Climate-Resilient Omchhu River Basin Project

approved

The proposed Climate-Resilient Omchhu River Basin Project will tackle one of the critical economic development inhibitors of the Phuentsholing area: recurrent flood risk from the Omchhu River exacerbated by unpredictable erosion of its riverbanks, landslides from its upstream hilly slopes, and worsening climate impacts. The project will (i) comprise the Omchhu River in Phuentsholing and its upstream basin, (ii) focus on climate and disaster resilience through an integrated river basin approach to flood and erosion risk management, and (iii) combine structural and nonstructural measures. It will (i) design and build climate-resilient riverbank protection and flood embankment in four priority river reaches, and pilot landslide mitigation measures; (ii) develop holistic measures to reduce landslide debris flows and sediment-related risks; and (iii) strengthen institutional capacity to assess, map, and disseminate multi-hazard risks, including from the gender equality and social inclusion perspective; enabling better land-use planning and management on risk-sensitive land; investigating geological and geotechnical conditions; monitoring and mitigating risks; and enhancing the forecasting and early warning systems and disaster preparedness. The project will benefit about 9,300 people and ultimately enable riverfront development. The executing agency will be the Phuentsholing Thromde, and the implementation period will be 6 years from October 2025.Phuentsholing Thromde (municipality) (PT) will be the executing and implementing agency of the project, including for implementing works within the Dungkhag Administration (DA) administrative boundary. PT will be responsible for all procurement activities (works, goods and services).