Findings from EIA

Resettlement and rehabilitations of displaced households

 EIA talks about the need to resettle population due to the impact of Budhigandaki
Hydropower Project. This includes a robust plan to manage the population who will be
displaced by the development of this recent project.
 The report recommends the land-based resettlement plan to be the best plan for this
projects, however, many of the affected population have opted for compensation rather
than land for land relocation plan. Furthermore, the second most popular option was
hosing plot and compensation.
 The report also entails about the types of resettlements that can be done. This was onsite
or off site. Onsite being near the project area while offsite represents the resettlement
land will be selected far from the project impact area. Those expected to relocate onsite
are proposed to provide a new plot of land no less than 500sqm in area.
 The option of relocating on-site has been proposed due to the benefit of maintaining
social harmony of the area and not disturb the neighborhood status of the location.
 For on site land acquisition, special consideration should be made for provision of basic
infrastructure, esp. Road infrastructures have been proposed with one ring road
specifically proposed.
Resettlement eligibility
 Resettlement policies that are followed for BGHPP is conforming to GoN policies
(Land Acquisition Act 2034) and in addition to that it follows other international
policies to adhere to the standards of the various donor agencies.
 Mainly there are two types of impacted communities, they are Physically impacted
(displaced from their household) and Economically impacted ( whose livelihood have
been impacted by the project)
 Some main guiding principles that are of note in the relocation plan are:
o Special care will be done to relocate people to their own VDC or also nearby
VDC to ensure that the impact due to this resettlement is localized and doesn’t
create a ripple effect that is widespread.
o The time between property acquisition and compensation will be as little as
possible.
o Activities regarding the planning, implementation and monitoring will make
special consideration for women and other vulnerable groups.
o The project will encourage public participation in different phases of
resettlement and will also help in integration with their new surroundings.
 Eligible population for compensation has been well detailed in the report:
o Title holders of property
o Householders with land and other such properties
o Legal tenants of land and property
o All household regardless of their property status
o People with agricultural and economic involvement in the area
 o Encroachers, landless and squatters are eligible to earn compensation but not
land
 The people who are impacted are entitled for compensation for following impacts. All
may be claimed in fair market price of the area
o Physical displacement of residential or commercial structures
o Land plots encroachments
o Loss of crops
o Loss of fruit and non-fruit tree
o Loss of rental income
 Types of allowances that are provided are:
o Displacement allowance: to compensate for the loss of the normal population
o Transitional allowances: allowance to allow for people to resettle formally.
Typically, 180 days
o One-month allowance for people on rented structures so that they can get a new
place to stay on
o Transportation allowance for people who seek to settle away from the site
location
 Special consideration will be made for people who are likely to lose their employment
to ensure they have enough compensation to maintain their family while they seek new
settlement.
 Other various facilities like school, water supply, road and other basic infrastructures
will be provided.
 The compensation and allowances have been discussed for the aforementioned types of
entitlements.

Livelihood restoration plan:

EIA basically talks about two models of livelihood restoration plans:
 Skill based restoration plan: for the shake of the economically displaced people
different modes and models of skill development plans are proposed. Exact figure of
personals on different trainings either on construction skill or on industrial skills:
For construction-based skill a total of 3560 no. of peoples are planned to be
served on different topics like carpenter, plumber, welder, building electrician,
bartender, mason, mechanical etc.
For industrial based skill a total of 3560 no. of peoples are planned to be served
on topics like housekeeping, food and beverage, management, cooking, hospitality,
bakery and pickle making, child care, tailoring etc.

 Land based restoration plans: plan is basically focused to farming families to support
on their agriculture, livestock raising etc.
o Basic support planned are:
o Support for improved crop, vegetables and cash crops, poultry and
piggery farming.
o Develop appropriate income raising packages programs.
o Gender and social inclusiveness in agriculture
 o Strengthening the farmer groups and cooperatives.
Basic framework for restoration plan: EIA has categorized the basic group of peoples to be
covered by restoration plan and the level of compensation and services to be provided to them.
 Basic affected categories are:
 Socially vulnerable and so-called lower cast peoples
 Below poverty level income households.
 Physically and economically displaced.
 Loss of income from business
 Loss of income from rental
Total livelihood restoration plan budget is 20Musd

Community development plan:

To enhance the community to be formed following the resettlement community development
plan is proposed, under the plan general facilities are identified topo be developed in exact
figures and in exact site numbers. Basic infrastructures identified are, internal road, education
institutions, health post, community hall, electricity network, water supply network, ward
office, forest office etc.
Besides the projects to be developed from zero levels some additional programs are identified
to be developed on its existing profile and conditions:
 School support program
 Health and sanitation program
 BBHP ring road construction program
 Electricity networks
 Water supply and water source protection program
Under others:
1. Women development program
2. Income generation activities
Total budget allocated for community development program is 25Musd