Experience of Experience of Inspection Process Inspection Process

in LBOD casein LBOD case

Voice of People and Bank’s Voice of People and Bank’s Inspection Panel findingsInspection Panel findings

Voice of PeopleVoice of People Inspection Panel Inspection Panel findingsfindings

There is strong Link between There is strong Link between LBOD and NDPLBOD and NDP

The evidence indicated that The evidence indicated that LBOD and NDP have LBOD and NDP have contributed significant contributed significant adverse impacts adverse impacts

Faulty alignment and wrong Faulty alignment and wrong direction of main disposal direction of main disposal drain drain

This alignment was, however, This alignment was, however, technically and technically and environmentally risky. Remote environmentally risky. Remote sensing data confirm some of sensing data confirm some of the doubts expressed by the the doubts expressed by the local people local people

Project planning has ignored Project planning has ignored alternate historical disposal alternate historical disposal routesroutes

The more appropriate The more appropriate technical option would have technical option would have been to follow the natural been to follow the natural route and link the LBOD with route and link the LBOD with

Shakoor Dhand.Shakoor Dhand.

Continued….Continued….

Collapse of Cholrei weir and Collapse of Cholrei weir and Tidal link caused huge Tidal link caused huge

problemsproblems

Significant technical mistakes Significant technical mistakes were made during the design were made during the design of the Tidal link embankments of the Tidal link embankments and the Cholri Weir. Tidal link and the Cholri Weir. Tidal link structures were critical to the structures were critical to the performance of the system performance of the system but the design had substantial but the design had substantial inherent risk. The inherent risk. The underestimation of risk and underestimation of risk and lack of appropriate technical lack of appropriate technical measures have contributed to measures have contributed to suffering of local people in suffering of local people in

lower Badinlower Badin Increased sea intrusion due to Increased sea intrusion due to collapse of tidal link collapse of tidal link

Designers did not evaluate the Designers did not evaluate the likelihood that, under likelihood that, under prevailing metrological prevailing metrological conditions, high surface water conditions, high surface water run-off from upstream areas run-off from upstream areas would coincide with high would coincide with high water levels in Arabian Sea. water levels in Arabian Sea.

Continued….Continued….Blockage of run off water to Blockage of run off water to south in Runn of Kutch has south in Runn of Kutch has negatively affected grazing negatively affected grazing areas, vegetation and forests areas, vegetation and forests

People in these areas also face People in these areas also face serious problems of drinking serious problems of drinking water, and have lost grazing water, and have lost grazing land. The overall morphology of land. The overall morphology of the region is being changed. The the region is being changed. The construction of the Tidal Link construction of the Tidal Link and the embankments had cut-and the embankments had cut-off and diverted the surface flow off and diverted the surface flow and consequently destroyed the and consequently destroyed the grazing areas grazing areas

Back water effects during high Back water effects during high tide time is affecting the fertility tide time is affecting the fertility of land in huge area because of land in huge area because back water effects is felt in the back water effects is felt in the command area of korti barrage command area of korti barrage surface drainage system surface drainage system

Problem has been observed with Problem has been observed with low lying drains linked to the low lying drains linked to the LBOD such as the Seerani drain. LBOD such as the Seerani drain. The outlets of these drains are The outlets of these drains are now under the influence of tidal now under the influence of tidal movement. At high tide, water movement. At high tide, water flows back into these drains flows back into these drains causing salinization of causing salinization of groundwater and of adjoining groundwater and of adjoining land. land.

Continued…Continued…

Flooding due to the breaches in Flooding due to the breaches in drains inundated about 75 drains inundated about 75 villages. villages.

Fifty four breaches in the Fifty four breaches in the embankments occurred at embankments occurred at different locations, bringing different locations, bringing devastation and loss of life to devastation and loss of life to adjacent communities. adjacent communities.

Project had induced Project had induced displacement- About 50,000 displacement- About 50,000 people were displaced in 2003 people were displaced in 2003

The panel observes that the The panel observes that the Bank, at appraisal of NDP Bank, at appraisal of NDP project, failed to identify project, failed to identify emerging risks that LBOD/Tidal emerging risks that LBOD/Tidal link problems could lead to link problems could lead to significant harm and even significant harm and even displacement of local people, displacement of local people, even though the project had even though the project had plans to complete and expand plans to complete and expand LBOD. Panel finds that Bank LBOD. Panel finds that Bank failed to take the necessary failed to take the necessary actions under OD 4.30 to actions under OD 4.30 to identify and prepare for the identify and prepare for the possibility of such possibility of such displacement, and the extent displacement, and the extent to which it has occurred. to which it has occurred.

