Taj Mahal Environmental Improvements Project
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Location
Urban centers in the districts of Agra, Mathura and Ferozabad
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Sector
Social Infrastructure /Urban Development and Housing
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Initial Listing
20 April 2001
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Most Recent Update
11 December 2002
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Executing Agency(ies)
Project Management Unit, Government of Uttar Pradesh
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- Missions
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| TA Fact-Finding |
Loan Fact-Finding |
Pre-Appraisal |
Appraisal |
| 14 Feb-1 Mar 1995 |
23 Apr-7 May 2001 |
TBD |
30 Jul-17 Aug 2001 |
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Loan Approval Date
2003 (Expected Approval Year)
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Estimated Completion Date
December 2006
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- Cost and Financing Plan (in US$ million)
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| Source |
Foreign Cost |
Local Cost |
Total |
| Bank |
190.00 |
0.00 |
190.00 |
| Cofinancing |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Borrower |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Beneficiaries |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Others |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Project/Program Cost |
190.00 |
0.00 |
190.00 |
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OCR |
ADF |
Total |
| Loan Amount |
190.00 |
0.00 |
190.00 |
- Description
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The Project will improve the quality of life and reduce poverty in the Taj Trapezium Zone in the state of Uttar Pradesh, enabling people to live and work in harmony with their cultural and natural environment. The Project is a high priority investment for the Government of Uttar Pradesh and will support (i) sustainable improvements to the physical and natural environment; and (ii) institutional and policy reform that sustains an improved quality of life for the affected people. These improvements will better the health and economic status of the population (over 30 percent of whom live in poverty), and increase tourism to the Taj Trapezium Zone, which is home to several World Heritage Sites, including the Taj Mahal.
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- Thematic Classification
- Environmental Protection
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- Poverty Classification
- Poverty Intervention
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- Rationale
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The Taj Trapezium Zone is characterized by (i) urban areas that have grown in an unplanned manner; (ii) large floating populations of visitors and daily wage workers; (iii) poor basic utilities and services such as drinking water, sewerage, solid waste management and stormwater drainage; (iv) acute drinking water scarcity; (v) cities that are central market places for the surrounding rural agricultural areas; and (vi) cities that have attracted the attention of the Indian judiciary through various public interest litigation cases on issues ranging from industrial pollution threatening the world famous monuments, to poor water quality in a sacred lake, to human rights issues such as child labor. The environmental situation in and around the cities of Agra and Ferozabad and the district of Mathura is in need of urgent investments that will be provided by the Project.
- Objectives and Scope
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The Project will contribute to improving the quality of life and reducing poverty in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), thereby allowing people to live and work in harmony with their cultural and natural environment. The specific objective of the Project is to improve the environment in the Project area in a sustainable way, to better the health status of the population and to increase tourism to TTZ. The Project will comprise five parts: Part A: Public Support for Environmental Improvements; Part B: Taj Mahal Environment Improvements, including air pollution control, and water supply, sanitation, and drainage; Part C: Heritage Restoration and Conservation, including development of cultural heritage district; Part D: Poverty Alleviation; and Part E: Implementation Assistance.
- Policy Dialogue
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Legislative and administrative requirements to put into effect the merger of urban local bodies; institutional development to support recently legislated reform of property tax; cost recovery for urban services; promoting public-private partnership in municipal services; and greater community participation in decision making.
- Environment Category:
B
- Environment Impact and Mitigation
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An initial environmental was conducted. The Project is categorized as one whose environmental impacts are minor and can be mitigated using established technologies. The positive impacts on the environment are considerable. The Project will improve the urban environment, living conditions, and public health standards in TTZ. Project components have been designed to reduce air and water pollution and will, therefore, have a beneficial impact on the environment. Environmental criteria will be applied in choosing sites for sewage treatment plants during the detailed engineering design phase. Well-designed landfills for disposal of solid waste will also help reduce pollution, groundwater contamination, and air pollution. Road improvements and better traffic management, and conversion of small industries and vehicles to cleaner fuels will reduce emissions and provide improved air quality for the local population., The Project will also encourage waste minimization, recycling and composting.
- Social Aspects and Remedies
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A social analysis was conducted for the different project components and the findings and recommendations incorporated in Project design for guidance during project implementation. The Project is designed to minimize land acquisition requirements, particularly private and occupied land. Compensation for land and assets to be acquired will be negotiated with the landowners and will be based on market rates, to provide at least replacement value.
- Benefits and Beneficiaries
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The Project will benefit the entire population of over 8 million in the TTZ, but will particularly benefit the present population of almost 2 million in the urban centers that will be the focus of much-needed urban infrastructure improvements. Slum improvement programs in the main urban centers of the Project area will target 40,000 households living below the poverty line, and provide urban infrastructure and services, supporting communities in self-help efforts. Women among the urban poor will be empowered through awareness programs, skills development and seed capital, to develop self-confidence and economic independence towards ensuring a better quality of life for themselves and their families. Urban infrastructure improvements will help reduce air and water pollution, bringing health benefits to the local population. An improved urban environment will give an impetus to tourism and benefit the local economy.
- Public Consultation
- Arranged by Bank and TA Consultants
- Date for Consultation : During TA implementation and various missions carried out for processing the loan.
- Groups Consulted : During TA implementation, extensive discussions with all stakeholders, including citizens' groups and NGOs, had been conducted.
- Beneficiary Participation in Formulation
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The TA was implemented using a participatory approach, involving extensive discussions with all stakeholders, including citizens' groups and NGOs. Access to Project facilities will be assured for the poor groups through direct and indirect user charges, set at affordable levels, based on the findings of a socioeconomic survey
- Beneficiary Participation in Implementation
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Consultations will be an ongoing process under Part A of the Project, as well as the implementation of the resettlement plan.
- Consulting Services
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About 1,374 person-months (118 international and 1,256 domestic) of consulting services will be required from a team of international and domestic consultants to assist in implementing, managing, and monitoring project activities. The international consultants will assist in review of design and contract documents, and will provide training for functionaries of urban local bodies in project formulation, management, monitoring and evaluation. Domestic consultants will work on detailed engineering design and prepare technical documentation for all components. Areas of expertise for consulting services include project management, municipal administration, environmental engineering, community development, procurement and contracting, financial and economic analysis, urban planning, wastewater engineering, communications, information technology, industrial technology, and resettlement planning.
- Procurement
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Equipment and selected materials will be acquired using international competitive bidding and international shopping procedures as appropriate. Given the Project area's remoteness from neighboring countries and the nature of work, civil works contracts that are relatively small in value will not be attractive to international bidders and therefore will be carried out using local competitive bidding procedures.
- Contacts
- Bank
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Snimer K. Sahni
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Senior Project Economist
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SAAE
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Tel. No.:
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(632) 632-6827
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E-mail:
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ssahni@adb.org
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- Executing Agency
- Project Management Unit, Government of Uttar Pradesh
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Contact Person
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Mr. Trivedi Prashant, Vice Chairman; ADA
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Tel. No.
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(91-562) 311009
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Fax. No.
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(91-562) 310647
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