Semi-annual Social Monitoring Report
Project No. 49423-005 December 2019
Bangladesh: Bangladesh Power SystemEnhancement and Efficiency Improvement
Project: UP-GRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND INTENSIFICATION OF
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)
This Semi-annual Social Monitoring Report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein
do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be
preliminary in nature.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or
reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does
not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
Social Safeguard Monitoring Report (Revised)
Reporting Period Date
: July 2019 to December 2019 : December 2019
Bangladesh Power System Enhancement and Efficiency Improvement Project
UP-GRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND INTENSIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)
ADB Loan No. 3522-BAN
Prepared by the PIU, URIDS of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board for the Asian Development Bank
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Project Name: UP-GRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND INTENSIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)
Contract Number: BREB/URIDS (DMCS)/URIDS (E) –S-45/2017-2018
Project Number: 5060130
Report Number: SEMI-ANNUAL SOCIAL SAFEGUARD MONITORING REPORT FROM JULYTO DECEMBER 2019.
REVIEW HISTORY
Revision #
Date Prepared by Reviewed by Approved for Issue by
Draft 15.01.2020 Kamrul Hasan Bhuiyan, Safeguards Specialist (National)
Jayadun De Mel, Team Leader; Md. Emran Ali, Deputy Team Leader; Md. Ghulam Faruque Chowdhury, Power Distribution Engineering Specialist, and Mehedi Emon, Environment Specialist (International)
SMEC Company Details
SMEC International Pty. Ltd.
SMEC URIDS Project Office:
House 526, Lane 10, Flat A3, DOHS Baridhara, Dhaka 1206, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2841 3571 Fax: +880 2841 6368
Email: [email protected] Website: www.smec.com
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ACRE Area Coverage Rural Electrification
ADB Asian Development Bank
AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
BDT Bangladeshi Taka
BREB Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board
DCP Disclosure, Consultation and Participation
DMCS Distribution System (Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions
DPP Development Project Proforma
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
GoB Government of Bangladesh
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
IEEs Initial Environmental Examinations
OHS Occupational Health & Safety
PBS Palli-Bidyut Samity
PPE Personnel Protective Equipment
RRKB Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions
SPS 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement 2009
URIDS Up-gradation, Rehabilitation and Intensification of Distribution System
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 4
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5
1.1 Scope of Report ............................................................................................................................. 5
1.2 Brief Project Description ............................................................................................................... 5
2.0 Project Status .............................................................................................................................. 6
2.1 Status of Project Implementation ................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Status of Project Monitoring Activities ......................................................................................... 7
4.0 Implementation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism ........................................................... 13
4.1 Grievance Redressal Mechanism ................................................................................................ 14
4.2 Status of Implementation of the GRM ........................................................................................ 14
5.0 Stakeholder Engagement .......................................................................................................... 15
5.1 Stakeholder Engagement Process ............................................................................................... 15
5.2 Consultations .............................................................................................................................. 17
6.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 21
Annexure-1: Location map of URIDS (DMCS & RRKB) Project. ............................................................... 22
Annexure-2: Photographs of FGDs ......................................................................................................... 23
Annexure-3: Participants list of FGDS ..................................................................................................... 24
Annexure-4: Monitoring checklist .......................................................................................................... 28
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Project Implementation Status up to December 2019. ............................................................ 6 Table 2:The status of occupational health & safety issues at the site. ................................................... 8 Table 3:The status of Occupational Accident and its Corrective Action. ................................................ 9 Table 4: The status of labor standards at the sites. ................................................................................ 9 Table 5: Matrix of monitoring results. .................................................................................................. 11 Table 6: Project Implementation Plan. ................................................................................................. 12 Table 7: The status of Grievances and Corrective Actions.................................................................... 14 Table 8: Details of Focus Group Discussion (FGDS). ............................................................................. 15 Table 9: Summary of questions discussed in the FGD sessions. ........................................................... 17 Table 10: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Gobinda Notun Bazar, Chatak, Sunamganj. .......... 18 Table 11: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Hospital Road, Nikli, Kishorganj............................. 18 Table 12: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Nansree, Nikli, Kishoreganj. ................................... 19 Table 13: Summary of Rangpur PBS-2 at Darshana Pahari, near Banga Bridge. .................................. 20 Table 14: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Dighapatia Union Parishad of Natore PBS-1. ........ 21
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
During this reporting period (July to December, 2019), the social safeguards team visited various
sites of project including line-upgradation, rehabilitation, and civil construction sites, and spoke to
local people about the project’s perception, conducted five more focused group discussions at
Kishoreganj, Sunamganj, Khulna and Natore areas where different types of consumers such as
drivers, fishermen, daily labourers, teachers, union parishad members and others were involved and
shared their concerns, views, opinions and suggestions.