Continued…Continued…

Threat to indigenous Threat to indigenous Mallah Mallah community due to loss of their community due to loss of their livelihood sources such as livelihood sources such as wetlands and marine pollution wetlands and marine pollution

The Mallah seem to fit more, but The Mallah seem to fit more, but not all, of the criteria of OD 4.20. not all, of the criteria of OD 4.20. In this context panel finds that In this context panel finds that Management did not initiate a Management did not initiate a process to determine whether process to determine whether the NDP project would affect any the NDP project would affect any group of people which would group of people which would qualify as indigenous people qualify as indigenous people under OD 4.20 under OD 4.20

Destruction of coastal wetlandsDestruction of coastal wetlands Tidal link failure has led to major Tidal link failure has led to major harm to the dhands ecosystem, harm to the dhands ecosystem, wildlife and fisheries, upon which wildlife and fisheries, upon which many people depend for their many people depend for their livelihood. livelihood.

Faulty environmental Faulty environmental assessmentassessment

Under the NDP project neither Under the NDP project neither the potential environmental nor the potential environmental nor the potential social impacts of the potential social impacts of the project in the area of the project in the area of concern to Requesters were concern to Requesters were considered in a meaningful way considered in a meaningful way until the submission of the until the submission of the Request. Request.

Continued…Continued…Loss of agriculture land and top Loss of agriculture land and top soil due to sea intrusion and soil due to sea intrusion and flooding flooding

Increased salinity has affected Increased salinity has affected large tracts of agriculture land. large tracts of agriculture land.

Degradation of Indus Delta and Degradation of Indus Delta and threat to marine life due to threat to marine life due to disposal of toxic industrial disposal of toxic industrial effluents and agriculture waste effluents and agriculture waste into sea by drains into sea by drains

Saline intrusion up the Indus Saline intrusion up the Indus Delta harming agriculture of the Delta harming agriculture of the adjacent districts, including adjacent districts, including Thatta. Reduction of water Thatta. Reduction of water supply, and its contamination (by supply, and its contamination (by saline drainage and biocides), saline drainage and biocides), damage to 1.5 million acres of damage to 1.5 million acres of farmland in Thatta and Badin, farmland in Thatta and Badin, causing dislocation and extensive causing dislocation and extensive economic losses. economic losses.

There was no proper There was no proper environmental assessment and environmental assessment and Bank just accepted the old Bank just accepted the old document of Drainage Sector document of Drainage Sector Environmental Assessment Environmental Assessment (DSEA) (DSEA)

The analysis underestimated the The analysis underestimated the potential negative environmental potential negative environmental effects and failed to identify and effects and failed to identify and assess adequately critical assess adequately critical environmental concerns of environmental concerns of relevance to the affected areas in relevance to the affected areas in Southern Sindh province. . Southern Sindh province. .

Continued…Continued…

Destruction of internationally Destruction of internationally important wetlands two of these important wetlands two of these sites are recognized as a Ramsar sites are recognized as a Ramsar sites sites

The NDP project in combination The NDP project in combination with the inter-related LBOD with the inter-related LBOD system has contributed to system has contributed to significant negative effects on significant negative effects on natural habitats, including the natural habitats, including the dhands. dhands.

Lack of information sharing with Lack of information sharing with community community

Management has acknowledged Management has acknowledged that the NDP project did not that the NDP project did not comply with BP 17.50 with comply with BP 17.50 with respect to disclosure of the respect to disclosure of the Environment Assessment, since Environment Assessment, since the 1993 DSEA was not the 1993 DSEA was not disclosed in-county to affected disclosed in-county to affected stakeholders stakeholders

Lack of community participation Lack of community participation and consultation with and consultation with community which is going to be community which is going to be affected by the project affected by the project

Unfortunately, the people of Unfortunately, the people of Southern Sindh, whose lives Southern Sindh, whose lives were already recognized as were already recognized as being affected by the Tidal link, being affected by the Tidal link, fell outside the field of vision of fell outside the field of vision of those who designed and those who designed and appraised the project. appraised the project.

