Semi-annual Social Monitoring Report

Project No. 45207-002 December 2020

BAN: IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (IMIP) This Semi-annual Social 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. Social Monitoring Report

Project No. 45207-002

1st Semiannual Social Monitoring Report (July - December 2020)

BAN: Irrigation Management Improvement Project

Prepared by Md. Saifulla Dostogir, Social Safeguard Specialist and External Monitoring Consultant, Asian Development Bank ABBREVIATIONS

ADB - Asian Development Bank AP - Affected Person ARIPA - Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act BADC - Agriculture Development Corporation BWDB - Bangladesh Water Development Board CBO - Community-Based Organization C-IMO - Construction phase Irrigation Management Operator CPR - Common Property Resources DMS - Detailed Measurement Survey DSC - Design & Supervision Consultant EA - Executing Agency FAP - Flood Action Plan FAO - Food and Agricultural Organization FCD - Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation FGD - Focus Group Discussion FOM - Field Office Manager (IMO) FPCO - Flood Planning Coordination Organization GAP - Gender Action Plan GOB - Government of Bangladesh GPWM - Guidelines for Participatory Water Management GRC - Grievance Redress Committee GRM - Grievance Redress Mechanism IOL - Inventory of Losses IMIP - Irrigation Management Improvement Project IMO - Irrigation Management Operator KIP - Ganges Kobodak Irrigation Project LLP - Low Lift Pump M-IMO - Management phase Irrigation Management Operator MIP - Muhuri Irrigation Project NGO - Non-Governmental Organization O&M - Operation and Maintenance PAP - Project Affected Person PD - Project Director PIU - Project Implementation Unit PMU - Project Management Unit RF - Resettlement Framework RP - Resettlement Plan SPS - Safeguards Policy Statement

i I. Table of Contents ABBREVIATIONS ...... i I. INTRODUCTION ...... 3 II. SOCIAL IMPACT AND SCOPE OF RESETTLEMENT ...... 4 A. Social Impact of the Project ...... 4 B. Land Acquisition ...... 4 C. Resettlement Framework of the Project ...... 4 D. Resettlement Plan (RP) of the Project ...... 5 III. RP Implementation arrangement ...... 6 A. Project Implementation Unit (PIU) ...... 6 B. Joint Verification Team (JVT) ...... 6 C. Property Valuation Advisory Team (PVAT)...... 6 D. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) ...... 6 IV. PROGRESS OF LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ...... 6 A. Status of implementation of Resettlement Plan (RP) ...... 6 B. Status of Land Acquisition ...... 7 C. Participation & Consultation with Project Affected People ...... 7 D. Monitoring and Evaluation ...... 7 E. Corrective Action Plan (CAP) ...... 7 V. CONCLUSION ...... 7

ii I. INTRODUCTION

A. Social Monitoring Report

1. This is the First Semi-annual Social Monitoring Report (SMR) for Irrigation Management Improvement Project (IMIP) of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). The SMR is prepared for the period June to December 2020. It covers the progress of implementation of the Social Safeguard activities as per approved Resettlement Framework. The objective of the monitoring activities is to ensure on-going Land Acquisition and Resettlement comply with the ADB SPS 2009 as well as provide support/guidance to the Executing Agency in this process

B. Reporting Period

2. The reporting period of Social Monitoring Report is June to December 2020. The implementation of the Social Safeguard activities as per approved Resettlement Framework (RF) started in June 2020.

C. The Project and its Components

3. The Irrigation Management Improvement Project (IMIP) under Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) includes implementation of Muhuri Irrigation Project (MIP) at Feni and districts. The following interventions are proposed under the project:

 Rehabilitation of 17.75 km coastal embankment and re-excavation of 460 km khal (canal)  Setting buried uPVC pipes under 850 schemes to irrigate 17000 ha of land and to provide irrigation by installing prepaid meter and Smart Card system so that waste of water is reduced.  The project will construct 850 pump houses and header tanks and supporting outlet chambers and gas pipes.  Electrifying all 850 irrigating pumps for reducing irrigation costs.

 An electric substation (10/14 MVA) will be constructed at Fulgazi in in order to electrify all 850 irrigating pumps for reducing irrigation costs. Total land requirement for the substation is 40 decimals (0.162 ha). The new substation will help to ensure a sustainable and long term transmission and maintenance of Muhuri Irrigation Project by renovation the existing infrastructure and irrigation system.

 For further reducing irrigation costs, assessing feasibility of using solar energy in fifty LLPs on pilot basis.

D. Project Categorization

4. The project category has been updated to “B” for involuntary resettlement due to land acquisition impacts which has not been identified at earlier stage. Initially the project was categorized as “C” for involuntary resettlement, since the irrigation pumps had been installed in a voluntary arrangement with the pump owners. The project later identified unavoidable resettlement impacts, i.e. land acquisition for one subproject to install a substation to generate electricity for the pumps. Impact category for Indigenous People remains as C for the project.

