Resettlement Planning Document Resettlement Plan for Pangot-Bagartalla Road Subproject Document Stage: Final Project Number: 38255 May 2008 India: Uttarakhand State Road Investment Program Prepared by Public Works Department, Government of Uttarakhand. The resettlement plan is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. INDIA: UTTARAKHAND STATE ROAD INVESTMENT PROGRAM Pangot- Bagartalla Road Subproject SHORT RESETTLEMENT PLAN Public Works Department Government of Uttarakhand India MAY 2008 SHORT RESETTLEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS DESCRIPTION Page No. List of Abbreviation 2 Executive Summary 3 A Introduction 6 B Description of the Project Road 6 C Scope and Objectives of SRP 7 D Resettlement Impact 7 E Socio-Economic Profile of the Affected Persons 9 F Relocation and Compensation 10 G Issues Related with Indigenous People 10 H Gender Issues in the Road 11 I Policy Framework 11 J Consultation and Public Participation 14 K Institutional Arrangements 14 L Monitoring and Evaluation 15 M Grievance Redressal Committee 15 N R&R Cost Estimate 15 O Implementation Schedule 16 LIST OF ANNEXES Annexure I: List of Affected Persons Annexure II: Public Consultation Participants Annexure III: Terms of Reference for NGO/Agency Annexure IV: Terms of Reference for an External Monitoring & Evaluation Agency/Consultant - 1 - LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank AP Affected Person BPL Below Poverty Line EA Executing Agency FGD Focus Group Discussions GOI Government of India GRC Grievance Redressal Committee HH Household IPSA Initial Poverty & Social Assessment IP Indigenous Peoples LA Land Acquisition NGO Non-Government Organizations NPRR National Policy on Resettlement & Rehabilitation PIU Project Implementation Unit PMU Project Management Unit PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal PWD Public Works Department RF Resettlement Framework RO Resettlement Officer RP Resettlement Plan R&R Resettlement & Rehabilitation SC Schedule Caste ST Schedule Tribe TORs Terms of Reference - 2 - Executive Summary of the Short Resettlement Plan A. Description of the Project 1. The proposed Uttarakhand State Road Improvement Program is part of state’s infrastructure vision, which covers improvement of existing road network for about 287 km of selected MDR/ODR/VR/LVR located in 6 districts namely Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Champawat in the Kumaon zone (Package I). The road improvement program will benefit directly the poor living in the region , as road transport is the primary—and often the only— form of transport. Thus, an efficient road network linking villages, towns, and cities will provide stronger links between remote and poor regions and more developed markets. Infrastructure development encourages other development initiatives, which together considerably stimulate economic growth. Thus, the project is expected to improve the socioeconomic situation significantly, and enhance poverty reduction. 2. This Short Resettlement Plan has been prepared based on detailed design for Pangot to Bagartalla road (6+000 km) in Nainital district. There are 21 structures found on the project road. Of the total 21 structures, 16 structures were saved in the designing of the road, however 3 residential structures belong to titleholders are likely to be affected. 2 Toilets will be affected. The project does not make any impact on livelihood of any affected family. There are no non titleholders found on the project. B. Objectives of the Short Resettlement Plan 3. This Short Resettlement Plan is prepared to deal with impacts of land acquisition and resettlement issues resulting from the rehabilitation of the said road subproject. The Plan provides an analysis of the impacts, identifies the nature and types of losses, and establishes an entitlement matrix as a guide to payments for compensation and resettlement benefits. The primary objective of this short RP is to prepare a plan, restoring the income and living standards of the affected persons (APs) if any, due to land acquisition within a short period of time without any disruptions in their own economic and social environment. C. Resettlement Impacts 4. Minimization of resettlement was achieved mainly by reducing the corridor of impact. Based on the availability of RoW and likely improvement strategy, it was agreed in consultation with PWD to reduce the corridor of impact to 5.75 m. In keeping in view, the technical design aims at minimization of the resettlement impact by means of best utilization of the available space by avoiding private and public assets and land acquisition as far as possible. Census and socio-economic survey and public consultations have been undertaken in the month of February 2008 .After minimizing the negative resettlement impacts, 3 residential structures would be affected with minor loss. 2 Toilets will be affected. The private structures likely to be affected belongs to titleholders .There are no non titleholders are likely to be impacted. No relocation of the structures is required; no impact on livelihood is envisaged. D. Socio-economic Profile of Affected Households 5. The census survey identified socio-economic characteristics of the affected households. In general the economy of the area is agrarian. There is only one household works as a labor and 5 households are engaged in agriculture or related field. The average annual income of the affected households is between Rs. 20000- 50000 annually. Of 6 affected households, one household belongs to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category likely to be impacted by the project. The average size of affecting household works out to be 3.6. E. Relocation and Compensation 6. There are no relocation of household is envisaged in this road section as there is no total loss of any residential structure or commercial structures. So far as the relocation needs, none of the - 3 - structure will be displaced. Thus none of the APs will be displaced. No relocation of the structures is required; no impact on livelihood is envisaged. F. Issues related with Indigenous People 7. In the state of Uttarakhand, the tribal (scheduled tribe) population constitutes only 3% of the total population. There is no any scheduled tribe (ST) population being negatively affected by the Sub- road. Keeping in view above facts, no separate Indigenous People Development Plan (IPDP) has been prepared for this road. G. Gender impacts 8. Women in the region are largely involved in household work, cultivation and other agricultural activities. They use the road for their routine household activities and economic activities such as agriculture and marketing etc. Availability of all weather roads with safe connectivity with better transport services will benefit the women folk of the area. Their mobility will be augmented both in terms of access to social services, higher levels of schooling and better health facility etc. There are no women headed households will be affected as a result of the project. H. Policy Framework 9. The resettlement principles adopted for this subproject recognize the Land Acquisition (LA) Act 1894 and the entitlement benefits as listed in the National Policy on R&R, (Govt of India) 2006, and the relevant Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) policies and operations manuals, in particular the policy on Involuntary Resettlement (1995), and Operations Manual F2 on Involuntary Resettlement (2006). 10. The RP is based on the general findings of the census survey, field visits, and meetings with various project-affected persons in the subproject area. Taking into account the various losses, the Entitlement Matrix provides for compensation and resettlement assistance to all affected persons. Compensation will be paid to all APs for the lost assets on the basis of current replacement cost. An Entitlement Matrix specific to the road has been developed, which recognizes and lists various types of losses resulting out of the project and the compensation and resettlement packages is provided in main SRP. I. Stakeholder Participation and Disclosure of RP 11. In the road consultation, the people provided suggestions on R&R (Resettlement and Rehabilitation) issues e.g. how the adverse impacts can be minimized, kind of compensation, shifting allowances and other allowances to be provided to them that helps them to rebuild their structures, if they would be affected. The participants were of the opinion that i) project activities should be carried out within available land and avoid further acquisition; ii) Where unavoidable, proper price of land at current market rate should be given to the affected owners; iii) CPR should be relocated in consultation with the community.. Further, the consultations and discussions with the project affected people will be a continuing activity throughout the implementation of the project and PIU will be assisted by local NGO for it. The NGO involved in the implementation activities will keep the affected people informed about the impacts, the compensation and assistances proposed for them and facilitate addressing any grievances. The summary of short resettlement plan and the entitlement matrix will be translated into the local language and will be disclosed to affected persons and made available at offices of PWD, PMU and ADB website. J. Implementation Arrangements 12. PWD will be the Executing Agency (EA) for the Project. The Project Management Unit (PMU) with assistance of Social