INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 05/01/2013 Report No.: ISDSA328 1. Basic Project Data Original Project ID: P115767 Original Project Name: Nepal-India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project Country: Nepal Project ID: P132631 Project Name: Additional Financing for Nepal-India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project Task Team Leader: Jie Tang Estimated Appraisal Date: April 22, 2013 Estimated Board Date: May 30, 2013 Managing Unit: SASDE Lending Instrument: Sector: Transmission and Distribution of Electricity (97%);Public administration- Energy and mining (3%) Theme: Infrastructure services for private sector development (50%);Regional integration (50%) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0 IDA Amount (US$m.): 39 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00 0.00 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) Yes [ ] No [ ] or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) 2. Project Objectives The project development objectives of the NIETTP additional financing are to: (a) establish cross-border transmission capacity between India and Nepal of about 1000 MW to facilitate electricity trade between the two countries; and, (b) increase the supply of electricity in Nepal by the sustainable import of at least 100 MW. With the proposed Additional Financing, no change in objectives is proposed. 3. Project Description The original NIETTP includes investments financed by IDA (Components B and C) as well as linked investments not financed by IDA (Component A). Part A: Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur (D-M) Transmission Line • Component A1: Muzaffarpur-Sursand 400 kV Transmission Line ($32.82m, non- IDA financed). Design, construction and operation of approximately 90 km of 400 kV double circuit transmission line between Muzaffarpur and Sursand on the Indian border with Nepal. This line will be implemented in India by the CPTC. • Component A2: Dhalkebar–Bhittamod 400 kV Transmission Line ($20.71m, non- IDA financed). Design, construction and operation of approximately 40 km of 400 kV double circuit transmission line between Bhittamod, on the Nepal border with India, and Dhalkebar in Nepal. This line will be implemented in Nepal by the PTCN. Implementation Status: Institution set up was finished. Bids for supply and installation contracts for both Nepal and India sections are under evaluation. Signing of the contracts is expected by June 2013 and project completion by March. Part B: Hetauda-Dhalkebar- Duhabi (H-D-D) Transmission Line and Grid Synchronization • Component B1: Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Duhabi Transmission Line and Substations. Design, construction and operation of approximately 28 km of 400 kV double circuit transmission line for the H-D-D line segment, together with concomitant substations in Nepal. Implementation Status: The contract for supply and installation of towers and string of conductors for was signed on February 3, 2013. The contractor is currently undertaking the check survey for the full length of the line. Bidding documents for supply of conductors—dropped from the PDP project and proposed for the Additional Financing— have been finalized and submitted to the Bank no objection. Design of substation and preparation of technical specifications for transformers have been completed by the Owner's Engineer hired by NEA. Contract signing is expected by July and project completion of by September 2015. • Component B2: Synchronization of Operation of the Nepal and Indian Grids. Installation of the required power system stabilizers in the major power generating stations and other measures in Nepal in order to synchronize Nepal's power system with that of India. Implementation Status of B2: Study for the system synchronization was completed. Procurement of the required equipment will start in early 2014 according the implementation schedule. Part C: Technical Advisory Services • Component C1: Owners' Engineer. Provision of technical advisory services, through an Owners' Engineer for NEA, for overseeing Part B of the Project. Implementation Status: The Owners' Engineer hired is providing technical advisory services to NEA. The Owner's Engineer has completed the substation design and preparation of the technical specifications. It will assist NEA in the follow up contract executions. • Component C2: Transmission System Master Plan. Provision of technical advisory services to NEA for the preparation of a transmission system master plan for future transmission system development in Nepal and for development of additional cross-border interconnections. Implementation Status: Request for Proposals was issued to shortlisted firms and bids received are under evaluation now. Draft report on the master plan is expected by December 2013. • Component C3: Lenders' Engineer. Provision of technical advisory services, through a Lenders' Engineer, for enabling results monitoring, highlighting obstacles to achieving results in a timely manner, and ensuring the development and implementation of appropriate corrective actions by NEA, Government of Nepal and the Bank. Implementation Status of C3: Not yet started and proposed to be dropped. • Component C4: Capacity Development. Provision of technical advisory services the Ministry of Energy and NEA for