E. Project Location and Coverage

5. The MIP is located in the middle of the south eastern region of Bangladesh, adjacent to coastal belt of the and on the downstream confluence of Muhuri and Feni rivers. These two rivers originate in India and serve as the two main water sources for MIP. The project covers five of Feni District (Feni Sadar, , , Fulgazi, and Porshuram) and part of Mirsarai Upazila in Chattogram District. (Figure-1) 3

Figure 1: MIP is on the flood plains of 3 flashy rivers Muhuri, Feni and Selonia river

II. SOCIAL IMPACT AND SCOPE OF RESETTLEMENT

A. Social Impact of the Project

6. Total of 10 land owners lost their agricultural land due to the acquisition. No structure, household or trees affected due to Land Acquisition. However, 27 non-titled structures (squatters) and 7 titled structures (households and small shops) has been affected due to the rehabilitation of 17.75 km Coastal Embankment in and rehabilitation/repairing of sluice gates and construction of new Sluice Gates.

B. Land Acquisition

7. The project required acquisition of 40 (decimal 0.162 ha) of land for construction of 10/14 MVA Electric Substation. This amount of land will be acquired at Doulotpur Mouza of of Feni District under this project.

C. Resettlement Framework of the Project

8. A Resettlement Framework (RF) was prepared by MOWR, BWDB to detail mechanisms, procedures and compensation entitlements for planning/implementing Land Acquisition and 4

Resettlement tasks for the Project as a prudent measure to address the need for involuntary resettlement in 2013, which has been agreed and disclosed in December 2013.

D. Resettlement Plan (RP) of the Project

9. The Resettlement Plan (RP) for the project is being prepared in accordance with ADB SPS, commensurate with the magnitude of impacts. The Census and IoL survey on the titled and non-titled Affected Persons have been conducted to prepare the Resettlement Plan (RP). Necessary Consultation mechanism has been adopted as the ADB SPS stresses upon the significance of consultation, participation, and disclosure with stakeholders for ensuring formulation and execution of development projects compliance social safeguards. The RP will identify the impacts through the IoL and ensure adequate budget to be allocated to mitigate any loss of asset, access of livelihood for the project.

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III. RP IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENT

A. Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

10. A Safeguards Cell was established on December, 2015 at PMU. At the field level C-IMO established a Safeguard Desk and deployed a Safeguard and Public Relation Specialist (SPRS) on 24 April, 2017 to monitor implementation of Environment and Social Safeguard activities. Field Office Managers (FOM) were employed one in each of six Upazilas of Feni and Chittagong districts to monitor social and environmental activities at field level.

11. The Safeguard Cell of PMU has been reformed in November 2020 giving the Safeguard Officer additional responsibility of monitoring of Social Safeguard activities. The members are: Safeguard Officer (Environmental and Social Safeguard) at the rank of Deputy Chief, Member (Social issues) at the rank of Assistant Chief and Member (Environmental issues) at the rank of Assistant Engineer.

B. Joint Verification Team (JVT)

12. A Joint Verification Team (JVT) for PIU, Feni O&M Division, BWDB, Feni was formed on 02 November 2020 by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) with Land Acquisition Officer, Feni as member, Safeguard & Public Relation Specialist, C-IMO, IMIP as Member- secretary and Sub- Divisional Engineer, Sonagazi O&M Division, BWDB, Feni as Convenor.

13. A Joint Verification Team (JVT) for PIU, Feni O&M Division, BWDB, Feni was formed on 02 November 2020 by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) with Land Acquisition Officer, Feni as member, Safeguard & Public Relation Specialist, C-IMO as Member- secretary and Sub- Divisional Engineer, Sonagazi O&M Division, BWDB, Feni as Convenor.

C. Property Valuation Advisory Team (PVAT)

14. The Property Valuation Advisory Team (PVAT) for PIU, Feni O&M Division, BWDB, Feni was formed on 02 November 2020 by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) with Land Acquisition Officer, Feni as member, Sub-Divisional Engineer, Fulgazi O&M Division, BWDB, Feni as member, Safeguard & Public Relation Specialist, C-IMO, IMIP as Member- secretary and Executive Engineer (Civil), PIU, Feni O&M Division, BWDB, Feni as Convenor.

D. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

15. A three tier Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) for the project. The Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) for PIU, Feni O&M Division, BWDB, Feni was formed on 02 November 2020 by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) with Union Parishad Chairman (of the Union where complain has been lodged) as member, representative of the Project Affected Persons (PAP) as member, Sub-Assistant Engineer, BWDB (concern Division) as Member- secretary and Representative from BWDB (Executive Engineer or Equivalent) as Convenor.

IV. PROGRESS OF LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION

A. Status of implementation of Resettlement Plan (RP)

16. The project’s Social Safeguard activities were being conducted as per the approved Resettlement Framework of the project. However, the PMU has prepared a Resettlement Plan is going to submit for the approval of the RP. The RP is prepared based on the ADB SPS to address the impacts due to land acquisition and other non-titled assets.

