The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 12/22/2020 | Report No: ESRSC01681 Dec 22, 2020 Page 1 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) India SOUTH ASIA P174830 Project Name India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Urban, Resilience and Investment Project 8/3/2021 10/19/2021 Land Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Department of Economic National Disaster Affairs Management Authority Proposed Development Objective To strengthen critical public infrastructure in high to very high-risk seismic zones in India and establish platforms to Public Disclosure improve overall earthquake risk management. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 500.00 B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] The envisioned MPA Program seeks to enhance institutional capacities and mechanisms for earthquake risk management at national and state-levels, including management of disease outbreaks, and strengthen critical public infrastructure for earthquake resistance in high to very high-risk seismic zones in India. Given the (i) multiplicity of stakeholders and varying capacities across 14 high seismic risk States; (ii) the need for promoting long-term seismic risk management planning at the national scale; and (iii) the ongoing exponential increase in risk due to unplanned urbanization, the project proposes a multi-phased programmatic approach. A suite of instruments and program components are proposed under three engagement areas: Institutional and Policy Reforms, Investments for Dec 22, 2020 Page 2 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) Demonstration Effect, and Knowledge and Capacities Pool. Further, it is envisioned that these are underpinned by a strong learning agenda, a platform approach, and crowding-in financial resources. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] India on account of geo-physical setting is highly prone to earthquakes of varying intensities. The country has faced several devastating earthquakes in the past resulting in many deaths and severe damage to infrastructure and property. Earthquakes have accounted for the largest share of disaster-induced life loss in India between 1986 and 2016, affecting over 28.5 million people. India ranks sixth in the world in terms of average annual economic losses due to earthquake risk, which is estimated at more than US$2 billion. Nearly 1.07 billion people in India live in areas exposed to moderate to severe earthquakes due to decades of unplanned and poorly regulated urban development. As per the current seismic hazard map of the country, nearly 60% of India’s land area is under threat of moderate to severe seismic hazard, i.e., prone to shaking of intensity VII and above. The decadal increase of buildings, as per census records, is about 25 percent, adding millions of vulnerable buildings in hazard-prone urban centers. Non-engineered buildings and incremental construction practices, prevalently seen in housing structures in peri-urban and rural areas, adds to the concerns related to seismic safety. The next decade is critical for India for locking-in risk or resilience into the built environment. The total capital expenditure in infrastructure sectors in India during 2020-2025 is projected at USD 1.5 trillion. While building/development codes for seismic safety exist, enforcement and monitoring for ensuring sound Public Disclosure building/infrastructure designs and construction remains weak. The frequent occurrence of damaging earthquakes and the high degree of vulnerability on account of development typology, natural environment characteristics (geomorphology, Himalayan/hill character of high risk states, fragility of slopes with 15 percent of the country prone to landslides) and character (including population density, uncontrolled urbanization, environmental pressures etc.) of the physical/built environment clearly demonstrates high seismic hazard profile of India and highlights the need for a comprehensive earthquake risk mitigation programme. Therefore, the envisioned MPA Program seeks to enhance institutional capacities and mechanisms for earthquake risk management at national and state-levels with a multi-hazard perspective, and to strengthen critical public infrastructure for earthquake resistance in high to very high-risk seismic zones in India. The program's adverse environmental and social risks/impacts will mainly relate to investments/civil works proposed under Component B (Multi-hazard Risk Mitigation of Infrastructure). This will cover a range of public buildings (schools, colleges, hospitals, fire stations, State Secretariats, District Collector Offices, police station, jails, data centers, community centers, food storage godowns, multi-hazard shelters etc.) and critical lifeline infrastructure such as water utilities, transport terminals, power grid stations, bridges, landing strips, and helipads. The program also proposes creation of Technical Demonstration Units (TDUs) in States to serve as a hub of knowledge and capacity development on seismic safety and resilience, for which new building construction is envisaged. The MPA Program is designed to scale geographically across its two phases, achieving coverage of all 14 high seismic risk states in India. Selected based on their risk profiles, readiness and state ownership, the first phase will cover nine Dec 22, 2020 Page 3 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) states: Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh UT, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Uttarakhand. The second phase will cover five states: Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim. The states have varied environment and socio-economic characteristics with significant presence of tribal population, particularly in the north-eastern states of the country. During the project preparation, these variations in environment and socio-economic features. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity As the highest-level body mandated for disaster risk management in the country, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is envisioned as the nodal agency for implementation of this multi-state operation – implementing the national-level project activities and advising the 14 participating states (9 in Phase I and 5 in Phase II) at all stages of program/project preparation and implementation. To actualise the multi-phased programmatic approach, it is envisioned that the National Project Management Unit (PMU) will carry out strong convening, technical guidance, knowledge management and coordination functions as a part of its over-all project management responsibilities. State-level Project Implementation Units (SPIUs), placed within concerned State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) are also envisioned and proposed as part of the institutional arrangements in addition to several line agencies/departments that are likely to be involved in the design and implementation of specific activities proposed under this operation. The project envisages that besides critical consultancies, several supply/installation and civil works contracts would to be carried out under the proposed operation. However, most of the retrofitting/civil works will be carried out either directly by SDMA/SPIU or through Public Works Department or other identified state agencies. Public Disclosure Environment and social management of works/activities under the program will be carried out in accordance with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The NDMA with the support of consultants will prepare the required E&S instruments in accordance to the requirements set forth in the ESF, which in turn will inform planning/selection, design, construction and operation of works/activities under the proposed operation. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is well versed with the World Bank’s environmental and social safeguard policies having implemented two multi-state Bank supported projects - National Cyclone Risk Mitigation I and II. The over-all safeguards performance in the said projects has been largely satisfactory. NDMA/participating states took corrective actions as when gaps/deficiencies in implementation were identified in these large/complex/multi-activity projects. While previous experience on safeguards will work towards program’s advantage to some extent, the following factors necessitate additional capacity augmentation: 1. This operation will be first to apply the Bank’s ESF, which has much broader and deeper coverage of environment, social, health and safety aspects. 2. The states in this program are more in number than previous projects (NCRMP I and II) states and includes implementation entities without previous experience of Bank-financed operations. 3. The participating states have varying levels of: (1) disaster management institutions and their capacities; (2) contractor and private sector/local level consultancy capacities; (3) availability of sector-specific human resources; (4) geographical and terrain-related challenges and (5) notable intra-state variations physical and social environment Dec 22, 2020 Page 4 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) conditions. All these factors will have multiple and varying degree of implications on ESF implementation – both in terms of quality and timeliness. 4. Multiplicity and expanse of stakeholders and activities in the program will necessitate a robust Management Information System (MIS) and reporting arrangements. 5. The MPA requires a strong capability to undertake the varied nature of work and would therefore implementation arrangements would need to be augmented with additional/focused expertise. Therefore, the overall capacity to deal with the environmental and social risks and likely impacts of the project is going to be challenging and will require much time/resources during preparation and early part of project preparation to put the required systems and procedures into place. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Substantial The environment risks are expected to be ‘substantial’. The key environmental risks are associated with components/activities involving strengthening of critical public infrastructure (through retrofitting works) for seismic safety in earthquake prone states along with building institutional capacities and mechanisms (including construction of new buildings) for multi-hazard risk management. The risk assessment/rating has considered: (i) type/nature and magnitude of activities proposed under the program (covering 27 varied buildings/infrastructure categories); (ii) large Public Disclosure number of sub-projects spread over a vast geographical area (nine states under Phase I and five in Phase II); (iii) baseline conditions, characterized by a high degree of variation in topography, environmental setting/conditions, population density, built environment conditions and ecological sensitivities in Himalayan/Hill states; (iv) involvement of a large number of implementation agencies with varying degrees of institutional capabilities (about 25 agencies are likely to be involved