EGYPT-Integrated Irrigation Improvement and Management Project
Provisional Resettlement Action Plan
(MahmoudiaCanal km 0 to km 15)
1.0Background
In the framework of the Integrated Irrigation Improvement and Management Project (IIIMP), an assessment of the stability and hydraulic capacity of the main canal system in Mahmoudia and Meet Yazid Command areas was conducted by ‘Royal Haskoning’ Consultants.
The assessment suggests that some sections of the MahmoudiaCanal have been illegally backfilled for agricultural and housing purposes by the local community, particularly between km 0 and km 15 of the canal. The assessment’s final report dated December 2004 recommends excavation of the canal’s embankments (and removal of the illegal filling) to restore the canal’s hydraulic flow capacity to the 1979 designs. The report suggests that the excavation may necessitate the removal of illegal occupancy of houses and cultivation throughout the target restoration area.
The IIIMP’s Environmental Assessment (EA) consultants were requested to survey the main canal between km 0 and km 15 to identify the potential need for relocation of illegal canal bank occupancy, suggest a potential Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), and estimate a potential budget for the relocation. The following figure depicts a location map for the surveyed area.
Figure 1: Location map of the surveyed area between km 0 (navigational lock) and km 16 (approximately at the juncture between MahmoudiaCanal and KhandakSharkiCanal)
2.0Survey of Affected Community
With a view to prepare the RAP, a site audit was conducted by the consultants (for km 0 –km 15) on 16/12/2004, with the attendance of the Mahmoudia Irrigation District Director. The purpose of the survey was to identify and quantify the existing occupiers. For the purpose of this survey violations are identified as illegal occupancy of the canal bank (either on the canal’s Berm, Road, or illegal backfilling).
Although other violations exist on the canal’s ‘Back Berm’, however, those were excluded from this survey as they pose no immediate need for clearance for restoring the hydraulic flow capacity of the canal for the IIIMP.
The following figure illustrates a generic cross section of the canal denoting the nomenclature of the different sections.
According to discussions with the District’s director, and observations during the site survey, the violations take several forms along the surveyed section, namely:
2.1 Agricultural Use
Along the first 15 kms of the main canal reach, there are several locations where the canal’s Berm (on both sides of the canal) is used for cultivation. These locations can mainly be found adjacent to agricultural fields (minor presence in areas with high population density. These Berms are illegally used, in the majority of cases, by the same owners of the farms situated adjacent to the cutting road. As such the consultants understand that in the majority of these violations, its removal will not constitute a threat of income loss to the violators (as they already own other farm area).
Figure 2: illegal Berm cultivation expanded by illegal backfilling into the canal.
The widths of these Berms range between 2-9 meters, with the predominant width of 5 meters. In some cases the violators resort to backfilling the canal to extend the width of the Berm to increase the cultivated area.
Figure 3: An illegal Berm cultivation depicting the progress of illegally backfilling the canal (the protruding section of the Berm into the canal)
In other cases, there are no distinguishing features between the canal’s: Berm – road – back Berm, where the field is horizontally extended directly to the canal’s bank.
Figure 4: Cultivation extending from a field to the bank of the canal with no distinguishing division between the field, the back Berm, the road, and the canal Berm
Out of this area, the consultants estimate (based on discussions with the officials accompanied during the survey) that around 10-15% of this area (1.5-2 feddans) constitutes a single source of income for a small margin of the squatters.
2.2 Housing Use
On both sides of the surveyed section of the canal, several locations were spotted were the canal’s Berm was used for by the local community for residence by building mud / brick houses. In some locations it was noticeable that the Berm was extended into the canal by illegal backfilling to lay the foundations for these houses. The houses can be found in the form of a single structure (one unit) or as a cluster of 10-15 houses adjacent to each other.
Figure 5: The two pictures above illustrate illegal backfilling into the canal for the purpose of building housing units. The picture on the left shows the road running behind a cluster of houses (houses are noticeably extending beyond the canal’s berm on the left side of the picture)
The highest concentration of violating housing concentrations are located in the Zarkoon village area (kms 8-11), and Nekla village Area (km 1-2). Between those two concentration areas, almost a total of 80 units are clustered together.
