Resettlement Planning Document Draft Resettlement Plan for Land Pooling Related-works of Component A (Babesa LAP, Thimphu) Document Stage: Draft Final Project Number: 38049 JUNE 2011 Bhutan: Urban Infrastructure Development Project Prepared by the Department of Urban Development and Engineering Services 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. A. Scope of Land Acquisition and Resettlement 1. Background 1. The project will (i) improve urban infrastructure, planning, and management; (ii) enhance urban livelihoods; and (iii) increase capacity for administering urban infrastructure supply and maintenance works through four components. Component A for Thimphu includes: (i) city-level works (water supply, upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment plant, and solid waste management); and (ii) roads and drainage, and water supply and sewerage connection in four areas of southern Thimphu extended areas. Component B for Phuentsholing includes: (i) roads and drainage; (ii) footpaths and pedestrian bridge; and (iii) social infrastructure (fire hydrant and street lights). Component C for Dagana includes: (i) water supply and sanitation; and (ii) road and drainage. Component D which is for institutional development which includes: (i) technical support on unaccounted for water and water calibration; (ii) operational efficiency; (iii) public awareness support; and (iv) financial management. The main benefits of the project will be: (i) improved urban environment, public health, and living standards in Thimphu, Phuentsholing, and Dagana; (ii) effectively managed, reliable, and sustainable urban services; and (iii) improved economic and social conditions from investments in roads and drainage, water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, and other urban amenities. 2. This resettlement plan has been prepared for Babesa LAP based on detailed technical design of urban infrastructures. The steps followed were: (i) Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) conducted continued consultations with all stakeholders1 regarding how to avoid and minimize resettlement impacts. Needs and preferences were identified. (ii) A socio-economic survey and census of all affected landowners and non-titled affected persons were conducted to identify different categories of affected persons, based on the degree and scale of impacts of land pooling. The resettlement plan eligible affected persons and identification2 required for claiming compensation. (iii) A time-bound schedule for resettlement plan implementation, procedures for grievance redress, monitoring and evaluation (both internal and external) has been finalized. (iv) The resettlement plan will be translated into local language and disclosed through public notices, and through mass media. The executing agency will review and endorse the resettlement plan. (v) Once the executing agency endorses the resettlement plan, it will be sent to Asian Development Bank (ADB) for approval. The approved resettlement plan will be posted on ADB’s website. The full resettlement plan will be consistent with ADB’s Policy on Involuntary Resettlement, 1995. (vi) The approved resettlement plan will be implemented before any award of construction contracts for roads and drainage, and water supply and sewerage connection in Babesa LAP. 1 Key stakeholders include: (i) all plot owners, non-titled affected persons, their households, and beneficiaries of the project (particularly vulnerable households); (ii) community leaders, town and city committee members, and community-based organizations and nongovernmental organizations; project staff (staff of respective implementing agencys, staff of PIU and PMU, and consultants); and various government agencies involved directly or indirectly. 2 The identification includes the (i) national identity card, and (ii) entitlement card issued by TCC signed by theaffected person and TCC. 2 2. Scope of Impacts 3. Urban Development Alternatives and Land Pooling. For roads and drainage, and water supply and sewerage connection in four areas of southern Thimphu extended areas3 (part of the project’s Component A), possible urban development approaches were evaluated. The evaluation shows that urban land pooling is the most suited option for the required works in the four areas of southern Thimphu extended areas given the plot configuration and topographical conditions. 