Transcript Experience of Inspection Process in LBOD case

Experience of
Inspection Process
in LBOD case
Voice of People and Bank’s
Inspection Panel findings
Voice of People
Inspection Panel findings
There is strong Link between
LBOD and NDP
The evidence indicated that LBOD
and NDP have contributed
significant adverse impacts
Faulty alignment and wrong
direction of main disposal drain
This alignment was, however,
technically and environmentally
risky. Remote sensing data confirm
some of the doubts expressed by
the local people
Project planning has ignored
alternate historical disposal routes
The more appropriate technical
option would have been to follow
the natural route and link the
LBOD with Shakoor Dhand.
Continued….
Collapse of Cholrei weir and Tidal
link caused huge problems
Significant technical mistakes were
made during the design of the
Tidal link embankments and the
Cholri Weir. Tidal link structures
were critical to the performance of
the system but the design had
substantial inherent risk. The
underestimation of risk and lack of
appropriate technical measures
have contributed to suffering of
local people in lower Badin
Increased sea intrusion due to
collapse of tidal link
Designers did not evaluate the
likelihood that, under prevailing
metrological conditions, high
surface water run-off from
upstream areas would coincide
with high water levels in Arabian
Sea.
Continued….
Blockage of run off water to south in
Runn of Kutch has negatively
affected grazing areas, vegetation
and forests
People in these areas also face
serious problems of drinking water,
and have lost grazing land. The
overall morphology of the region is
being changed. The construction of
the Tidal Link and the embankments
had cut-off and diverted the surface
flow and consequently destroyed the
grazing areas
Back water effects during high tide
time is affecting the fertility of land
in huge area because back water
effects is felt in the command area of
korti barrage surface drainage
system
Problem has been observed with low
lying drains linked to the LBOD such
as the Seerani drain. The outlets of
these drains are now under the
influence of tidal movement. At high
tide, water flows back into these
drains causing salinization of
groundwater and of adjoining land.
Continued…
Flooding due to the breaches in drains
inundated about 75 villages.
Fifty four breaches in the
embankments occurred at different
locations, bringing devastation and
loss of life to adjacent communities.
Project had induced displacementThe panel observes that the Bank,
About 50,000 people were displaced in at appraisal of NDP project, failed to
2003
identify emerging risks that
LBOD/Tidal link problems could lead
to significant harm and even
displacement of local people, even
though the project had plans to
complete and expand LBOD. Panel
finds that Bank failed to take the
necessary actions under OD 4.30 to
identify and prepare for the
possibility of such displacement,
and the extent to which it has
occurred.
Continued…
Threat to indigenous Mallah
community due to loss of their
livelihood sources such as wetlands
and marine pollution
The Mallah seem to fit more, but not
all, of the criteria of OD 4.20. In this
context panel finds that Management
did not initiate a process to
determine whether the NDP project
would affect any group of people
which would qualify as indigenous
people under OD 4.20
Destruction of coastal wetlands
Tidal link failure has led to major
harm to the dhands ecosystem,
wildlife and fisheries, upon which
many people depend for their
livelihood.
Faulty environmental assessment
Under the NDP project neither the
potential environmental nor the
potential social impacts of the project
in the area of concern to Requesters
were considered in a meaningful way
until the submission of the Request.
Continued…
Loss of agriculture land and top soil
due to sea intrusion and flooding
Increased salinity has affected large
tracts of agriculture land.
Degradation of Indus Delta and threat
to marine life due to disposal of toxic
industrial effluents and agriculture
waste into sea by drains
Saline intrusion up the Indus Delta
harming agriculture of the adjacent
districts, including Thatta. Reduction of
water supply, and its contamination
(by saline drainage and biocides),
damage to 1.5 million acres of
farmland in Thatta and Badin, causing
dislocation and extensive economic
losses.
There was no proper environmental
assessment and Bank just accepted
the old document of Drainage Sector
Environmental Assessment (DSEA)
The analysis underestimated the
potential negative environmental
effects and failed to identify and
assess adequately critical
environmental concerns of relevance
to the affected areas in Southern
Sindh province. .
Continued…
Destruction of internationally
The NDP project in combination with
important wetlands two of these sites the inter-related LBOD system has
are recognized as a Ramsar sites
contributed to significant negative
effects on natural habitats, including
the dhands.
Lack of information sharing with
community
Management has acknowledged that
the NDP project did not comply with
BP 17.50 with respect to disclosure of
the Environment Assessment, since
the 1993 DSEA was not disclosed incounty to affected stakeholders
Lack of community participation and Unfortunately, the people of Southern
consultation with community which is Sindh, whose lives were already
going to be affected by the project
recognized as being affected by the
Tidal link, fell outside the field of
vision of those who designed and
appraised the project.
