ADB - Preparing Irrigation and Drainage Modernization Vakhsh River Basin Project. 2021 Environmental and Asbestos Management Specialist

Preparation of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) for the development of 40,355ha; Phase 1 modernization of the of the Yovon Valley Irrigation and Drainage (I&D) system in the Vakhsh River Basin (Republic of Tajikistan). ROT requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide financing in 2020; following technical economic studies commissioned by ALRI (Agricultural authority of Tajikistan). Considering the exceptional circumstances his commission was completed by Dr Green from home office under strict COVID pandemic protocols and was concluded during 2021; liaison and consultation being conducted online, facilitated through social media. Overall the proposed outcome was to achieve higher agricultural productivity and energy use efficiency, and climate resilience in the Yovon System. The co-funding was proposed to consolidate three Outputs: (i) establishing a climate resilient and modernized I&D system (ii) more efficient and sustainable irrigation practices and management and operation and maintenance for the Yovon system and (iii) strengthening policy and institutions for sustainable water resources management. The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) primarily assessed all the environmental impacts emerging from the proposals for rehabilitation and modernization of the I&D system most importantly including asbestos management controls on impacts from the rehabilitation and replacement of the asbestos cement pipe water distribution and drainage system. The location of the Yovon System with respect to protected areas and consultations with the local Water User Associations were included in the IEE. The IEE proposed a strategy and actions to avoid, minimize and mitigate the environmental and technical impacts resulting from the proposals and broadly established the requirements to control environmental impacts and manage the removal of asbestos in the dilapidated water reticulation distribution and drains. The modernization of the Yovon I&D system in the technical assistance was therefore able to subsequently include more detailed analysis and environmental assessment of the proposals for Phase 1 implementation of the Yovon I&D system modernization. In the study area in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan most crop production is carried out using irrigated agriculture that increases productivity of reclaimed lands in such arid regions. The project aimed to increase irrigation efficiency and the technical skills of men and women farmers, supporting improved farm practices, adoption of gated pipes for furrow irrigation, mechanized farming, efficient irrigation systems for homestead irrigation, and value chain enhancements through improved input sourcing and marketing infrastructure.