Figure 6: Pictures above depict the clustering of houses on the canal bank and berm at Nekla and Zarkoon villages (some of which are built on illegally backfilled sections of the canal
2.3 Workshops
In addition to violations in the form of agricultural/housing use, the survey also reveals that there are a number of locations were workshops of brick are constructed on the canal bank/ Berm. These workshops are typically mechanic, carpenters, and food services. The consultants’ count of these workshops was around 9 violations.
In one instance it was noted that a considerable fishing boats building activity was occupying the bank of the canal.
Figure 7: A major fishing boats building and repair activity illegally occupying the right Berm and bank of the canal at Km 8
Based on discussions with the workshop owners, the consultants understood that their main incentive to locate the workshops on the Berms was the fact that it is a prime location adjacent to high traffic flow road, therefore helping them generate a good income.
2.4 Kiosks
The survey also reveals that there are around 35 smaller kiosks (built of wood) built on the canal Berm at various locations. These kiosks typically sell cigarettes, biscuits, cold drinks …etc. The kiosk owners have resorted to setting up their business on these Berms due to the fact that the roads adjacent to the Berms carry a high vehicle traffic rate, therefore enabling them to generate higher incomes.
2.5 Mosques
There were a total of (5) mosques counted that occupy the canal banks (in some cases extended into the canal itself by backfilling. The mosques vary in size some of which has the estimated capacity of almost 20-30 persons, while others are much bigger multi-floored structures accommodating perhaps more than a 100 praying visitors.
Figure 8: The picture on the left depict a two story mosque (construction in progress) extending into the canal at km 2, while the picture on the right depict a smaller mosque built on backfilled section of the canal at km 12
3.0Proposed Relocation Alternatives
It is worth highlighting here that according to the discussions with the Mahmoudia Irrigation District Officials, although the violations are illegal and warrant immediate removal, however:
Some violations do not constitute a major influencing factor in restricting the hydraulic flow capacity of the MahmoudiaCanal at the section between km 0-15. However, to avoid injustice among all the violators, it is suggested that all violations are removed.
In the majority of housing use type violations, it may potentially be difficult to vacate these violations (for social reason), especially for larger clusters of housing type violations. According to several attempts of the Irrigation District Director, such resolution would necessitate effective action by the local police task force. However, this action was not possible if the police force determine that the housing violation is ‘inhabited’ by a family on permanent basis. The main cause or reluctance for removal of the violation is the lack of a meaningful alternative to vacate the violating family. This lack of relocation alternative (that would permit the removed violating family to find housing elsewhere) is considered by the police force as a security threat.
Although some of the violations are attributed to poverty and the lack of alternative resources, the majority of the identified violations (with the exception of housing type violations) may be attributed to the incentive of increasing the generated revenue.
Based on these three considerations, the consultants propose the following relocation alternatives for the various types of identified violations.
Type of Violation / Resolution/Relocation AlternativeAgricultural Use / Almost 85 % of the cultivated area does not warrant relocation/compensation if excavation or backfilling removal is performed as the violators have alternative farming area and source of income. Nevertheless, in order to comply with the Bank’s policy on Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12) they would have to be compensated for lost assets or agricultural revenue.
For the remaining 15 %, Bank policy on Involuntary Resettlement requires:
- Direct financial compensation to enable the violators to relocate to another area, and to restore their income.
- Relocation to other farm area (typically desert reclamation projects) after consultation with the affected people.
- Rehabilitation of the affected violators, in cooperation with the Social Fund for Development, to gain skills and or employment opportunities in other income generating activities.
Housing Use / There are mainly three proposed alternatives for resolution of this type of violation:
Direct financial compensation for the housing to enable the removed violators to relocate to alternative housing of their choice, paid at market value for housing and other lost assets.
