49423-005: bangladesh power system enhancement and

Social Monitoring Report

Project No. 49423-005 Semestral Report (January-June 2021) July 2021

Bangladesh: Bangladesh Power System Enhancement and Efficiency Improvement Project

UP-GRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND INTENSIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)

Prepared by Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) for the Asian Development Bank.

This 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

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 Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board for the Asian Development

Bank

This social safeguard monitoring report is a document of the borrower and made publicly available in accordance

with ADB’s Public Communications Policy 2011 and the Safeguard Policy Statement 2009. The views expressed

herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff.

URIDS ।Social Safeguard Monitoring Report | June 2021 । Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.

2

Project Name UP-GRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND INTENSIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

(DMCS & RRKB DIVISIONS)

Report Name SOCIAL SAFEGUARD MONITORING REPORT FROM JANUARY’21 TO JUNE’21.


3

Contents

List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 5

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Scope of Report ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Brief Project Description .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Project Status ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Status of Project Implementation .......................................................................................................................................... 12

Status of Project Monitoring Activities .................................................................................................................................. 14

Occupational Health and Safety Monitoring .......................................................................................................................... 18

2.3 Implementation Schedule ................................................................................................................................................ 20

Performance Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................................... 21

Compliance with Legal and Policy Requirements .................................................................................................................. 21

Compliance with Social Safeguard Covenants ....................................................................................................................... 21

Compliance with Resettlement Plan Requirements .............................................................................................................. 23

Implementation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism ........................................................................................................ 25

Grievance Redressal Mechanism ........................................................................................................................................... 25

Status of Implementation of the GRM ................................................................................................................................... 26

Stakeholder Engagement ....................................................................................................................................................... 27

Stakeholder Engagement Process .......................................................................................................................................... 27

Consultations ......................................................................................................................................................................... 28

6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 31

Annex A: Line construction progress of URIDS (DMCS & RRKB) project up to December 2020. ........................................... 32

Annexure-B: Photographs of consultations-KIIs with stakeholders ..................................................... 33

Annexure-C: Participant list of FGDs ...................................................................................................................................... 34


4

List of Abbreviations

ACRE- Area Coverage Rural Electrification

ADB- Asian Development Bank

APs- Affected Persons

BREB- Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board

DCP- Disclosure, Consultation and Participation

DMCS- Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions

DPP- Development Project Proposal

EA- Executive Agency

EMP- Environmental Management Plan

FGD- Focus group discussion

GM- General Manager

GoB- Government of Bangladesh

GRM- Grievance Redressal Mechanism

IEE- Initial Environmental Examination

KII- Key Informant Interview

kV- Kilo Volt

NGO- Non-Government Organization

PAM- Project Administrative Manual

PBS- Palli Bidhyut Samity

PCM- Public Consultation meeting

PGCB- Power Grid Company of Bangladesh

PIMC- Project Implementation & Monitoring Consultant

PPE- Personnel Protective Equipment

RoW- Right of Way

RP- Resettlement Plan

RRKB- Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions

SPS2009- Safeguards Policy Statement 2009

URIDS- Up-gradation, Rehabilitation, and Intensification of Distribution System’

V- Volt

XEN- Executive Engineers


5

Executive Summary

Up to June 2021, the line construction progress is 25,998 km for URIDS (DMCS) project including up-

gradation, rehabilitation and extensions of distribution line which is 96.29% covering the total

target of 27000 Km.

On the other hand, for URIDS (RRKB) project, the total progress is 23,288 km for line construction

(up-gradation/rehabilitation and extension), representing 99.10% of the total target of 23,500 Km.

The average line construction progress of both projects is 97.60%. The civil construction progress is

100% for both project.

In response to COVID-19 pandemic, labors, workers, and other project staff are using mask, hand

sanitizers and disinfection spray at each and every site. Social distancing conceivably maintained at

the construction sites as well. The hard barricade was used to limit the local entry into the project

sites.

Labor camps are established with access to safe drinking water supply & sanitary latrines, dust bins

are made available to keep the household waste and disposed of in a safe place selected by

BREB/PBS.

Tree plantation event was carried out at each PBS areas to celebrate the Bangabandhu’s birth

century following the government directions. Free saplings were distributed among the consumer

level for home-ground planting, covering the project affected people also.

The major outcomes in this reporting period are as follows

No complaints received from the consumer or project affected people (PAPs)

No community people received accident or wounded due to the project activities.

No workers were wounded or received accident till date.

No one was economically displaced or economic activities of the local people were not

obstructed.

Due to project activities, small business opportunities have been expanded locally

No workers were affected by COVID-19, etc.


6

Introduction

Accelerating the steps of generating electricity across the country is the top priority of the

Government of Bangladesh. Government is committed to having good access to electricity in the

rural areas of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) is one of the important

institutions 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 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 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.

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, 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 6,465 km new lines.

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 of

January 2021 to June 2021.

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) report, and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and minimized

the damaged caused by environmental and social works.