The salient of FGDs:
• Most of the participants claimed that they had to pay excessive electricity bill each month; but
they didn’t know exactly why; they complained to respective authorities; but they didn’t get
reasonable solutions from the authority yet.
• Many complained that they had to suffer from frequent power interruptions, almost every
week; they had to suffer with power interruptions for whole day, particularly on the hat/bazar
day, Friday is the most common day for this kind of inconvenience.
• They complained that during peak hours also, they had to suffer from load-shedding, lasting up
to around one and half-hours; they didn’t get the electricity at night when children were
studying, and they expected that this problem would be resolved quickly.
• The alleged that local people, on the other hand, are not hired by contractors/sub-contractors
during construction or repairing works, if they so desire, local people will have the opportunity
to work with this project.
• At the construction sites, full PPE was not used by the laborers, and workers; even, in many
instances, contractors don’t provide the full set of PPEs at the sites, creating opportunities for
incidents during working hours.
• There are no compensation issues because most of the existing lines are renovated and
rehabilitated under this project, for civil constructions, the land was purchased with the
agreement of landowners following the existing laws, no grievance yet received regarding land
purchase.
• There are no resettlement plan (RP) issue. None have lost their homes due to the project’s
activities. For civil construction, after the adoption of Immovable Property Rules, 1982, land was
purchased with the agreement of landowners and paid them according to the prevailing market
price. It is ascertained that no private land was acquired for civil construction works.
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1.0 Introduction
Accelerating the steps of generating electricity across the country is the top priority of the
Government of Bangladesh. Government is committed to providing good access to electricity in the
rural areas of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) is one of the important
institutes that has the proximity to providing quality-electricity to consumers without disruptions
that could have a tremendous impact on country’s economic growth.
It is included in the GoB’s s seventh’s five-year plan to produce affordable and reliable electricity for
both economic development & poverty reduction and everyone will have good access to affordable
and reliable electricity by the year of 2021. In order to achieve this vision of the government,
Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) worked with a firm objective to boost the
electrification program throughout the country based on the concept of Area Coverage Rural
Electrification (ACRE). The ACRE idea leads to the development of a cooperative called Palli-Bidyut
Samity (PBS) to provide electric services to their member consumers. Since its creation, 80 nos of
PBSs have been established throughout the country under various projects from ACRE Phase-I to
ACRE Phase-V. After establishment of the PBSs, the distribution system of the PBSs has been
gradually expanded and, strengthened under the various Intensification and Expansion Projects.
1.1 Scope of Report
• The objective of this social safeguard management and monitoring report is to record
resettlement and social impacts resulting from the project activities and to ensure
implementation of the earlier “mitigation measures” that were developed to mitigate adverse
effects and boost the positive impacts of specific project activities during the reporting period
particularly of July 2019 to December 2019. In addition, it would also provide measures to
handle any unintended or unwanted social impacts that may occur during the project’s
construction and operation phases.
• The implementation of this plan enhanced the social control and monitoring of the project
activities to verify the compliance with all the indicators, limitation, and socio-economic
outcomes set out in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), Initial Environmental
Examinations (IEEs), and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and minimized the damaged
caused by environmental and social works.
1.2 Brief Project Description
To improve the quality of the electricity , increase the capability of consumer growth, minimize
the system losses, connect new households, small industries etc. in the existing distribution
network of the said PBSs, according to the above study Area Coverage Rural Electrification
(ACRE), the scope of work under the project of Up-gradation, Rehabilitation, and Intensification
of Distribution System (Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions (DMCS) and
Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions (RRKB)’’ is to construct as 50,500 km of
distribution lines for rehabilitation/ up-gradation and 11,965 km lines for intensification
extension of 1/ 2/3 poles with new connection of 9,50,000 households.
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Project Information:
1 Name of the Project Up-Gradation, Rehabilitation, and Intensification of Distribution System (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)
2 ADB Loan Number 3522-BAN
3 Name of Monitoring/Reporting Agency
Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board Nikunja, Dhaka
4 Monitoring and Reporting Period July 2019 to December 2019
5 Date of Reporting January 2020
6 Type of ADB Contract Multi-Tranche Financing Facility (MFF)
2.0 Project Status
Up to December 2019, the progress status of URIDS (DMCS) is about 6,728 Km of line up-gradation, and 4,043.83 Km of new line construction which is 39.89% of the total DPP mileage of 27,000 km. Likewise, under URIDS (RRKB) project, the total line up-gradation is about 8,018 km and 4,011 km of new line construction which is 51.76% of the total DPP mileage of 23,500 km. The progress was considered is 45.82% of the total mileage. The progress in civil work construction is being made at all the constructed sites.