in Phase I alone); (v) likely risks and impacts of the project during construction, including issues pertaining to increased safety risks for buildings users, disruption of usage/services; ground subsidence and/or landslide risks due to excavation, vibration or other improper work practices; occupational health and safety (OHS) risks to the workers; impaired/disrupted access to other buildings in the campus; dust, noise and issues pertaining to transport/movement of vehicles and on-site storage of construction materials; temporary water quality impacts and; inappropriate storage and/or disposal of debris/construction wastes, including asbestos containing materials (expected in some cases); (vi) limited capacity of NDMA and the participating states in appropriately managing/engaging a considerably diverse set of stakeholders on environment, health and safety issues.  While the likely environmental impacts are likely to be temporary (limited to construction stage), predictable and/or reversible, substantial effort, time and coordination will be required during project preparation and in the first year of project implementation to preclude the possibility of any adverse and unwarranted effects on environment and people. The environmental risks will be reassessed during project preparation based on more availability of information and detailed analyses as part of the ESA process. Social Risk Rating Substantial The proposed components of strengthening critical public infrastructure for earthquake resistance in seismic prone states along with building institutional capacities and mechanisms of earthquake risk management, assessed to be Dec 22, 2020 Page 5 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) ‘substantial’ for social aspects based on following preliminary assessments: (i) possible displacement (temporary/permanent) of people and assets for retrofitting/building public infrastructure; (ii) possible livelihood losses for traders, hawkers and other businessmen; (iii) acquisition of land for building/retrofitting infrastructure and for temporary/permanent relocation of people; (iv) impacts on religious places, public utilities and other common properties; (v) low to moderate capacities and systems of project states to deal with social aspects including labour provisions; (vi) large number of subprojects with different impacts in wide spread geographical settings to be implemented by multiple departments/agencies; (vii) possible impacts on vulnerable sections and tribal population. As explained above, despite NDMA’s experience of implementing Bank-funded multi-state projects, this operation will be the first to apply the Bank’s ESF. The NDMA is currently in the process of assessing possible social and environmental impacts through field works and consultations on sample sub-projects and prepare required ESF documents. All the sub projects not final and impacts are not completely assessed. Based on preliminary assessment, “substantial” risk is proposed for social aspects based on principle of ‘maximum adverse impacts’ and this will be reviewed during the appraisal based on the ESIA planned during project preparation. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: ESS 1 is relevant for assessing, managing and monitoring environmental and social risks and impacts associated with Public Disclosure the project towards ensuring that the operation is environmentally and socially sustainable. The benefits incurred because of the project will be expressed in averted disaster losses (and associated reduction in environmental issues such as ecological damages, health risks, contamination, debris disposal etc.). Physical investments, particularly retrofitting works would ensure that infrastructure is more resilient to seismic events. By building adaptive risk governance systems and capacities to deal with the uncertainties and shocks in the future, people and assets exposed to seismic events in high to very high-risk seismic zones will suffer less losses. Most activities proposed under the project, except for civil works for seismic retrofitting and new construction of buildings (TDUs) proposed under Component B, are likely to be environmentally neutral or may have negligible adverse environmental impacts. However, the civil works, if not appropriately managed, have the potential to create adverse environmental impacts in the local context. Potential issues during construction may include: (i) increased safety risks for buildings users; (ii) disruption of usage/services for building users; (iii) ground subsidence and/or landslide risks due to excavation, vibration or other improper work practices; (iv) occupational health and safety (OHS) risks to the workers; (v) impaired/disrupted access to other buildings in the campus; (vi) dust, noise and issues pertaining to transport/movement of vehicles and on-site storage of construction materials; (vii) temporary water quality impacts due to increased turbidity and discharges from work sites affecting water users and possibly aquatic life (where worksites are located close to water bodies); (viii) inappropriate storage and/or disposal of debris/construction wastes, including asbestos containing materials (expected in some cases); (ix) health and safety risks to near-by communities and; (x) limited impact on trees/vegetation in and around the buildings to be retrofitted. Dec 22, 2020 Page 6 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) If retrofitting/rehabilitation works are undertaken in education institutes in parallel with the schooling process (which have been