7

Brief Project Description

Table 1: Basic Information of URIDS (DMCS &RRKB) project.

Items URIDS (DMCS) URIDS(RRKB)

Project Construction Period July 2016 to June 2021

Total Length (km) of 33kV, 11KV, and

below voltage

20,500 18,000

Length of New Line (km) of 11kV and

below voltage

6,500 5,500

No. of Division Dhaka, Mymensingh,

Chittagong, Sylhet

Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and

Barishal

No. of District covers 33 districts 28 districts

No of Customers to be Covered 500,000 450,000

Line Type 33kV, 11kV, 440/240 volt

Number of Palli Bidyut Samities (PBSs)

Covered

44 36

Material Requirements • Conventional overhead pole-

mounted distribution

transformers 6.35/0.23 kV –

37,090 kVA transformers will be

procured

• Porcelain insulators 6.35/0.23

kV

• Poles – SPC/Wooden/Steel –

425,863 poles will be procured

• Insulated cable 6.35/0.23 kV-

14,361 km of conductor will be

procured.

• Bare conductor – 69,553 km of

conductor will be procured.

Conventional overhead

pole-mounted distribution

transformers 6.35/0.23 kV –

31,624 kVA transformers

will be procured

Porcelain insulators

6.35/0.23 kV

• Poles – SPC/Wooden/Steel –

poles will be procured

• Insulated cable 6.35/0.23 kV

and

Bare conductor –69,552 km

of conductor will be

procured.

Typical Pole Size 15.00 m

No. of Transformers to be installed 37,090 31,624

Transformer Capacity 489 MVA 391 MVA

Conductor 83,914 69,552

Meter 500,000 450,000

(Source: Revised DPP)


8

Table 2: Electrical works target of URIDS (DMCS&RRKB) Project.

Sl.

No.

Upgrades/ Rehabilitation/ Conversion

(km of line)

New Lines (Short Extensions of

about One Hundred Meters)

(km)

33 kV 11 kV and bellow New Grand total

1 790 19,710 6,500 27,000 Km

for DMCS

2 820 17,180 5,500 23,500 Km

for RRKB

Sub- total 1,610 36,890 12,000 50,500 Km

Civil Construction Works:

Civil Construction works of URIDS (DMCS) Project:

Under the DMCS project, a total of 35 residential and office building will be constructed, which are

mostly consists of two to three storied buildings. Table 3 shows the detail of the building types and

their PBS locations.

Table 3: Civil Construct Works under URIDS (DMCS) Project:

Sl.

No

Types of works undertaken by URIDS (DMCS)

project

Nos of

works

Location/ PBS

1 Construction of 3-storied Head Quarter Office

Building cum Warehouse including Land

development

1 Chandpur PBS-2

2 Construction of C-Type Residential Building for

Zonal Office Complex including Land

Development

2 Chandpur PBS-2 H/Q

Ukhyia in Cox’s Bazar PBS.

Construction of D-Type Residential Building for

Zonal Office Complex including Land

Development

6 Chandpur PBS-2H/Q.

Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar PBS

Ukhyia in Cox’s Bazar PBS

Nandail in Kishoreganj PBS.

Chatak in Sunamganj PBS.

Fulgazi in Feni PBS.

Construction of E-Type for Zonal Office

Complex Residential Building including Land

Development





9

Sl.

No

Types of works undertaken by URIDS (DMCS)

project

Nos of

works

Location/ PBS




Construction of F-Type of Residential Building

for Zonal Office Complex including Land

Development







3 Internal Road

Boundary Wall

Gate

Security Post

Master Drain

Sewerage System (Septic tank)

Shaded Store Yard

Open Store Yard

Store Yard fencing

Garage

Ansar Barrack & Miscellaneous Works.

7 Chandpur PBS-2H/Q

Moheskhali Zonal Office in Cox’s Bazar PBS.

Ukhiya Zonal Office in Cox’s Bazar PBS..

Nandail Zonal Office in Kishoreganj PBS.

Chatak Zonal Office in Sunamganj PBS.

Damuda Zonal Office in Shariatpur PBS.

Fulgazi Zonal Office in Feni PBS.

4 Construction of 2-storied Rest House Building

with 3-storied Foundation

1 Chandpur PBS-2.

5 Construction of Zonal office complex including

Land Development Office Building cum Ware

House (3-storied Building with 5-storied

foundation)

6 Moheskhali, Cox’s Bazar PBS.

Ukhyia, Cox’s Bazar PBS.

Nandail, Kishoreganj PBS.

Chatak, Sunamganj PBS.

Damuda,Shariatpur PBS.

Fulgazi, Feni PBS.



10

Civil Construction works of URIDS (RRKB) Project:

Under the RRKB project, a total of 23 structures including rest house, office, and workshop buildings

will be constructed, which are mostly consists of two to three storied buildings. Table-4 shows the

detail of the building types and their PBS locations.

Table 4: Civil Construct Works under URIDS (RRKB) Project:

Sl.