Continued…
Transparency
The choleri Weir collapsed only one week after the publication of
implementation completion report (ICR). This started the unraveling of
the drainage outfall system. The panel is concerned that the ICR that
was circulated to the Board was insufficiently transparent on important
shortcomings of the project.
Supervision
The Panel finds that Management was slow to visit the site of the
Tidal Link failure, and did not have a consistent approach to interacting
with the local population to understand and address the social and
environmental implications of this failure. Management’s failure to
consult with downstream affected-people for over half a decade
following the breaches in the Tidal Link is of great concern to the Panel.
Conclusion
To a very large degree, the damages suffered by people in the projectaffected areas, described in this Report, have not been redressed, and
many of the same conditions that led to these harms are still in place.
Local people submitted their request for justice in
2004. After 4 years there is no significant outcome;
therefore they reiterate their legitimate request
once again saying that:
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Entire LBOD effluent should be diverted to Dhoro Puran Outfall
Drain (DPOD), Kori Creek and other natural routes, Kadhan
Pateji Outfall Drain (KPOD) should be completely closed at RD159
The sub-drains of Kotri barrage including Tando Bago, Lowari
and Seerani drain be let to outfall in Rann of Kutch through
KPOD at RD 00.00
The existing Tidal Link Canal, which is main cause of sea
intrusion and degradation of wetland, should immediately be
de-linked. We propose that dykes should be constructed in
between the historical lakes and historical tide line, closing the
mouth of tidal link canal
The ecology of the wetlands should be restored and wetlands
should be brought on their original condition.
Government of Pakistan and all the donors including World
Bank, Asian Development Bank should publicly take the
responsibility of the problems and announce not further
extension of the LBOD drains.
They also demand short – term
measures to compensate the losses
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All the losses including agriculture, livestock, houses and wetlands should be
calculated in collaboration with affectees and they should be compensated
without any delay.
Families of the people who were killed by drowning in drains should be
separately compensated.
The World Bank and Government of Sindh should initiate a program for
employment generation of at least 2000 to 3000 people in the area on
emergency basis to protect the right to life and food.
The World Bank and Government of Sindh should provide free of cost boats, nets,
subsidized gasoline, livestock and at least for four agriculture seasons seed and
fertilizer in order to cope the economic shocks people have suffered.
Government of Sindh should announce immediately the free fishing zone for
fishermen and should shelve the plan if it has to auction or other control
mechanism on fishing in Badin in order to facilitate the majority of people to get
out from poverty.
The water flow to wetlands should be ensured as it was before the operation of
the project.
Government of Sindh should ensure the supply of irrigation water to this tail area
of the canal commands.
Free of cost medical facilities should be provided on emergency basis to treat the
severe illnesses like tuberculosis and kidney problems for at least two years. This
is very serious issue and should be tackled on priority basis to release the health
burden of poor.
The government of Sindh and World Bank should start a crush program for
improving the education in this area and bring the people at Par with other areas
Actions Proposed
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A high powered committee be constituted to
investigate the case thoroughly, suggest
permanent (not adhoc) mitigation measures in
consultation with the local community to redress
the grievances of the people and to bring the
conditions of the area at pre-project level with a
better hope for their livelihood, education,
agriculture, livestock husbandry and overall
better future. The committee shall be authorized
to fix the responsibility of the project failure
High Powered Committee
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MPA of the area
District Nazim Badin
Two Bank members; one from WB and other from ADB
Two members one from WAPDA and one from PID
Two nominees from Academia
/ Technocrats
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Mr. Mazhar-ul-Haque Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, University of Sindh
Mr. Muhammad Idrees Rajput Eminent Scholar and Irrigation expert
Two members from local community
Two members from the leading NGOs working in the locality
Committee shall to come up with concrete
proposals and work plan with in 6 months
TORs of the Committee
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Fix responsibility on individuals / institutions involved in the
project failure and sufferings of the people
Recommend compensation for the loss to the life and
property of the local people
Propose plan of action to dispose off the drainage effluent
safely through the natural routes without harming the
ecosystem. If required, the committee may propose
abandoning the existing infrastructure in broader interest of
the local community
Recommend the actions to revive the sweet water dhands,
the fishermen’s livelihood, agricultural lands, livestock and
natural habitats
Propose stopping further extension in LBOD/NDP project if
not in the best interest of the local community
Propose using the drainage effluent for the development of
Thar area if feasible
Recommendations of the committee shall be obligatory for
the Government of Pakistan and the donors