Environmental Safeguard Monitoring Report
Project No. 50161-003 Quarterly Report June 2019
Bangladesh: Rupsha 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project
Prepared by the North-West Power Generation Co., Ltd for the Asian Development Bank.
This environmental safeguard 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.
This environmental safeguard monitoring report is a document of the borrower and made publicly
available in accordance with ADB’s Public Communications Policy 2011 and the Safeguard Policy
Statement 2009. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of
Directors, Management, or staff.
Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report
Semi-annual Report (October to December 2018)
June 2019
Ban: Rupsha 800 MW Combined Cycle
Power Plant Project
Prepared by the North-West Power Generation Co., Ltd for the Asian Development Bank
Rupsha 800MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ADB - Asian Development Bank
BAPEX - Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited
BIDC - Bangladesh Industrial Development Corporation
BPCL - Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Limited
BR - Bangladesh Railway
CCPP - Combined Cycle Power Plant
CGS - City Gas Station
DOE - Department of Environment
ECR - Environmental Conservation Rules
EPCC - Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning
Contractor
FRSU - Floating Storage Regasification Unit
GRC - Grievance Redress Committee
GRM - Grievance Redressal Mechanism
HRSG - Heat Recovery Steam Generator
HSD - High Speed Diesel
IFC - International Finance Corporation
IOL - Inventory of Losses Survey
KDA - Khulna Development Authority
KNM - Khulna Newsprint Mill
KV - kilovolt
LA - Loan Agreement
MMSCFD - million standard cubic feet per day
ND - nominal diameter
NWPGCL - North-West Power Generation Co., Ltd
RHD - Roads and Highways Department
R-LNG - Regasified-Liquefied Natural Gas
RMS - Receiving and Metering Station
WB - World Bank
WHO - World Health Organization
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Brief Project Description 1
1.1.1 Component 1: Rupsha 800 MW CCPP 2
1.1.2 Component 2: Gas Supply to the Power Plant 2
1.1.3 Component 3: Power Transmission Interconnection 3
1.1.4 Component 4: Capacity Strengthening of NWPGCL 8
1.2 Nature and Size of the Project 8
1.2.1 Natural Gas (Primary Fuel) 8
1.2.2 HSD (Secondary Fuel) 9
1.3 Project Progress Status and Implementation Schedule 9
2.0 Compliance to National Regulations 11
2.1 National Applicable Policies and Legal Provision (Including
Environmental Conservation Rules 1997) 11
2.2 Applicable Environmental Standards both National and
International 11
2.2.1 Ambient Air Quality 11
2.2.2 Ground Water Quality 12
2.2.3 Surface Water Quality 14
2.2.4 Noise Level 14
3.0 Compliance to Environmental Covenants from the ADB Loan
Agreement 16
3.1 Schedule 5 Environment 16
4.0 Compliance to Environmental Management Plan 20
5.0 Safeguards Monitoring Results and Unanticipated Impacts 20
6.0 Implementation of Grievance Redress Mechanism and Complaints
Received from Stakeholders 20
6.1 Grievance Redressal Mechanism 20
6.2 Status of Implementation of the GRM 24
7.0 Conclusion and Recommendations 24
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Layout Plan of Component 1 (800 MW CCPP) 5
Figure 2: Layout Plan of Component 2 (12 Km Natural Gas Pipeline) 6
Figure 3: Layout Plan of Component 3 (29.3 Km Transmission Line) 7
Figure 4: Flowchart of Complain / Grievance Procedure 22
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Status of Implementation of the Project 10
Table 2: National and International Legal Provisions Applicable To The
Rupsha 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (Khalishpur,
Khulna) For Ensuring Environmental Protection 11
Table 3: Ambient Air Quality Standards/ Guidelines 12
Table 4: Bangladesh Standards for Drinking Water 13
Table 5: Bangladesh Standard for Inland Surface Water 14
Table 6: Noise Level Standards/ Guidelines 15
Table 7: Members of the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) 24
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Executive Summary
During the period of October to December 2018, there is no physical activities at the project
site for all three (3) components namely (1): 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant; (2) Natural Gas
Pipeline (12 km) and (3) Transmission Line (29.3 km). The Engineering, Procurement, Construction
and Commissioning (EPCC) Contractor is yet to be appointed and therefore, the Environmental
Management Plan (EMP) whom the EPCC is contractually obliged to prepare is yet to be made
available. In this report, the relevant criteria for environmental compliance are identified. However,
since there is no physical activities at the project site (all three components), no monitoring activities
are conducted.
