i. Environmental Management
The program reviews all Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIAs) of the project
areas and evaluates the program conducted
to foster environmental management
program launched by the project alert
the management for any environmental
challenges during project implementation.
The scope and objective of this program
is to:
Support the Social Upliftment Program
(SUP) and Helmo Sindhu Melamchi Valley
Social Upliftment Program Implementation
Committee (HSMVSUPIC) to carry out
environment monitoring and environmental
management, if any, under the SUP.
Report to Safe Guard Unit (SUG)
chief and the MWSDB on the level of
compliance with subproject-wide EMPs
for subproject infrastructure works,
and supplement the regular supervision
by MWSDB, the panel of experts, and
the funding agencies.
Through field visits, discussions
with the stakeholders, monitoring
activities within HSMVSUPIC, training
feedback, and communication with MWSDB,
recommend other possible environmental
enhancements for the subproject.
Train and assist the MWSDB safeguard
unit to ensure that the subproject
is executed in an environment friendly
and adheres to the EMP.
Prepare a monthly, quarterly and
annual progress report with a summary
of periodic and cumulative figures
and data.
Undertake research and produce report
on the impact of EMP activities on
Melamchi valley and beyond.
Conduct third party monitoring of
the activities as stipulated in the
EMP for the environmental protection/mitigation
activities provided for implementation
by other agencies (contractors, CBO,
User's Group, and other local agencies).
Continue the environmental activities
currently being carried out by EMP
consultant such as, measuring of noise
pollution, dust pollution, fish specimen
monitoring, river discharge measurement
and other laboratory works.
ii. Public Relation
Assisted MWSDB and HSMVSUPIC in
establishing a proactive informative
campaign and dialogue with concerned
stakeholders in both the Melamchi
and Kathmandu valleys.
Promote the benefits of the MWSP,
targeting project-affected people,
project stakeholders, the general
public and non-government organization
(NGOs); and support HSMVSUPIC's public
relation activities.
Proactively organize public relations
events, in coordination with MWSDB,
HSMVSUPIC and the PMC (i.e., mobilize
media and engage in a fact-based debate
with social activists to separate
reality from myth regarding MWSP,
its activities and intent).
Organize, at least once in three
months, meeting with other stakeholders
such as the local bodies, VDCs and
NGOs in order to disseminate information
and seek feedback as stipulated in
the loan agreements and other documents
for the project.
Assist in the development of PR
skills to MWSDB's staff by organizing
training and capacity building programs.
Prepare and submit a plan of such
programs as part of the consultant's
inception report.
Promote understanding among local
communities , project and affected
people so that conflicts are lessened
and the project is executed smoothly;
Identify and potential conflict
area at an early stage and assist
safeguard unit to take timely measures
to avert it.
Create awareness on the role of
HSMC and local communities in management
and handling grievances and implementation
of safeguard activities including
social uplift programme.
Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual
progress report with a summary of
periodic and cumulative figures and
data.
Carry out public relation campaign
such as health camp, teachers training
and capacity enhancement programme
of local educational instructions
etc.
iii. Land Acquisition and Re-settlement
Develop confidence in communities
towards compensation packages (for
outstanding land acquisition and resettlement
activities) in construction works;
Assist the project and the SG unit
in carrying out land acquisition,
title transfer and recording in the
asset register.
Implement RAP and update it as necessary.
Assist the grievance handling unit
in resolving the claims, grievances
and obstructions in the project implementation
as a result of land acquisition and
RAP activities.
Assist the SG unit and PR consultant
on information dissemination through
Website and various media
Prepare a monthly, quarterly and
annual progress report with a summary
of periodic and cumulative figures
and data.
Assist the Panel of expert in conducting
the third party monitoring.
iv. Social Upliftment Program (SUP)
The main aim of the SUP is to engage
local participation in the mitigation
of direct and indirect project impacts
and to create a base for long-term
development in project-affected VDCs,
to improve quality of life. The selected
sectors for SUP implementation are:
Buffer Zone - to lend support to preserving
the Langtang National Park environment
from outside population influx and
other negative impacts in the project
VDCs that include National park Buffer
Zone areas (principally Helambu VDC
and parts of Ichok and Kiul VDCs.
Health - to develop a SUP Health Plan
for improving and upgrading existing
health facilities and general health
care in the Melamchi Valley, through
the training of health personnel and
the supply of basic medicines and
equipment to local health service
programs including construction of
physical infrastructure.
Education - to assist in the development
and upgrading of Melamchi Valley education
through support to schools, including
the building or upgrading of physical
facilities, implementation of school
sanitation programs, training of teachers,
provision of grants and scholarships,
and implementation of adult literacy
programs including supply of basic
education materials.
Income Generation/Community Development
- to provide guidance and funding
to promote income generation and community
development activities through capacity
building at the local level, under
the pre-existing Local Governance
Program (LGP), includes formation
of COs and CMCs, seed grant capital,
to form savings and credit groups,
agriculture and livestock development
programs etc.
Rural Electrification - to launch
a rural electrification program in
areas and communities peripheral to
the 26.6km long Melamchi Valley main
transmission (Sundraijal to Ambathan),
following completion of the project
tunnel works. (This component is not
yet finalized.)
In order to fulfill the objective
of SUP to the project affected areas
(14VDCs of Sindhupalchowk and 5 VDCs
of Kavre), the project has been facilitating
the following activities through safeguard
unit:
Assist with the formation and institutionalization
of HSMVSUPIC and any similar local
committees.
Enhance the capacity of HSMVSUPIC
executive committee and secretariat
to plan, execute manage and monitor
social and environmental development
program and resettlement action plans
from ADB loan funds.
Update and improve the SUP implementation
guidelines and implementation systems
of social uplift program under the
subproject.
Review and confirm the criteria
for eligibility of affected people
to benefit from the subproject and
the criteria for the sub-component
selection to ensure consistency and
compliance with ADB safeguards requirements.
Review and confirm the criteria
for the sub-component selection to
ensure consistency and compliance
with ADB safeguards requirements.
And assist the Safeguards Unit and
HSMVSUPIC in screening proposals in
accordance with the said criteria.
Assist HSMVSUPIC and PMU in preparing
annual budget which identifies SUP
sub-components to be undertaken for
the applicable year.
Establish a mechanism for public
audits at least twice a year.
Support HSMVSUPIC in implementing
the social development support program,
and undertake capacity building of
HSMVSUPIC through skills development
and training.
Support HSMC in monitoring the progress
and performance of the social development
support program including compliance
with Safeguards requirement.
Assist HSMVSUPIC and MWSDB in preparing
policies for eater levy to be paid
for water diversion and entering into
an agreement between Kathmandy Valley's
authorized agency and Melamchi Valley
people regarding the levy to be paid
for water diversion.
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