suspended on account of COVID-19 but are likely to resume in a phased manner in the coming months) and healthcare facilities (which are stressed due to the on-going pandemic), nuisance/ inconvenience due to construction works for users of the facilities would require additional care and supplementary management measures. The program envisages training a cadre of first responders to deal with emergencies and from an OHS perspective, this requires additional considerations. It will also be important to maintain safety and health of nearby communities during execution of civil works. The adverse environmental impacts from the proposed project activities while limited and localized in context, are likely to stem from poor design (inappropriate choice of retrofitting technique/s, timing and design methodologies that don’t account for minimization of risks and disruption to services), improper execution of civil works (specifically increasing OHS risks for workers and threats to community safety/well-being) and inadequate or delayed restoration of utilities/facilities (power, water and sanitation) disturbed/snapped on account of civil works. Since not all sub-projects would be known during project preparation and that the interventions would be widespread across a large geographical area, an Environment and Social Assessment (ESA) will be carried out by the NDMA (project’s nodal implementation agency) based on a select/known sample of sub-projects in line with the E&S standards under ESF to identify, assess and plan the management of the environmental and social risks/impacts that are associated or likely to arise on account of project interventions. The assessment will specifically help in: (a) Public Disclosure developing comprehensive understanding of potential impacts, (b) identifying and appreciating the details of risks envisaged from project activities, (c) arriving at a set of recommendations/ suggestions to design management/mitigation measures for reducing risks and help strengthen environment performance for targeted project interventions. This over-all project level ESA will involve desk review of relevant documents/studies, site visits, as well as extensive consultations with the key stakeholders. The ESA will identify institutional capacity needs/gaps (including on staffing and skills) required to apply environmental and social standards (ESSs) for the proposed operation. The ESA will be proportionate to the potential risks and impacts of the project, and will assess, in an integrated way, all relevant direct, indirect and cumulative environmental and social risks and impacts, including those specified in ESSs relevant to the project. The recommendations will help in developing an Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to improve performance on environment and social aspects and thereby, help in achieving intended Program/Project Outcomes. Based on the findings of the said Environment and Social Assessment (ESA), an Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the project will be prepared by NDMA (project’s nodal implementation agency). To address the identified issues and risks, the ESMF will include procedures for undertaking screening of sub-projects and developing site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs). The ESMF will also include an exclusion/negative list of activities, a screening checklist, generic ESMPs as well as Environmental Guidelines for Retrofitting Works. From an environmental perspective, the ESMF, will cover: (a) fire and electrical safety, (b) water, power and sanitation facilities, (c) inclusive infrastructure addressing the needs of people with special needs/physical challenges, Dec 22, 2020 Page 7 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) (d) storage, handling and disposal of debris/construction waste, (e) occupational health and safety, (f) hazardous waste management in case of asbestos-containing materials in old buildings, and (g) minimizing disruption to building usage/functionality by choosing appropriate retrofitting techniques (specifically in case of health care facilities). The identified risks and impacts will be reflected in relevant ESF instruments to be prepared including ESMF, Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP) and Labor Management Procedures (LMP). The Word Bank’s Environment, Health and Safety Guidelines will be applied while developing ESMF and other ESF instruments. A grievance redress mechanism will also be developed to provide guidance on the reception, recording, handling, and reporting of complaints that may be encountered during project implementation. Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: There is no proposition to use the Borrower’s E&S Framework in this program/project. The project will apply the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and associated Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) in addition to specific requirements of GoI/State Governments related to environment and social aspects. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure ESS 10 is relevant for ensuring that a consistent, comprehensive, coordinated and culturally appropriate approach is taken for stakeholder engagement and disclosure of project related information. For this, a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will be prepared and disclosed before project appraisal. The plan will provide guidance on specific steps and actions to be taken during preparation and implementation stages of the project. It will also define the mode and frequency of engagement with stakeholders at various stages of the project cycle. Public Disclosure Given both intense and extensive nature of project activities being proposed in different and vast geographical settings, several diverse group of stakeholders will be involved in the project’s decision-making, design and implementation. Currently, the identified key stakeholders include project-affected people and a number of interested parties covering: (i) Ministry of Home Affairs; (ii) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); (iii) State Disaster Management Authorities of participating states; (iv) Departments of the State Government, particularly Health, Education, Public Administration, Forests, Environment, Revenue, Public Works; (v) local authorities – Municipal/Urban Local Bodies, Gram Panchayats under whose jurisdiction the retrofitting works of critical public infrastructure will be carried out; (vi) local communities in the project area; (vii) civil society organizations; (viii) consultants engaged for the preparatory studies; (ix) beneficiaries/users of various public services such as health, education etc.; (x) project-affected people and; (xi) contractors. The composition of the stakeholder groups may change depending on the final chosen project interventions and the geographical areas where the works would be executed. The Borrower will engage with stakeholders throughout the project life cycle. Consultation and disclosure of information with stakeholders will be core during both the planning and implementation stages of project. The nodal implementing agency, NDMA will prepare a stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) proportionate to the nature and scale of the project activities and its potential risks/impacts. The SEP in addition to Project Affected Parties (PAPs) and Other Interested Parties (OIPs) will also include the process and modalities to engage vulnerable groups. Appropriate arrangements for SEP implementation, including reporting and its updating (as necessary) will be a condition in ESCP. Depending on the situation with COVID-19, a mix of conventional forms/media for information dissemination and virtual modes, mobile phone-based communications etc. for soliciting feedback and engaging different stakeholders will be used during project preparation. The SEP Dec 22, 2020 Page 8 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) should include elaboration of existing Grievance Redress Management (GRM) systems and suggestions for proposed enhancements to meet the needs of timely and meaningful responses to grievances and other related community/stakeholder concerns. The SEP should include elaboration of existing Grievance Redress Management (GRM) systems and suggestions for proposed enhancements to meet the needs of timely and meaningful responses to grievances and other related community/stakeholder concerns. The NDMA and the participating states will disclose the ESF instruments/documents, including ESMF, ECSP, SEP, LMP, RPF etc. before the project appraisal to allow stakeholders to be informed about the proposed project activities, potential environmental and social risks/impacts and mitigation/management plans. The implementation agencies will continue to engage with PAPs and OIPs during project implementation in a manner appropriate to the nature of their interests and the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the project. B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions The requirements of ESS 2 will apply to the project. Construction of critical infrastructure and capacity building activities (such as training a cadre of first responders dealing with emergencies) will involve: a) Direct workers (various department’s employees); b) contracted workers engaged in construction works and consultancy services firms for specific deliverables and technical support to Public Disclosure NDMA and SDMAs for preparation and implementation of ESF instruments such as ESMF, ESIAs, ESCP, SEP, LMP, RPF, Resettlement Action Plan, Indigenous Peoples Plan, etc.; c) primary supply workers, including suppliers of equipment necessary for the project. Involvement of community workers is not envisaged at present given the technical nature of the project. Construction may require migrant workers from other parts of the state and sometimes from other states depending on the contractors’ strategy and requirement of skill sets. The majority of the labor force would be generally available within the state as the works largely relate to retrofitting public buildings. Preparation of ESA will explore the following aspects as part of Labor Management Procedures to be prepared: applicability of labor laws, non-discrimination and equal opportunity, grievance mechanism to all workers, occupation health and safety aspects, prevention of use of child labour / forced labor, etc. There is a need to assess GBV/SEA/SH related concerns and possibilities at each of the proposed project States and sites and to develop appropriate risk assessment and mitigation plans where relevant. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management The principles and requirements laid down in ESS 3 are relevant to the project. While the project will not finance activities that generate a significant impact (negative) on natural and physical environment, activities pertaining to seismic retrofitting towards improving the resilience of built environment Dec 22, 2020 Page 9 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) (buildings, infrastructure such as bridges) would consider resource efficiency and pollution management aspects during design/Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation and construction stage. The purpose will be to improve the quality of physical environment, enhance health/safety and reduce the environmental footprint linked to use and operation of the buildings in a cost-effective manner while keeping seismic safety to the fore. On improving resource efficiency, the considerations will include: (a) improving natural light and ventilation (when possible depending on the nature/type of retrofitting technology proposed), (b) increasing water efficiency and, (c) enhancing energy efficiency. For pollution prevention and management, focus will be on: (i) debris/construction waste management; (ii) run-off/silt control at work sites to prevent sedimentation and any possible contamination of water sources; (iii) management of hazardous wastes (such as Asbestos Containing Materials expected in some cases, which will be ascertained as part of ESA) and; (iv) storage and management of construction materials to prevent ground/soil contamination. To create an enabling mechanism for integrating resource efficiency and pollution prevention/management, the ESMF will include ‘Environmental Guidelines for Retrofitting Works’. ESS4 Community Health and Safety Community health and safety is likely to be an important concern in the construction stage when retrofitting works will be carried out on buildings/public infrastructure (particularly hospitals, schools, bridges etc.), since this may expose the local population to adverse impacts resulting from civil works activities in densely populated/high traffic areas. The ESA will evaluate the risks and impacts of the project on health and safety of the communities during project life cycle, and propose management measures in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy, such as Public Disclosure emergency response measures which will be incorporated into the ESCP. It will also assess the extent to which migrant labour-related issues are likely to be encountered during project implementation. The ESA will assess exposure of communities to construction stage-related traffic/ construction vehicle movement accident risks and other health/safety issues. Further, all works and operations will be planned, designed and implemented to comply with the World Bank Group’s Environment, Health and Safety guidelines. There is a need to assess GBV/SEA/SH related concerns and possibilities at each of the proposed project States and sites and to develop appropriate risk assessment and mitigation plans where relevant. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement ESS5 is relevant as the project involves involuntary resettlement affecting land owners and informal settlers for acquiring additional land for retrofitting/building physical infrastructure (buildings, roads, shelters) under Component B. The preliminary reviews suggest that land will be required in minimal quantities for retrofitting of various public buildings, which in most cases is available with in the existing premises. However, this will be firmed up only after finalization of sub projects and their assessments for social and environmental impacts. Retrofitting of public buildings may also may also cause temporary constraints to the local population in accessing their properties located in and around the buildings. Similarly, the business establishments located around the hospitals, other public buildings/infrastructure may incur business losses during the construction period and may also due to displacement. The NDMA proposes to use Government lands and wherever private lands required, they will be arranged through direct purchase, lease or voluntary land donation, and land acquisition will be opted as last option. The impacts on private and community owned structures could be also be attempted to avoid through design options. The approach Dec 22, 2020 Page 10 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) to managing all social aspects including land acquisition aspects will be assessed during the project preparation through ESA studies, at which time compliance with the requirements of ESS 5 will be assessed. Similarly, the treatment of informal settlers will be studied, in line with the requirements of ESS5. Commensurate mitigation instruments such as RPF will be prepared and these will guide the preparation of site-specific RAPs/ESMPs. An ESCP will be agreed with the borrower based on the findings of the ESA, the Bank’s Environment and Social Due Diligence (ESDD), SEP provisions, institutional arrangement for implementation, capacity building measures and the monitoring plan. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources Since civil works for seismic retrofitting will be carried out on existing buildings (health, education and other public buildings) and infrastructure (such as bridges/ communication towers), impacts on biodiversity and habitats, including ‘protected areas’, ‘critical natural habitats’, ‘modified habitats’ and/or ‘species with critical biodiversity value’ are likely to be negligible. However, the project currently envisages some new/greenfield construction (for Technology Demonstration Units). Any potential adverse impacts on biodiversity rich areas/living resources on account of such works will be determined through an environment screening process, which each proposed sub- project will be subjected to. The ESMF will include an exclusion/negative list of activities that will eliminate the possibility of such activity being taken up in forest areas, protected