capacity building. Implementation Status: some of the capacity building activities are on-going. The new investment activities for the proposed Additional Financing to the original Project include: • Conductor for H-D-D 400 kV transmission Line. Additional Financing is proposed for supply of the conductors for the H-D-D Transmission line under the original Project. Bidding document for supply of conductors was submitted to the Bank for no objection. • Hetauda-Bharatpur (H-B) and Bharatpur-Bardaghat (B-B) 220 kV Lines and Associated Substations. Additional Financing is proposed for continued payments for continued execution of contracts for supply and installation of the H-B and B-B 220 kV lines, which are under implementation of the on-going Power Development Project (PDP) supported by the Bank. • System Integrator for IFMIS of NEA. Supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the Integrated Financial Management Information System important for strengthening NEA's accounting system and financial management capacity. System study was completed and Request for Proposal drafted. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The two transmission line (TL) projects proposed for additional financing to NIETTP have begun under implementation since 2008 and 2009 respectively under the PDP. Both TL projects have Right-of-Way (RoW) of 30 meters wide and approximately 12.5m X 12.5 m land area is required for construction each tower foundation. The tower height is 42.45 meters. The H-B line runs between Hetauda to Bardaghat in the central Terai crossing three districts namely Makwanpur, Chitwan and Nawalparasi. Though the terrain is pre dominantly plain, some part of the TL passes through Churia hills. This TL adversely impacts Bharatpur, Padampur, Birendranager VDCs of Chitwan district and Basamadi and Manahari VDCs of Makwanpur district. The B-B line from Bharatpur - Bardaghat is approximately 70 km long and passes through 9 VDCs and two municipalities of Makwanpur and Chitwan districts respectively. In Makawanpur district the project has adversely impacts in Basamadi and Manahari VDCs, and Hetauda Municipality. Similarly in Chitwan district, the TL will adversely impact Padampur, Birendranagar, Chainpur, Piple, Pithuwa, Bhandara and Jutepani VDCs and Bharatpur municipality. For the original project, (a) the India portion of the D-M line from Muzaffarpur to the Nepal border has about 90 m alignment in flat terrain, with a stretch of about 0.75 ha forest land to be acquired. No other sensitive receptors have been identified along that stretch; (b) along the Nepal portion of the D-M line from Dhalkebar to India border, about 40 km long running north-south, there are a few sensitive environmental receptors along the corridor; and (c) the east to west H-D-D line (the largest component of the NIETTP) mostly runs parallel to existing infrastructure or in already anthropogenically impacted areas. Of the 285km length of this line, the initial 18.6 km (Hetauda- Hurnamadi) stretch of the TL passes through a hilly area. Over the next 23.4 kilometers (Hurnamadi- Nijgadh), the line route gradually changes from hills to Terai. The remaining 243.2 km (Nijgadh - New Duhabi) passes through flat plain of Terai and runs almost parallel to, and on the northern side of the East-West Highway. The substations will be expanded in Hetauda and Dhalkebar, while a new station will be in Duhabi. The alignment often co-shares the RoW of the existing 132 kV TL and the Mahendra Highway, especially in sections where it passes through the core forest area. The alignment has been selected to entirely avoid going through the critical natural habitat zones of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) and the Parsa Wildlife reserve. The EA indicates that these TLs do not go through any national park, wildlife reserve, buffer zone, conservation area, wetlands, or historically and archaeologically important sites. However the H-D-D line passes close to but still avoids the buffer zone of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, which is known to contain sensitive flora and fauna. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Drona Raj Ghimire (SASDI) Mr Parthapriya Ghosh (SASDS) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: Scope of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment under A) The Original Project NIETTP. The developers of the Nepalese sections of the original Project (components A2 and B1) and the Indian section (component A1) have used separate approaches and arrangements in addressing the social and environmental impacts of the TLs due to different financing, regulatory and institutional structures in the two countries. For the Nepalese sections of the TL (components A2 and B1), an independent environmental and social impact assessment has been completed that is consistent with the World Bank's Safeguards policies, as well as with the local regulatory requirements in Nepal. The Indian portion (component A1) will follow a framework approach consistent with Indian requirements as the exact alignment of the TL and the exact locations of the towers will only be finalized during implementation (explained below). The original Project is expected to contribute overall positively to the local economies through improved power supply. The local populations are also