CHASHMA
INSPECTION > |
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THE
GRIEVANCE REDRESS AND SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE (GRSC) |
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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.
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Problems
with Establishment Process
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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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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
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Problems
with Implementation
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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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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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