2.1 Status of Project Implementation
Table 1: Project Implementation Status up to December 2019.
Project component Revised Target date
Progress status Percent (%) completed
Remarks
Output 1: Upgrade, rehabilitation, and extension of distribution system Line Up-gradation/ renovation both DMCS & RRKB
38,535 km by December 2020
14,746 km completed
38.26%
Meters allocation/rehabilitation (both DMCS & RRKB)
9,50,000 nos by December 2020
591,736 nos connected to consumer’s households
62.29%
New line construction (both DMCS & RRKB)
11,965 km by December 2020
8,054.83 km, 67.32%
Consumer connection (both DMCS & RRKB)
9,50,000 591,736 62.29%
Output 2: Capacity building at BREB / PBS staff Network planning, design and project formulation through on-the-job training (both DMCS & RRKB)
September 2020
Approved by BREB and procurement is underway
30% By September 2020, PIMC will provide on-the-job training to staff of two PBSs such as Gopalganj PBS and Bagerhat PBS.
Sub-output 3: Engage national training service provider to satisfy national in-country training requirements (both DMCS & RRKB)
December 2020 Technical proposal of service providers has already been evaluated and
20% By March, 2020, the activity will begin.
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selection is now underway.
2.2 Status of Project Monitoring Activities
To ensure better management of OHS (Occupational Health & Safety), livelihood and employment,
labor working conditions, resettlement, and compensation etc., the compliance and other relevant
social status have been monitored rigorously during construction for ensuring sound & better
implementation. During the compliance monitoring period, the community’s health and safety
issues related to air and noise pollution were also discussed. In this context, it was better to find the
condition of people living near the project sites at the construction stage because the project was
properly managed. Safety and security due to the movement of vehicles were regulated to prevent
any kind of accident. A checklist was prepared based on the indicators as guidance and also
considered the non-compliance issues and suggested mitigating measures to further improve
compliance status.
Compensation: There are no compensation issues as there is no need to acquire land to improve the
existing distribution line. In contact with local people and the project management, it is ascertained
that most cases of lands were properly procured and paid by BREB for civil works constructions
according to the prevailing market price.
Resettlement: There are no resettlement plan (RP) issues. None have lost their homes due to the
project activities. For civil construction, land was purchased with the negotiation of landowners and
paid them according to the prevailing market price following the acquisition of Immovable Property
Rules, 1982. It is ascertained that no private land has been purchased and used for civil construction.
Livelihood and Employment: The workers basically hired from different parts of Bangladesh, mostly
from Mymensingh, Rangpur, Cumilla and Barishal etc., some of the labors are recruited locally or
from the local community, these labors are engaged for manual works but technical labors are
recruited from professional firm, by contractors/sub-contractors. During the field visit, contractor
told that they had to recruit these labors from different regions of the country due to the lack of
local manual labor.
Mostly on daily basis, these manual labors are recruited and paid BDT 500 to BDT 700 based on their
experience and skills, and supervised by contractor’s nominated people. Manual labors ensured that
they received their payment timely, and contractors/sub-contractors and PIU monitored the
payment schedule of the labors, and closely monitoring other labor issues, such as labor shed,
sanitation, access to drinking water and bathing water etc.
Occupational Health & Safety: From July to December 2019, no incidents were recorded except for
the illness of five laborers. This is a remarkable achievement considering the numbers of workers,
construction activities and the work done during the relevant period of time. URIDS continued to
keep the workers, contractors, sub-contractors to respond actively and to take corrective action
where hazardous actions or conditions are observed.
The contractors and sub-contractors provided the necessary instructions and supervisions to achieve
the quality works and safety requirements.
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Table 2:The status of occupational health & safety issues at the site.
Trainings/Drills/Inspections Number and Position of Participant/s
Location/s and Date/s
Remarks
On site discussion on safety procedures for civil construction of zonal offices
30 Patia, Rajshahi, Dupchaciya, Bogra, Pirganj, Thakurgoan, Jhenaidah, Magura, Jikorgacha, Jessore, Lalmohon, Bhola, Patuakhali, Khulna, Chatak, Sunamganj and Kishoreganj
• PPE (Personnel
Protective Equipment)
e.g., hard helmate, safety
belt, safety boots etc. is
being used during up-
gradation &
rehabilitation works.