areas, eco-sensitive zones or recognized areas of high biodiversity value. Provisions will also be made in the bidding document to ensure that no materials for construction activities are sourced from any critical habitats, protected areas, forest areas, eco-sensitive zones or any recognized areas of high biodiversity for works/activities supported under the Project. Public Disclosure Based on the location of project interventions (which is not known at this stage) and the findings from the ESA (which will be used for the preparation of an ESMF), relevant measures if required, to avoid impact on biodiversity will be taken-up in the project to fulfill requirements laid out in ESS 6. Such measures in the ESMPs will include precautionary measures to prevent any possible impact on aquatic life (due to discharges from worksites and/or dumping of debris in water bodies), particularly in the hill states, where this is a possibility. Further, in case there is any requirement of tree felling for construction works under the project (such as in case of trees located very close to existing buildings or for providing access to construction equipment/machinery, particularly in hill areas/constricted spaces), requisite permission will be obtained from the Forest Department/Competent Authority prior to initiating civil works and provisions for compensatory plantation in line with regulatory norms will be built into the sub-project Detailed Project Reports/estimates. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities Moderate to substantial numbers of tribal (ST) population is present in project states. Except states like Bihar and Delhi, remaining all 12 states (Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh UT, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim) have sizable presence of ST populations. States like Assam, Mizoram, are located in Schedule 6 areas. The impacts on any STs are expected to be minimal as the majority of the works relate to retrofitting existing buildings/infrastructure. Expected improvements in the public infrastructure under the project in these areas will boost the safety and quality of life among the poor and tribal population involved. Following the ESA studies, commensurate instruments such as the Indigenous Peoples Planning Dec 22, 2020 Page 11 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) Framework (IPPF) will be developed and subsequently listed in the ESCP. Sub-project specific Indigenous Peoples Plans (IPPs) will also be developed, as required. Further, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) will be applicable in cases involving impact on land, livelihood, cultural heritage. In case FPIC cannot be ascertained, the project will not proceed with those sub-projects/activities. The same shall be stated in ESCP. ESS8 Cultural Heritage Given the vast geographical area over which several sub-projects would be located (including some limited new construction of buildings for use as Technology Demonstration Centers under Component B), there is a possibility of cultural heritage related concerns coming-up in case of certain sub-projects under the proposed operation. The proposed sub-projects will be screened for potential cultural heritage impacts. Consultations with communities will also be utilized to screen any sensitive issues related to cultural resources. Any such identified cultural heritage impacts and/or chance finds will be dealt with in line with national legal requirements and Bank’s requirements set forth under ESS 8 of ESF. The impact of project activities on physical cultural resources (specifically tangible assets) is expected to be minimal as majority of the project’s civil works involve retrofitting of existing buildings/infrastructure. For a small number of new construction activities (such as Technology Demonstration Units), the impact on cultural resources will be identified through the screening mechanism and thereafter avoided by finding an alternative site to locate the facility. Public Disclosure The ESA would, in any event, evaluate any direct or indirect impact of project activities on cultural assets and determine the presence of any other such resources that may not be listed with national or state governments (Archeological Survey of India) but could be of local significance. Depending on the determination of the nature and scale of the risks and possible adverse impacts, mitigation measures or a plan will be prepared as part of the ESMP and will be reflected in the ESCP, as appropriate. Procedures for handling chance finds will be prepared as part of the ESA and will be included in the ESMP and the Bidding Documents to handle any such situation that may come-up during project implementation. Additionally, there is also a possibility that the project may support retrofitting of a couple of monuments/ museums protected by Archeological Survey of India (listed as national/state heritage under law) for demonstration purpose. This is under currently under discussion (on whether to consider this under the project scope) with no specific sub- project identified at this stage. In such a case, a detailed sub-project ESIA focusing on ESS8 requirements and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan will be prepared with appropriate involvement of experts, both on Bank and Implementation Agency side. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries No involvement of Financial Intermediaries (FI) is proposed or envisaged in the project. B.3 Other Relevant Project Risks Dec 22, 2020 Page 12 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) 1. The anticipated level of risk is substantial given the challenges of multi-state and multi-disciplinary engagements through state-level implementation agencies with limited organization capacity. 