Uruguay

The objective of the Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Program Project for Uruguay is to improve transport efficiency through rehabilitation and maintenance of the... Show More + national road infrastructure and enhanced public sector capacity to plan, regulate and monitor transport and logistics services. Road maintenance and rehabilitation works are expected to improve road quality and to decrease road users' transport costs. The project would also include institutional strengthening activities, aimed at supporting the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (Ministerio de Transporte y obras Publicas, MTOP) in its planning and regulatory duties. It is considered that the potential environmental and social impact of the program is low. The rehabilitation and maintenance works were carried out in rural areas and the main impacts will occur during established periods, that is, rehabilitation (under 2 years) and maintenance (over 2 years). In both cases the presence of contractors and machinery can extend for several years in the same sector as after the rehabilitation contract, they can hire the same company or another for a maintenance contract. The main social and environmental impacts associated with the program are works related to rehabilitation works of roads and bridges, operation of camps, asphalt plants and lending sites (quarries), the generation of hazardous wastes (oils, lubricants, fuels) and inconvenience to the residents (noise, dust, risk of accidents, social relationships with contractors). Show Less -

The Natural Resources Management and Irrigation Development Project (PRENADER) aims to enhance productivity and efficiency in agriculture through sound management of... Show More + soil and water resources and minimization of adverse effects on natural ecosystems. Biodiversity is not expected to suffer any significant degradation since the project would not finance any irrigation and drainage activity within areas defined for protection and preservation under natural conditions. In the development and operation and maintenance of the irrigation sub-sector, a number of standard environmental issues have been identified, such as: physical degradation of soil, water contamination from agrochemicals under intensified agriculure; wasteful use of water; deteriorating quality of irrigation water; sedimentation of reservoirs; and damage to biodiversity. Through environmental assessment, steps will be taken within the project to address such issues in: 1) the identification of options to expand agricultural output; 2) initial irrigation and drainage sub-projects' selection; 3) feasibility analysis; and 4) construction and monitoring and evaluation of the irrigation and drainage operational phase. Show Less -