Approval: March 25, 2004 IDA Amount ($m): Managing Unit: EASTR Sector: Ports, waterways and shipping (58%); Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan (SIL) Renewable energy (42%) Status: Lending Theme: Infrastructure services for private sector development (P); Water resource management (P); Rural services and infrastructure (S); Public expenditure, financial management and procurement (S) I.A.2. Project Objectives (From PDS): The Project's main objective is to improve access for poor regions of southern China by upgrading navigation conditions on the region's major east-west river and other waterways feeding traffic into the Pearl River Delta region. A secondary objective is to harness water flow in two of these rivers to generate environmentally clean electricity to help meet growing energy demand in the provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi. I.A.3. Project Description (From PDS): A. Guangdong: to improve navigation conditions and generate electricity through civil works and associated investments on three waterways: 1) Construction of the Xiniu Navigation Complex (a low dam to regulate river depth, including a ship lock to assure 2.5m draft and power plant of 6.4 MW capacity) and minor channel improvements on about 13 km of the Lian River, a tributary of the North River (below); 2) Purchase of turbines and other equipment for the above powerhouse, and of lock gates; 3) Construction of two substations to link the Complex to the power grid serving the city of Yingde. 4) Resettlement of about 500 farmers living in the intended Xiniu reservoir zone; 5) Channel improvements on the middle reaches of the North River (Bei Jiang) between Shaoguan and Qingyuan (about 180 km) to allow vessels of up to 300 tons to ply safely year-round; 6) Channel improvements and regulation works on the Laolonghu Waterway (about 16 kim), an east-west waterway in the Pearl River Delta network serving mainly traffic between the rural south of Guangdong and the provincial capital, Guangzhou, to allow vessels of up to 1,000 tons to operate safely year-round; and 7) Replacement of 2 bridges over the Laolonghu Waterway, which are too low for the intended larger ships. 2 ISDS B. Guangxi: to allow navigation by vessels of up to 500 tons on the Right River (You Jiang) between the cities of Baise and Nanning (357 km) and generate electricity, through civil works and associated investments. 1) Construction of the Naji Navigation Complex, a 20m-high dam to regulate river depth, including a ship lock to assure 2.5m draft and a power plant of 57 MW capacity, about 38 km downstream from Baise; 2) Purchase of turbines and other equipment for the above powerhouse, and of lock gates; 3) Construction of access roads (about 9 km) to the dam on both banks and a bridge over the river; 4) Construction of two substations to link the dam to the Baise power grid; 5) Construction of dikes and dredging of shoals between Baise and Nanning; 6) Upgrading of navigational aids; and* 7) Resettlement of about 320 residents (farmers and others) living in the intended reservoir zone and along the alignment of the approach roads. C. Institutional strengthening and technical assistance (TA). To strengthen the technical and management skills of personnel of the two project offices, consulting services and study tours will be provided. Topics are likely to include: (i) integrated water basin management, (ii) flood and drought forecasting, (iii) training of shiplock operators, (iv) waterway user charge and cost recovery policies, (v) policies and principles for vessel and operator licensing, (vi) implementation of computer-based information systems to systematize the licensing process, and (vii) implementation of Internet-based systems to give waterway users information on river flow, tide and draft conditions in real time. If motivated counterparts can be identified, the issue of facilitating transport documentation for containerized cargo (through bills of lading, Customs clearance inland, etc.) could also be included. Components: Guangdong Xiniu Dam (Navigation Complex) Guangdong regulation of North River Middle Reaches Guangdong improvement of Laolonghu Waterway Guangdong study tours & technical assistance Guangxi Naji Dam (Navigation Complex) Guangxi Right River (You Jiang) training works Guangxi study tours & technical assistance Price & physical contingencies (12%) I.A.4. Project Location: (Geographic location, information about the key environmental and social characteristics of the area and population likely to be affected, and proximity to any protected areas, or sites or critical natural habitats, or any other culturally or socially sensitive areas.) This project comprises (1) Naji Navigation Complex is located in the northwestern part of Guangxi Autonomous Region, 316 km upstream of the Yujiang River from Nanning City and 41 km downstream from Baise downtown. This