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Project
Background:
The
project is funded under International Development Association
of the World Bank's Credit No. IDA BHU - 3310, to implement
high priority infrastructure investment and services
in a sustainable manner. At the same time the Project
is also to strengthen the capacity of responsible institutions
both at the Department of Urban Developement and Housing
and the Dzongkhag level to plan, finance and execute
the specific investment components.
The
Project covers the following 10 selected municipalities,
viz
- Paro
- Wangdue
Phodrang
- Trongsa
- Zhemgang
- Tingtibi
- Bumthang
- Lhuntse
- Trashi
Yangtse
- Duksum
and
- Rangjung
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Project
Objectives
The
objective of the project is to improve the quality of
life through enchancement of the level of coverage of
basic urban services in selected secondary towns of
Bhutan. Primarily the project will:
- Strengthen
the financial and institutional capacity of the responsible
authorities to deliver such services.
- To
finance high-piriority investments for which there
is a broader public support.
These
objectives also reflect the Royal Government of Bhutan's
policy of balanced regional development, decentralization
and its dedication to environmentally sustainable development
Executive
Summary
1.
The Bhutan Urban Development Project (BUDP), under the
Department of Urban Development and Housing (DUDH),
Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MWHS) is implementing
the development of ten secondary towns in Bhutan with
financial assistance from the World Bank. Out of ten
towns, three of them had started their development since
1988. The purpose of the project is to ensure that there
is a balanced and equitable development within the country.
The project provides a number of public facilities.
The total cost of the project is estimated at US$ 12.3
million. Out of the total project cost, US$ 10.80 million
is on credit and the rest is financed by the RGOB.
2. The main objectives of this Resettlement Action Plan
are two: to assess the adverse impacts associated with
project activities and to prepare a resettlement action
plan that provides assistance to affected people to
reestablish their livelihood and minimize net losses
due to the project.
3. The main legal instrument for the land acquisition
in Bhutan is the land Act of 1979. The Act provides
the compensation mechanism for land and other properties
affected by any activity. In the absence of formal resettlement
policy, the RGOB has come up with the policy framework
for land acquisition and resettlement1999.
4. The activities of the project are spread over an
area of 288 acres of which 47.5 acres are private land
belonging to 77 households. In total, the project had
affected 79 households of which two households' livelihood
is affected. The project had acquired all 47.5 acres
of private land. The project had also acquired four
traditional houses, a septic tank and a hut.. Only five
households lost their fruit trees.
5. 77 percent of the total land acquired was paid compensation.
The compensation for rest of the land was reported to
be under process. Compensation for three houses, septic
tank and fruit trees were also paid. The compensations
were paid in line with the prevailing Bhutan Schedule
of Rates.
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