This report presents the findings of a fact-finding mission to the Chashma project area conducted in December 2003
NGO Visit to the Asian Development Bank’s Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project (CRBIP) in Pakistan
by Bank Information Center and Environmental Defense, December 2003
Abstract: Communities affected by the Chashma Right Bank Irrigation project (CRBIP III) in Pakistan have had their land taken without compensation; have suffered from floods exacerbated by the project’s design failures; and have endured the loss of drinking water schemes, crops, cultivable land, and access to health facilities. In November 2002, project-affected villagers filed an Inspection request with the ADB. However, the inspection process was delayed to allow time for the Grievance Redress and Settlement Committee (GRSC), a mechanism designed by the ADB and the Government of Pakistan, to address some of the concerns of local people. In December 2003, representatives from community-based and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Pakistan and the United States visited the Chashma area to document recent flooding impacts and to gather information regarding the performance of the GRSC.
Despite the clear emphasis on consultation, participation, and transparency in the GRSC’s Terms of Reference (TOR), NGO representatives found that villagers knew little about its work, much less had received “redress” from the GRSC. The report shows that although the GRSC’s mandate had nearly ended and most of its recommendations were supposed to have been implemented by the end of 2003, the GRSC concluded its work without any action having been taken on its recommendations. The NGO representatives found there is no clear plan for follow-up or monitoring.
After the disappointing performance of the GRSC, the report explains that the role of the ADB’s inspection panel is especially critical. The report recommends that the inspection be carried out independently and without constraining conditions imposed by the ADB or the Government, so that it may provide a long-awaited assessment of ADB’s due diligence and project management performance in Chashma.