inland waterway connects poor western areas, Yunnan Province and Guizhou Province to Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao. (2) Xiniu Navigation Complex is located in the Lianjiang River, which is a tributary of the Beijiang River in the northern part of Guangdong Province. Xiniu is a 3 ISDS bottleneck between the poor mountain region and the Beijiang River waterway. (3) Beijiang Regulation component covers the middle reach of the Beijiang River along 184 km. (4) Laolonghu Regulation component is a 16 km shortcut channel between two major waterways, shortening the navigation distance by 40 km between southwestern Guangdong and Pearl River Delta. B. Check Environmental Classification: A (Full Assessment) Comments: C. Safeguard Policies Triggered (from PDS) (click on Q for a detailed desciption or click on the policy number for a brief description) Policy Triggered Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01, BP 4.01, GP 4.01) * Yes 0 No Natural Habitats (OP 4.04, BP 4.04, GP 4.04) 0 Yes @ No Forestry (OP 4.36, GP 4.36) 0 Yes * No Pest Management (OP 4.09) 0 Yes 0 No Cultural Property (OPN 11.03) * Yes 0 No Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20) 0 Yes * No Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) * Yes 0 No Safety of Dams (OP 4.37, BP 4.37) 0 Yes 0 No Projects in International Waters (OP 7.50, BP 7.50, GP 7.50) 0 Yes 0 No Projects in Disputed Areas (OP 7.60, BP 7.60, GP 7.60)* 0 Yes @ No Section II - Key Safeguard Issues and Their Management D. Summary ofKey Safeguard Issues. Please fill in all relevant questions. If infbrmation is not available, describe steps to be taken to obtain necessary data. II.D. 1a. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts. OP 4.01 Environment Assessment The proposed project is category A. Environmental Assessment Reports and Environmental Action Plans have been prepared by independent consultants under contract to the provincial Dept. of Communications (Waterway Bureau). A proposed combination of conventional mitigation measures and good supervision will serve to minimize environmental impacts appropriately. The long-term residual impact of interference by dams to migratory fish and other aquatic organisms will be addressed by extensive fish hatchery activities in the new reservoirs, as well as efforts towards improving aquatic biodiversity. OP.4.27 Safety of Dams The proposed Naji Navigation Complex includes construction of a 20m high dam, which triggered this policy. Dam Safety Panel was established and several meetings have already convened. OP.4.04 Natural Habitat This policy does not apply. The draft EIAs identified no environmentally protected areas or critical natural habitats within the project area. The Naji and Xiniu navigation complexes will inundate upstream by 343 ha and 95 ha respectively. For the Xinui Reservoir, about 50% of the land is currently forested; the remainder, a mixture 6f undeveloped lands and some agricultural areas. For the Naji Reservoir, most of 4 ISDS the proposed inundated area is within the natural annual flood zone and is used for grazing lands and seasonal gardens. OPN 11.3 Cultural Property Archeological authorities conducted investigation through document survey and site inspection. At Naji sub-component, Poluo Relics, a pre-historic ruin, was identified within the inundated area. According to national regulation, 1000 m2 of ruins will be excavated to preserve relics. OP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement The project will require land acquisition and relocation of some households. The project offices have engaged experienced consultants to carry out the resettlement planning. The planning activities include socioeconomic surveys, detailed inventory of impacts, census of the affected population, and consultations with each affected farmer group to design their rehabilitation measures. Resettlement Action Plans have been prepared on the basis of these field work in line with relevant Chinese laws, regulations and the World Bank Policy. OD 4.20 Indiginous People Guangxi Component will impact a large population of Zhuang ethnicity. An expert institute was engaged to carry out further field and analytical work on the affected Zhuang population for compliance with World Bank Operation Directive 4.20 on Indigenous People. This assessment indicated a high level of integration of the Zhuang ethnic group into the Han population in a process of several hundred years and this is reflected in all aspects of their social, political, economic and cultural life. The social assessment concludes that the Zhuang population affected under the project does not fall under the Bank's definition of indigenous people and therefore the policy would not apply to this project. I.D.lb. Describe any potential cumulative impacts due to application of more than one safeguard policy or due to multiple project