letter - Accountability Counsel

JAL-­‐ JUNGLE-­‐ JAMIN SURAKYA MANCH, SUNDARGARH.
(Girdhai, Hamirpur, Rourkela 769003, Orissa, India)
Roberto Zagha
Country Director, India
rzagha@worldbank.org
April 19, 2012
Binyam Reja
Sector Manager
breja@worldbank.org
Rajesh Rohatgi
Orissa State Roads Project Task Team Leader
rrohatgi@worldbank.org
The World Bank
New Delhi Office
70 Lodi Estate
New Delhi – 110 003
India
RE: Inquiry on current status of the proposed four lane road from Rourkela to Sambalpur
(IBRD India Orissa State Roads Project, Project ID: P096023)
Dear Mr. Zagha, Mr. Reja, and Mr. Rohatgi,
We, the following representatives of the Water, Forest, and Land Protection Committee from
Sundergarh, Orissa, in the name of (Jal Jungle Jamin Surakhya Manch, Sundargarh) write to you today
with concerns about developments in the IBRD’s Orissa State Roads Project (ID: P096023). We met with
representatives from your offices several times last year regarding community concerns about the
Project. The final communication we received from your office was on July 13, 2011, stating that the
World Bank had advised Project authorities to put land acquisition on hold, and that you would keep us
informed about your dialogue with the Government of Orissa (GoO).
We are concerned that project authorities have restarted land acquisition for the Project, but have not
informed affected landholders and communities. The project is already causing imminent harm to
locally affected people.
On March 20, 2012, the local newspaper Samaja carried a notice stating that the GoO would be
acquiring 3.95 acres of land in Kontiamara Village (Badgaon Police Station, Rajganpur Tehsil, Sundergarh
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District) for the Rourkela-­‐Sambalpur 4-­‐lane highway project. We would appreciate any updated
information you have on the status of this Project, including any plans for consultations, particularly
with tribal peoples, environmental impact studies, mitigation plans, and safeguard documents.
On behalf of community members who have land located on the periphery of the current Rourkela-­‐
Sambalpur highway, we ask that you advise project authorities to immediately remove the cement
markers from their fields that indicate the expected width of the 4-­‐lane highway project. These cement
markers prevent the use of plows, which will be necessary as the plowing and planting season is quickly
approaching. These farmers have not been consulted or compensated for the use of their land or the
loss of productivity created by the cement markers. Please remove these markers as soon as possible to
avoid imminent harm to these farmers’ livelihoods.
We hope to hear from you soon and for your prompt cooperation with our requests.
Sincerely Yours,
Cc: Mr. Peter Lallas, World Bank Inspection Panel
Cc: Natalie B. Fields, Accountability Counsel
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