• No under age 18 labors
(child) are allowed to the
site for working
• No medical examination
is yet to conduct among
the workers except
measuring blood
pressure.
Inspection of up-gradation works sites
40 Pabna, Sirajganj, Natore, Khulna, Rangpur, Bagerhat, Barishal, Rajshahi, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Sitakund, Chittagong, Comilla etc.
• PPE (Personnel
Protective Equipment)
e.g., hard helmate, safety
belt, safety boots etc. is
being used during up-
gradation &
rehabilitation works.
• No under age 18 labors
(child) are allowed to the
site for working
• No medical examination
is yet to conduct among
the workers except
measuring blood
pressure.
Inspection of labour camp sites
50 Patia, Rajshahi, Dupchaciya, Bogra, Pirganj, Thakurgoan, Jhenaidah, Magura, Jikorgacha, Jessore, Lalmohon, Bhola, Patuakhali, Khulna, Chatak, Sunamganj and Kishoreganj
• Fresh & Clean water
supply is available at the
site;
• Toilets are found but not
maintaining the hygienic
status;
• No hand washing taps
were found at the site.
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Table 3:The status of Occupational Accident and its Corrective Action.
Occupational Accident
Number and Position of Person/s Involved
Location/s and Date/s of Incident
Description of Incident
Corrective Action
Fatality 0 0 0 0
Non-fatal Injury 0 0 0 0 used during construction works
Near-miss 0 0 0 0
Illness 5 Jhikorgasa zonal office complex of
Jessore PBS-1, and Chatak Zonal officice
complex of Sunamganj PBS
seasonal fever etc. Medical check-up should be
examined and first-aid-box make
available at the sites.
Other Incidents N/A N/A N/A N/A
Labor working condition:
Labor standards should be followed as per ADB loan covenants are as follows:
• Comply with all applicable law and related international treaty obligations of the borrower and
do not employ child labor as defined under the Bangladesh Law.
• Provide safe working condition for male and female workers.
• Carryout HIV/AIDS and human trafficking prevention and awareness campaigns in the campsites
and corridor of influence.
• Engage women workers as wage laborers depending on their skill.
• Provide equal wage for equal works between men and women.
Table 4: The status of labor standards at the sites.
Sl. No
Labor Standards Status of the project of labor standards
Remarks
1 Use of PPE (Personnel Protective Equipment) during construction.
PPE is not fully used by workers/laborers during construction.
Full PPE must be used.
2 Safe working conditions both male & female workers
Fully complied. -
3 Medical examination of HIV/AIDS before commencing of work.
Not fully complied. Only measured the blood pressure level.
Medical examinations must be conducted by contractors/sub-contractors before commencing works.
4 Engage women workers as wage laborers.
No female workers are engaged in line-upgradation, rehabilitation and constructions works.
Suggested for engaged female workers at the civil construction sites.
10
Sl. No
Labor Standards Status of the project of labor standards
Remarks
5 Conduction of Toolbox meeting before starting the works.
Not fully complied. Some sites are maintained, some are not.
Toolbox talk must be conducted at all the sites before starting the works.
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Table 5: Matrix of monitoring results.
Social components
Indicators Status Corrective Actions
Compensation Status of compensation and impacts of the project activities.
There is no compensation issue
N/A
Livelihood and employment
• Employment opportunity
• Recruitment of local labors
• Labor wages
• Payment schedule
• Due to unavailability of local labors, about 60/70% labors recruited from the out sides of the project
• Some labors collected from the project sites
• No delay for payment
• Monthly payment ensured based on daily wage rate.
• Consult with the contractors for arranging local labors during construction works
Occupational health & Safety (OHS)
• Labor health
• Use of safety equipment (helmate, safety boots, safety cloths, hand gloves and eye glass during wielding).
• Not fully complied for use of safety equipment,
• First Aid Box is available with shortfalls of instruments
• Medical examinations are not conducted properly, only measuring of blood pressure, don’t conduct HIV/AIDS examination and other tropical diseases before first entry works at the site.
• Contractors should conduct other medical examinations also.
• Full PPE should be used at the sites during construction.
Labor working condition
• Labor sheds
• Kitchen
• Sanitation
• Bathing water, & drinking water access
• Arrangement for entertainments.
• Dustbin for keeping household waste
• Labor sheds found clean with windows
• Sanitary latrines installed nearby labor sheds but not hygienic.
• Full access to drinking and bathing water by installing sub-miscible pump nearby construction sites.
