(a) whether studies related to environmental social impact evaluation and market development strategy were conducted for National Waterway-1 NW1 and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of expenditure incurred on NW1 Development Project;
(c) whether loan/ assistance has been taken from the World Bank for this project; and
(d) if so, the details thereof including the conditions on which the said loan/assistance was received?
(a) Yes, Sir. Studies related to environmental social impact evaluation and market development strategy have been conducted for National Waterway-1. These include Environment & Social Impact Assessment (ESA) and formulation of Environment Management Plan (EMP) and a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) as part of the overall capacity augmentation on NW-1. These studies were done in association with reputed agencies and were completed in 2016.
(b) The total expenditure incurred under Capacity Augmentation of the National Waterway-1 (Jal Marg Vikas) Project as on 30th June, 2021 is Rs. 1885.98 crore.
(c) Yes, Sir. For Capacity Augmentation of the National Waterway-1 (Haldia-Varanasi stretch), technical assistance and financial support of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)/ The World Bank has been taken.
(d) The loan agreement has been signed between Government of India and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)/ The World Bank. The conditions of the said loan/ assistance are as follow:-
? As per the loan agreement, the amount of USD 375,000,000 was agreed to lend to assist in financing the project.
? The front-end fee payable shall be equal to one quarter of one percent (0.25%) of loan amount.
? Commitment charges shall be equal to one quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum on the unwithdrawn loan balance.
? The interest payable shall be at a rate equal to the reference rate for the loan currency plus the variable spread provided. However, the interest payable shall in no event be less than zero percent per annum.
? Payment dates are January 1 and July 1 each year.
? The principal payment date is beginning from July 1, 2024 to January 1, 2034 with an instalment share of 5 percent.
? The loan amount has been revised to USD 317,220,000 after cancelling of USD 57,780,000 in September, 2020.
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