expected to benefit through enhanced employment opportunities, training, and extension services planned under the Project. Environmental assessment and impacts for Nepalese Sections. In accordance with OP 4.01, an Environmental Assessment, as part of the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) was undertaken for both the Dhalkebar - Bhittamod section of D-M line in Nepal (Component A2), as well as the H-D-D TL in Nepal (Component B1). The assessment included developing baseline environmental and social conditions along the anticipated RoW as well as identification and evaluation of impact resulting from proposed intervention. The assessment indicates that environmental and social impacts associated with the project activities are not direct, irreversible or significant in nature. Hence the project is rated Environmental Category B. Also in compliance with OP 4.04 Natural Habitats, the NIETTP avoids critical natural habitats; and includes mitigation measures for those non-critical areas that the Project would affect. Additionally, as part of the environmental assessment, in compliance with OP 4.36, the use of such forest land has been minimized - only a part of the H-D-D line would pass through some forest land - and to the extent of forest land and trees affected, mitigation measures in accordance to Nepalese law and regulations are included to be implemented under the Project. Social Assessment and Impacts for the Nepalese sections. The total length of TLs in the Nepalese section is about 325 km (H-D-D line 285 km + Dhalkebar-Bhittamod section of the D-M line 40 km). NEA has carried out a SIA for the entire length. In accordance with OP 4.12, involuntary Resettlement has been avoided where possible; and where it would not be possible to avoid, a RAP has been prepared through which affected persons would be assisted to improve their livelihoods and standards of living. While preventive planning approaches have been integrated into the Project using alternative engineering design options, appropriate mitigation measures have been planned to address residual adverse impacts. The SIA provides the socioeconomic and demographic profile in the Project districts, identifies potential positive and adverse impacts resulting from the Project's interventions, and screens the indigenous communities in the Project areas. In accordance with OP 4.10 Indigenous Peoples, the SIA team carried out extensive consultations with local communities and governments to identify Project-related impacts and possible mitigation, as well as recorded their expectations and recommendations for the Project. The SIA has confirmed the presence of indigenous communities in the Project areas and a process of free, prior and informed consultations has confirmed their support for the Project. A Vulnerable People Development Framework (VPDF) has been prepared that will guide proactive interventions to minimize potential impacts on the indigenous communities. The exact nature of impacts and interventions will be identified consultatively during finalization of the exact alignment and location of the TL, towers and substations. A RAP has been developed to resettle and rehabilitate people who will be affected due to the known specific locations of TL, towers and substations, while a Social Impact Management Framework (SIMF) has been developed to address the TLs, towers and substations whose alignment and specific locations are expected to be finalized only during implementation (described below). Additionally, in compliance with OP 4.11 Physical Culture Resources, during preparation, some minimal impacts on physical cultural resources have been identified, and in consultations with the communities, mitigation measures have been included to be implemented under the Project. RAP for TL, towers and substations for the Nepalese sections whose locations are known. The RAP was developed based on data from a household survey of socio - economic status and impacts. It indicates that the affected population belongs to 29 different caste/ethnic groups scattered along the TL. Extensive consultations with the affected households were carried out to record their concerns and to inform them about Project impacts, and to develop mitigation measures. Overall, the towers and substations will require 21 hectares (ha) of land; relocation of nine private structures belonging to six households; and affect 133 households comprising 873 people. The RAP describes in detail the impacts; compensation policy and entitlements; compensation payment and relocation arrangements for the private structures, one primary school and three temples; and institutional setup and monitoring arrangements. The SIMF is to be applied within Nepal where exact locations are currently unknown. The SIMF will be applied to those sections of TL and suspension towers whose alignment and specific locations will only be finalized during project implementation. The procedures described in the SIMF have been designed to comply with the relevant local regulations and the World Bank's Safeguards policies. The SIMF contains a framework with procedures and guidelines to identify evaluate and prepare plans to address involuntary resettlement; issues concerning vulnerable communities including Indigenous Peoples; and consultation and participation and grievance redress mechanisms. The