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1.0 Introduction
Rupsha 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) is developed to fulfil the
electricity demand for the country, as well as improving the power system reliability and
reducing load shedding. This will create a conducive environmental for attracting investors for
development of industries in the country. The project will be developed by North-West Power
Generation Co., Ltd (NWPGCL).
The project site is a developed but abandoned government industrial land of 50 acres
earlier belonging to Khulna Newsprint Mill (KNM) Limited. It is geographically located at around
22°51’11.32’’N latitude and 89°32’56.00’’E longitude on the eastern bank of the Bhairab River
and on the western side of Bangladesh Industrial Development Corporation (BIDC) Road. The
site is located at Khalishpur Upazila of Khulna District.
The objective of this report is to present the status of the environmental compliance of
the proposed Project. This report outlines the following:-
a) Identification of all project components included in the environmental compliance
reporting;
b) Reporting of the project progress and implementation up to the date of reporting;
c) Identification of criteria for environmental compliance;
d) Identification of criteria for compliance to ADB Loan Agreement and compliance status
to respective clauses;
e) Identification of all related environmental components to be managed and monitored
with through the Environmental Management Plan;
f) Reporting of the environmental monitoring results and recommendations for mitigation
measures in the event of breach of respective regulatory limits for a particular
environmental component;
g) Reporting on the status of implementation of Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
and complaints received from stakeholders.
1.1 Brief Project Description
The project targets to strengthen the energy security in Bangladesh. The country faces
serious electricity shortages in the short- to medium-term and needs to secure cost-effective,
new and diversified energy sources.
Key interrelated project components includes the following:-
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a) Development and operation of the Rupsha 800 MW gas-fired CCPP;
b) Construction of a gas distribution pipeline and related network infrastructure ensuring
reliable supply of fuel to the CCPP;
c) Construction of a power transmission interconnection facility to transfer the generated
power to the national grid at the existing substation in Khulna; and
d) Capacity strengthening of NWPGCL.
The project will establish the first power plant to use gas from the Bangladesh gas
transmission network in the southwestern region where its gas supply would be attributed to
the imported regasified-liquefied natural gas (R-LNG). The gas transmission and distribution
pipeline network in the southwestern region particularly Khulna is part of the project funded by
ADB, Loan2622/2633-BAN: Natural Access Improvement Project (formerly Clean Fuel
Development Project) approved on 26 March 2010 with a total amount of $537 million. Part of
the inland gas transmission pipeline network from Moheskhali FSRU is ADB funded Loan
3641/3642-BAN: Natural Gas Infrastructure and Efficiency Improvement Project approved on
18 November 2016 with a total amount of $227 million.
1.1.1 Component 1: Rupsha 800 MW CCPP
Rupsha 800 MW CCPP will be built in the (now abandoned) Khulna newsprint factory
premises. The power plant will use combined cycle gas turbine technology, comprising two
identical generating units, each nominally rated at 400 MW. Each combined cycle unit will
consist of one gas turbine and one heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), forming a one-on-
one configuration. At full capacity of 800 MW, the Rupsha power plant is capable of meeting
5% of the forecast peak demand of Bangladesh in year 2022. The cooling system will be
closed-loop forced-draught cooling tower system that will require 2,010 m3/hour of water to be
taken from the Bhairab River.
The layout of Component 1 is shown in Figure 1.
1.1.2 Component 2: Gas Supply to the Power Plant
Petro Bangla, the national gas utility and the single-buyer for the gas industry, will
procure LNG from international sources and deliver re-gasified LNG to Khulna City Gas Station
(CGS). The regional gas distribution company, Sundarbans Gas Company Limited (SGCL)
will deliver gas from the existing Khulna CGS in Arongghata to the Rupsha power plant in
Khalishpur. A new 24-inch (0.6 m) underground gas pipeline about 10 km long will be installed
from Khulna CGS to the Rupsha 800 MW power plant. The gas regulating and metering station
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(RMS) will be located at the Rupsha power plant. In addition, a new 20-inch (0.5 m)
underground gas pipeline 2 km long will be branched off from the line from Khulna CGS to
Rupsha power plant, to serve NWPGCL’s existing Khulna 225 MW power plant.
