The Hindu Business Line : World Bank-outlined framework to help in tsunami recovery project

AN Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) will serve as a guideline for implementing a $600-million tsunami recovery and reconstruction project.

A major component of this project, funded by international funding agencies including the World Bank and the International Development Agency (IDA), is targeted at Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. These were among the worst affected in the tsunami that struck the coast in December 2004. The programme is also being supported by the Asian Development Bank, which is involved in Kerala and in some sectors in Tamil Nadu.

The IDA is expected to support the Central Government in the $600-million project with assistance of $390 million to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The project components include $338 million for housing reconstruction; $25 million for restoration of livelihood; $11 million for public buildings and public works; $11 million for technical assistance and training; and $5 million for project management.

The assistance to housing will cover 1,40,000 houses in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and resettlement of 3,000 families likely to be affected by land acquisition for relocating the tsunami-affected families.

The framework, outlined by the World Bank and available on the Tamil Nadu Government's Web site, is aimed at avoiding social and environmental problems during the implementation of the project and to ensure an objective treatment of such issues across different sectors under the project. Since the project covers a wide range of sectors such as livelihood support, micro-enterprises, housing, roads, ports, health, education, environment, coastal protection and risk mitigation it calls for a multi-pronged approach, according to the ESMF.

Though most components of the recovery and reconstruction project are not expected to have any implications on social and environmental aspects, some such as those relating to large-scale resettlement of colonies and construction of urban and rural infrastructure could have some social or environmental impact.

The ESMF is aimed at ensuring that the projects are implemented according to local rules and regulations and in line with World Bank's safeguard directives.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page