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CHASHMA INSPECTION >

THE GRIEVANCE REDRESS AND SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE (GRSC)

 

In response to the Inspection claims and the severe criticisms and complaints about the project , the Government of Pakistan and the ADB established the Grievance Redress and Settlement Committee (GRSC), a so-called "problem-solving institution" established by the Government of Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) .The stated objective of the GRSC is to address issues of land acquisition, resettlement, and compensation.

However, the legitimacy and effectiveness have been questioned by the Chashma Inspection Requesters, local communities, and NGOs, as it was established in a manner ignoring the right of representation and participation of violated and affected local communities, including women, and priviledging local elites. The scope and manadate of the committe is also very limited and do not cover a range of issues concerning adverse impacts on local livelihhods, ecology and human rights violations. Besides the problems with the process of establishing the GRSC and sebsequent design problems, operational failures of the GRSC have been observed.

 
Problems with Establishment Process
 
However, the legitimacy and effectiveness have been questioned by the Requesters of the Chashma Inspection Claim, people violated by CRBIP-III, and NGOs, as it was established in a manner ignoring the affectees and priviledging local elites.
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Design Problems
 
The GRSC's Terms of Reference reveal serious problems with this mechanism itself. For example, the GRSC is composed of eleven members: a retired Pakistani judge (chair of the GRSC), 2 ADB consultants, 6 Executive Agencies (WAPDA and governmental officials), and 2 people who are suppose to represent people affected and their vast and diverse concerns. Each mambers are given one vote, thus the executive agencies have de facto veto power. Furthermore, the basis for GRSC's recommendations is to be Pakistani law, supplemented by ADB's relevant policies only where legally possible. Relevant Pakistani law is old, and inconsistent with ADB's policies. ve n
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Problems with Implementation
 
Even with unjustifiable design flaws, the Terms of Reference of the GRSC has not been complied with. Besides the 2 1/2 months delay in the commencement of its activities, for example, procedures to select the Representatives of People Affected have not been followed.
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Finace
Operational cost of the GRSC is shared by the ADB and the Government of Pakistan. Implementation of the Recommendations produced by the GRSC will be covered by the Government of Pakistan, and possibly from the ADB loan. ADB has approved Technical Assistance (TA) grant of $150,000 to support the GRSC.
 
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