Advance actions are important and effective in mitigating the risk of startup and implementation delays. As part of advance procurement, POWERGRID awarded the largest contract package under this project before loan effectiveness and the originally envisaged major contracts immediately after the loan became effective. It minimized land requirements by ensuring that the transmission lines mainly passed through government-owned land, wasteland, and agricultural and grazing lands and arranged for the timely issuance of forest clearances. Where project acquisition of private lands was inevitable, it ensured the timely and adequate compensation of these lands and associated properties. As a result, it received no environmental safeguards complaints, while those on social safeguards were promptly addressed and subsequently resolved. POWERGRID’s experience on this and other projects have demonstrated the importance and effectiveness of advance actions in minimizing implementation delays. For transmission line and substation projects in India, such advance actions should encompass (a) land acquisition, (b) forest clearances, and (c) potential safeguard issues and community grievances. Careful assessment and consideration of project- and site-specific issues should be undertaken when finalizing project plans. These would entail extensive consultations, adequate staffing, and strong commitment by the project borrower and executing and implementing agencies.
National Grid Improvement Project