• Hygienic sanitation should be developed.
• Provide dust bin at the labor sheds.
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2.3 Implementation Schedule Table 6: Project Implementation Plan.
Particulars 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Bidding
Bid Evaluation/ Award
Implementation
3.0 Performance Monitoring
3.1 Compliance with Legal and Policy Requirements
Land Acquisition Rules and Regulations:
• All land acquisition for civil construction of zonal, sub-zonal, extension and main building, has
been made following the acquisition of Immovable Property Rules, 1982. BREB strictly follows
the rule of acquisition, the purchase of land is carried out and compensation is properly paid by
BREB authority.
• A prerequisite, for any kind of development project is land acquisition. Bangladesh is a densely
populated country with hard to handle land acquisition. Under this process, land acquisition for
19 civil construction sites has been completed.
3.2 Compliance with Social Safeguard Covenants
Sl. No
Description Compliance status
1 Land for civil constructions is required for the project, and all project facilities made available to works contractors in accordance with the schedule agreed under the related works contract and all land acquisition and resettlement activities are implemented in compliance with (a) all applicable laws, and regulations of the Borrower relating to land acquisition, and involuntary resettlement; (b) the involuntary Resettlement Safeguards; (c) RF, and (d) all measures and requirements set forth in the respective RP, and any Corrective Actions set forth in the Safeguards Monitoring Report.
Being complied
2 No physical or economic displacements takes place in
connection with the project until; (a) compensation, and other entitlements have been provided to the affected people in accordance with RP; (b) a comprehensive income and livelihood restoration program has been established in accordance with the RP.
Being complied; No physical or economic displacement occurred due to project activities.
3 The Borrower shall ensure, or cause the Project Executing Being complied.
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Sl. No
Description Compliance status
Agency to ensure, that all bidding documents and contracts for Works contain provisions that requires contractors to (a) comply with the measures and requirements relevant to the contractors set forth in the RP and any small ethnic community people plan, and any corrective or preventive actions set out in the safeguards monitoring report, (b) make available budgets for all such social measures; (c) provide the Borrower with a written notice of any unanticipated issues or small ethnic community risks or impact that arise due to construction, implementation or operation of the project that were not considered in the RP, or any small ethnic community plan; (d) adequately record the condition of road, agricultural land, and other infrastructure prior to starting to transport materials, and construction.
3.3 Compliance with Resettlement Plan Requirements
Since the selected places for the construction of zonal, sub-zonal, extension and main building for
Palli Bidyut Samities are usually unused lands, no resettlement will be needed. However,
compensation was paid to the landowners as provided for by the existing' Acquisition of Immovable
Property Rules, 1982, as the value of the land and to meet their trees, crops or any other valuable
losses on the land.
4.0 Implementation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism
The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) is the Executive Agency of URIDS project
represented by Project Directors of URIDS (DMCS/RRKB). The Implementation & Monitoring
Consultant (PIMC) is SMEC and Associates represented by the Team Leader/Project Manager who
has also been delegated as “The Engineer” under the Contract.
ADB requires disclosure, Consultation and Participation (DCP) in project processing to ensure that
adequate and timely information is made available to beneficiaries and affected people. This process
enables opportunity to voice opinions and concerns and participate in influencing decision making
and project processes. The SPS 2009 of ADB stresses the significance of stakeholders DCP for
ensuring formulation and execution of development projects in compliance with environmental and
social safeguards regulations. As part of DCP, BREB organized a number of public consultations
during the IEE preparation stage of the project. All meetings were attended by BREB management
and PBS managers and engineers. Participants were made aware of the Project and ADBs
involvement in the Project. The local/affected people were self-motivated in favor of the project.
The affected persons are the groups of people, organizations, institutions and individuals.
The following two social issues are frequent during installation of pole at site and these are
• Interference to land
• Interference to standing crops
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4.1 Grievance Redressal Mechanism
In order to address these issues, BREB established a committee for a potential resolution. On behalf
of BREB, the committee consult properly with local people to ensure impacts are minimized to
ensure no / reducing the grievances arise. The committee consists of the following members.
1. Elected Local PBS Director
2. Member from Office of the Executive Engineer, BREB
3. Member from O&M / E&C / MS of PBS
4. Member from Electrical/ Civil Consultant
5. Member from Contractor
When any issue raises, the committee meet and try to mitigate the issues raised by the complaint.
For instance, if the complaint asks not to install pole in the middle of his agricultural land but on the
back his land. Then the committee sit together and find out whether or not they can re-align the line
by installing few extra poles. In order to do this, the committee checks the availability of extra poles
and accessories with all technical departments and take decision instantly.