SIMF also describes policy objectives and principles, planning approach and requirements, review and approval procedures, and institutional responsibilities and implementation arrangements. During implementation, a site-specific RAP and VCDP will be prepared as soon as the exact location of the TL and suspension towers is established prior to finalization of the engineering designs. The site specific RAP and the VCDP will be reviewed, monitored and supervised by the independent environmental and social management unit of the NEA, supported by the Owners' Engineer and the Bank's Safeguards team. The ITSA-PTCN will include the necessary provisions for the application of appropriate Safeguards policies as agreed with PTCN, of which NEA is a shareholder of this developer of the TL. B) The proposed Additional Financing The H-B line from Hetauda – Bharatpur and B-B line from Bharatpur – Berdaghat (B- B) currently under implementation for the Bank-supported PDP are proposed for continuation under the Additional Financing, since implementation of these two lines will go beyond the closing of the PDP. With the H-B line, 50 land parcels are affected due to tower pads 465 land parcels due to ROW. It will also impact 140 private residential structures and 78 animal sheds. With the B-B line, a total of 182 households are affected, of which 115 households are in Chitwan and 67 households in Makwanpur district. A total of 197 structures are impacted, of which 43 are non-titleholders. The two lines also impact 109 cattle sheds, 5 community buildings, one water pumping station and staff quarter and four cultural properties. The B-B and H-B TLs, within the RoW, will affect approximately 193 ha and 187.5 ha forest land. In several sections of the RoW of both the TLs, the forest quality is degraded with low height trees (less than 3 m), shrub and grasslands. The species of vegetation affected are prevalent in the adjoining forests and throughout the Tarai forests in Nepal. EMAP has estimated that about 16000 trees in B-B RoW and 53000 trees in H-B RoW and associated substations will have to be cut from community and government forests. The indirect impact on forest and wildlife is likely from the workforce (fuel wood and pressure on non-timber forest products), noise and unauthorized activities. The Churia hill is physically weak/ fragile. Both B-B and H-B TLs at different stretches, pass through Churia hills. Clearance of vegetation and construction of transmission towers could increase the natural erosion and landslides events in these areas. Occupational health & safety as well as pollution by the work force (open defecation, waste disposal etc.) are other environmental concerns. The EMAP has identified mitigation measures such as health & safety measures, pollution control measures (toilet, garbage control etc.), provision of kerosene/cooking fuel to workers, prohibition on purchase of NTFP and no unauthorized entry to forest, compensatory plantation, awareness & training (forest, wildlife and environmental conservation) etc. Potential plantation sites and preferred plant species for planation have been identified adjacent to the respective TLs and community forests. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: No significant, irreversible indirect and/or long term adverse impacts are currently envisaged. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. The original alignment of the H-D-D line was reworked to avoid two recognized conservation areas - Core and buffer of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve; and buffer area of the Parsa Wildlife Sanctuary. While this has resulted in an increase in the length of the line, potential adverse impacts have been permanently avoided. For the selection of locations of the substations, alternative sites were analyzed including specific criteria for environmental aspects. The alignment of H-B line from Hetauda – Bharatpur and B-B line from Bharatpur – Berdaghat has also been reworked to reduce impact on forest area and settlements. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. Measures Taken. The project has prepared site specific RAP and VCDP and SIMF for all the TLs. The RAP follows relevant domestic and World Bank policies. It is developed on the basis of an inventory survey of impacts and census survey of the affected population as well as extensive consultations with the local communities The RAP describes in detail the impacts, compensation policy and entitlements, compensation payment and relocation arrangements for the private structures, one school and the three temples. It also describes the institutional setup and monitoring arrangements. Extensive consultations were carried out with the vulnerable communities along the alignment of all the TLs and based on social assessment, consultation results, and relevant domestic and World Bank policies, VCDPs have been prepared. Under NIETTP, a SIMF is prepared for TLs and towers whose alignment and locations are yet to be finalized during project implementation. This framework is developed to guide the preparation of the social planning to address impacts under the TLs and suspension towers. The SIMF covers involuntary resettlement, vulnerable communities including indigenous peoples, consultation, grievance redress mechanisms and institutional arrangement. It includes