Public consultations conducted under the Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project are a multi-party and complex process in which different stakeholders, being beneficiaries of the planned investments implemented under the Project, have the possibility to familiarize themselves with the planned project activities and express their comments and suggestions regarding the final shape of adopted solutions.
According to Polish and international law[1] (the Aarhus Convention as well as the SEA, EIA, and Habitat Directives, respectively) as well as in keeping with the World Bank Operational Policies OP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement and OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment, which the Investor is obliged to apply due to the commitment of funds from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Loan Agreement No. 8524 PL of September 10, 2015) for the implementation of the project activities, the implementation of the Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project includes consultations with the community affected by a particular investment and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with regard to environmental aspects of the implementation of such investment.
Under the Project, public consultations are mandatory and should be conducted at the earliest possible stage in order to identify expectations related to the implementation of a given investment and resulting benefits.
Their purpose is to:
- familiarize the local community with the planned investments,
- provide project-related documentation, i.e. Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) and Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), for public review,
- clarify any doubts that may arise, and
- provide to the local community an opportunity to submit comments and suggestions.
Consultations also offer the opportunity to negotiate the content of compensation packages, eligibility criteria for awarding compensation, and the extent of assistance during resettlement and time for carrying out the resettlement process. In this way, by hearing arguments of different sides, any doubts can be be identified and more balanced solutions can be created. Decisions can then take into consideration various needs of citizens, groups, communities, and institutions of the civic society.
Consultations under the OVFMP primarily include the community affected by a specific investment, but invitations to participate in meetings, public debates, and webinars are also sent to NGOs actively involved in environmental aspects of the OVFMP implementation.
Public consultations during the state of epidemic threat
Due to the appearance and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease both in the world and in Poland, numerous restrictions on public life have been imposed in our country. Special preventive measures have been put in place in order to maintain social distance and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus. The new rules apply in particular to restrictions on organization of internal and public meetings, public consultations, and large gatherings.
These restrictions also impact the implementation of consultation processes under the Project because they affect the World Bank’s requirements regarding public consultations and the engagement of stakeholders in the implemented investments. Taking into account the possibilities of beneficiaries and the existing situation, the World Bank also issued special guidance entitled Public Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement in WB-supported operations when there are constraints on conducting public meetings.
In implementing the restrictions imposed by the Polish government and the Ministry of Health as well as the recommendations of the WHO and the co-financing institutions, new procedures have been put in place under the Project where it is necessary to conduct a public consultation. Therefore, until the state of epidemic threat has been lifted in Poland, public consultations under the Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project are conducted:
- by correspondence (this applies to Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plans),
- in electronic form (this applies to Environmental Management Plans).
In the case of both these documents, the consultation process always ends with the opportunity of participating in a consultation meeting that is organized in the form of a webinar open to all interested persons. During these meetings, information on the planned investments and the draft EMP or RAP document, respectively, is presented and, moreover, their participants are provided with the opportunity to ask questions and submit suggestions.
1They have been transposed to Polish law by the Act of October 3, 2008 on access to information on the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and environmental impact assessments (consolidated text Dz. U. (Journal of Laws) of 2018 item 2081, as amended) and by the Nature Conservation Act of April 16, 2004 (consolidated text Dz. U. (Journal of Laws) of 2020, item 55, as amended).
List of public consultations
Consultation topic (what contract and what document they refer to):
DRAFT ANNEX NO. 3 TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN for Contract 2A.1/1 Construction of a dry polder on the Nysa Kłodzka in the village of Boboszów (hereinafter referred to as DRAFT ANNEX NO. 3 TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN) executed under Component 2 – Flood protection of the Kłodzka Valley, Subcomponent 2A – Active protection.
Date
between 21.05.2021 and 14.06.2021 inclusivePlace
On the 15th working day of the document’s availability, i.e. on 11.06.2021 from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., an electronic consultation meeting in the form of a webinar will be held, open to all interested parties, during which information on the DRAFT ANNEX NO. 3 TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN will be presented and questions and proposals can be submitted. In order to participate in this webinar, please enter the website wroclaw.wody.gov.pl, where a direct link to the webinar will be given in the entry dedicated to the consultation meeting for the Draft Annex No. 3 to the Environmental Management Plan for Contract 2A.1/1. It will be conducted based on the Microsoft Teams program. The link and “Step-by-step” instructions will be posted on the above website at least 10 days before the scheduled electronic consultation meeting.