Owing to non-availability of gas, this 225 MW power plant is presently operating on
diesel. The following sources from imported regasified liquefied natural gas (R-LNG) and
domestic supply will provide adequate supply of natural gas for Component 1.
i) FSRU Moheskhali - 500 MMSCFD of R-LNG will be made available by April
2018 developed by Accelerate Energy, USA-Bangladesh
ii) Summit LNG Terminal Company Limited – 500 MMSCFD R-LNG will be made
available by October 2018
iii) GoB and RasGas (Qatar) has signed a deal in September 2017 for a 15-year
LNG sales and purchase agreement to supply 1.8 million (M) tons LNG/year for
5 years and 2.5 M tons/year for the next 10 years
iv) According to Petro Bangla, there will be additional supply (domestic) of 2,750
MMSCFD
v) By 2021, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited
(BAPEX) will have 55 exploration wells and 31 development wells
The natural gas produced in Bangladesh is “sweet gas” (does not contain hydrogen
Sulphide) and thus, all the existing natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline networks
are designed for high quality natural gas.
The layout of Component 2 is shown in Figure 2.
1.1.3 Component 3: Power Transmission Interconnection
Electricity generated in the Rupsha power plant will be stepped-up to the transmission
voltage of 230 kilovolts (KV). A new 29.3 km transmission line will be built from Rupsha 800
MW CCPP to the existing Khulna South Substation. The conductor to be used is twin-
Aluminium Conductor Composite Core Hamburg, 8 and the line will have two circuits, each
capable of transferring 1,400 MW. The new transmission line will require three main river
crossings and three minor river crossings, and would traverse for 29.3 km, mostly through rice
fields. Upon reaching the existing Khulna South SS, the line will be terminated at two new line
bays and termination equipment to be installed under the project. Thereafter, electricity
produced at Rupsha power plant will flow into the 230 KV transmission network, to serve the
electricity demand in Khulna and elsewhere in the country. 10. Occupying an area of 12.96
acres, the Khulna South SS is part of the West Zone Power System Development Project
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funded by ADB and the Nordic Development Fund and was commissioned on 29 January
2007. The 4.7 km stringing is part of the 24-km four circuit 230 KV Mongla to Khulna South
SS transmission line project of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) funded by
GoB. The 230 KV transmission line from Mongla to Khulna South SS has completed the
requirements of the Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR) 1997 of the Department of
Environment (DoE) for red category project. Together, these transmission lines form part of
the power evacuation interconnection facilities in southwestern Bangladesh.
The layout of Component 3 is shown in Figure 3.
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Figure 1: Layout Plan of Component 1 (800 MW CCPP)
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Figure 2: Layout Plan of Component 2 (12 Km Natural Gas Pipeline)
10 Km Pipeline from Aronghata
CGS to Rupsha 800 MW CCPP
2-Km Branch Off Line to Existing
Khulna 225 CCPP
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Figure 3: Layout Plan of Component 3 (29.3 Km Transmission Line)
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1.1.4 Component 4: Capacity Strengthening of NWPGCL
Strengthening institutional capacity has the following three major subcomponents:
i) Improving project implementation, management, and construction supervision
capabilities;
ii) Establishing enterprise resource planning system in NWPGCL; and
iii) Enhancing operation and maintenance practices through procurement and
installation of modern and high technology universal power plant operations
training simulator.
Project management and construction supervision support will be provided for the
development of Rupsha power plant. Enterprise resource planning system support includes
both hardware and software for introducing computerized management system for NWPGCL.
The enterprise resource planning system will substantially improve business process and
NWPGCL’s efficiency and transparency by computerizing the Financial Accounting, Budgeting
and Costing, Human Resource Management, Procurement Inventory, Planning and
Monitoring, Operations and Maintenance and Project Management and Accounting.
1.2 Nature and Size of the Project
The proposed project is a dual-fired combined cycle power plant (CCPP) that will use
natural gas as primary fuel with HSD as back-up. There will two units of 400 MW each
(2x400MW) with built-in low NOx emission control technology and closed-loop forced- draft
cooling tower system. Natural gas will be supplied by SGCL from the Khulna CGS through a
10 km, 24-inch gas distribution pipeline while HSD will be supplied by Bangladesh Petroleum
Corporation Limited (BPCL) from Daulathpur, Khulna. The net power generation capacity of
the proposed CCPP will be 767.84 MW in gas and 648.34 MW in HSD. If operated as simple
cycle power plant, the net power generation using natural gas will be 512 MW and 432 MW
with HSD.
1.2.1 Natural Gas (Primary Fuel)
The high-pressure gas transmission system already constructed. Approximately 1.5
km considering the source point of 24” ND pipeline and as per design to be operated at an
average of 600 psi with maximum operating pressure of 1000 psig and at worst condition
operating pressure will be 200 psig. This pipeline will be connected with source at one end at
the Connection Point and the other end will terminate at the inlet of the RMS. The pipeline will
be constructed on a strip of land of 8 m width (which is being used by NWPGCL as well for its
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gas pipeline) and is marked as required by the Gas Safety Rules, 1991, as amended up to
2003.
1.2.2 HSD (Secondary Fuel)
Use of HSD as fuel for power generation in the project will be only in case of
interruption in natural gas supply. This will be a back-up fuel for the project. As per the fuel
supply agreement, three days of HSD supply will be stored in two tanks with capacity
equivalent to 15 days operation at 80% output on HSD, while the plant is running on Gas. The
tanks will be installed on a bund of adequate size per environmental and safety requirements.
Total storage capacity at site will be 19,000 m3. HSD will be delivered via rail from BPC Depot
in Chittagong/Daulathpur/ Khulna up to the nearest rail head at Saidabad (i.e. Bangabandhu
Bridge West Railway Station), which is located approximately 3 km from the Project site.
NWPGCL has constructed an HSD unloading and pumping station at the railway
station and an HSD supply pipeline has been constructed up to the Saidabad Power
Generation Complex by NWPGCL. The unloading facility that has 30 rail car connections for
unloading purposes and screw type, electric motor driven, carbon steel pumps rated for
100m3/hr at 70m head, capable of pulling suction, have been provided. The unloading facility
has been designed to unload 3 complete trains (consists of 30 nos. oil tanker wagon having
capacity of 42 ton each wagon) per day. The available unloading oil tanker wagons having
capacity of 42 tons are available for use by BPC. BPC will use the same system for HSD
supply as per the common agreement; HSD pipeline is constructed in the month of July 2018
and tapped with S3 HSD pipeline. It is also to be noted that the HSD pipeline will have HSD
on it only during transfer of fuel from railway siding to the storage facility within the site and
after completion of transfer, the pipeline will be cleaned. This will avoid any risk during non-
operation of the HSD pipeline
1.3 Project Progress Status and Implementation Schedule
As of December 2018, the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning
Contractor (EPCC) for the proposed project has yet to be appointed. The EPCC is expected
to be appointed in August to October 2019.
The draft EIA for all three (3) components are yet to be approved by the Department of
Environment (DoE) Bangladesh. The revised EIA for these components had been submitted
on 9th April 2019 and currently expecting approval from DoE Bangladesh.
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The status of implementation of the all three (3) components are as tabulated in Table
1. The implementation schedule is yet to be made available.
Table 1: Status of Implementation of the Project
No. Work Descriptions Status
1 Component 1: 800 MW CCPP
a Demolition of Abandoned Paper Mill Not yet started
b Appointment of EPCC In tendering process
2 Component 2: Natural Gas Pipeline (Total 12 km) Not yet started
3 Component 3: Transmission Line (Total 29.3 km) Not yet started
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2.0 Compliance to National Regulations
2.1 National Applicable Policies and Legal Provision (Including Environmental
Conservation Rules 1997)
All legal provisions relevant to environmental protection applicable to the planning,
construction, operation was identified according to the soon-to-approved EIA reports. Table 2
summarised all the relevant legal provisions.
Table 2: National and International Legal Provisions Applicable to The Rupsha
800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (Khalishpur, Khulna) For Ensuring
Environmental Protection
2.2 Applicable Environmental Standards both National and International
The relevant environmental standards (national as well as international) for thermal power
plants as applicable to the proposed Project are presented in the following tables:
2.2.1 Ambient Air Quality
According to the ECR 1997 and its subsequent amendment at 2006, the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards and International Standards (IFC/WHO) has been depicted in
Table 3.
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Table 3: Ambient Air Quality Standards/ Guidelines
The Bangladesh National Ambient Air Quality Standards have been taken from the Environmental
Conservation Rules, 1997 which was amended on 19th August 2005 vide S.R.O. No.220-Law/2005.
WHO Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values (2005 and 2000), which are also being referred in the World
Bank and IFC’s General EHS Guidelines (2007). Represents the standard values applicable to the
Project
As per the WB/IFC General EHS guidelines, ambient air quality results need to be
compared with the relevant ambient air quality guidelines and standards by applying national
legislated standards, or in their absence, the current WHO air quality guidelines or other
internationally recognized sources, such as the United States National Ambient Air Quality
Standards and the relevant European Council Directives. Since, Bangladesh has its own
national ambient air quality standards, these local standards are considered as the applicable
standard for the project.
2.2.2 Ground Water Quality
According to the Rule 12, Schedule-3 (B), ECR 1997, standard for drinking water has
been depicted in Table 4.
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Table 4: Bangladesh Standards for Drinking Water
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2.2.3 Surface Water Quality
According to the Rule 12, Schedule-3 (A), ECR 1997, standard for surface water has been
depicted in Table 5.
Table 5: Bangladesh Standard for Inland Surface Water
Best Practice-Based Classification
Paramete
r
pH BOD (mg/l)
DO (mg/l)
Total Coliform (Number/100)
Source of drinking water for supply only
after disinfecting 6.5-8.5 2 or less 6 or above 50 or less
Water usable for recreational activity 6.5-8.5 3 or less 5 or more 200 or less
Source of drinking water for supply after
conventional treatment 6.5-8.5 6 or less 6 or more 5000or less
Water usable by fisheries 6.5-8.5 6 or less 5 or more -
Water usable by various process and
cooling industries 6.5-8.5 10 or less 5 or more 5000 or
less
Water usable for irrigation 6.5-8.5 10 or less 5 or more 1000 or less
Source: Rule 12, Schedule-3; Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997
DO = Dissolve Oxygen, BOD = Biological Oxygen Demand, mg/l = Milligram per Liter, pH =
Negative decimal logarithm of the hydrogen ion activity in a solution
Notes:
1. In water used for pisciculture, maximum limit of ammonia presence as Nitrogen is 1.2 mg/l.
2. Electrical conductivity for irrigation water – 2250 μhoms/cm (at a temperature of 25°C); Sodium
less than 26%; boron less than 0.2%.
2.2.4 Noise Level
According to The Bangladesh National Ambient Noise Standards have been taken from Schedule
4 (Standards for Sound) of the Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997 amended October 7, 2006,
as shown in Table 6.
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Table 6: Noise Level Standards/ Guidelines
Category of Area/ Bangladesh** IFC-WHO***
Receptor Day (dB(A)) Night (dB(A)) Day (dB(A)) Night (dB(A))
Silent Zone 45 35 55 45
Residential Area 55 45 55 45
Mixed Area 60 50 - -
Commercial Area 70 60 70 70
Industrial Area 75 70 70 70
Note:
The Bangladesh National Ambient Noise Standards have been taken from Schedule 4 (Standards for
Sound) of the Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997 amended October 7, 2006.
Guidelines values are for noise levels measured out of doors. Source: Guidelines for Community
Noise, World Health Organization (WHO), 1999
As per IFC EHS noise level guidelines, Noise impacts should not exceed the levels presented in the
above table.
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3.0 Compliance to Environmental Covenants from the ADB Loan Agreement
3.1 Schedule 5 Environment
Covenants Reference Compliance Status Implementation Arrangements LA,
Schedule 5,
Para 2
Details of monitoring, environmental and social safeguards implementation will be provided in the EMP once the EPCC is appointed.
NWPGCL shall ensure that its project management unit has adequate qualified staff to undertake necessary tasks of procurement, construction supervision, inspection and testing of equipment, payments to contractors, monitoring, environmental and social safeguards implementation and reporting progress of the Project.
Environment LA, Schedule
5, Para 3
The environmental monitoring will be carried out in all three phases i.e. pre- construction, during construction and post- construction phase or operation phase
The borrower shall ensure, or cause NWPGCL to ensure, that the preparation, design, construction implementation, operation and decommissioning of the project and all project facilities comply with (a) All applicable laws and regulations of the
Borrower relating to the environment, health, and safety;
(b) The environmental safeguards; (c) All measures and requirement set forth in
the respective EIA and EMP, and any corrective or preventive actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report
Safeguards – Related Provisions in Bidding Documents and Works Contracts
LA, Schedule
5, Para 7
The Borrower shall ensure, or cause the Project Executing Agency to ensure, that all bidding documents and contracts for Works contain provisions that require the contractor to: (a) Comply with the measures and
The safeguards- related provisions in bidding documents and work contracts will be followed strictly and update time to time for further requirements.
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Covenants Reference Compliance Status requirements relevant to the contractor set forth in the EIA, the EMP, the RP (to the extent they concern impacts on affected people during construction), and any corrective or preventive actions set out in a Safeguards Monitoring Report;
(b) Make available a budget for all such environmental and social measures;
(c) Provide the Borrower with a written notice of any unanticipated environmental, resettlement or small ethnic community people risks or impacts that arise during construction, implementation or operation of the project that were not considered in the EIA, the EMP, the RP;
(d) Adequately record the condition of roads, agricultural and other infrastructure prior to starting to transport materials and construction;
(e) Fully reinstate pathways, other local infrastructure, and agricultural land to at least their pre-project condition upon the completion of construction.
Safeguards- Monitoring and Reporting LA, Schedule 5,
Para 8
The borrower shall do the following or shall cause NWPGCL to do the following: (a) Submit Semi-annual Safeguards
Monitoring Reports to ADB for disclosure on ADB’s website , and disclose relevant information from such reports to affected persons promptly upon submission;
(b) If any unanticipated environmental and or social risks and impacts arise during construction, implementation or operation
The Safeguards monitoring will be carried out in all three phases i.e. pre- construction, during construction and post- construction phase or operation phase. The first environment and social safeguard monitoring reports were submitted covering October to December 2018. The next submission will cover January-June 2019, including the results of the baseline monitoring conducted in May 2019 as an annex.
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Covenants Reference Compliance Status of the project that were not considered in the EIA, the EMP or the RP, as applicable, promptly inform ADB of the occurrence of such risks or impacts, with detailed description of the event and proposed corrective action plan;
(c) No later than the June 2019, engage a qualified and experienced external expert under a selection process and terms of reference acceptable to ADB, to verify information produced through the Project monitoring process, and facilitate the carrying out of any verification by such external expert; and
(d) Report any actual or potential breach of compliance with the measures and requirements set forth in the EMP or the RP promptly after becoming aware of the breach.
Labor Standards LA, Schedule
5, Para 10
The Borrower shall ensure, or cause NWPGCL to ensure, that the core labor standards and the Borrower’s applicable laws and regulations are complied with during Project Implementation. The Borrower shall include specific provisions in the bidding documents and contracts financed by ADB under the Project requiring that the contractors, among other things, (a) Comply with the Borrower’s applicable laws
and regulations and incorporate applicable workplace occupational safety norms;
(b) Do not use child labor (c) Do not discriminate workers in respect of
employment and occupation; (d) Do not use forced labor;
The labor standards will be followed strictly.
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Covenants Reference Compliance Status (e) Allow freedom of association and effectively
recognize the right to collective bargaining; (f) Disseminate, or engage appropriate service
providers to disseminate, information on the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS to the employees of contractors engaged under the Project and to members of the local communities surrounding the Project area, particularly women.
The Borrower shall strictly monitor compliance with the requirements set forth in paragraph 10 above ad provide ADB with regular reports
LA, Schedule
5, Para 11
Regular monitoring reports will be prepared and submitted
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4.0 Compliance to Environmental Management Plan
The EMP is to be prepared by the EPCC Contractor. As this has yet to be appointed, the
EMP is currently not available.
5.0 Safeguards Monitoring Results and Unanticipated Impacts
No monitoring was conducted during this reporting period due to absence of any physical
works at the project site (all three Components).