4.2 Status of Implementation of the GRM
Table 7: The status of Grievances and Corrective Actions.
Complainant/s or Affected Persons
Location/s and Date/s of Complaint
Description of Grievance/Complaint
Timeline* Time-bound Corrective Actions
Tree cutting/ trimming of trees
RoW clearing both for new line construction & Up-gradation.
Due to RoW clearing, it is a common trend to either cut down the trees or trimming the trees of 10 ft from both side of the electricity line but it is objected by the consumers since long.
Tree is being cutting down or trimming trees occurred in every two times a year.
• Before cutting
or trimming
trees, local
consumers
should be
informed by
BREB or PBS.
• Distribution of
free sapling in
the rainy season
(April/May) to
the affected
people from
BREB or project
as a
promotional
event that could
yearly be
organized.
Power shut down problem
Up-gradation and rehabilitation working areas
One of the most
common grievances is
‘power shut-down’. It
is difficult to manage
Year-round problem in some areas of Palli Bidyut Samity.
• Area wise
power shut
down plan
needs to be
15
Complainant/s or Affected Persons
Location/s and Date/s of Complaint
Description of Grievance/Complaint
Timeline* Time-bound Corrective Actions
power shut down
during line upgradation
and rehabilitation
works caused
consumers are not in
favour of long hours of
power interruptions.
developed and
informed the
local people for
their
understanding,
and
• Power shut
down should
avoid peak
hours and night
times.
Excessive bill of electricity
Everywhere in the PBS areas
Consumer believed that sometimes they had to pay an excessive amount of bill for electricity uses.
Year-round problem in some areas of some PBS’s
o Authority
should be given
concentration in
this issue and
resolve the
issues gently
and
communicate
hand- to-hand
with the
complaints.
5.0 Stakeholder Engagement
5.1 Stakeholder Engagement Process
Focus group Discussion (FGD) is a small, but demographically diverse group of people and whose
reactions are studied especially in market research or political analysis in guided or open discussions
about a proposed project or something else to determine the reactions that can be expected from a
larger population. It is a form of qualitative research consisting of interviews in which groups of
people are asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards the project,
service, concept, advertisement, idea or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group
setting where participants are free to talk with other group members.
Discussion was held with the local people at near the project site. Date, location and the number of
participants of each discussion is listed in table-9.
Table 8: Details of Focus Group Discussion (FGDS).
FGD
Number
Division Location Date and
time
Total
Participants
Category of
participants
1 Sylhet Gobindaganj 30-10-2019 11 (100% Business man, Driver,
16
FGD
Number
Division Location Date and
time
Total
Participants
Category of
participants
Notun Bazar,
Chatak,
Sunamganj
06:05 PM Male) Farmer, Senior
Citizen, and Local
Community people
2 Mymensingh Hospital Road,
Nikli, Kishorganj
28-10-2019
3:08 PM
12 (100%
Male)
Businessman, Farmer,
Senior citizen and
Local community
people. Nansree
Chairman Bazar,
Karpasha, Nikli,
Kishorganj
28-10-2019
05:05 PM
17 (100%
Male)
3 Rangpur Darshana Pahari,
Near Vanga
Bridge, Rangpur.
17/10/2019
11.20 AM
10 (100%
Male)
General worker,
Driver, Fishermen,
Farmers,
Shopkeepers
4 Rajshahi Dighapatia Union
Parishad
16/10/2019 11 (100%
Male
UP Member,
Fishermen, Farmers,
General worker,
Driver
17
5.2 Consultations
Table 9: Summary of questions discussed in the FGD sessions.
Sl. No.
Questions discussed over the sessions of FGDs
1 Do you know about the project and its location?
2 What about your perception about the project? (positive and negative)
3 What is the importance of the project in the locality?
4 What will be the possible social impact (positive/negative)
5 What are the CSR expectations from the project owner?
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Table 10: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Gobinda Notun Bazar, Chatak, Sunamganj.
Participant’s Opinion, comments and Suggestions Response to Questions/Action Point
Most of the participants are very much known
about the project. They welcomed the project
activities.
Consultant briefly discuss about the proposed
project to the participants.
Livelihood will not be impacted during this project
period.
-
They opined that this project become benefited for
the local people. Upgradation of electricity line is
very good initiative. Student will get uninterrupted
electricity supply at evening. Industrial production
may increase.
-
In this region they don’t face much load shedding
comparing to other locality. In a day about one to
two hours electricity supply shut down and rarely
the face load shedding at night.