2. Most of the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and state-level implementing agencies in the proposed Program don’t have prior experience with World Bank-financed projects. 3. Even at the contractors-level, there is varying capacity on project/contract administration and E&S management across the 14 states under the program. 4. An additional key institutional challenge centers around the need for strong coordination abilities at the NDMA and the state level given the need to work closely with a large number of stakeholders/line departments (e.g. education department, health department, etc.) to implement structural interventions under Component B, where a bulk of financial resources will be allocated. 5. The ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic is also a risk for project preparation and implementation. In India, COVID- 19 cases are still on the rise, and India accounts for nearly one fifth of the global affected population as of November 2020. Under such circumstances, preparation and implementation of the project activities, particularly, the civil works under Component B, may experience delays. Supervision of activities may also be a challenge if COVID-related restrictions remain in place. 6. In order to take advantage of the improved infrastructure, some development in the private sector like more business activities could occur in some locations that cannot be predicted in advance. The impacts of such development on the project area could be positive or negative for people and/or the environment. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways TBD Public Disclosure OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas TBD III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No Financing Partners Not Applicable B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: The following documents/actions would be required prior to Bank Appraisal for this operation to allow for an informed decision-making, commensurate with issues/risks identified during project preparation: 1) Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) (to guide preparation and implementation of many sub- projects/small scale retrofitting works across a widespread geographical area for standardization/uniformity and to deal with a situation when not all sub-projects would be known at the time of appraisal/Board presentation) 2) Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) Dec 22, 2020 Page 13 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) 3) Labor Management Plan (LMP), covering OHS requirements, labor influx and GBV issues among other aspects 4) Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) and Indigenous (or Tribal) Peoples Policy Framework (IPPF) 5) ESIAs/ESMPs/RAPs as needed for selected sub-projects/investments (identified to meet readiness criteria) in line with requirements set forth in the ESMF 6) Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) 7) Institutional arrangements to facilitate application and implementation of ESF instruments Additionally, disclosure of ESMF, SEP, LMP and ESCP will be ensured in line with requirements set forth in the World Bank policies and ESF. These documents will be required for Project Appraisal in line with Bank’s ESF and Operational Policy for projects using IPF as a financing instrument. Therefore, the required actions will be completed way before the project is presented to the Bank Board for Approval. Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): The following key aspects are likely to be a part of Borrower's ESCP: 1) Staffing for Environment and Social Management at the national and state levels 2) Preparation and implementation of specific instruments/plans to meet the requirements set forth in E&S Standards (preparation of sub-project specific instruments may go beyond Appraisal Stage) 3) Implementation and updating of Stakeholder Engagement Plan 4) Disclosure of documents 5) Management of Contractors 6) Provisions for worksite safety and labour management, including OHS aspects Public Disclosure 7) Processes and timelines for obtaining of requisite statutory clearances at local, state and national levels 8) Training and Capacity Building Plan of Project Officials, Contractors and other key staff and 9) Provisions for managing unanticipated Environmental and Social Risks/Impacts C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 20-Jul-2021 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Anup Karanth Title: Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Telephone No: 5785+47789 / 91-11-49247789 Email: akaranth@worldbank.org Contact: Elif Ayhan Title: Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Telephone No: +1-202-473-3455 Email: eayhan@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Dec 22, 2020 Page 14 of 15 The World Bank India Comprehensive National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (P174830) Borrower: Department of Economic Affairs Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: National Disaster Management Authority V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Anup Karanth, Elif Ayhan Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Kevin A Tomlinson Recommended on 05-Nov-2020 at 14:28:9 GMT-05:00 Safeguards Advisor ESSA Agnes I. Kiss (SAESSA) Cleared on 22-Dec-2020 at 16:03:14 GMT-05:00 Public Disclosure Dec 22, 2020 Page 15 of 15