Organizers
Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie
Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej we Wrocławiu
ul. Norwida 34
50-950 Wrocław
Contact persons
State Water Holding Polish Waters
Regional Water Management Authority in Wrocław
ul. Norwida 34
50-950 Wrocław
telephone number: +48 884 208 175, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
e-mail address: jrpwroclaw.opdow@wody.gov.pl and ziemiaklodzka@wody.gov.pl
Files to download
AnnoucementConsultation topic (what contract and what document they refer to):
The DRAFT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN for the Works Contract 3A.5 Development of a flood gate at the left flood embankment in the area of water intakes for the Sendzimira Steel Mill in Cracow, Subcomponent 3A – Protection of Upper Vistula Towns and Cracow, Component 3 – Flood Protection of the Upper Vistula (hereinafter called DRAFT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN).
Date
from 03/17/2021 to 04/07/2021 inclusive (21 days)Place
After the time of providing the document for review, as mentioned above, on 04/08/2021 at 5:00 p.m. there will be an open internet conference to all interested parties where information on the DRAFT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN shall be presented and there will be a public discussion concerning the document as well as the motions and remarks submitted to the document both: prior to the meetings, and during the meetings. The link to the webpage enabling joining the conference will be published on the website of SWH PW RZGW in Krakow: https://krakow.wody.gov.pl/aktualnosci/konsultacje 5 days before the planned date of the conference call together with the “Step by step” instructions how to take part in electronic consultation meeting.
Link to the webinar
https://krakow.wody.gov.pl/aktualnosci/konsultacjeOrganizers
Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie
Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej w Krakowie
ul. Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 22
31-109 Kraków
Contact persons
Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie
Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej w Krakowie
ul. Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 22
31-109 Kraków
e-mail: jrp.krakow@wody.gov.pl
tel.: 505 028 137, 601 824 298 (w dniach roboczych od godziny 9:00 do godziny 17:00)
Files to download
Consultation topic (what contract and what document they refer to):
the DRAFT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN for Contract 3D.3 Łęg IV – extension of the left river embankment at chainage km 0+082-5+030 within the Commune of Gorzyce, and of the right embankment at chainage km 0+000-5+236 within the Commune of Gorzyce (hereinafter referred to as LA&RAP) prepared under Component 3 of the OVFM Project – Protection of the Upper Vistula, Subcomponent 3D – Passive and active protection in San basin.
Date
from January 22 to February 12, 2021 (16 working days)Place
On the 16th working day of making the document available, i.e. February 12, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., an electronic consultation meeting in the form of a webinar will be held, open to all interested parties, during which information about the Draft LA&RAP will be presented and questions can be asked and motions can be lodged. In order to participate in the above-mentioned webinar, go to the website rzeszow.wody.gov.pl/aktualnosci, where a direct link to the webinar will be provided in the post devoted to the consultation meeting of the Draft LA&RAP for Task 3D.3. The webinar will be held based on Microsoft Teams. The link and “Step-by-step” instructions will be posted on the above-mentioned page at least 5 days before the planned electronic consultation meeting.
Link to the webinar
https://rzeszow.wody.gov.pl/aktualnosciOrganizers
Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie
Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej w Rzeszowie
ul. Hanasiewicza 17B
35-103 Rzeszów
Contact persons
Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie
Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej w Rzeszowie
ul. Hanasiewicza 17B
35-103 Rzeszów
tel. +48 17 8537 441 (PGW WP RZGW Rzeszów)
tel. +48 32 7822 652 (Konsultant Wsparcia Technicznego – Aecom Polska Sp. z o.o.)
W godzinach 12.00-15.00, w dniach od dnia 22 stycznia do dnia 12 lutego 2021r.
Files to download
Consultation topic (what contract and what document they refer to):
The DRAFT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN for the Works Contract 3A.2/4 Flood Protection in Serafa Valley – Serafa 2 Reservoir, Subcomponent 3A – Protection of Upper Vistula Towns and Cracow, Component 3 – Flood Protection of the Upper Vistula (hereinafter called DRAFT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN).
Date
from 18/01/2021 to 8/02/2021 inclusive (21 days)Place
After the time of providing the document for review, as mentioned above, on 09/02/2021 at 5:00 p.m. there will be open internet conference to all interested parties where information on the DRAFT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN shall be presented and there will be a public discussion concerning the document as well as the motions and remarks submitted to the document both: prior to the meetings, and during the meetings. The link to the webpage enabling joining the conference will be published on the website of SWH PW RZGW in Krakow: krakow.wody.gov.pl/aktualnosci/konsultacje 5 days before the planned date of the conference call together with the “Step by step” instructions how to take part in electronic consultation meeting.
Link to the webinar
https://krakow.wody.gov.pl/aktualnosci/konsultacjeOrganizers
Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie
Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej w Krakowie
Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 22
31-109 Kraków
Contact persons
Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody
Polskie Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej w Krakowie
Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 22
31-109 Kraków
e-mail: jrp.krakow@wody.gov.pl
tel. +48 505 028 137, +48 601 824 298 (w dniach roboczych od godziny 9:00 do godziny 17:00)
