Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

for assistance in expert consultationsfor independent monitoring of implementation of EMMPsfor external Monitoring and evaluationfor independent collection and analysis of water quality, air and noise quality datafor environmental auditing9.2.5 Step E: Formation of a Grievance Redress Committee44. It is proposed that a joint grievance redress committee be set for both environmental and socialaction plans. In dealing with a vast number of affected persons, disputes on entitlement processes andenvironmental hazard due to project activities are very likely to arise due, for example, to gaps inlegal/land records systems, need for updated titles of holdings during project implementation, intensivescheduling of construction activities, inappropriate timing of construction vehicle flow, and culturalconflicts between migrant workers and local communities. Experience from past projects shows thatthere are often (i) fraudulent authorization and “no-objection” documents; (ii) errors in establishinginventory of losses (IOL); (iii) cases of dispute over ownership such as an earlier owner receiving anaward even after the sale of land prior to acquisition; (iv) issues related to Government vestedproperty, (v) other socially and legally identified owners, and (vi) spread of sexually transmitteddiseases and HIV/AIDs by migrant workers.Objectives of GRC45. In order to provide an accessible mechanism to APs to raise their issues and grievances as wellas raise concerns about their assistance, Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) has already beenestablished in the project area in each Union Parishad. The GRCs are officially recognized “nonjudicial”community-based body that will seek to resolve non-judicial disputes arising out of variousmatters related to the implementation of the SAP and EAP. The fundamental objectives of GRCs areto resolve any resettlement and environmental related grievances locally in consultation with theaggrieved party to facilitate smooth implementation of the social and environmental action plans.Another important objective is to democratize the development process at the local level and toestablish accountability to the affected people.Composition of GRC46. There will be one GRC for social/resettlement and environmental action plans. The followingGRC composition has been gazetted for the entire project with representations from BBA,implementing NGO (INGO), local elected officials, representatives of affected people and women inthe project area to ensure participatory process and to allow voices of the affected communities in thegrievance procedures.Executive Engineer – PMBP : Convener1 representative of INGO : Member SecretaryChairman – concerned Union Parishad : MemberFemale member of concerned ward of the UP : MemberRepresentative of Women APs : MemberOne (1) representative of APs (based on the recommendation of INGO and approved by Convener)47. This format of GRC has worked in the past projects – for example, Jamuna Multipurpose BridgeProject, Bhairab Bridge Construction Project, Pakshey Bridge Project and Southwest Road NetworkDevelopment Project. The post-project evaluations indicate that GRCs have worked well and wassuccessful in resolving disputes in a participatory manner and with fairness in the decision makingprocess. The GRC is empowered to take a decision which is binding on BBA and considered final. InRAP I, the GRC processes under the above format is functioning well in resolving dispute quickly. Incase of technical nature of environmental issues, CSC environmental specialist will advise the GRC ontechnical matters.TOR for GRC48. The scope of work and the Terms of Reference (TOR) for GRC are:9-13