Consulting Services as Project Implementation Management Support (PIMS) Consultant (CMIASP-AF-CS-01) under Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project – Additional Financing including Modernization and Improvement of Rajapur Irrigation System (14138 ha.); Detailed Engineering Survey and Design of Hill Lift Irrigation Sub-Projects and Review of Departmental Policy under Federalization

Project Description

The project had the overall goal of promoting inclusive economic growth while reducing poverty in rural areas. Its specific objective is to improve agriculture productivity and sustainability of existing medium-sized farmer-managed irrigation systems (FMIS) and selected Agency managed Irrigation system (AMIS) thereby enhance the livelihood of poor men and women including ethnic minorities and Dalit. In order to achieve this objective, rehabilitation of 161 FMIS (20,999 ha) and 6 AMIS (5,465 ha) has been completed providing improved irrigation services to 26,465 ha inclusive of all Mountain, Hill and Terai districts that fall within Province 1, Madhesh Pradesh, Bagmati Pradesh, Gandaki Pradesh, Karnali Pradesh and Sudurpaschhim Pradesh. The system management of AMIS has been transferred to the respective Water Users Associations (WUAs) after system improvement and WUA strengthening.

The Objective of the assignment:
• Assist DOI and DOA in project management and implementation detailed design and their approval
• provide advice, assistance and training to Project institutions regarding all aspects of implementation so that the Project achieves its objective as planned
• Ensure capacity development of the WUAs
• Ensure achieving high quality construction in scheduled time period and within budget and time allocated
• Ensure compliance with environmental, social, resettlement procedures and standards
• Ensure successful transfer of the AMIS
• Ensure the proposed project builds on the experience gained and lessons learned from Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project (CMIASP) and preceding projects so far the participatory framework, procedures, systems and processes are concerned
• Guarantee full compliance with approved engineering designs, technical specifications within the terms and conditions of the contract documents and sound engineering practices
• Guarantee farmers adopt improved agriculture practices
• Guarantee transferred AMIS is well received and functional