Securing alternative accommodation, in cooperation with Behera Governorate’s Housing Directorate, by providing residential units in the directorate’s housing projects. These units are built by the governorate as a public service and range in size between 60-80 m2. The reported price of a single unit is 12,000.00 EGP.
Constructing similar units on land owned by the MWRI. Such sites could be selected on the back Berms of already existing large clusters of Housing.
A rapid consultation with the occupants of a sample of these housing units suggest their acceptance to move to better homes with installed utilities. However, all insisted that they will not move out before ownership deeds for the new house or the compensation money are secured.
Workshops / Typically, these workshops already have their equipment and tools that would only need to be transported to alternative sites. Alternative relocation units may be identified by the Mahmoudia District in areas properly designated for such type of activity. These units may either be rented or bought by the workshop owners according to market prices. The project would pay the compensation and costs of relocation at market value.
IIIMP would have to be involved in facilitating the designation of alternative units for the relocation of these workshops, in coordination with the Mahmoudia District Local Unit
Kiosks / In the event that these kiosks would need to be transported, alternative locations may be designated by the Mahmoudia District Local Unit. The wooden kiosks and the merchandize carried within would be easily transported to the designated alternative sites.
The IIIMP may be involved in facilitating the designation of alternative sites for the relocation of these kiosks in coordination with the Mahmoudia District Local Unit.
Mosques / Places of worship carry a symbolic and an important significance to the communities of rural areas in Egypt. Consultations with the Irrigation District officials reveal that the violations are not restrictive to the hydraulic flow capacity of the canal.
Accordingly, it is not recommended to relocate / remove the mosques to avoid community resistance to and resentment of the project.
4.0Estimated Budget
Type of Violation / Cost of Relocation Alternative(EGP) / Description
Agricultural Use / 120,000.00 / The area of violations that may warrant compensation is around 2 feddans. The market price for the feddan in the Mahmoudia District is around 60 000.00 EGP. The consultants use the price of feddan as the baseline budget unit for compensation, relocation and or rehabilitation.
Housing Use / 1,800,000.00 / For a total of 150 units (housing violations) at the cost of 12,000.00 EGP/unit. The consultants assume the price of one housing unit (provided by the Governorate Housing Directorate) as the baseline budget per violation either for compensation or relocation.
Mosques / 0.00 / It is not recommended to relocate / remove mosques to avoid social resistance to the project.
Administration Expenses / 96,000.00 / An estimated 5% of the actual relocation costs
Contingencies / 96,000.00 / An estimated 5% of the actual relocation costs
Total Budget for Relocation. / 2,112,000.00
5.Basic calendar for the execution of the RAP
About 150 housing units will have to be moved, and this will involve the resettlement of approximately 900 people. Following the approval of the land acquisition and resettlement process, project-affected people will sign contracts with the dedicated Regional Implementation Teams (RIT) for the Mahmoudia command area.
The RIT (which include primarily the Mahmoudia District Local Unit) will coordinate the work to identify appropriate relocation sites and manage the compensation process. The construction of resettlement sites should be fully completed prior to the transfer of people and the demolition of buildings at the project site. It is critical to review whether progress on the RAP is proceeding in tandem with the main investment that is causing the displacement. The adequacy of preparation of resettlement sites at the time when resettlers are moved there should be given specific attention.
6.Supervising the execution of the RAP
The Mahmoudia Regional Coordniation Unit and the regional representation of the Ministry of Interiorwill be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the execution of the RAP. This will require close supervision and regular visits to departure and receiving sites. Actual versus planned resettlement performance should be evaluated. It is important that people displaced by project activities are able to restore or improve their income and productivity capacity. The supervision should take place in close consultation with the affected people, and NGOs and “popular/local councils”, which play a constructive role, should to the extent possible be involved at the different stages of supervision.
7.Grievance procedures
In order to strengthen the implementation and supervision of the RAP, a provision for the establishment a grievance committee will be made to ensure that the interests of the project-affected people are taken care of. The establishment of an appropriate grievance mechanism should focus on providing affordable and accessible procedures for third party settlement of disputes. This should be established within the project to settle project related disputes.