4. Land pooling in southern Thimphu was initiated in 2001. The key issues raised during consultations were addressed in the following manner: land pooling will exclude traditional villages4 (and keep neighbors together to the extent possible); will ensure no impacts on residential and commercial structures (impacts on structures, and other assets such as trees will be compensated at replacement cost); will not allocate surplus land from the local area to finance land pooling; will include government land to reduce the contribution required from each landowner; and will minimize shifts in land plot owned but where it cannot be avoided, new plots will be within the same local area with similar physical characteristics. 5. Resettlement Impacts of Land Pooling. The total area required for establishing urban infrastructure facilities (roads, drainage, water supply, and sewerage connections), public amenities, service plots and green areas in Babesa LAP is 104.48 hectares. Of this area, 40.20 hectares (ha) will be from contributions of 222 landowners. The average contribution is 27.5% of affected plots. 6. During project preparation, the affected persons were identified which would require compensation and assistance. Land agreement for 96% of plots were obtained. The remaining 4% had absentee landowners. Consistent with the resettlement framework, absentee landowners will be compensated for land and all assets lost at replacement value.5 The census of affected landowners (non-absentee) identified that land pooling in Babesa LAP will have impacts on 53 affected persons who will be losing fruit bearing/non-bearing trees and structures. The census did not identify impacts on seasonal agricultural workers and leaseholders. The plots which used to be agricultural land, no paddy have been planted since 2006. Further, it was observed that there is no case of relocation. 7. The census did not identify impacts on common property resources. The implementing agency, TCC will compensate 53 affected persons for fruit bearing/non-bearing trees and structures (15 affected persons for structures such as, cow shed, RRM wall, Septic tank, barbed wire fence, wall (stone masonry, boundary), concrete stair, temporary toilet, water tap) at 3 Babesa, Changbangdu, Lungtenphu, and Simtoka. 4 Traditional village is an enclosed area with traditional structures (houses, warehouses, and animal sheds) that has historical values for conservation designated by the government. 5 All efforts were undertaken to consult with the absentee plot owners. Measures include: (i) public awareness campaigns to draw attention of plot owners; (ii) public announcement via media; (iii) notice board in each area indicating the names of plot owners who have not been able to be contacted; and (iv) frequent public consultation. Where despite all these efforts, plot owners of 4% of plot could not be reached, and were classified as absentee plot owners. Land and assets are valued using the same methodology as for non-agreeing households and the compensation due to the absentee/non-agreeing plot owners will be placed in an escrow account. The executing agency has allocated the budget requirement in the TCC annual budget for compensation of non-agreeing and absentee plot owners as equivalent to the escrow account. Information will be publicly announced annually through public media to allow the absentee plot owner to agree to land pooling or be compensated. The name list of the absentee plot owners is appended in Annex 7. 3 replacement cost. Table 1 provides impacts on Babesa LAP. Table 1: Resettlement Impacts Impact Permanent Land Acquisition (ha) Compensation for 4% equivalent to 112.45 ha in escrow account for absentee landowners Temporary Land Acquisition (ha) 0 Permanently Affected Structures 0 Temporarily Affected Structures 15 Affected Trees/Crops (1144 Apple, 54 Peach ,16 Plum, 112 Walnut, 12 Pear, 1 Pepper, 10 Apricot, 3 Persimmon, 1250 Asparagus, 2 Dogwood) Affected Common Property Resources 0 Total Titled Affected Persons (Tree /structures owners) 53 Titled affected persons (Structure Owners) 15 Non-titled Affected Household 0 Single parent female-headed household 0 Indigenous people-headed household 0 Below-poverty line household 0 Affected persons 53 Average Family Size of all Plot owners 5 Average Annual Income of all Plot owners Nu.173,002.72 Main Source of Income of all Plot owners Others (52.01%) Average Family Size of all affected persons 4.5 Average Annual Income of affected persons Nu. 150,714.32 Main Source of Income of affected persons Trade & Business (50%) Source: Census and Socio-economic Survey, (October 2009) B. Socioeconomic Information 8. A census and a socio-economic survey were conducted by TCC for plot owners (non- absentee) affected by land pooling in 27th October 2009. A total of 53 affected persons and 49 plot owners were surveyed. The socio-economic survey information is in Annex 1. 9. The census shows that there are 53 affected persons who will be losing fruit trees and structures in Babesa LAP. No