Assignment Description

Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project – Additional Financing The project had the overall goal of promoting inclusive economic growth while reducing poverty in rural areas. Its specific objective is to improve agriculture productivity and sustainability of existing medium-sized farmer-managed irrigation systems (FMIS) and selected Agency managed Irrigation system (AMIS) thereby enhance the livelihood of poor men and women including ethnic minorities and Dalit. In order to achieve this objective, rehabilitation of 161 FMIS (20,999 ha) and 6 AMIS (5,465 ha) has been completed providing improved irrigation services to 26,465 ha inclusive of all Mountain, Hill and Terai districts that fall within Province 1, Madhesh Pradesh, Bagmati Pradesh, Gandaki Pradesh, Karnali Pradesh and Sudurpaschhim Pradesh. The system management of AMIS has been transferred to the respective Water Users Associations (WUAs) after system improvement and WUA strengthening. A: Project Implementation Management Support (PIMS) Consultant Services: The PIMS consulting team assisted Department of Water Resources and Irrigation and Department of agriculture in project management and implementation. The services provided include advice, assistance and training to Project institutions regarding all aspects of implementation so that the Project achieved its planned objectives. The PIMS build on the experience gained during Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project (CMIASP) and preceding projects with respect to the participatory framework, procedures, systems and processes. Specific services provided are: • advised and assisted the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (the Central Project Management Office (CPMO), then Regional Irrigation Directorates (IRD), Irrigation Development Divisions (IDD), Irrigation Development Sub-Divisions (IDSD)) and the Department of Agriculture, the executing/co-executing agencies in Project implementation. • assisted CPMO and RIDs in updating existing training plans and manuals for training WUAs provide training to the executing agencies (Project institutions) to enhance their capacities in project implementation; • assisted the CPMO in maintaining, updating and effectively using the Management Information System (MIS) developed by the predecessor project; • promoted the adaptation of systems established for the project, and support the integration of the institutional development and the technical aspects of the project; • supported implementing agencies through project management to ensure that all project activities, including construction and construction supervision, contract administration and management, gender and social inclusion (GESI), environment monitoring, and quality control of civil works are executed with the highest standard; • technically review on subproject preparation reports (SPPRs) including subproject implementation plans (SIP), and guidance in detailed designs of sub-projects and recommended their approval to CPMO; • assisted in capacity building and strengthening of directly concerned institutions including central line departments, local government institutions and water user associations (WUAs); • supported implementation of irrigation management transfer activities in the six Agency Managed Irrigation Systems (AMIS) in six districts of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Pradesh; • project management through monitoring and quality control of both institutional processes and technical works for irrigation infrastructure, agriculture, environment and social development; and • prepared Inception, trimester, annual, detailed mid-term review, end of assignment, project completion report as per ADB requirement and other reports, as required by ADB and other Project institutions. B: Rajapur Irrigation System (14,138 ha): The Consultant under the scope carried out following tasks: • Detailed topographical survey using DGPS and Total station, design, quantity & cost estimate and preparation of drawing for progressive and if needed stagewise rehabilitation of Rajapur Irrigation System with appropriate agricultural, social, and environmental assessment; • Morphological Study of Karnali River based on the past behavior of the River and projection of the future scenario; • Geotechnical investigation (130 m at 13 locations), infiltration test, riverbed material collection and laboratory testing; • Suspended Sediment Sampling (109 nos. at Budi Kulo and 33 nos. at Chargaun Nahar) & Laboratory Analyses for Rajapur Irrigation Project; • Update asset inventory and conduct Performance Assessment of the existing irrigation structures from the intake to the tail escape; • Baseline socio-economic survey (1060 HHs) of the existing Rajapur Irrigation System against the indicators as outlines in the scope of works, and • Preparation of Social Impact Assessment and Initial Environmental Examination as per the requirements of ADB. C: Hill Lift Irrigation System (total 9 systems and 1,222 ha): The Consultant under the scope carried out following tasks: • Revalidation of the infrastructural requirement in 9 Hill Lift Irrigation Sub-projects (4~Madi Corridor and 5~Kaligandaki Corridor) as identified during the Pre-Feasibility study by WRPPF; A. Madi River Corridor S.N. Hill Lift Irrigation Sub-projects Command Area (ha) Head Lift (m) Consulting Cost (NRs) 1. Baireni 61.86 90.70 687,256.07 2. Dumsi 144.29 98.00 1,603,042.00 3. Duipiple 153.79 93.10 1,708,585.69 4. Sisaghat 68.59 63.80 762,025.44 Sub Total (in ha) 428.53 4,760,909.20 B. Kaligandaki River Corridor S.N. Hill Lift Irrigation Sub-projects Command Area (ha) Head Lift (m) Consulting Cost (NRs) 1. Tikapur 151.29 66.10 1,680,811.03 2. Pyakluk 166.34 76.00 1,848,014.46 3. Ekletar 267.04 134.80 2,966,777.57 4. Ramtar-Kumalgaun 133.19 45.82 1,479,722.53 5. Majhigaun 76.78 150.00 853,015.21 Sub Total (in ha) 794.64 8,828,340.80 • Conduction of detailed hydrological analysis and water availability assessment of the parent/tributary rivers; • Conduction of detailed engineering survey for the detailed planning and layout of the identified sub-projects; • Conduction of geo-physical investigation; 2D-Electrical Resistivity Tomography (2D-ERT) for the total length of 2,690 m in two river corridors; • Conduction of socio-economic, agricultural and environmental studies of the area to ensure necessary documentation pertaining to social and environmental safeguards; • Optimization of water-management schedules to ensure the best possible availability of water-resources to the community; • Conduction of detailed mapping and layout of the distribution network for each-subproject using state-of-the-art softwares: EPANET and GIS environments; • Conduction of detailed design of the associated hydraulic (reservoir, sump-well, intake, river-protection works etc) as well as electro-mechanical components (pump, electrification units etc); • Preparation of engineering drawings and maps, followed by Preparation of Bill of Quantities and detailed cost-estimate of each sub-project; • Conduction of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for each sub-project as a way to ensure environmental safeguard from the proposed infrastructure development; • Conduction of detailed economic and financial analysis; and • Preparation, presentation and submission of required milestones/reports. D: Review of Departmental Policy under Federalization: The Consultant under the scope carried out following tasks: • Review of existing policy on water resource including the effective implication of policies from the prospective of federalism • Review of the institutions, their role and division of responsibility for water resource development placed under federal mode of water governance • Review the legislative regime to regulate the affairs of different stakeholder (constitutions, polies and regulations) • Review of legal provision for linkage and their effectiveness, suggest structural changes, if needed • Conduct a national level stakeholder consultation to collect comments and suggestions • Identify the policy and institutional gaps (existing policies and institutions) • Provide a clear framework sufficient to draft a New Irrigation Policy and Water Induced Disaster Management Policy.