an overall policy framework on resettlement and indigenous peoples, a resettlement and rehabilitation framework, a vulnerable community people's development framework, consultation and grievance redress mechanisms, institutional and monitoring evaluation arrangements. Physical cultural resources: Consultations were carried out with local communities over the relocation impacts and arrangements. Local communities agreed with proposed arrangements to relocate the temples to nearby sites with better structures. The project will compensate for the structures and will provide assistance in their relocation and reconstruction. These are included in the respective RAPs. Capacity Assessment. In PDP, the primary responsibility of coordinating work related to social and environmental safeguards of the H-B and B-B lines rests with the Project assisted by the Environment and Social Studies Department (ESSD). The ESSD is staffed with specialized social and environment professionals. ESSD over a period of time has acquired skill and experience to address social and environmental safeguard issues. Currently ESSD is working on several Bank funded projects as well, including the PDP, NIETTP, Kabeli Transmission Project, Kaligan Daki Hydropower Rehabilitation project. An Environmental and Social Specialist each from ESSD will be posted at the project site to monitor the implementation of environmental and social safeguards mitigation measures. The specialists will be responsible for generating monthly progress reports. The midterm and end term evaluation of implementation process will be carried out by an independent agency. In NIETTP, as mentioned earlier, for the Muzaffarpur-Sursand section of the D-M line in India (Component A1), the developer CPTC will address the joint supervision arrangements among themselves in the ITSA-CPTC; and IDA will have no supervision rights for this component. Similar joint supervision arrangements would be entered into in the ITSA-PTCN for the Dhalkebar-Bhittamod section of the D-M line (Component A2) in Nepal, which is also not financed by IDA. However, NEA is a shareholder of the developer PTCN and IDA would be able to monitor, through NEA the implementation of this component, including adherence to the Safeguards aspects satisfactory to the Bank. IDA would of course supervise the H-D-D line and concomitant substations, which it would be financing. While the NEA's capacity is being strengthened for safeguards management through other ongoing engagements in the power sector in Nepal as well as through NIETTP and PDP, a two-level monitoring and supervision framework is prepared for the implementation of the H-D-D line. The PMO will have a specialized Safeguards Monitoring Unit (SMU); and the construction Contractor has a trained environmental and social development specialist on their team to assist during implementation. An Owners' Engineer is assisting the NEA to oversee and monitor the work of the Contractor. In addition, the Bank team is carrying our regular supervisions of the environmental social work by NEA and the contractors. For the Dhalkebar-Bhittamod section of the D-M line in Nepal, PTCN will prepare similar suitable site specific plans to address environmental management measures specified in the IEE and share them with NEA. PTCN will also share required information with NEA so that NEA can report to the Bank on compliance with these requirements each trimester. Assessment of Implementation Performance. No physical investment activities are started under the Original Project. For the H-B and B-B TLs, there are significant delays in disbursement of compensation and R&R assistances and the consultation, and communication processes are weak based on findings of recent supervision missions. At certain locations, work has started without paying compensation to the affected land owners. These issues have been raised to the top management of NEA following the recent supervision mission in March 2013. NEA agreed to enhance the social and environmental capacity of the project team to ensure timely compensation implementation of land acquisition and consultation in line with the agreed action plans in a timely manner. Bank also needs to enhance safeguard supervision for both the NIETTP and on-going two transmission line projects under PDP, which are proposed for continued implementation after closing of PDP in December 2013, with the proposed Additional Financing. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. In NIETTP, the key stakeholders are residents of the 77 VDCs and 2 municipalities, especially those living close to the alignment and locations of the substations across 10 districts in Nepal for the H-D-D line, and those who will bear direct negative potential impacts by construction and operation of the TL. Also, local, national and regional NGOs are recognized as important stakeholders, e.g. in nature and wildlife conservation and social protection. For the Dhalkebar - Bhittamod section of the D-M line in Nepal, such stakeholders include residents of the 25 VDCs through which the alignment passes. Extensive consultations were carried out during the project planning process with local stakeholders, including local communities, various ethnic groups and local governments. Public meetings were organized during the assessment study and information regarding