Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project
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Safeguards Monitoring Report Project No. 42248-013 Annual Report April 2014 2763-BAN (SF): Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project Prepared by Mohammad Nurul Islam & Kh. Khairul Matin, Consultants Safeguard and Quality Monitoring Cell, for the Asian Development Bank. This social and environmental monitoring report 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. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Safeguard & Quality Monitoring Report №2 March-April 2014 Prepared by Mohammad Nurul Islam & Kh. Khairul Matin, Consultants Safeguard and Quality Monitoring Cell i The People’s Republic of Bangladesh & Asian Development Bank Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project Loan № 2763-BAN, Project № 42248-013 Date: 17 July 2014 To Ms. Satoko Tanaka Senior Transport Specialist Bangladesh Resident Mission Plot E-31, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh Subject: Loan 2763-BAN: Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project - Safeguards Quality Monitoring Report № 2 Dear Ms. Tanaka, With reference to the above, this is to inform you that the consultants of the Safeguard and Quality Monitoring Cell (SQMC) have prepared a report based on their inputs provided to the project from 02 March to 30 April 2014 and is sent herewith. Your comments will be appreciated. Sincerely yours Mohammad Nurul Islam Environmental Engineer (Consultant) Safeguard and Quality Monitoring Cell E-mail: [email protected] CC: 1. Mr. Sukrity Ranjann Chakma (ndc), Project Director (PMO), Second Chittagong HillTracts Rural Development Project, Rangamati. (E-mail: [email protected]) 2. Mr. Swapon Kumar Das, Project Director (PIO), CHTRDP-II, LGED Bhaban, Dhaka. (E-mail: [email protected]) 3. Kh. Khairul Matin, Social Safeguard Specialist (Consultant), SQMC, CHTDDP-II. (E-mail: [email protected]) 4. Mr. J.A.M. Bert Van Ommen, Team Leader, PIC, CHTRDP-II, Rangamati. (E-mail: [email protected]) 5. Mr. Ahmed Newaz, Deputy Team Leader, PIC, CHTRDP-II, Rangamati. (E-mail: [email protected]) 6. Mr. Dayal Kumar Chakma, National Consultant/Project Coordinator (E-mail: [email protected]) ii ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank CHT – Chittagong Hill Tracts CHTDB – Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board CHTRC – Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council CHTDF – Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility CHTRDP-I – Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project CHTRDP-II – Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project CI – Community Infrastructure DPD – Deputy Project Director DPMO – District Project Management Office DPP – Development Project Proforma CPTU – Central Procurement Technical Unit GC – Growth Centre GoB – Government of Bangladesh HBB – Herring Bone Bond HDC – Hill District Council IEE – Initial Environmental Examination IP – Indigenous People IPP – Indigenous People Plan LAR – Land Acquisition and Resettlement LARF – Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework LCS – Labour Contracting Society LGED – Local Government Engineering Department HQ – Headquarters MAD – Micro Agribusiness Development MoCHTA – Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs NGO – Nongovernment Organization O&M – Operation and Maintenance PAM – Project Administration Manual PIC – Project Implementation Consultants PD – Project Director PMO – Project Management Office RCC – Reinforced Cement Concrete SDS – Survey, Design and Supervision SQMC – Safeguards and Quality Monitoring Cell SPS – Safeguard Policy Statement UNDP – United Nations Development Programme UP – Union Parishad XEN – Executive Engineer iii Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project Safeguards and Quality Monitoring Report Executive Summary This second report is presented on Safeguards and Quality Monitoring comprising involuntary resettlement, gender mainstreaming, indigenous people, environmental safeguards, quality of construction works and reviewing procurement process under the Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project (CHTRDP-II). The reporting period is from 2 March to 30 April 2014. There were no significant environmental and social impacts observed during the reporting period of the ongoing implementation of above Project. PMO has been established with all of the required staff. The Deputy Project Directors along with support staff are on board in three hill districts. But deployment of the Non- governmental Organizations for Micro Agro-business Development (MAD) and Community Infrastructure (CI) component are not yet completed. Only Resettlement NGO for implementation of the Resettlement Plans has been deployed. A Resettlement Specialist has been deployed by the PIC. One Training Specialist has also been recruited by the PIC; both of them are working now in the project. LGED implements the rural roads component of CHTRDP-II with LGED staff working at district and upazilas within the project area including 27 incremental project staff. During discussion with LGED officials it was learnt that LGED recruited/deployed 19 project staff out of 27 and reaming 8 project staff (2 Assistant Engineer and 6 Sub-Assistant Engineers) yet to be recruited/deployed. Progress of the project implementation is slow due to a slow start up and delays due to late deployment of PIC, social mobilization NGOs, and resettlement NGO. Commencement of civil works for the community infrastructure component is progressing; but civil works of rural road component except functional building could not be started due to delays of the preparation and implementation of LARP. Acceleration is necessary for both preparation and implementation with the efforts of PMO, DPMO, PIC, and NGOs. Raikhali GC Ferry Ghat-Rajastholi HQ via Mitingachari Upazila Road located in Kaptai Upazial under Rangamati District needs protection of 275 m river bank, which was eroded by the Karnaphuli River. Public and private utilities need to be relocated for the bank protection. The relocation of utilities and bank protection works are highly costly. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has implemented some portion of bank protection works near the same location. MoCHTA may request BWDB to undertake the protection of 275 m river bank. About 50% bridge (over Sangu River on Raicha-Goaliakhola) and its one approach road are outside of the jurisdiction of CHT Region. LGED’s Chief Engineer has agreed to allocate money from GoB fund for land acquisition and construction of approach road, which is within the jurisdiction of Chittagong District. LGED has awarded civil works for the extension of its three existing LGED’s district functional buildings in Rangamati, Banderban and Khagrachari. Financial progress of these buildings was 38% as of 30 April 2014. Construction works are now in progress. The construction cost of the building in Banderban has increased about 35% of the original contract value due to unsuitable subsoil condition identified during boring works. ADB’s concurrence on contract variation is essential. Toilet is provided for the use of ladies; but ramp and toilet, which are essential for disable persons, were not provided. LGED agreed to provide facilities for disable persons. 48 trees were removed for the construction of three LGED’s functional buildings. The Project has adopted a ten for one tree replacement policy. According to this policy, 480 plants need to be planted. 1 DPMOs have completed some works of CI component. It was observed that restrictions in the tender notice were imposed - “Any bid less than below 5% or more than above 5% of the estimated cost will be treated as informal. A lottery may take place the same lowest rate is quoted by more than one bidder.” These restrictions contradict ADB’s policy stated in the PAM. Some persons/families will be seriously affected by the acquisition of lands to widen road crest for the upgradation of upazial and union roads. As the population density and the volume of traffic plying on the upazila and union roads of the CHT area are significantly smaller than that similar category of roads in the plain areas of Bangladesh the crest width of upazila road may be reduced from 7.3m (24ft) to 5.5m (18ft) by reducing the earthen shoulder from 3.7m (12ft=2x6ft) to 1.8m (6ft=2x3ft) keeping pavement width 3.7m (12ft). Similarly, the crest width of union road may be reduced from 5.5m (18ft) to 4.6m (15ft) by reducing the earthen shoulder from 2.5m (8ft=2x4ft) to 1.6m (5ft=2x2.5ft) keeping pavement width 3.0m (10ft). Extra crest width needs be added for the provision of drain, parapet and top of retaining wall where requires. Upgradation of upazila roads, union roads, village access roads, construction of market shed and other civil works will consume huge numbers of bricks. To encourage brick manufacturers burning bricks with coal, only coal burnt bricks should be used in ADB financed civil works. LGED obtained environmental clearance for Rural Roads Components of CHTRDP-II from the Department of Environment, Bangladesh. To avoid overlapping of project works among CHTDB, LGED and three Hill District Councils, a coordination committee needs to be formed headed by Chairman/Vice-Chairman of CHTDB as convenor. Other members of the committee may be LGED