Resettlement and Rehabilitation
 

Project Affected Area, Households and Activities
Project Affected Area
It is proposed to reclaim land as part of the SRFD Project. This area lies between the top edges of the riverbanks and extends beyond the top edge at some places. In view of the foregoing, the entire area where land reclamation is to take place and approximately 15 km of riverbed upstream of Vasna Barrage may be considered as the Project Affected Area (PAA).

Project Affected Households
Using information from this census and a reconnaissance survey (of new settlements) carried out by EPC it is estimated that approximately 10,000 families live in the slums located along the river.

Slum Total
In view of this it is proposed that the following households be considered as Project Affected Households :
1) All households in those settlements which lie entirely within the PAA
2) All households in those settlements where more than 75 percent of the households lie within the PAA
3) Only those households which lie in the PAA, in settlements where less than 75 percent of household lie within the PAA

A detailed survey of all Project Affected Households (between Vasna Barrage and Subhash Bridge) was conducted between the 4th week of February and 1st week of March 1998. The total number of households physically affected by the works proposed as part of the SRFD Project is 4400.

Project Affected Economic Activities

Economiv Activities On The River Bank
Drawing shows the location of economic activities that are carried out in the Project Affected Area between Subhash Bridge and the Vasna Barrage. They include: 1) laundering, 2) (vending in) informal markets, 3) sand collection, 4) cultivation - between December and April and, 5) dyeing. A reconnaissance survey has suggested that upstream of Subhash Bridge sand collection and cultivation are the only activities being carried out between the riverbanks.

With the proposed submergence of the riverbed 15 km upstream of the Vasna Barrage it will not be possible to collect sand from the riverbed nor will cultivation be possible there. Laundering, dyeing and the holding of informal markets will also not be possible in the manner that these activities are presently being carried out. All five activities may therefore be considered as Project Affected Economic Activities (PAEA).

Objectives of the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Component

Slum Affected
  1. It is proposed that as part of the SRFD Project those persons whose residences or activities are adversely affected by the proposed works should be adequately compensated through resettlement and rehabilitation measures.
  2. It is proposed that, to the extent it is possible, the SRFD Project should bring about a positive transformation in the lives of people affected by the project. The project should be seen as an opportunity to improve the lives of people affected by the project and that the disruption cause by resettlement should be kept at a minimum. This criterion should be used to structure the resettlement and rehabilitation measures.
  3. It is proposed that an innovative and effective mode of implementing the resettlement and rehabilitation component of the project should be adopted so that the project becomes a model that may guide future redevelopment projects. It is proposed that, to the extent that it is effective, project-affected persons should be directly involved in the process of resettlement and rehabilitation.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation Measures
Provision of Serviced Resettlement Sites
Land use drawing shows the three sites where it is proposed to resettle the 4400 Project Affected Household. The three sites are as follows:

No. Relocation Site Area (Ha)
1 Dudheshwar Relocation Site 8.64
2 Gaikwad Haveli Relocation Site 2.81
3 Paldi Relocation Site 4.03
Total 15.48

Infrastructure Services like roads, water supply and sewage and electricity are available for the three sites.
The locations and areas of the sites have been determined taking into consideration the following aspects:
  1. The sites should be as near as possible to the present location of the Project Affected Households. Earlier experiences have shown that relocation of low-income communities at distant locations, by disrupting the close relationship between the place of work and residence, has a very negative impact on their economic and social well-being. The proposed location of the resettlement sites will ensure that affected households will not have to move more than two or three kilometers upstream or down stream. The proposed new roads will ensure easy accessibility.
  2. Communal ties within low-income settlements are critical to the well being of household. The sites should be large enough to accommodate entire settlements wherever it is necessary to do so.
  3. To calculate the amount of land required for resettlement the size of dwelling units that affected household will build is considered to be 25 sq mt. This is the standard adopted by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation for its various projects and is also used by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Within this area one multipurpose room with a separate cooking area, a water closet and a bath unit can be built. The units can be organized into blocks that make terraces and open spaces available as additional space.
  4. The sites should be so located that it is possible to make the resettlement sites ready before actual relocation of Project Affected Families - temporary relocation should be avoided as far as possible.
Relocation in the proposed Resettlement Sites has the potential of positively transforming the lives of affected household for the following reasons:
  1. Existing settlements along the riverbank are prone to monsoon flooding. The proposed embankments will protect the resettlement sites, like the entire reclaimed area.
  2. Unlike the existing situation where persons living in slums along the riverbank face a constant threat of eviction, the resettlement sites will provide the PAH with secure tenure.
  3. Unlike the present situation where slum settlements have no basic infrastructure services, the resettlement sites will be adequately serviced.
  4. Unlike the present situation where slum settlements have inadequate access, the resettlement sites, because they are located along major proposed roads, will be adequately accessible.