ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors provide findings that reveal a failure to incorporate Bank policies into the 1985 credit and loan agreements and subsequent failure to require adherence to enforceable provisions of these agreements. Embedded in the World Bank's operational directives is a resolve to establish ex ante project assessment. The Terms of Reference provided that the author's assessment should include, as appropriate, recommendations for improvement of implementation. The absence of proper impact assessments and the paucity of undisputed data have limited our ability confidently to make project-specific recommendations of the kind that were contemplated. The authors work in conducting the independent review has encouraged us to make a number of observations that may be of value. The newly proposed Narmada Basin Development Project, although it appears to address some of the problems highlighted in authors review, many of which are the same as have caused problems with the Sardar Sarovar Projects.