6.0 Implementation of Grievance Redress Mechanism and Complaints Received
from Stakeholders
6.1 Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Public participation, consultation and information disclosure shall be undertaken as part
of the local EIA process to discuss and address major community and environmental concerns.
Continuous public participation and consultation shall be emphasized as a key component for
successful project implementation.
During the operational phase of the project, the complaints that may be anticipated are
mostly related to noise and vibration of the Power Plant. However, unforeseen issues may occur.
To settle such issues effectively, an effective and transparent channel for lodging complaints and
grievances will be established. The Grievance Redressal Mechanism should be scaled to the
risks and adverse impacts of the project. It should address affected people’s concerns and
complaints promptly, using an understandable and transparent process. It should also be readily
accessible to all sections of the community at no cost and without retribution.
The GRM will be implemented during both the construction and operational period of the
project to ensure that all complaints from local communities are dealt with appropriately, with
corrective actions being implemented, and the complainant being informed of the outcome. It will
be applied to all complaints from affected parties. The mechanism will be accessible to diverse
members of the community, including more vulnerable groups such as women and youth. Multiple
means of using this mechanism, including face-to-face meetings, written complaints, telephone
conversations should be available.
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Confidentiality and privacy for complainants should be honored where this is seen as
necessary or important. A GRM and procedures will be set up to provide opportunity for project
affected persons to settle their complaints and grievances amicably. The grievances redress
procedures and mechanism shall ensure that project affected persons are provided with the
appropriate compensations and that all administrative measures are in line with the law. It also
allows project affected persons not to lose time and resources from going through lengthy
administrative and legal procedures. Grievances are first preferred to be settled amicably.
NWPGCL will set-up a Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) that will address any
complaints during both the construction and operational period of the project. But at present, no
grievance is recorded regarding this project.
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Figure 4: Flowchart of Complain / Grievance Procedure
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The representation in the committee makes project affected persons to have trust and
build confidence in the system. The grievance redress committee reports its plan and activities
to the Implementation committee.
The GRC will maintain a Complaints Database, which will contain all the information on
complaints or grievances received from the communities or other stakeholders. This would
include: the type of complaint, location, time, actions to address these complaints, and final
outcome.
The procedures to be followed and adopted by the grievance redress should be
transparent and simple to understand or uniform process for registering complaints provide
project affected persons with free access to the procedures. The response time between
activating the procedure and reaching a resolution should be as short as possible. An effective
monitoring system will inform project management about the frequency and nature of
grievances.
The GRC will arrange half yearly meetings where the activities and the
outcomes/measures taken according to the Complaints Database are to be monitored and
reviewed by third party consultant to ensure the required transparency.
In addition to the above, if there are any grievances related to environmental management
issues in the project area, the GRC will record these grievances and suggestions and pass it on
to the relevant consultant for necessary action and follow-up. GRC will be responsible to response
for the grievances within a time limit. The initial movement to identify the causes should be taken
within 48 hours. The GRC will not take more than two weeks to take the final initiative.
In case a dispute is not resolved by arbitrational tribunal, then if any of the Party
disagrees, the aggrieved party has the right to appeal to the ordinary courts of law. However, the
preferred option of dispute settlement ought to be the option of settling the dispute amicably
because recourse to courts may take a very long-time even years before a final decision is made
and therefore, should not be the preferred option for both parties.
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6.2 Status of Implementation of the GRM
The representation in the committee makes project affected persons to have trust and
build confidence in the system. The grievance redress committee reports its plan and activities to
the Implementation committee. The framework for the GRC is presented in Table 7.
Table 7: Members of the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC)
S.l. No. Designation
01 - to be duly assigned -
02
03
04
05
06
07
During the reporting period, the project is in infant stage where the Contractors for each
components of the project are yet to be awarded. As such, there was no progress on the
implementation of the GRM, nevertheless, it will be institutionalized and function accordingly as
per Social Safeguard covenants.
7.0 Conclusion and Recommendations
This report presents the first biannual report (covering October to December 2018) for the
proposed Project. In this report, the relevant criteria for environmental compliance are identified.
However, since there are no physical activities at the project site (all three components), no
monitoring activities are conducted.