Continued…Continued…TransparencyTransparency

The choleri Weir collapsed only one week after the publication The choleri Weir collapsed only one week after the publication of implementation completion report (ICR). This started the of implementation completion report (ICR). This started the unraveling of the drainage outfall system. The panel is unraveling of the drainage outfall system. The panel is concerned that the ICR that was circulated to the Board was concerned that the ICR that was circulated to the Board was insufficiently transparent on important shortcomings of the insufficiently transparent on important shortcomings of the project.project.

SupervisionSupervision

The Panel finds that Management was slow to visit the site The Panel finds that Management was slow to visit the site of the Tidal Link failure, and did not have a consistent of the Tidal Link failure, and did not have a consistent approach to interacting with the local population to understand approach to interacting with the local population to understand and address the social and environmental implications of this and address the social and environmental implications of this failure. Management’s failure to consult with downstream failure. Management’s failure to consult with downstream affected-people for over half a decade following the breaches affected-people for over half a decade following the breaches in the Tidal Link is of great concern to the Panel. in the Tidal Link is of great concern to the Panel.

ConclusionConclusion

To a very large degree, the damages suffered by people in the To a very large degree, the damages suffered by people in the project-affected areas, described in this Report, have not been project-affected areas, described in this Report, have not been redressed, and many of the same conditions that led to these redressed, and many of the same conditions that led to these harms are still in place. harms are still in place.

Local people submitted their request for justice in Local people submitted their request for justice in 2004. After 4 years there is no significant outcome; 2004. After 4 years there is no significant outcome; therefore they reiterate their legitimate request therefore they reiterate their legitimate request once again saying that:once again saying that:

Entire LBOD effluent should be diverted to Dhoro Puran Entire LBOD effluent should be diverted to Dhoro Puran Outfall Drain (DPOD), Kori Creek and other natural Outfall Drain (DPOD), Kori Creek and other natural routes, Kadhan Pateji Outfall Drain (KPOD) should be routes, Kadhan Pateji Outfall Drain (KPOD) should be completely closed at RD-159completely closed at RD-159

The sub-drains of Kotri barrage including Tando Bago, The sub-drains of Kotri barrage including Tando Bago, Lowari and Seerani drain be let to outfall in Rann of Lowari and Seerani drain be let to outfall in Rann of Kutch through KPOD at RD 00.00Kutch through KPOD at RD 00.00

The existing Tidal Link Canal, which is main cause of sea The existing Tidal Link Canal, which is main cause of sea intrusion and degradation of wetland, should intrusion and degradation of wetland, should immediately be de-linked. We propose that dykes should immediately be de-linked. We propose that dykes should be constructed in between the historical lakes and be constructed in between the historical lakes and historical tide line, closing the mouth of tidal link canalhistorical tide line, closing the mouth of tidal link canal

The ecology of the wetlands should be restored and The ecology of the wetlands should be restored and wetlands should be brought on their original condition.wetlands should be brought on their original condition.

Government of Pakistan and all the donors including Government of Pakistan and all the donors including World Bank, Asian Development Bank should publicly World Bank, Asian Development Bank should publicly take the responsibility of the problems and announce not take the responsibility of the problems and announce not further extension of the LBOD drains.further extension of the LBOD drains.

They also demand short – term They also demand short – term measures to compensate the lossesmeasures to compensate the losses

All the losses including agriculture, livestock, houses and wetlands should All the losses including agriculture, livestock, houses and wetlands should be calculated in collaboration with affectees and they should be be calculated in collaboration with affectees and they should be compensated without any delay. compensated without any delay.

Families of the people who were killed by drowning in drains should be Families of the people who were killed by drowning in drains should be separately compensated.separately compensated.

The World Bank and Government of Sindh should initiate a program for The World Bank and Government of Sindh should initiate a program for employment generation of at least 2000 to 3000 people in the area on employment generation of at least 2000 to 3000 people in the area on emergency basis to protect the right to life and food.emergency basis to protect the right to life and food.

The World Bank and Government of Sindh should provide free of cost boats, The World Bank and Government of Sindh should provide free of cost boats, nets, subsidized gasoline, livestock and at least for four agriculture seasons nets, subsidized gasoline, livestock and at least for four agriculture seasons seed and fertilizer in order to cope the economic shocks people have seed and fertilizer in order to cope the economic shocks people have suffered.suffered.

