China - Chongqing Small Cities Infrastructure Improvement Project

Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Report No.: AC385 Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: February 5, 2004 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: China Project ID: P081161 Project Name: Chongqing Small Cities Infrastructure Improvement Task Team Leader: Thomas L. Zearley Estimated Appraisal Date: September 30, 2004 Estimated Board Date: December 15, 2004 Managing Unit: EASUR Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Water supply (30%);Roads (30%);Sanitation (20%);Flood protection (10%);Sub-national government administration (10%) Theme: Access to urban services for the poor (P);Municipal governance and institution building (S);Other urban development (S) Safeguard Policies Specialists in the task team: Peishen Wang, Chaogang Wang Loan/Credit amount ($m.): IBRD: 200 Other financing amounts by source: ($m) B. Project Objectives [Updated following PCN review] The project objective is to improve basic infrastructure in secondary cities, districts, and counties to foster sustainable growth, enhance living conditions for its citizens, and facilitate urban employment creation through promoting the function and economic growth. This objective would be achieved under a regional framework for urbanization, incorporating environmental protection and improvement of infrastructure and facilities. C. Project Description [Updated following PCN review] The project would support (i) investment in subprojects for the rehabilitation, improvement and expansion of urban infrastructure and services under local government responsibility including water supply systems, wastewater collection and treatment, flood control embankments and park areas, roads, bridges, solid waste collection and disposal, public transportation terminals, public markets, and public toilets; and (ii) project implementation and capacity building assistance for participating local governments and Chongqing Municipality to cover the costs of consultancies, small equipment purchases, and the preparation and delivery of training materials. The Chongqing PMO in consultation with the main secondary cities, counties and districts, has already identified a number of investment subprojects aimed to meet their principal infrastructure needs in response to the expected urbanization and social development trends and policy priorities. A preliminary list of about 40 subprojects in 15 different jurisdictions (located mainly in the western corridor of Chongqing) have been identified to-date. Preparation work has already begun on about 12 of these subprojects in more than 7 geographic areas, which could comprise the initial set of investments to be appraised and implemented with Bank funding. Other subprojects would be identified during project implementation, and once screened and appraised in accordance with criteria and procedures agreed with the Bank, would be eligible for Bank financing. These criteria and procedures would be described in an operational manual that would be reviewed and approved by the Bank during appraisal. The project would include capacity building to strengthen the ability of local governments to prepare, operate and maintain subproject investments in an economically, financially, socially and environmentally sustainable manner. Page 2 The project would also explore opportunities for private sector participation in infrastructure provision. The project would also strengthen the institutional and financial performance of participating public utilities entities. International and local consultants have been mobilized to prepare feasibility studies and draft subproject proposals. Resources have also been allocated for data collection. As project preparation proceeds, criteria would be developed for prioritization of investments that would form the proposal and the menu of subprojects eligible for Bank financing. The project would differ from the traditional urban infrastructure operation funded by the Bank in China; it would help design and pilot a new multi-sectoral programming approach to support small-and medium-scale infrastructure investments that are of high priority to local governments. D. Project location (if known) The target locations would be secondary cities, district and counties outside of Chongqing city, with special emphasis given to the western development corridor which has the potential for rapid urbanization. Chongqing Municipality is located on the Upper Yangtze River in the west of China. It is the country