DESCRIPTION
Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL), State of Assam’s sole transmission utility, is responsible for the operation, maintenance and development of the transmission system. AEGCL currently operates 82 substations, which includes 1 no. of 400 kV, 14 no. of 220 kV, and 67 no. of 132 kV substations with 9,630 megavolt-ampere (MVA) capacity, and its transmission network comprises 5,395.486 circuit kilometers (km) of transmission lines of various voltage classes.
The project aims to strengthen Assam’s electricity transmission system by (a) constructing transmission substations and laying transmission lines with the associated infrastructure; (b) upgrading existing substations, transmission lines and existing ground wire to optical power ground wire; and (c) providing technical assistance to support project implementation.
The strengthening program of the transmission system of Assam has been divided into 2 phases, this project constitutes phase 2 of the program. It will construct or upgrade approximately 14 Extra High Voltage (EHV) grid substations along with associated transmission lines and provide technical assistance to support project implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION
Applicable Policy and Categorization. The Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) and the Environmental and Social Exclusion List (ESEL) applies to this project. ESS 1 (Environmental and Social Assessment and Management) is applicable. The project consists of subprojects whose details are not yet identified and required the adoption of a phased approach in accordance with the ESP. This project is the Phase II of the program. Applicability of ESS 2 (Involuntary Resettlement) and ESS 3 (Indigenous Peoples) will be assessed during project implementation. The project has been assigned as Category “B” in accordance with the ESP on the basis that the project environmental and social (E&S) risks and impacts are site-specific, temporary and can be mitigated through standard E&S management practices.
Environmental and Social Instruments. An Environmental and Social Management Planning Framework (ESMPF) has been prepared based on requirements provided by the Bank. The ESMPF, including the model Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for selected subprojects, a generic Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), a Resettlement Planning Framework (RPF), Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework for Scheduled Tribes, Gender Action Plan (GAP), and Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment were reviewed and revised incorporating AIIB’s inputs. Subprojects specific ESIAs and ESMPs will be prepared following the framework procedures provided in the ESMPF. These ESIAs and ESMPs will set out the measures to mitigate the subproject’s E&S risks and impacts in a manner consistent with AIIB’s ESP and ESSs. Compliance with the ESMPF will be made a covenant of the loan agreement.
Environmental Aspects. New substations, related transmission lines, and facilities will be sited to avoid environmentally sensitive and/or protected areas through the subprojects selection criteria. Anticipated impacts will occur in the construction stage, e.g., dust, noise and interruption to local traffic and local business and residents. These environmental impacts can be largely managed and controlled through properly designed site-specific mitigation measures and adequate implementation during construction. The generic ESMP includes provisions related to occupational and community health and safety, plans for ecological protection, air, noise and waste-water pollution control, construction waste management and the management of labor. Archaeological chance finds procedures are recommended to be applied to all construction activities. The generic ESMP has considered the most complicated scenario to address the anticipated impacts, and set out the institutional arrangements, monitoring, and capacity building for project implementation.
Social and Gender Aspects. Potential negative social impacts will be addressed and managed in accordance with the provisions of the generic ESMP, RPF and IPPF. The proposed substations, which are already identified and finalized, will be mostly located on government land or AEGCL’s own land. The acquisition of land is not foreseen for the transmission line component in the project. Design and construction of substations and transmission lines will be undertaken to minimize negative social impacts in compliance with the ESMP, which addresses land acquisition, adverse effect on agriculture and/or livelihoods, associated construction disturbances and other risks (including gender-based violence). If permanent or temporary land acquisition is required in certain cases, it will be carried out by negotiating with the landowners in the presence of district revenue officers as per the guidelines mentioned in the RPF, following national laws: ‘Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013’, National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy, 2007 Provision in the Electricity Act, 2003 read with relevant provisions of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and AIIB’s ESP.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Labor and Working Conditions and Supply Chain. As continuation of the Assam program (currently in implementation), AEGCL shall maintain applying adequate health and safety measures for project workers, and bidding documents will include clauses on how contractors will address health and safety requirements. The ESMP identifies key OHS risks and requires the establishment and implementation of Contractor OHS plans. Safety risks to community members and third parties also exist. There are hazards associated with excavations and mobilization of equipment and materials, and risks of falling into pits or being struck by heavy equipment. These hazards and risks are identified in the ESMP and the project is committed to applying standard industry mitigation measures. AEGCL will supervise and monitor that civil works contractors apply the ESMP and comply with applicable labor laws and regulations, including adopting and enforcing the codes of conduct for workers to mitigate potential labor-related issues (including guidelines for resolution of Gender Based Violence).
Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation and Information Disclosure. Consultations concerning the ESMPF, model ESIA and generic ESMP have been conducted. The consultations will continue during preparation of subproject specific ESIAs and project implementation. The English versions of the ESMPF and ESIA and Assamese versions of the executive summaries of the ESMPF are disclosed on AEGCL’s website and will also be disclosed on AIIB’s website, with hard copies made available in the project area.
Project Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). Under the current program, a functioning project-level multi-tier GRM was developed in accordance with the requirements of the ESP, which will continue to be applied for this project. Locally appropriate public consultations and disclosure processes will be conducted timely to disseminate information about the GRM for new subprojects under the Phase II program including the information of Bank’s Project-affected People’s Mechanism (PPM). Communities and individuals who believe that they are adversely affected by the project will be able to submit complaints to the project-level GRM for their resolution. In addition to the above GRM for addressing complaints from the local community, commensurate mechanism will be made available at the contractor level for worker’s grievance.
Monitoring and Supervision Arrangements. The monitoring and supervision under the current program will be maintained and applied for this project. The PMU Project Director, supported by E&S personnel, will be responsible for compliance monitoring and supervising the implementation of the ESMP. Compliance monitoring will be carried out against key performance indicators set out in the ESMP and findings will be reported semi-annually to AIIB based on an agreed format. The Bank will also undertake its own compliance field monitoring missions as needed, to verify findings. The frequency of the missions will depend on implementation progress and complexity.