the project benefits and impacts was shared with the local residents. In addition, officials of the Forest Department, and those charged with the protected areas - KTWR and Parsa sanctuary have also been consulted as key stakeholders. During the IEE preparation, 47 Forest User Groups were also consulted for the H-D-D line. In PDP, public consultations were carried out at VDC level as well as at district level for the H-B and B-B lines. Types of consultations included informal meetings, information dissemination and public hearing. The main objective of the public consultations were (i) to inform the local people, NGOs and line agencies on the technical and environmental/social aspects of the project; (ii) to update the local people about the present status and on-going activities of the project; (iii) to obtain feedback from the community on the design and possible mitigation measures for the adverse impacts. The issues discussed during the consultations included extent of land that will be impacted due to tower pads and RoW; compensation for land and building; impact on houses and other structures under the high tension line; other adverse impacts; mitigation measures; entitlements and project period. Disclosure: NEA prepared the Operational Manual of Social and Environmental Impact Assessment for sub projects to be financed under additional financing of PDP in April 2009. The document was disclosed in country on April 5, 2009 and in Bank's InfoShop on May 05, 2009. As and when alignments were finalized, based on OM, site specific safeguard documents were prepared and disclosed in country. The EMAP for H-B line was prepared and disclosed in country on February 28, 2012 and SIA and VCDP were disclosed in country on March 4, 2012. The EIA for B-B line was disclosed in country on June 12, 2012 and VCDP and RAP was disclosed in country on March 20, 2012. There were four safeguard documents under NIETTP namely IEE for Nepalese section of the project (Dhalkebar - Bhittamod and Hetauda – Dhalkebar - Duhabi); EMP for Dhalkebar - Bhittamod section; RAP and Social Impact Management Framework. IEE, EMP, RAP and SIMF were disclosed "in country" on February 16, 2012 and on February 17, 2012 in Bank's InfoShop. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 02/16/2011 Date of "in-country" disclosure 02/16/2011 Date of submission to InfoShop 05/01/2013 For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors Resettlement Action Plan/Framework/Policy Process: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 02/16/2011 Date of "in-country" disclosure 02/16/2011 Date of submission to InfoShop 05/01/2013 Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 02/16/2011 Date of "in-country" disclosure 02/16/2011 Date of submission to InfoShop 05/01/2013 Pest Management Plan: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? Yes If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) Yes review and approve the EA report? Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the Yes credit/loan? OP/BP 4.04 - Natural Habitats Would the project result in any significant conversion or degradation of Yes critical natural habitats? If the project would result in significant conversion or degradation of other Yes (non-critical) natural habitats, does the project include mitigation measures acceptable to the Bank? OP/BP 4.11 - Physical Cultural Resources Does the EA include adequate measures related to cultural property? Yes Does the credit/loan incorporate mechanisms to mitigate the potential Yes adverse impacts on cultural property? OP/BP 4.10 - Indigenous Peoples Has a separate Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework (as Yes appropriate) been prepared in consultation with affected Indigenous Peoples? If yes, then did the Regional unit responsible for safeguards or Sector Yes Manager review the plan? If the whole project is designed to benefit IP, has the design been reviewed Yes and approved by the Regional Social Development Unit or Sector Manager? OP/BP 4.12 - Involuntary Resettlement Has a resettlement plan/abbreviated plan/policy framework/process Yes framework (as appropriate) been prepared? If yes, then did the Regional unit responsible for safeguards or Sector Yes Manager review the plan? OP/BP 4.36 - Forests Has the sector-wide analysis of policy and institutional issues and constraints Yes been carried out? Does the project design include satisfactory measures to overcome these Yes constraints? Does the project finance commercial harvesting, and if so, does it include No provisions for certification system? The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Yes Infoshop? Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a Yes form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities Yes been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project Yes cost? Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the Yes monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the Yes borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Mr Jie Tang 04/23/2013 Environmental Specialist: Mr Drona Raj Ghimire 04/23/2013 Social Development Specialist Mr Parthapriya Ghosh 04/23/2013 Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Ms Zia Al Jalaly 04/25/2013 Comments: Cleared. please follow disclosure procedures Sector Manager: Ms Jyoti Shukla 04/29/2013 Comments: