EOI For Consultancy for Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Plan and Social Impact Assessment and Resettlement Action Plan for Capacity Augmentation of National Waterways-1

Introduction

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Ministry of Shipping, Government of India is implementing the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for Capacity Augmentation of the National Waterway -1 (Varanasi to Haldia stretch) on the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hoogly River System. The capacity augmentation includes development of infrastructural facilities i.e. river terminals with appropriate cargo handling capacity and equipment for facilitating integration with other modes of transportation; one navigational lock, provision of navigation aids; river information system; RO-RO jetties; bank protection / slope protection; river training works; tow barges; inland vessels; survey vessels including rescue boats and survey equipment and maintenance dredging facilities.

Scoping for the Social Impact Assessment and preparation of Resettlement Action Plan

The Consultants must carry out scoping for the detailed Social Impact Assessment. The scoping process will determine the influence area/ define boundaries of the project, identify affected communities, identify the priority or most significant impacts and their mitigation measures to be covered in the assessment process and related methodology.

Confirmation on the applicable World Bank Social safeguard policies and Government of India and State Government’s legal and policy other national standards and regulations which apply to the Project;

The consultants will conduct the SIA as per the requirements Detailed Social Impact Assessment

List of socio-economic and cultural parameters to be covered by the SIA, as per the requirements of the RFCTLARR Act 2013. This information should describe the socioeconomic conditions of the PAHs (gender, no. of single headed households, family size, occupation, income and asset levels, education, access to health services, social organization, cultural distinctions, etc.). Detail of process and methodology provided in section A.3 and A.4.

Identifying Key Impact Areas- This essentially involves identification and prioritization of the range of likely social impacts on PAHs through review of secondary data and primary data collection processes including public surveys and public participation techniques. This would also include assessing impact of the project at different stages of the project cycle.

Mitigation Strategy- This involves preparing a Resettlement Action Plan and Social Impact Management Plan, in order of preference to avoid, minimise and compensate for adverse impacts. If the predicted impact is minimal and can be managed, mitigation measures must be put in place. These could be in the form of modification of the specific event in the project, operation and redesign of the project or policy or compensation

Monitoring Plan- This involves developing a monitoring plan with key monitoring indicators to identify deviations from the proposed action and any important unanticipated impacts. This should track project development and compare real impacts with projected ones.

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