Consultant assured that before upgradation,
rehabilitation intensification of distribution
system they will announce locally before
starting their work.
They appreciate the proposed work and opined
that this project will not create any environmental
pollution during the construction period.
Consultant confirmed that they will monitor
ambient air, water, and noise to prevent
pollutions.
They are concern about transmitter theft and the
monthly electricity bill. They suggest to take
initiative action to prevent the theft, line cut, and
monitor the workshop graze (recharge point of
Auto Rickshaw) for continuing power supply.
Consultant noted their suggestions and
requested to consult with Zonal office for any
kind of complain.
Table 11: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Hospital Road, Nikli, Kishorganj.
Participant’s Opinion, comments and Suggestions Response to Questions/Action Point
Most of the participants are known about the
project activities. They came to know by seeing the
electric cable were changing near about 8 to 10
days ago.
Consultant briefly discuss about the proposed
project to the participants.
If they get the accurate voltage and uninterrupted
power supply, many of them can manage their
loverhood by engaging various economic activity.
-
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Participant’s Opinion, comments and Suggestions Response to Questions/Action Point
Load shedding problem will be reduced due to
proper power supply.
-
Recently there is no electricity for 6/8 hours a day.
Low voltage is also another problem for the local
community. They don’t get proper voltage in day.
Consultant assured that before upgradation,
rehabilitation intensification of distribution
system they will announce locally before
starting their work.
For any development work we will accept any
challenges including environmental pollution.
Consultant confirmed that they will monitor
ambient air, water, and noise to prevent
pollutions.
Before the power shut down, they requested to
announce though mike. If any electric pole inside
the residence or power cable above the rooftop
they requested to change the right of way or
shifted the pole in nearest safe location.
Consultant noted their suggestions and
requested to consult with Zonal office for any
kind of complain.
Table 12: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Nansree, Nikli, Kishoreganj.
Participant’s Opinion, comments and
Suggestions
Response to Questions/Action Point
Participants are known about the project. They
came to know by changing the power cable,
replacing electric pole in different locations named
Dhanshiri, Shingarpar.
They opined that this electric line were 20/25 years
old. It’s a great initiative taken by PBS to change the
exiting line which was mandatory needed.
Consultant briefly discuss about the proposed
project to the participants.
They argued that four Moholla (Area) are sharing
only one transmitter. They repair this transmitter by
their own money if fails to transmit power supply
properly.
-
Lack of proper power supply they are behind of
industrialization. Water pumping would be another
source of income. Rice mill and other economic
activities will continue and developed.
-
During the winter session they get 18 hours
electricity supply but not quality power supply. Low
voltage is always remaining here.
Consultant assured that before upgradation,
rehabilitation intensification of distribution
system they will announce locally before
starting their work.
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Participant’s Opinion, comments and
Suggestions
Response to Questions/Action Point
Ambient air, noise and water will not be polluted
during the construction, operation phase.
Consultant confirmed that they will monitor
ambient air, water, and noise to prevent
pollutions.
We have support on project activities and local
people will help anytime if they required.
Consultant noted their suggestions and
requested to consult with Zonal office for any
kind of complain.
Table 13: Summary of Rangpur PBS-2 at Darshana Pahari, near Banga Bridge.
Participant’s Opinion, comments and Suggestions Response to Questions/Action Point
They have no idea about URIDS project. After being
informed by SMEC site engineers, they opined that
new project such like URIDS will improve the
current scenario.
Consultant briefly discuss about the proposed
project to the participants.
Livelihood will increase if the situation of current
scenario is improved, more people will be
employed
-
Current load shedding scenario is approximately 2-
3 hours in this area
-
They have suggested that the public land need to
be avoided, also existing line over the public land
need to be replaced.
Consultant assured that by the current project
such issues will be resolved.
• They have also suggested to put identity to the
PBS people so that they can identify them while
collecting the meter reading.
• Bribe taking activity by local inspector need to
stop
• Lots of mismatch in bill copy which need to be
resolved.
• Looking for pre-paid meter in village area also.
Consultant confirmed that they will monitor
ambient air, water, and noise to prevent
pollutions.
21
Table 14: Summary of Focus Group Discussion at Dighapatia Union Parishad of Natore PBS-1.
Participant’s Opinion, comments and
Suggestions
Response to Questions/Action Point
Lack of proper power supply they are behind of
industrialization. Current industrialization in this area
will need more electricity with continuous supply. It
will increase employment opportunity.
-
Load shedding problem will be reduced due to
proper power supply.