No

Types of works undertaken by URIDS (RRKB)

project

Nos of

works

Location/ PBS

1 Construction of PBS head quarters 3 Sirajgonj PBS-2

Naogoan PBS-2

Bagura PBS-2

2 Construction of zonal office complex 11 Ataikula, Pabna PBS-2

Potia, Natore PBS-1

Dupchaciya, Bogra PBS-1

Pirgonj, Thakurgaon PBS

Ranigonj & Parbotipur, DinajpurPBS-2

Hikorgasa, Jessore PBS-1

Gornodi, Barisal PBS-2

Bauphal, Patuakhali PBS

Shener Bazar, Khulna PBS

Lalmohan, Bhola PBS

Vertical extension of office building (1 floor) 3 Thakurgaon PBS HQ

Dinajpur PBS-2

Jhenaidah PBS HQ

Vertical extension of office building (2 floor) 1 Patuakhali PBS HQ

Construction of 3-storied store cum workshop

& boundary wall

1 Thakurgaon PBS HQ

3 Construction of 2- storied rest house building 1 Magura PBS HQ complex

4 Construction of 2-storied office building 1 Kushtia PBS HQ

5 Vertical extension of C-type, D-type & E-type (1

floor)

1 Patuakhali PBS HQ complex

6 Repair & renovation works at Central

warehouse

1 Khulna PBS

Total Structure 23



11

Project location:

The project consists of eight administrative divisions of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet

divisions (DMCS) and Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, and Barishal divisions (RRKB). Figure 1 shows the

locations of the study area.

Figure 1: Location Map of the Project Areas


12

Project Status

Status of Project Implementation

Table 5: Line construction Progress of URIDS Project up to December 2020.

Key Point URIDS, DMCS URIDS, RRKB TOTAL

Project Target (km) 27,000 23,500 50,500

Total Line Constructed (km) 25,998 23,288 49,286

Consumer Status (km) 500,000 450,000 950,000

Progress up-to June 2021 (%) (km) 96.29% 99.10% 97.60%

(Source: BREB)

Table 6: Civil construction progress of URIDS project up to December 2020.

Name of PBS Location of construction

site

Type of civil

construction

Construction progress

(%)

URIDS (DMCS)

Chandpur PBS-2 Chandpur PBS-2 H/Q Construction of head

quarter building &

residential building.

100%

Cox’s Bazar PBS

Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar Construction of

Residential Building for

Zonal Office Complex in

Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.

100%

Moheskhali, Cox’s Bazar Construction of office

Building & residential

building for Zonal Office

Complex in Moheskhali,

Cox’s Bazar.

100%

Kishoreganj PBS Nandail, Mymensingh Construction of

Residential Building &

office building for Zonal

Office Complex in

Nandail, Kishoreganj.

100%

Sunamganj PBS Chatak, Sunamganj Construction of



Office Complex in

Chatak, Sunamganj.

100%

Shariatpur PBS Damuda, Shariatpur Construction of E &F type

buildings for Damuda

zonal office,

Shariatpur.

100%

Feni PBS Fulgazi, Feni Construction of 100%


13


site

Type of civil

construction


(%)



Office Complex in

Fulgazi, Feni.

URIDS(RRKB)

Jhenaidah pBS Jhenaidah PBS H/Q Construction of

extension of office

building 1st floor.

100%

Magura PBS Magura PBS H/Q Construction of rest

house building.

Jashore PBS-1 Jikorgacha, Jashore Construction of Zonal

Office Complex.

Kushtia PBS Kushtia PBS H/Q Construction of two

storied office building.

Patuakhali PBS Patuakhali PBS H/Q Vertical extension of

office, C- type, D-type &

E-type at Patuakhali PBS

HQ

100%

Bauphol, Patuakhali Construction of Bauphol

Zonal Office, Patuakhali

Bhola PBS Lalmohon, Bhola Construction of

Lalmohan Zonal Office of

Bhola PBS

Barishal PBS-2 Gornodi, Barishal Construction of Gornodi

Zonal Office, Barishal.

Khulna PBS Shenerbazar, Khulna Construction of

Shenerbzar Zonal office,

Khulna

100%

Khulna Repair and renovation of

central warehouse,

Khulna

Sirajgonj PBS-2 Sirajgonj, Construction of Sirajgonj

PBS-2 H/Q

100%

Pabna PBS-2 Ataikhula, Pabna Construction of Zonal

Office at Ataikhula,

Pabna.

Natore PBS-1 Potia, Natore Construction of Potia

Zonal Office, Natore.

Naogaon PBS-2 Naogaon Construction of Noagoan

PBS-2 H/Q.

100%

Bogura PBS-2 Bogura Construction of Bogura

PBS-2 H/Q.

Dupchaciya, Bogura. Construction of

Dupchaciya Zonal Office,

Bogura.

Bogura PBS-1 Bogura 100%

Thakurgaon PBS Thakurgaon Construction of Vertical

extension of office

building (1 floor),

Thakurgaon.

100%

Dinajpur PBS-2 Dinajpur Vertical extension of

office building (1 floor)

at PBS H/Q.


14


site

Type of civil

construction


(%)

Construction of Zonal

Office Complex at

Ranigonj, Dinajpur.

Construction of Zonal

Office Complex at

Parbotipur, Dinajpur

Construction of Pirgonj

Zonal Office Complex,

Dinajpur.

(Source: BREB)

Status of Project Monitoring Activities

Monitoring results were measured by field visits by PIMC experts, and progress data collected from

field, BREB and PBS which performed the integration of social safeguard issues into the project

activities. BREB is responsible for implementation, and monitoring of compliance issues and take

necessary actions if any issues are found non -complied.

Site Visits

The Project Director, Deputy Project Director accompanied by representatives of BREB/PBS officials

visited the following PBSs during this reporting period. The visits were conducted in the new line

constructions, up-gradation/ renovation sites, and civil construction sites. Necessary

recommendations were provided to the contractors/ sub-contractors for taking corrective measures

to fulfill the social requirements.

However, meetings were held with the following PBSs and BREB staff and discussed on reinforcing

the social issues regarding the project activities. Details are provided in stakeholder engagement

chapter.

Table 7: List of sites visited during this reporting period.

No. Name of PBSs Date of Site Visit Persons met during the site visit

1 Jashore PBS-1 03.06.2021 to 06.06.2021

(DPD)

Executive Engineer of BREB, Contractor’s

representative, Assistant Engineers of BREB,

General Manager of PBS, Deputy General

Manager (Technical) of PBS.

2 Khulna PBS

3 Naogaon PBS-1

03.06.2021 to 08.06.2021

(PD)

4 Naogaon PBS-2

5 Bogura PBS-1

6 Bogura PBS-2

7 Natore PBS-1

8 Natore PBS-2

10 Magura PBS 17.05.2021 to 21.05.2021

(PD)

11 Jashore PBS-1

12 Natore PBS-1 01.05.2021 to 04.05.2021

(PD)

13 Magura PBS


15

No. Name of PBSs Date of Site Visit Persons met during the site visit

14 Kusthia 01.05.2021 to 04.05.2021

(PD)

15 Jashore PBS-1

16 Chandpur PBS-2 18.06.21 (PD)

17 Sariatpur PBS 18.06.21-19.06.21 (DPD)

19 Cox’s Bazar PBS 27.05.21-29.05.21 (DPD)

20 Narayongonj PBS

1/2 08.06.21 (PD)

Executive Engineer of BREB, Contractor’s

representative, Assistant Engineers of BREB,

General Manager of PBS, Deputy General

Manager (Technical) of PBS.

21 Narsindi PBS-1/2 07.06.21 (PD)

22 Gazipur-1/2 07.06.21 (DPD)

23 Gazipur-1/2 25.05.21 (DPD)


16

Civil construction sites:

The safeguard monitoring team (Project Director, Deputy Project Director accompanied by

representatives of BREB/PBS officials) also visited the following civil construction sites during this

reporting period, details are provided in Table-8.

Table 8: List of civil construction sites visited during this reporting period

Name of PBS Location of construction site Date of inspection

Chandpur PBS-2 Chandpur PBS-2 H/Q 07.05.21, 28.05.21, 18.06.21 (PD)

Cox’s Bazar PBS

Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar 27.05.21 (DPD)

Moheskhali, Cox’s Bazar 27.05.21 (DPD)

Shariatpur PBS Damuda, Shariatpur 18.06.21-19.06.21 (DPD)

Magura PBS Magura PBS H/Q 17.05.21-21.05.21 (PD)

Jashore PBS-1 Jikorgacha, Jashore 01.05.21-04.05.21 (PD)

Kushtia PBS Kushtia PBS H/Q 01.05.21-04.05.21 (PD)

Patuakhali PBS Patuakhali PBS H/Q 10.02.21-14.02.21 (PD)

Bauphol, Patuakhali 10.02.21-14.02.21 (PD)

Bhola PBS Lalmohon, Bhola 10.02.21-14.02.21 (PD)

Barishal PBS-2 Gornodi, Barishal 25.03.21-30.03.21 (PD)

Khulna PBS Shenerbazar, Khulna 03.06.21-06.06.21 (DPD)

Natore PBS-1 Potia, Natore 03.06.21-08.06.21 (PD)

Naogaon PBS-2 Naogaon 03.06.21-08.06.21 (PD)

Bogura PBS-2 Bogura 03.06.21-08.06.21 (PD)

Dupchaciya, Bogura 03.06.21-08.06.21 (PD)

Bogura PBS-1 Bogura 03.06.21-08.06.21 (PD)


17

Pictures of the construction sites:

Photo-1: Construction of E & F type building at

Dupchachiya, Bogura PBS-2

Photo-3: Construction of D-type building at Bhola PBS.

Photo-5: Construction of head quarter building &

residential building at Chandpur PBS-2

Photo-2: Construction of head quarter office building of Kushtia

PBS.

Photo-4: Construction of office building at Nandail, Kishoreganj

PBS

Photo-6: Up-gradation line works at Chittagong PBS-3


18

Occupational Health and Safety Monitoring

On the construction sites, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues are prioritized to reduce the

causality in the work place. PIU tracks the OHS issues at the line construction and civil construction

sites responsibly and provides the necessary advice, suggestions & guidance to keep the site safe.

Till date (up to June 2021), there is no accident or incident received at the sites. Moreover, in order

to reduce the risks of COVID-19, hand sanitizers or soap, disinfection spray is made available at the

construction sites and frequently used by the workers and other staff. Possibly maintained social

distancing both at the working sites and Labor camp sites.

Moreover, numbers of awareness sessions were conducted between workers, & laborers in different

working sites such as Chandpur PBS-2, Cox’s Bazar PBS, Kishoreganj PBS, Sunamganj PBS, Shariatpur

PBS, Feni PBS, Jhenaidah PBS, Magura PBS, Jashore PBS-1, Kushtia PBS, Patuakhali PBS, Bhola PBS,

Barishal PBS-2, Khulna PBS, and Sirajgonj PBS-2. The summary of status of OHS are provided in table-

9.

Table 9: Status of Occupational health & Safety issues.

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

85

January, March &

May 2021

PPE is now accessible at the

constructions sites and using by

workers.

Hand sanitizer, mask is using

regularly

Staying at the campsite after

works to avoid public gathering

Inspection of up-gradation

works sites

73

February, April,

June, 2021

Inspection of labour camp

sites

49

February,

March, April &

June 2021

Till date, no under age 18

labors (child) are recruited at

the site.

Dustbins are using for

collection of kitchen wastes

Camp has access to clean water

supply and sanitary latrines.

No illness was occurred till

date.


19

Table 10: 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 Actions.

Fatality 0 - - -

Non-fatality 0 - - -

Near-miss 0 - - -

Illness 0 - - -

Other incidents 0 - - -

Note: Till date, no occupational accidents were occurred in the project areas. If any found, that could be

reported in the next report properly.

Table 11: Overall implementation status of the project.

Sl.

No

Monitoring

Activities

Indicators Status Remarks

1 Livelihood and

Employment

Opportunity

Employment

opportunity,

income, wage etc.

Being complied Local people are getting the

opportunity to work in this project,

but the number of employments is

low.

2 Community

Health, Safety and

Security

Community health

condition, Safety and

Security Status, threats

for Community health

and safety

Being complied. No grievances were found from the

consumers/APs or community

people regarding the risk of their

health due to project activities.

3 Occupational

Health and Safety

Status of labour

health, accidental

status, medical

equipment (i.e., First

Aid Box, Ambulance),

and status of safety

tools and instruments

(i.e., gumboots,

earmuffs, hard

helmets, gloves, etc.)

Being complied Labours are using PPE while working

on the sites. Safety belt and safety

boot are commonly used during

extension or rehabilitation of the

distribution line.

5 Resettlement Plan

(RP)

Considering the

Resettlement Plan

following the ADB SPS

2009

Being complied No need for RP implementation as

this project does not need acquire

any land.

6 Compensation on

land purchase/

Compensation of land

acquisition, land

purchase, for civil

Being complied The project will be performed in the

existing distribution lines and there

is no need to account for land


20

Sl.

No

Monitoring

Activities

Indicators Status Remarks

procurement/acqu

isition etc.

construction following

the Acquisition and

Requisition of

Immovable Property

Act 2017.

requirements.

But, in civil construction works,

some pieces of land have been

purchased following the Acquisition

and Requisition of Immovable

Property Act 2017.

2.3 Implementation Schedule

The Work Schedule has been prepared which indicates how and when key components of the work

will be completed. The Project will be completed and commissioned within the period of 60 months

(4.5 years). The completion of works is proposed to take place in 48 months as indicated below in

Table 12.

Table 12: Project Implementation Schedule.

Particul 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

ars Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2

Bidding

Bid

Evaluation/

Award

Impleme

ntation


21

Performance Monitoring

Compliance with Legal and Policy Requirements

Table 13: Compliance with Legal and Policy Requirements.

GoB Rules and Regulations Summary of Act Compliance with Act

Acquisition and Requisition of

Immovable Property Act 2017.

The purpose of an acquisition and

requisition law is to empower the

acquiring authority to acquire

land only for a public purpose

affecting proprietary right of

citizens.

The idea of this provision is that a

citizen shall not be deprived of his

land otherwise than in

accordance with law and if he is

deprived of for public purposes,

compensation at the market rate

is given to him.

However, once compensation has

been paid there remains no right

in any person to get back the land

acquired. Property validly

acquired and vested in the

requiring body cannot be claimed

by the original acquisition.

After the Acquisition and

Requisition of Immovable

Property Act, 2017, all land

acquisition for civil construction

of zonal, sub-zonal, extension

and main building, will be

made.

BREB shall strictly follow the

acquisition rule, the purchase of

land shall be made and

compensation shall be duly paid

by the BREB authority if

needed.

Compliance with Social Safeguard Covenants

Table 14: Compliance status with Social Safeguard Covenants.

Indicators Issues Activities Compliance

Status

Remarks

Implementation

Arrangement

Arrangement is

set forth in the

PAM of ADB.

National Safeguards

Specialist is

engaged for social

monitoring

Being complied BREB has followed

the ADB loan

covenants.

Environment,

Health and Safety

Safeguard

All the laws and

Regulations related

to the environment

health and safety is

applicable.

Review of existing

laws and

regulations

(National and ADB

Safeguard Policy).

Being complied The national

safeguard specialist

has prepared the

compliance

monitoring report

based on EMP and

reviewing the

existing laws and

regulations.


22


Status

Remarks

Human and

Financial

resources to

implement

safeguard

requirements

BREB should make

available or cause

the project

executing agency to

make available

necessary

budgetary and

Human resources

to completely

implements the

EMP.

BREB has made

some contracts

with the

contractors which

have available

manpower, budget

and other

resources for the

implementation of

EMP.

Being complied BREB has followed

the ADB safeguard

requirement of

Human and

Financial resources

to implement

safeguard

requirements.

Bidding

documents of

works and work

contract

Comply with the

measures and

requirements

related to the

contractor set forth

in the IEE and EMP,

make available

budget for all such

environmental and

social measures.

The national

safeguard expert

and BREB monitor

the construction

activities regularly.

Being complied All safeguard

related provisions

incorporated in

bidding document

of works and work

contracts.

Environmental

and social

safeguard

monitoring and

reporting

Any anticipate

results that were

not considered in

the IEE and the

EMP promptly

inform ADB and

proposed for

mitigation in

corrective action

plans.

The monitoring and

the reporting would

be completed and

any potential

breach of

compliance with

the measures and

requirements set

forth in the EMP.

Reviewed EMP

provided in the IEE.

All compliance

status prepared

based on selected

indicators provided

in the check list.

Being complied Environmental and

Social Safeguards

Monitoring reports

are submitted by

BREB on semi-

annual basis.

Labour Standard Comply with all

applicable labour

law, treaty

obligations of the

borrowers and child

labour law of

Bangladesh.

Provided safe

working condition

Labour standard

has been

maintained at the

construction sites,

& labour campsites

and regularly

monitoring this

issue following the

ADB SPS 2009 and

Being complied

(Except women

workers at the

construction sites

due to

unavailability of

women workers it

is difficult to recruit

them for project

No child labour

is allowed to

work at the site

No HIV/AIDS

examination

are conducted

yet at the sites

but awareness

sessions are


23


Status

Remarks

for male and

female workers.

Carry out HIV/AIDS

and Human

Trafficking

presentation and

awareness

campaigns in the

campsites and

corridor of

influences. Engage

women labours as

wage laborers

depending on their

skill, provide equal

wages.

other national laws. sites.) conducting

regularly

between

workers at the

labor camp and

construction

sites.

Project Reviews The project

progress has to be

assessed by the

ADB with necessary

midcourse

correction.

ADB is reviewing

the progress report,

social and

environmental

safeguards report

and other reports

and giving the

recommendation

for necessary

modification.

Being complied All comments/

recommendations

from the ADB have

been addressed

and submitted to

BREB and ADB

accordingly.

Compliance with Resettlement Plan Requirements

Table 15: Compliance with Legal and Policy Requirements on RP (Resettlement Plan).

Sl. No RP requirements 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.

Land for civil construction have

been purchased following the

Acquisition and Requisition of

Immovable Property Act, 2017.

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.

Owing to project activities no

adjustment of physical or

economic displacement is

required.

3 The Borrower shall ensure, or cause the Project Executing


24

Sl. No RP requirements 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.

Being complied.


25

Implementation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism

Grievance Redressal Mechanism

In order to address any 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.

Table 16: GRM Committee of PBSs for resolving the complaints.

Sl.

No.

Members Designation Responsibility

1 Elected Local PBS Director Convenor Organize monthly or

quarterly meeting

2 Member from Office of the Executive

Engineer, BREB

Member secretary Recorded all the issues and

circulated among the

interested people.

3 Member from PBS Member Summarized the grievances

relating to environmental

issues, construction related

issues, OHS and community

health and safety issues and

Gender Based Violence, etc.

4 Member from Consultant Member Note discussions and

decisions of the meeting and

disseminate the information

about GRM and taking follow

up actions.

5 Member from Contractor Member Implementing the decision

with the help of PBS, & BREB.

When any issue will raise, the committee will 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 takes decision instantly. Table 17

has been developed to register complaint from PAPs.


26

Status of Implementation of the GRM

The summary of complaints received from consumers, APs and another stakeholder are provided in

table-17.

Table 17: Complaints status of the reporting period (January to June 2021).

Complainant/s or

Affected Persons

Location/s and

Date/s of

Complaint

Description of

Grievance/Complaint

Timeline* Remarks

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.

Trimming of trees

takes twice a year.

Tree species/ free sapling

were distributed to the

affected households.

Shut down

problem

Up-gradation

and

rehabilitation

working areas

One of the most common

grievances is ‘power

shut-down’. It is difficult

to manage power shut

down during line

upgradation and

rehabilitation works

caused consumers are

not in favour of long

hours of power

interruptions.

Common

complaints in each

connection areas of

PBS.

BREB has made a PBS

wise ‘power outage

schedule’ whereas this

schedule is now

implemented in the

PBSs areas.

Hat/bazar days

excluded from the

power outage

schedule and no

outage is being

forwarded after

evening.

Excessive

electricity bill

Everywhere in

the PBS areas

Consumer believed that

sometimes they had to

pay an excessive amount

of bill.

Year-round

problem in some

areas of some PBS’s

To reduce this problem,

PBSs is now conducting

awareness session about

billing system, if any

overbilling is found, it has

been resolved by 3 (three)

consecutive days.


27

Stakeholder Engagement

Public Consultation is a regulatory process of any development project as per the ECR Amendment,

2010. ADB also 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. The SPS 2009 requires that the EA will

conduct meaningful consultations with displaced persons, their host communities, and civil society

organizations. Consultation, to be carried out throughout the project cycle, and timely disclosure of

relevant and adequate information has to be undertaken. Both men and women have to be

consulted and involved equitably in project design and implementation. All relevant views of

affected people and other stakeholders need to be considered in decision making, such as project

design, impact assessment, and mitigation measures, sharing of development benefits and

opportunities, and implementation.

Stakeholder Engagement Process

Stakeholders include all those who are affected by the Project. They can be groups of people,

organizations, institutions and individuals. Primary stakeholders of the Project are those who will be

directly affected or benefited. In this Project they include all potential households likely to benefit

from improved electricity supply. Primary stakeholders identified and consulted include

communities to benefit and/or affected by the Project, along with local leaders, community

members and local representatives.

Secondary stakeholders are those who may not be directly affected but have interests in this Project

i.e., concerned government departments, and line agencies, NGOs and the general public at large.

A participatory approach was followed for conducting the stakeholder consultation meetings;

To provide Project information and scope;

The consultants used a Checklist to maintain uniformity and relevancy in discussion and

properly recorded the opinions and views of participants; and

Institutional issues were discussed and participants provided their opinions and suggestions

freely.

Number of consultation exercises were conducted during this reporting period. The stakeholders

consulted include local People, community in the vicinity of project area, local elected

representatives and other external stakeholders such as government officials. The details of

consultations held with issues raised or discussed and suggestions provided by the respective

stakeholders are presented below.

A combination of mixed methods of information disclosure and consultation process was adopted at

this stage. The method selected for consultation was basically designed keeping in mind the profile

of the stakeholders, type of information desired and level of engagement required. In each

consultation session the consultant introduced themselves, introduced the project and the purpose


28

of engagement with the respective stakeholder. The primary methods followed in the consultation

process are:

Key informant interview (KII);

Face to Face Interview

Focus group discussion (FGD); and

Public Consultation meeting (PCM).

Consultations

During this reporting period, consultations were carried out with the officials of BREB, PBSs and local

consultants and consumers in the following PBSs when visiting the sites. The type of stakeholder

meeting was in table-18 only for Key Informant Interview (KIIs), & focused group discussion are

provided in Table-18.

During this reporting period, mainly KIIs and FGDs were conducted in the following PBS areas

Table 18: KIIs & FGDs were conducted in this reporting period (July to December 2020)

Sl.

No

Name of PBS Types of interviews

1 Chandpur PBS-2 KII (May 2021)

2 Cox’s Bazar PBS FGD

3 Bogura PBS-2 KII (March 2021)

5 Narayanganj PBS-1 FGD (june 2021)

6 Bhola PBS FGD (February 2021)

Table 19: Summary of KII discussions.

Issues discussed/raised Outcomes of the brief

Is adequate land available for this project? If no, is

land parcels available in surrounding areas for

acquisition/requisition of land?

No need to acquire land, as this project is being implemented

in the existing RoW (Right of Way). BREB has purchased

some sorts of land for construction of zonal, sub-zonal,

vertical extension of main buildings etc. from the landowners

for paying prevailing rate in line with the Land Acquisition,

Requisition and Immovable Property Act, 2017.

Coverage percent of electricity line The electricity coverage is more than 96%. After the

upgradation of distribution line, the coverage will be

increased to 100%.


29

Issues discussed/raised Outcomes of the brief

Average time for load shedding There is no load-shedding but due to upgradation works, or

other kind of maintenance, and tree cutting/ trimming, then

force-shedding method is applied to complete the works

properly and ensure the safety of the workers. Before that,

PBS announces locally about this force-shedding to avoid

public unrest.

Is there any incidental record? There is no incidental recorded for the last few years.

PBSs/BREB has worked for ensuring zero-causalities following

the BREB Health, Environment and Safety guideline properly,

and ADB safeguard policy also.

How resolve the grievance which comes from the

consumer/Affected Persons?

PBS has own Grievance Redress system, moreover, a GRM

committee headed by local elected PBS director is working for

looking after the project related issues. PBS and BREB is

serious about the public query and taking remedies within

24hrs or earliest.

Any concern of the local community that needs to be

communicated to BREB?

Tree branches are found to pose a threat to the distribution

line and should be trimmed to avoid danger. But local people

are not interested to trimming their trees that may cause

difficulties to ensure danger free distribution line during

monsoon.

Table 20: Summary of focused group discussions.

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.

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 they have to repair this transmitter by

their own money if fails to transmit power supply

properly.

PBS does not produce electricity, they buy from PDB

(Power Development Board), so, every cost is added in the

electricity connection.

Lack of quality power supply in some areas; industry was

not grown. Water pumping would be another source of

income. Rice mill and other economic activities will

continue and developed if quality electricity is available.

PBS representative confirmed, after up-gradation of

distribution line, quality power supply will be possible and

new consumers will be connected also. Then small

industries will be grown up with creating the job

opportunities locally.

During the winter session they have access to 18 hours

electricity supply but not quality power supply. Low

This situation will be developed after completion of URIDS

project.


30

Participant’s Opinion, comments and Suggestions Response to Questions/Action Point

voltage is a problem with them.

Power outage is problem, one more day in a week, they

went out of order of service due to maintenance of PBS

line, even, hat/bazar days and peak hours (at night when

children are studying) they have to suffer from load

shedding. Reasonable solution is required in this regard.

Before upgradation, rehabilitation intensification of

distribution system they will announce locally before

starting their work.

We have support on project activities and local people

will help anytime if they required.

PBS noted their suggestions and requested to consult with

Zonal office for any kind of complain.


31

6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations

During this reporting period, the social safeguard monitoring was rigorously carried out at different

locations/areas of the project. Both line construction and civil construction sites were inspected and

collected different types of data such as occupational risks/incident status, pole erection, line

construction/rehabilitation, pole stacked at the road sites, trimming of trees, complaints received,

dust emission, water pollution, waste management, deep tube well installation on the civil

construction sites (depth & test report), responding to the COVID-19 pandemic etc., aligned with the

mitigation measures given in the EMP and as well as fulfilling the requirement of the ADB safeguard

Policy Statement.

The current status of the social safeguard status is satisfactory without any incident or accident at

the construction sites. No complaints received from the consumer, or project affected peoples

(PAPs) relating to this project.

Labor camps are neat and tidy, good access to hygienic sanitation & clean water supply, dust bins

are using for collection of kitchen waste and disposed of in a safe place. There is no trapping and

haunting of wild animals or wild birds was occurred till date. No labor was reported for COVID-19

affected. Hand sanitizers & masks are being used by the workers at the site while working. Solid

wastes are now managed quickly after immediate completion of works at the site and disposed of in

a safe place selected by PBS/BREB.

In the meantime, there are no problems with the RP requirements, and compensation etc. The

project constructs several buildings for establishment of zonal office, sub-zonal office, vertical

extension of PBS main building at various locations etc. where land is required and purchased from

the local people to pay the prevailing rate in line with Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable

Property Act 2017.


32

Annex A: Line construction progress of URIDS (DMCS & RRKB) project up to December 2020.

SI

No.

Name of Zone Project Target

(km)

Line Constructe d (km) Progress as per

DPP (%)

1. Dhaka-N 5214 4427 85%

2. Dhaka-S 2894 2929 101%

3. Mymensingh 2588 2593 100%

4. Chittagong 3550 3344 94%

5. Cumilla 6704 6630 99%

6 Sylhet 2746 2746 100%

7 Faridpur 3304 3313 100%

8 Rangpur 3923 3933 100%

9 Rajshahi 3,849 3845 100%

10 Bogra 4,800 4705 98.02%

11 Jessore 6,829 6765 99.06%

12 Barishal 4099 4041 98.58%

Total 50,500 49,286 97.60%


33

Annexure-B: Photographs of consultations-KIIs with stakeholders


34

Annexure-C: Participant list of FGDs

Venue: Narayanganj PBS-1 area (Group-male)

Date & Time: 08/06/2021; 2:15

SI Name Age Occupation

1 Mohammad Rafiq 62 Day labour

2 Masuduzzaman 41 Service

3 Islam Mia 43 business

4 Abdur Razzak 67 Retired person

5 Baten Mia 35 Business

6 Moniruddin Mia 48 Business

7 Shafiqul Islam 25 Student

8 Zinnath Ali 43 Day labour

9 Hossen 32 unemployed

10 Yasin bhuiyan 52 Business

11 Malek member 58 UP member

12 Tansen Bhuiyan 53 business

49423-005: bangladesh power system enhancement and

Documents