component. None. II.D.lc Describe any potential long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area. The overall objective of IWW4 is to improve waterway navigation between economically developed areas in the Pearl River delta with poorer rural areas to the economic benefit of the latter. Long-term cumulative impacts will include a shift to larger, more modem vessels with better pollution control, in spite of increased freight tonnage. Long-term indirect impacts will result in more commercial, resource recovery and industrial activities within the project areas of influence. Experience gained by regulatory agencies with this project will assist in the environmental management of future indirect projects. In general the project is expected to have positive impacts for development of mining and refining industries in the western mountain areas. Appropriate enforcement of environmental regulations by relevant authorities will become more important. Transportation by water has fewer environmental impacts than other modes of transportation. Economic incentives will make shifts of heavy or bulk cargoes from railways and perhaps from roads to inland waterways, which will decrease environmental loads as well. II.D.2. In light of 1, describe the proposed treatment of alternatives (if required) 5 ISDS II.D.3. Describe arrangement for the borrower to address safeguard issues The Project Administration Offices have well-established environmental and resettlement offices, with trained and experienced staff, to oversee implementation of the EAPs and RAPs. A carefully designed monitoring and organizational system has been established, both within the Project Organization, as well as with appropriate regulatory agencies at different levels of governments. Both provinces will engage external agencies to carry out independent monitoring of resettlement implementation. A Dam Safety Committee has been established for Naji. II.D.4. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. Primary stakeholders have been identified through the social assessment and resettlement planning exercises. Project information has been disseminated among local governments and the affected villages through community meetings and focus group discussions. The feedback has been reflected in the project planning and design. A mechanism has been developed to ensure continued consultation with and participation of local communities in the implementation of the project. During the environmental assessment process, extensive consultation was undertaken with communities and affected persons throughout the defined project areas. Consultation was conducted during both the TOR and draft EIA stages. Full public release of the EA and resettlement documents will occur in August 2003. E. Safeguards Classification (select in SAP). Category is determined by the highest impact in any policy. Or on basis of cumulative impacts from multiple safeguards. Whenever an individual safeguard policy is triggered the provisions of that policy apply. [ ] SI. - Significant, cumulative and/or irreversible impacts; or significant technical and institutional risks in management of one or more safeguard areas [X] S2. - One or more safeguard policies are triggered, but effects are limited in their impact and are technically and institutionally manageable [ ] S3. - No safeguard issues [ ] SF. - Financial intermediary projects, social development funds, conunuity driven development or similar projects which require a safeguard framework or programmatic approach to address safeguard issues. F. Disclosure Requirements Environmental Assessment/Analysis/Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank 6/24/2003 Date of "in-country" disclosure 6/30/2003 6/30/2003 Date of submission to InfoShop 6/26/2003 8/12/2003 Date of distributing the Exec. Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors (For category A projects) Resettlement Action Plan/Franework: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank 6/30/2003 7/30/2003 Date of "in-country" disclosure 7/31/2003 8/7/2003 Date of submission to-InfqShop 7/31/2003 8/13/2003 Indigenous Peoples Development Plan/Framework: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable 6 ISDS Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Pest Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Dam Saftty Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why. Signed and submitted by Name Date Task Team Leader: Graham Smith 10/25/2002 Project Safeguards Specialists 1: Naoya Tsukamoto 01/03/2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 2: Chaohua Zhang 02/10/2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 3: Approved by: Name Date Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Glenn S. Morgan 02/07/2003 Comments Acting Regional Safeguards Director Cyprian Fisiy 02/10/2003 Sector Manager/Director Jitendra Bajpai 01/31/2003