Salman, Salman M. A.
Description:
This study deals with the evolution and
context of the Bank policy for projects on international
waterways. It starts with a brief description of how the
Bank has faced the challenges stemming from such projects,
and the different approaches deliberated by the Bank that
led to the issuance of the first policy in 1956. The study
then reviews the implementation experience of the policy and
analyzes the principles and procedures, as well as the main
features of each of the policies issued in 1956, 1965, and
1985 respectively. The principles of international water law
prevailing at each stage of the policy issuance are examined
and compared with those of the Bank policy. The study also
discusses in detail the notification process: its basis, by
whom, to whom, its content, different riparian's
responses, and the exceptions to the notification
requirement. It then analyzes how the Bank handles an
objection from one or more of the riparian's to
projects proposed for Bank financing. It also examines how
the Bank has dealt with transboundary groundwater, as well
as the linkages between the policy for projects on
international waterways and the policies on disputed areas
and environmental impact assessment. The conclusion provides
an overview of the main findings of the study, and
highlights some of the lessons drawn from the implementation
experience of the policy.