India: Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project

OBJECTIVE

To increase the safety of selected dams in participating States and to strengthen dam safety management in India.

DESCRIPTION

The project focuses on (i) upgrading and modernizing dam operation and maintenance, with accompanying institutional strengthening for safe and financially sustainable dam operations; and (ii) physical and technical dam rehabilitation and improvement. The project will comprise five components:

• Component 1: Rehabilitation and management planning for dams and associated appurtenances
• Component 2: Dam safety institutional strengthening
• Component 3: Risk-informed asset management and innovative financing for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams
• Component 4: Project management
• Component 5: Contingent emergency response

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

The project will be co-financed with the WB as lead co-financier, and the project’s environmental and social (ES) risks and impacts have been assessed in accordance with the WB’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). To ensure a harmonized approach to addressing the ES risks and impacts of the project, and as permitted under AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), the WB’s ESF will apply to the project in lieu of AIIB’s ESP. AIIB has reviewed the WB’s ESF and is satisfied that: (i) it is consistent with AIIB’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of AIIB’s ESP, including the relevant ES Standards; and (ii) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the project. The WB has categorized the ES risks of the project as High, which is equivalent to Category A if AIIB’s ESP were applicable. To address ES challenges that vary in nature but are not known at this stage, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Framework (SEF) and Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) Reports for the project have been prepared and disclosed in English on the Government of India’s website. These documents or at least summary of those documents will be prepared and translated into local language and be disclosed in a timely manner. Other ES documents, as required by World Bank’s ESF will be prepared and disclosed both in English and local language in an appropriate manner. Links to the ESMF, ESCP, SEF and ESDD have been disclosed on the AIIB’s website as well.

The project is expected to cover many existing dams across various States in India with varying geographical conditions and environmental and social sensitivities. As per the ESMF, all low to moderate risk sub-projects will be addressed through a standard Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) with relevant ES guidelines, but detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) will be undertaken for all sub-projects categorized as substantial to high risk and ESMPs will also be prepared and be disclosed together with ESIAs. Additional risks relate to social, legacy issues, physical and economic displacement, cultural heritage, as well as labor and sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment (SEA/SH), those will be managed through implementation of ESMP and resettlement action plans (RAPs) and other ES instruments those are prepared and implemented in accordance with the WB’s ESF. Similarly, dam investments could potentially be located in areas with significant tribal presence, in which case Tribal People’s Plans will be prepared and implemented in accordance with the WB’s ESF.

Dam safety assessments as well as design and construction supervision of rehabilitation/safety enhancement works will be undertaken by qualified experts. The results of dam safety/risk assessments as well as adequacy of proposed remedial works and quality of construction works will be periodically reviewed by independent Dam Safety Review Panels (DSRPs) that have been established by the participating States and other Project Implementing Entities (PIEs). These DSRPs will have technical as well as safety (including safeguards) oversight of the project works.

Under the WB’s Operational Policy (OP) 7.50, Projects on International Waterways, the IBRD conducted an assessment which concluded that the Project will not involve activities that would extract water from the tributaries in excess of the capacity of the existing dams as originally designed, and that the Project will not adversely change the quality or quantity of water flows to the other riparian and will not be adversely affected by the other riparian’s possible water use. On this basis, an exception to the riparian notification requirement under the WB’s OP 7.50 was obtained by the IBRD. AIIB is satisfied with the IBRD’s assessment capacity and process, and with this assessment.

A grievance redress mechanism (GRM) shall be developed use by external stakeholders to address the matters related to E&S issues. As the GRM works within existing legal and cultural frameworks, it is recognized that the GRM shall comprise project-level GRM and subproject-level GRMs. The information of established GRMs including GRS and IAM of the World Bank will need to be disseminated timely to the local communities of the Project and subprojects.