November 4-6, 2011 Committee for Roads of the Ministry of Transport and Communications conducted Public Hearings regarding Project for construction of the road section “Almaty–Khorgos” of the International Transit Corridor “Western Europe-Western China”

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The main aim for conducting meetings with the public of the region, through the territory of which Transit Corridor passes, was presentation of the carried-out design and survey works, informing the community, including land owners, whose interests were affected by the project, about feasible problems and measures for assistance in their solving, methods and forms of contact with Employer, Contractor, Local Executive Bodies, etc.

References: The length of the road section “Almaty – Khorgos” of International Transit Corridor “Western Europe – Western China” is 304 km. The road passes through the territory of five districts of Almaty Oblast: Ili, Talgar, Enbekshikazakh, Uigur and Panfilov. There are 33 settlements with population of more than 50 thousand people in zone of passing the above road section. The commencement of construction works has been planned for the beginning of 2012.

Overall characteristics of the road project, passing through the territory of oblast and each district in particular, together with all changes made and approved, was produced to the community at the meetings by General Designers of “Kazdorproject” LLP and JSC “Kazakhstan zholdary”. Specialists of the Committee for Roads gave explanations regarding the importance of the Project for the economy of the Republic on the whole and region in particular. Special website “New way to Europe” (www.еurope-china.kz) was presented, created with the purpose of information support of the Project, also giving an opportunity to communicate on-line through its sections “Questions-Answers”, ‘Contacts”. The participants of public hearings have been familiarized with the Resettlement Policy of the World Bank, as well as with mechanism of grievance redress and appeals for problem matters. Also, information about preparation of EIA Plan in accordance with the requirements of the World Bank were produced for owners’ attention, and brochures “Information for owners and land users about rights and compensation with involuntary acquisition of lands for state needs” were proposed.

Important part of the conducted meetings with the community was the discussion of matters, connected with arrangement of underpasses for domestic and wild animals, passage for agricultural equipment, protection from migration of sand dunes, legalization of borrow-pits and matters of employment for local community.

The owners were also interested in the matters of the commencement for construction works; compensation; technical parameters of the designed roads. For all these and other questions the participants of public hearings were given comprehensive answers.