Resettlement policy framework and specific resettlement action plan

Risks related to land acquisition

This sub-chapter summarizes the risks identified by farmers and specialists during the 2009 SA census, discussions in FGDs and in-depth interviews.

Related to Interceptor drains construction:

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  Optimization of farms. The process is not completed. The number of farms subject to land acquisition may be further reduced in the future. Thus, the proportion of land to be taken from affected farmers may change;
  
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  The FS intends to start IDs construction during the second half of the first year of the Project implementation. The plans could be changed because the optimum time needed for the preparation of land acquisition and compensation procedures estimated by SA team as 8 months as minimum. Because of the problems with cadastre after optimization, it will take additional time for Uzgeocadastre (which is responsible for the calculation of losses) to do the new maps¹⁵. Also the compensation is linked to the ball-bonitet. And cadastre services will have to re-evaluate the ball-bonitet of new merged affected lands accurately. It may take additional time also;
  
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  Risk of conflicts between farmers and implementing agencies (contractor, Project team, Geocadastre bodies etc.) during the process of land acquisition is rather low, but even one case of conflict could stop the process of the construction of the whole drain.
  
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  Leasehold farmers’ incomes and expenses are not fully reflected in the accounting system / bills. Secondary crops are the coping mechanism for many farmers and the only reason for them to be farmers at all, especially on unproductive flooded lands with small incomes from cotton and wheat. These will not be taken into consideration for the calculation of compensation since it is the farmers themselves who refrain from revealing accurate information;
  
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  There are many requests from local specialists to be more involved during the stage of the detailed design. They have many suggestions which sound reasonably. There is fear that without their participation land to be acquired would not be sufficiently minimized;
  
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  The construction works must be completed as soon as possible and on-time. A long time is needed for the construction of IDs and possible delays in construction works will hinder the use of land temporarily acquired; this in turn will lower farm incomes;
  
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  Temporary losses of large amount of land (up to 40-50 meters width will be occupied by ID) is the subject of concern for those who deal with orchards, because their plots 1-2 ha only and they may lose more than 80 percent of their gardens. These farmers want to be provided with additional land plots;
  
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  The system of irrigation will be damaged and the Contractor will have to repair the damage; there is fear that the Contractor may delay the repair works or perform inadequate repairs;
  
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  The same risk exists in relationship to roads and other infrastructure; people fear that the damage that Contractor would cause would either not be repaired at all or the relevant work would be substantially delayed, thus causing loses in income;
  
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  The reduction of the State order parallel to the reduction of land holdings (as a result of the land acquisition process) is a complicated issue. Nevertheless, Local khokims are eager to help the farmers for this purpose as is the Regional khokimiyat that has already agreed to adjust the State order subsequent to land acquisition; and
  
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  Some of the IDs are expected to be constructed near the railroad and along the state border with Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz authorities, state border authority, and the railroad authority should be informed in a timely manner to avoid problems.