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China,People'sRep.of
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PPTA: PRC33437-01
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Songhua River Flood Wetland and Biodiversity Management Project
(formerly "Songhua River Flood and Wetland Management Project")
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Location
Songhua River basin in Northeast China
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Sector
Agriculture & Natural Resources /Environment & Biodiversity
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Initial Listing
5 August 1999
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Most Recent Update
28 January 2000
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Executing Agency(ies)
Ministry of Water Resources
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TA Fact-Finding Mission Undertaken/Scheduled: 24 May-18 Jun 1999
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TA Approval Date
27 December 1999
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Estimated Completion Date
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- Cost and Financing Plan (in US$)
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| Source |
Amount |
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TASF |
330,000.00 |
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JSF |
1,215,000.00 |
| Total |
1,545,000.00 |
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- Description
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The proposed Songhua River Flood Management Project aims to reduce flooding and flood hazards throughout the Songhua River basin by strengthening, improving, and bringing to a consistent standard the existing flood protection measures.
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| Strategic Development Objectives |
- Primary
- Sound Management of Environment
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- Secondary
- Poverty Reduction
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- Objectives and Scope
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The objectives of the technical assistance (TA) are to assist the Government to (i) identify the most appropriate flood protection works to support the Government's comprehensive flood management plan for Songhua River basin, (ii) prepare a feasibility study of selected priority works, and (iii) formulate a project for improved flood management of Songhua River for funding by the Bank.
The TA will (i) review the Government's water sector policies, strategies, priorities, and investment plans for management of natural resources in Songhua River, with particular emphasis on reducing the adverse impacts of floods; (ii) assess the completeness and adequacy of the existing flood management plan based on technical, institutional, environmental, social, economic, financial, and other relevant factors; (iii) formulate recommendations, as appropriate, for adjustment of policies and strategies, and for institutional strengthening, improvement of coordination, legislative reforms, financing, cost recovery, and standardizing the justification of proposed works; (iv) develop a standardized approach and methodology for deriving socioeconomic benefits and build consensus for integrated flood management; (v) help integrate sound environmental management and increased social awareness into the planning, design, and implementation of flood management; (vi) assess the need for improved flood forecasting, flood warning, and disaster preparation; and (vii) prioritize flood management interventions in Songhua River basin.
The sustainable management and development of biodiversity in Sanjiang Plain, which is an internationally important wetland for water birds and other wildlife, will be developed as one component of the proposed Songhua River Flood Management Project.
- Policy Dialogue
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Major issues which were discussed with the Government during TA preparation, and which will be further refined during TA implementation, relate to (i) coordination between different ministries and agencies whose activities relate to flood management; (ii) financing of capital investment and operation and maintenance costs; (iii) cost recovery; (iv) control of encroachment into flood plains by urban development; (v) protection and restoration of flood retention basins and wetland areas; (vi) flood plain zoning and flood risk mapping; (vii) enhancement of positive environmental impacts wherever possible through adjustment of the arrangement and function of project interventions; (viii) rationalization of design standards and approaches to planning flood protection; (ix) dam safety and related remedial measures; and (x) disproportionate weight given, in the selection of subprojects, to the ability of the subproject to generate revenue and thereby to provide counterpart funds.
- Environment Category:
A/B
- Environment Impact and Mitigation
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By approaching flood protection as a particular application of natural resources management throughout the whole river basin, the Project will aim to provide an overall improvement in environmental conditions. Environmental concerns will be met by adhering strictly to the Government's environmental legislation and by applying the Bank's environmental policies and guidelines. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and Summary EIAs will be prepared for all core subprojects during the TA. EIAs/Summary EIAs will be made available to interested parties within and outside PRC prior to implementation of works.
Because most of the flood protection measures are already in place and the project's objective is to improve them in a consistent manner, the negative environmental impacts are not expected to be severe. However, there is generally a need at provincial level to integrate environmental considerations into the planning, design, and implementation processes as they are currently managed to ensure that potentially negative impacts will be avoided or reduced to an acceptable limit, and to enhance the long term sustainability of all such measures. There is also a need to increase the awareness throughout the community of the value of environmental safeguards as opposed to short-term solutions to isolated problems.
- Social Aspects and Remedies
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Effective flood management will protect up to about 16 million persons (the number of people affected by the flood of 1998), and their property and livelihoods within an area of about 85,000 square kilometers (km2). Rural incomes in the flood-affected area, already significantly lower than the average for Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces, have fallen, and it has been estimated that an additional 1.8 million persons are living in poverty as a result of the 1998 flood.
Land acquisition and resettlement for construction of flood protection will be kept to a minimum, and will be handled in accordance with the Government's new Land Administration Law and the Bank's policies and guidelines for involuntary resettlement.
The TA will formulate appropriate ways to avoid adverse effects on poor households of all programs, and will propose measures to ensure benefits reach the poor and help alleviate poverty.
- Benefits and Beneficiaries
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The direct benefits of reduced flooding and flood hazards in Songhua River would accrue to about 16 million people.
- Beneficiary Participation in Formulation
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Interviews during TA fact-finding with rural officials and farmers indicated that effective flood protection was central to their needs and among their highest priority. The farmers all voiced a strong desire to contribute labor towards construction (or improvement) of embankments to improve the level of protection for their farm land and other assets (including housing, livestock and machinery).
- Beneficiary Participation in Implementation
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Social analyses will be conducted during TA implementation, and detailed socioeconomic profiles will be prepared for all vulnerable groups and for all groups who would be adversely affected by the proposed works. In addition, workshops will be held to help build a consensus for integrated, whole river basin flood management, including development of an appropriate institutional and legal framework, formulation of a rational basis for deriving and comparing benefits of different flood management measures, and development of a standardized approach and methodology for selecting and designing flood protection works.
- Consulting Services
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It is expected that a total of 89.5 person-months (33.5 international and 56.0 domestic) of consulting services will be required. Advance action for the recruitment of consultants has been approved.
- Procurement
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- Contacts
- Bank
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Ian Fox
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Principal Natural Resources Management Specialist
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VRM
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Tel. No.:
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(632) 632-5519
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E-mail:
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- Executing Agency
- Ministry of Water Resources
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Contact Person
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Yu Xingjun
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Tel. No.
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(86-10) 63 20 27 04
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Fax. No.
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(86-0) 63 54 80 37
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E-mail
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yfliu@MWR.gov.cn
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Contact Person
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