Ambient air, noise and water may be polluted during
the construction, operation phase.
Consultant confirmed that they will monitor
ambient air, water, and noise to prevent
pollutions.
We have support on project activities and local
people will help anytime if they required.
Consultant noted their suggestions and
requested to consult with Zonal office for any
kind of complain.
6.0 Conclusion
During the reporting period (July to December 2019), the social safeguard monitoring team visited
various project sites including Rangpur PBS-2, Chittagong PBS-3, Narsigndhi PBS-1, Kishoreganj PBS,
Sunamganj PBS, Sylhet PBS-1, Sylhet PBS-2, Sirajganj PBS-1, Sirajganj PBS-2, Pabna PBS-1, Pabna PBS-
2, Khulna PBS, Barishal PBS-2, Brahmanbaria PBS, Habiganj PBS, Moulvibaza r PBS, and Natore PBS-2
etc. and monitored the progress with the requirements of social safeguard issues based on ADB’s
safeguard policy, EIA recommendations provided in the EMP, and the ADB loan covenant. Most of
the social issues found well addressed, some of the issues still need to be developed further. During
the site visits, the occupational health and safety issues and wellbeing of workers were observed,
physical inspections were carried out at the sites of the labor sheds, progress was observed on
access to the drinking water, bathing water and sanitation facilities, and recommendations were
made to contractors/sub-contractors, PBS officials, BREB representatives (XEN, & Asst. engineers) to
address the issues which are not fully complied with the social safeguards requirements.
Recommendations: The following recommendations were provided during the site visits.
• Fully comply with the safety requirements.
• Ensuring the quality of PPE (safety boots, hand gloves, safety jacket, safety belt, and hard
helmate) at the sites.
• Ensure that labors/workers are informed to use PPE during construction works.
• Hygienic sanitation facilities in the vicinity of labor sheds should be provided.
• Construction materials (brick, cement, brickbat, concrete, stone, sand etc.) should be covered by
polythene.
• First-Aid box should be available at the sites with the required medicine.
• Make sure dustbins are available at the labor sheds and construction sites.
• Tool Box talk should be conducted daily before starting works at the site.
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Annexure-2: Photographs of FGDs
FGD with local People
Photo-1: Participants of FGD conducted in
Rangpur on 17.10.2019
Photo-2: Participants of FGD conducted at Nikli
Bazar, Kishoreganj on 26.10.2019
Photo-3: Participants of FGD conducted in
Chatak, Sunamganj on 30.10.2019 Photo-4: Participants of FGD conducted in
Natore, Rajshahi on 16.10.2019
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Annexure-4: Monitoring checklist
Category Description of Potential Impact
Mitigation measures Compliance status
Remarks
Land acquisition Landowner’s livelihood status would be affected
• Asses the land whether it would be affected or not, by the project.
• Talk to landowners how their land is being used by the projects and how is the mode of payment.
Complied • No land is acquired by the project, the construction or up-gradation activities going on the existing land.
• Land for civil construction has been purchased by negotiations with landowners and paid them following the prevailing market rate.
Resettlement • Displacement of local habitants
• Provide compensation to the displaced households following the existing rules.
• Complied • No homeland is being used for line up-gradation, rehabilitations and civil construction works.
Livelihood and employment
• Livelihood and living status may be affected because of the project activities.
• Ensure no threat to the livelihood of the local people
• Employ local labors
• Ensure clean & pure water and sanitation facilities for the laborers or workers along with the labor sheds.
• 80% Complied
• Existing road networks are used for transporting materials to the sites.
• Remaining compliance requirements should be confirmed by contractors and updated in the next report.
Occupational /Community health & safety
• Health & safety will be affected during construction, up-gradation and rehabilitation of the distribution lines
• Use hard fence (bamboo or wire fence) around the civil construction sites.
• considering the community health & safety during project execution.
• Avoid excessive noise generation from using the machines.
• Watering on to the materials to control
• 70% complied
• Working hours should be limited from 7 am to 6pm.
• Contractors should be confirmed that rest of the compliance should be ensured and updated in the next monitoring report.
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fugitive dust.
• Medical examinations should be confirmed among the laborers before first entering of the site before commencing works.
Labor working condition
• Risks of accident
• Ensuring treatment if any accident occurred.
• Documentation and reporting of accidents, incidents, and diseases if occur
• No child labors
• Conduct regular audits to the sites during construction.
• Ensure PPE used by the workers and available at the site.
• 70% complied
• Contractors should be confirmed that rest of the compliance should be ensured and updated in the next monitoring report.
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