World Bank Investment in Power Project in Singrauli, India

This case study examines the World Bank's $400 million investment in the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for power plant expansions in Singrauli, India, highlighting failures in resettlement, environmental protection, and human rights.

• In 1997, the World Bank committed $400 million to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to expand two existing plants in Singrauli by 1000 MW each. An inspection request by activist Madhu Kohli alleged that the World Bank ignored its own policies concerning indigenous peoples, environmental assessment, participation, supervision, monitoring, economic alternatives, and involuntary resettlement.
• Despite a recommendation for a full investigation by the World Bank Inspection Panel, the Board of Executive Directors only authorized a limited investigation conducted from Washington, DC. A 1998 progress report admitted there were deficiencies in rehabilitation and resettlement, and the project's continuation provided little social or environmental justice for local residents.
• By 2011, residents of Singrauli reported ongoing hardships including water pollution, respiratory illnesses, electricity shortages, and home damage. In March 2014, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests of India designated Singrauli as a Critically Polluted Area (CPA) due to industrial pollution from coal mines.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2015). World Bank Investment in Power Project in Singrauli, India. https://www.ciel.org/project-update/world-bank-investment-in-power-project-in-singrauli-india/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. World Bank Investment in Power Project in Singrauli, India. 2015. https://www.ciel.org/project-update/world-bank-investment-in-power-project-in-singrauli-india/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=World Bank Investment in Power Project in Singrauli, India |date=26 February 2015 |url=https://www.ciel.org/project-update/world-bank-investment-in-power-project-in-singrauli-india/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2015world, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{World Bank Investment in Power Project in Singrauli, India}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ciel.org/project-update/world-bank-investment-in-power-project-in-singrauli-india/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }