Bangladesh: Dhaka Sanitation Improvement

OBJECTIVE

To increase access to safely-managed sanitation services in select areas of Dhaka City and to improve DWASA’s capacity for sanitation service delivery.

DESCRIPTION

The project includes the following components:

1. Institutional Support for Sanitation Services Delivery (USD7.08 million): Capacity enhancement to strengthen Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) to manage sanitation services efficiently and citizens engagement to connect to sanitation systems and technical assistance to support coordination in the sanitation subsector.

2. Sewerage and Wastewater Treatment (USD446.52 million): Construction of two sewerage trunk mains, construction of a new secondary and tertiary sewerage network as well as construction of a Wastewater Treatment Plant.

3. Non-network Sanitation (USD8.46 million): Testing and demonstration of feasibility of locally adapted collection and treatment solutions.

4. Project Implementation and Management Support (USD20.49 million): Project management support to DWASA in implementing and monitoring all project-related activities.

5. Contingent Emergency Response (USD0 million): A provisional component to allow for rapid reallocation of loan proceeds for emergency response.

The project is expected to benefit about 1.5 million people, including about 50,000 people in low income settlements, in the Pagla catchment area of Dhaka. While most of the beneficiaries will be connected to the central sewerage system, about 100,000 will benefit from improved non-network sanitation, which is being implemented as an interim solution where sewers cannot be built in the short to medium-term.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

Since this Project will be cofinanced with the WB, the Bank has agreed with the WB to use the WB’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies (Safeguard Policies) because: (i) these Safeguard Policies are consistent with the Bank’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of the Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy and relevant Environmental and Social Standards; and (ii) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the Project. Under the WB’s Safeguard Policies, the Project was assigned Category A.

The joint Bank and WB due diligence process for environmental and social (ES) aspects during project preparation has resulted in the application of WB’s Operational Policies (OP) on Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01), Natural Habitats (OP 4.04), Physical Cultural Resources (OP 4.11) and Involuntary Resettlement (OP4.12).

An Environmental, Resettlement and Social Management Framework (ERSMF) and an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) have been prepared for the project. Since a Design, Build and Operate (DBO) approach has been proposed, this may require updating the ESIA, and will require site-specific Environmental Management Plans (ESMPs), before the commencement of works for individual project segments. The ESIA has focused on land acquisition and resettlement, safe disposal of sludge, contaminated soils, debris, spoils and solid waste, traffic disruption and other construction-related impacts in dense built-up areas and along narrow roads, risks of soil and water pollution from construction and routine maintenance activities, workers’ health and safety risks mainly due to exposure to untreated sewage and its odor, community health safety risks mainly due to exposure to construction activities and labor influx, disposal of solid and liquid effluents from the treatment facilities and their impact on the receiving environment. The ERSMF provides specific guidance on land acquisition, resettlement and specific issues related to adverse social impacts due to the project.

The ESIA has been disclosed by DWASA in English and Bengali on its website on May 27, 2019, and by the WB in English on June 3, 2019, on its website. The ERSMF has been disclosed by the client in English and Bengali on April 9, 2019 on its website and by the WB in English on April 25, 2019, on its website.