After a four month delay, Asger Christensen, World Bank Task Leader for the India Coal Sector project replied to Minewatch in May saying that the Bank could not release the mid-term review of the project, as “in accordance with the disclosure policy of the World Bank, all documents related to the project and exchanged between the client and the Bank can only be released at the discretion of the client, in this case, the Government of India and Coal India Ltd.”
This contradicts assurances given to NGOs at the time the project was approved in 1997 that the mid-term review would be a tool for accountability and NGO input.
The World Bank is reviewing its Information Disclosure policy. Following an initial discussion of the proposed Policy by its Board there should be a clear process of external consultation. bpatel@bicusa.org
