Damaan Bachao Taralla
background
development induced destructions
maps
Chashma Irrigation Project
introduction
concerns
histories of chashma struggles
Chashma Lok Sath
  opening declaration
  Judgement
  stories
  statements
Chashma Inspection
  introduction
  what is inspection?
  Claims and Process
  GRSC
People's Struggles
  Projects
  Issues
News& Updates
  2004
  2003
Resources
  Library
  Images
  Relevant Links
About Us
  who are we
  aims and objectives
  contacts
 
 
Email to ADB Management regarding Information Disclosure. 5 January 2004.
 

Dear Mr. Roche,

This is with reference to my previous correspondence. I would like to ask you to furnish me with the additional information on the following:

1: Relationship between Chashma Environmental Plan and National Drainage Sector Project: You told that the environment management plan was prepared under ADB's TA 1629-PAK: Strengthening Environment Management for Water Resource Development in WAPDA Project, approved on 17 December 1991. First question is whether TA 1629-PAK was funded by ADF or anyother source? Secondly, according to my information, the implementation of the environmental management plan will be financed as one of the sub-projects of the National Drainage Sector Project (NDSP). My question is what is the specific legal relationship between the environmental management plan and NDSP? Are the social and environmental guidelines under the NDSP applicable to the environmental management plan and the CRBIP or not? If not, why are not these applicable?

2: TA and Inspection Functions: As many of the project components are financed by TAs, it seems me relevant to ask whether TAs are included in the scope of the inspection functions or not? More specifically, whether TA No. 4127 approved recently to support the activities of the GRSC will be included in the overall scope of the inspection or not?

3: Final Report of the GRSC: The GRSC was supposed to file the final report to the ADB and Government of Pakistan by 31st December, 2003. If it is already filed, I would like to get the copy of that report. If not yet filed, let me know specifc time when we will be able to receive it.

4: Photocopying of the complaints: I have talked to Mr. Sohail Sober to get the copies of the complaints and asked him to tell me how I should pay the cost of photocopying? From our side, this is very important and urgent matter. I am copying this email to Sohail so that he should be aware of the urgency in this regard.

5: Extension of the loan closing date: As the loan was supposed to be closed by 31st December, 2003. That date has already past. It was told by you that ADB requested to extend the loan closing date and the government principally agreed to extend the closing date. Let me know the latest status in this regard.

6: Use of undisbursed loan balance: You told that about 19% of the total loan ($40,812,483) is undisbursed and the ADB and the government would jointly plan the use of that undisbursed amount. We would like to ask that the inspection requesters should be fully and timely informed prior to the finalization of any such plan.

7: Hiring of water and other specialists: According to the GRSC recommendations, the ADB and Government of Pakistan were supposed to hire water specialists in order to look at the issue of future water management system at the canal and distributaries level. What is the latest status in this regard? How they will be paid? Is there any plan to approve new TA or the undisbursed loan amount will be used for this purpose. Secondly, we would like to make it clear that any effort to forcibly impose the institutional reforms of the NDSP shall be fully resisted by the requesters and local communities. We demand that the decision-making in this regard should be transparent and all information should be fully and timely disclosed.

8: Water Charges: We came to know that the government is thinking to impose flat water charges in the future. According to our information, water charges will be imposed upon landholding regardless of the fact whether the land is being irrigated or not. The fact is that about 60 percent of the command area under Contract 68 is not yet receiving irrigation water because of many factors. Moreover, I came to know that water charges would be imposed from 2001. I would like to know the latest situation/decision in this regard.

9: Conflict with Mr. Abdul Wahab: You said that as far as the ADB was concerned, there was no conflict with Mr. Abdul Wahab, the former land acquisition expert for the GRSC. However, I came to know that his services were terminated from 18th August, 2003, and his dues have not yet been cleared. It seems there are definitely some issues but the ADB is not prepared to disclosed those issues. I would like to demand that transparency and information disclosure should be ensured in this regard.

I hope to receive your prompt response.

Regards,

Mushtaq Gadi

 
 
 
copyright 2003-2004 MAUJ all right reserved.
inserted by FC2 system