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B. Status of Land Acquisition

17. The project required acquisition of 40 Decimals of land at Doulotpur Mouza of Fulgazi Upazila for construction of construction of 10/14 MVA Electric Substation. The Executing Agency, BWDB, submitted the Land Acquisition Plan (LAP) to Feni DC office. Feni DC office completed all procedures for compensation payment and issued Section 8 notice under Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act, 2017 to the land owners for receiving Cash Compensation under Law (CCL). Once the compensation payment is started, DC Feni will start handing over the land to BWDB.

C. Participation & Consultation with Project Affected People

18. Necessary Public disclosure and consultation have been carried out to obtain stakeholders input to the project design and in assessing the impacts of the project. Three (3) Stakeholders Consultation Meetings (SCM) and Six (6) Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were carried out by the project authority by this time. The affected population expressed their full support to the project, but provided opinions on getting fair prices for their acquired land, project scope, and cultivation in unutilized project land.

D. Monitoring and Evaluation

19. A Safeguards Cell was established on 24 December 2015 at PMU office in Dhaka headed by a Deputy chief as Environmental Safeguard Officer to monitor the implementation of the Resettlement Plan. At field level, C-IMO established a Safeguard Desk and deployed a Safeguard and Public Relation Specialist (SPRS) on 24 April 2017 to monitor the implementation Safeguard activities. Field Office Managers (FOM) employed one in each of six Upazilas of Feni and Chittagong districts are responsible to monitor the overall management of field works including social and environmental issues. PMU, PIU, the field level officer of BWDB, is also responsible to monitor the field works, receive any complaint from the stakeholders, contractors, C-IMO and response and mitigate the issues locally and/or inform the PD, PMU-IMIP. The Safeguard cell of PMU has been reformed in November 2020 by replacing a member and giving the Safeguard officer additional responsibility of Social safeguard monitoring.

E. Corrective Action Plan (CAP)

20. During the Virtual ADB Mission of September 2020, it has been identified that some squatter structures have been relocated during construction of embankment. As the incident required detail assessment of impact, a Corrective Action Plan was prepared jointly with the PMU and the consultants to overcome the social safeguard issues. Corrective Action Plan is attached as Annex-I of this Semi-annual Social Monitoring Report.

V. CONCLUSION

21. The project initially did not anticipate any resettlement impacts since the irrigation pumps had been installed in a voluntary arrangement with the pump owners. They kept provision for willing purchase of land to avoid involuntary resettlement. But the land acquisition could not be avoided for one subproject to install a substation to generate electricity for the pumps. The project team is preparing a Resettlement Plan the project. The PMU will document all updates during the implementation of Resettlement Plan and report through the Semi-annual Social Monitoring Reports (SMR).

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Annex-I Corrective Action Plan (CAP)

S. Actions Timeline Responsible Updates as of No. 28 October 2020 1 Identify any Squatters that is to 15 October BWDB/PIC A committee has been be or already affected by project 2020 formed to Identify and interventions Listing of affected Squatters. Committee will submit the report in next three (3) days. 2 Establish a Property Valuation 30 September Property Valuation and and Advisory Team1 as guided in 2020 22. BWDB/PIC Advisory Team has the Resettlement Framework for been formed and evaluation of market rates of submitted to the affected land and immovable Ministry for approval assets (structure/trees/crops, before 15 days. PD etc.). office is expecting that they will receive the approval by next one week hopefully. 3 Property Valuation Team to hold 15 October BWDB/PIC The rate of loss assets try partite meetings and advise 2020 will be received once rates for lost assets the Property Valuation and Advisory Team is approved and advise the rate 4 Approve mouza rate at Budget for replacement cost and secure 23. TBD 24. BWDB Replacement Cost and budget including “top up” Top-up payment will be payment to be included in the RP received after Property and share the elaborate budget Valuation and Advisory with ADB Team advises the rates 5 Conduct consultation with 20 October BWDB/PIC Holding Consultation affected squatter and land losers 2020 Meeting with Squatters may create more people to demand compensation in addition to original APs. So, PMU wants to avoid Consultation and meet the APs individually. 6 Prepare and approve RP 30 October ADB/BWDB RP prepare has started. 2020 Waiting to finalize with the Squatter list and budget from PVAT rate 7 Complete payments according to November Payment will start after approved RP 2020 25. BWDB/PIC RP approval

1 Property Valuation Advisory Teams (From RF): A Property Valuation Advisory Team (PVAT) will be formed by the MOWR through a gazette notification for each district of command of the subprojects. The PVAT will review the assessment of the implementing NGO on the market price of land and other property affected by the project at their replacement cost. The scope and responsibility of the PVAT will clearly be defined in the gazette. The Implementing NGO will process the entitlements of the projectDisplaced Persons using the PVAT data as one of the determinants. The PVAT will comprise: (i) Tranche Project Director/ Executive Engineer respective O&M Division, BWDB – Chairman; (ii) LAO or his/her designated representative of concerned district – member; (iii) Area Manager, RP Implementing NGO – member secretary; (iv) Assistant Revenue Officer, O&M Division, BWDB – member. 8

8 Report updates on RP December implementation including this 2020 26. PIC/BWDB CAP in the SMR

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