Cambodia: Provincial Roads Improvement Project

Transport - Road transport (non-urban)

1. Project roads and the CBF at Prey Var, Svay Rieng rehabilitated

2. Improved MPWT road asset management

3. Increased road safety, institutional efficiency, and awareness of potential social problems

4. Increased resilience of project roads to climate change

5. Efficient project management

Work is ongoing on contracts CW-A, CW-B1 and CW-C and steadily making progress following initial implementation delays. The other contracts on climate resilience (dredging of Krasaert lake, emergency center and water supply in Kampung Leang are also making progress. Additional financing for PRIP recently approved was declared effective as of 6 December 2016 to cover funding required for CW-B2 contract (Prey Var CBF) which was awarded in February 2017.

Despite progress, it is expected that extension of the project completion is needed. The EA will submit a request to ADB in this regard, in early May 2017.

The total number of staff of PMU3 is 24 persons, of which, 7 are women (29%).

The project has been classified as category B for environment. Results of the initial environmental examination (IEE) showed that only minor adverse environmental impacts are anticipated for the improvement of project roads and implementation of small-scale climate change adaptation measures for surrounding communities. Such impacts, which are considered short-term and temporary in nature, will be largely experienced during construction mainly due to elevated levels of dust and noise, traffic disruption, and potential occupational and community health and safety risks, but can be mitigated. It has also been confirmed that none of the project roads are located near culturally protected areas and that no rare, threatened, or endangered species of flora and fauna are found in or close to the alignments.

Except for National Road (NR) 53, none of the project roads are in close proximity to any protected areas of ecological significance. NR 53 runs alongside part of the eastern boundary of Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary (PAWS) for a distance of approximately 6.5 km. The Provincial Department of Environment confirmed that NR 53 does not intrude into the PAWS. As in the other Project roads, there are no forested areas in the vicinity of NR 53. The PAWS zones close to NR 53 are the community and sustainable zones which are predominantly agricultural areas while its conservation and core zones, at the nearest points, are approximately 2 km and 5 km, respectively, from NR 53. As such, no adverse environmental impacts are anticipated for all Project roads on ecologically protected areas. To avoid or mitigate negative impacts arising from the Project, an environmental management plan (EMP) detailing mitigation measures, monitoring activities and implementation responsibilities has been prepared as part of the IEE. Public consultations involving affected people and local officials have been conducted during the preparation of the IEE in compliance with ADB information disclosure and consultation requirements through focus group discussions and individual interviews along all project roads. Environment was not seen as a major issue by those persons interviewed. To ensure that the project is carried out in accordance with the EMP requirements, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) will specify details of the implementation of the EMP in the bid and contract documents for consulting services and civil works. MPWT will be assisted by the DDIS consultant in monitoring the environmental performance of contractors. The detailed design implementation and supervision consultant will also provide on-the-job training to the field personnel of the Environment Safeguards Office of MPWT to build their capacity in environmental management and monitoring.