Government of Sindh should announce immediately the free fishing zone for Government of Sindh should announce immediately the free fishing zone for fishermen and should shelve the plan if it has to auction or other control fishermen and should shelve the plan if it has to auction or other control mechanism on fishing in Badin in order to facilitate the majority of people mechanism on fishing in Badin in order to facilitate the majority of people to get out from poverty.to get out from poverty.

The water flow to wetlands should be ensured as it was before the The water flow to wetlands should be ensured as it was before the operation of the project.operation of the project.

Government of Sindh should ensure the supply of irrigation water to this Government of Sindh should ensure the supply of irrigation water to this tail area of the canal commands.tail area of the canal commands.

Free of cost medical facilities should be provided on emergency basis to Free of cost medical facilities should be provided on emergency basis to treat the severe illnesses like tuberculosis and kidney problems for at least treat the severe illnesses like tuberculosis and kidney problems for at least two years. This is very serious issue and should be tackled on priority basis two years. This is very serious issue and should be tackled on priority basis to release the health burden of poor.to release the health burden of poor.

The government of Sindh and World Bank should start a crush program for The government of Sindh and World Bank should start a crush program for improving the education in this area and bring the people at Par with other improving the education in this area and bring the people at Par with other areas in schooling and providing scholarships for higher education.areas in schooling and providing scholarships for higher education.

Actions ProposedActions Proposed

A high powered committee be constituted to A high powered committee be constituted to investigate the case thoroughly, suggest investigate the case thoroughly, suggest permanent (not adhoc) mitigation measures permanent (not adhoc) mitigation measures in consultation with the local community to in consultation with the local community to redress the grievances of the people and to redress the grievances of the people and to bring the conditions of the area at pre-bring the conditions of the area at pre-project level with a better hope for their project level with a better hope for their livelihood, education, agriculture, livestock livelihood, education, agriculture, livestock husbandry and overall better future. The husbandry and overall better future. The committee shall be authorized to fix the committee shall be authorized to fix the responsibility of the project failure responsibility of the project failure

High Powered CommitteeHigh Powered Committee

MPA of the areaMPA of the area District Nazim BadinDistrict Nazim Badin Two Bank members; one from WB and other from ADBTwo Bank members; one from WB and other from ADB Two members one from WAPDA and one from PIDTwo members one from WAPDA and one from PID Two nominees from AcademiaTwo nominees from Academia / Technocrats/ Technocrats

Mr. Mazhar-ul-Haque Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, University of Mr. Mazhar-ul-Haque Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, University of SindhSindh

Mr. Muhammad Idrees Rajput Eminent Scholar and Irrigation Mr. Muhammad Idrees Rajput Eminent Scholar and Irrigation expertexpert

Two members from local communityTwo members from local community Two members from the leading NGOs working in the Two members from the leading NGOs working in the

localitylocality

Committee shall to come up with concrete Committee shall to come up with concrete proposals and work plan with in 6 monthsproposals and work plan with in 6 months

TORs of the CommitteeTORs of the Committee Fix responsibility on individuals / institutions involved Fix responsibility on individuals / institutions involved

in the project failure and sufferings of the peoplein the project failure and sufferings of the people Recommend compensation for the loss to the life and Recommend compensation for the loss to the life and

property of the local peopleproperty of the local people Propose plan of action to dispose off the drainage Propose plan of action to dispose off the drainage

effluent safely through the natural routes without effluent safely through the natural routes without harming the ecosystem. If required, the committee harming the ecosystem. If required, the committee may propose abandoning the existing infrastructure in may propose abandoning the existing infrastructure in broader interest of the local communitybroader interest of the local community

Recommend the actions to revive the sweet water Recommend the actions to revive the sweet water dhands, the fishermen’s livelihood, agricultural lands, dhands, the fishermen’s livelihood, agricultural lands, livestock and natural habitatslivestock and natural habitats

Propose stopping further extension in LBOD/NDP Propose stopping further extension in LBOD/NDP project if not in the best interest of the local project if not in the best interest of the local communitycommunity

Propose using the drainage effluent for the Propose using the drainage effluent for the development of Thar area if feasible development of Thar area if feasible

Recommendations of the committee shall be obligatory Recommendations of the committee shall be obligatory for the Government of Pakistan and the donorsfor the Government of Pakistan and the donors