The Request raises concerns about the Bank-financed Western Balkans: Sava Drina Regional Program (P168862), which the Requesters allege is impacting their properties. The Requesters allege they were coerced, through threatening letters and aggressive phone calls, to remove a fence and a summer house from their property to make way for project-related works, which the Request alleges has not been undertaken for the past two years. The Requesters allege that their properties has remained unprotected, with no safety measures put in place by the relevant authorities, and that this situation has left young children exposed to stray dogs and a nearby river.
The Requesters further allege that they lack clarity on whether and/or how they will be compensated for additional structures affected by the Project, including a bridge, gate, yard walls, and plot blocks. They report that they were only given verbal assurance that a new road would be constructed which would serve as a substitute for monetary compensation for the bridge. They state they have not been provided with written documentation confirming this arrangement, and they are unclear about whether this proposed road would be fully asphalted. In addition, they are concerned about the width of the proposed road, which they fear may pass directly underneath their windows.
The Panel reviewed the Request for Inspection for its admissibility in accordance with the Panel’s Operating Procedures. The Panel determined that Management was not made aware of the issues raised in the Request prior to submission to the Inspection Panel. Therefore, one of the criteria, as set out in paragraph 14 of the Resolution and paragraph 14(d) of the Operating Procedures — requiring that the issues in the Request be brought to the attention of Management — has not been sufficiently satisfied. The Panel issued a Notice of Non-Registration and closed the case.
