6

REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

[National River Conservation Directorate, Ganga Action Plan Phase I & II, Yamuna, Gomti and Damodar Action Plan, National River Conservation Plan, Common effluent treatment plant, Industrial pollution control, National Lake Conservation Plan, National Afforestation and Eco-development Board]


Index


National River Conservation Directorate

The National River Conservation Directorate which functions under the Ministry has been entrusted with the charge of implementing the River Action Plans. The River Action Plans were undertaken based on surveys conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which identified 27 grossly polluted stretches of major rivers of the country. The objective is to improve the water quality of the major rivers which are the major fresh water sources in the country, through the implementation of pollution abatement schemes. The important works being taken up under the National River Action Plan include:

Index

Ganga Action Plan Phase –I (GAP-I)

Image of 35 mld STP (UASB Process) at Faridabad

Fig 58. 35 mld STP (UASB Process) at Faridabad

The first river action plan taken up under the NRCD was the Ganga Action Plan. The objective of the GAP Phase-I was to improve the water quality of the river Ganga as per the following standards:

-	Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)	- 3mg/1maximum
-	Dissolved Oxygen (DO)			- 5mg/1 minimum
-	Total Coliform Count 			- 10,000MPN per 100ml
-	Faecal Coliform Count 			- 2,500 MPN per 100 ml

Pollution abatement works under this plan have been taken up in 25 class I towns (population above one lakh in 1985) of which six are in U.P. four in Bihar and 15 in West Bengal. The action plan primarily addressed itself to the interception and diversion for treatment of 873 million litres per day (mld) of municipal sewage. To accomplish the task, 261 schemes of pollution abatement concerning municipal activities were sanctioned under the GAP. These include 88 schemes of interception and diversion, 35 of sewage treatment plants, 43 of low cost toilets, 28 of electric crematoria, 35 of river front development and another 32 of miscellaneous category. Of these, 258 schemes have been completed. Of the remaining three schemes two are in Bihar and one in West Bengal. These schemes will be completed by September 2002. Meanwhile GAP Phase-I scheme has been closed w.e.f. 1-4-2000. A sewage treatment capacity of 835 mld has been created under the programme so far.

An amount of about Rs. 452 crore has been spent on the GAP Phase I. The entire funding has been provided by the Central Government.

It was initially expected that programme would be completed in 6-7 years. However, it has been delayed considerably due to land acquisition problems, court litigation and lack of experience in implementing a programme of this nature and magnitude.

Index

Problem Areas under Ganga Action Plan

Index

Impact on river water quality

Out of the total sewage generation of 1340 mld from 25 class I towns (as of 1985), it was targeted to intercept, divert and treat 873 mld of sewage under GAP Phase-I. As against this target, capacity to treat 835 mld has been commissioned so far.

The water quality of river Ganga is being monitored at 27 locations from Rishikesh in Uttaranchal to Uluberia in West Bengal by reputed academic institutions such as Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), Haridwar, CPCB Zonal Office, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Patna University and Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Kalyani. Performance monitoring of sewage treatment plants wherever commissioned and operational is an integral part of Water Quality Monitoring.

Besides continuing the water quality monitoring of rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Hindon and Western Yamuna Canal under Phase I and II, Water Quality Monitoring has also been initiated for the rivers viz. Sutlaj in Punjab and Betwa, Tapti and Khan, Kshipra, Narmada, Wainganga and Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and Cauvery in Tamil Nadu. Suitable institution for taking water quality monitoring in other rivers covered under NRCP have been identified and the process of monitoring is being taken up for towns where core schemes have been approved. All the participating laboratories involved in water quality monitoring have been subjected to Analytical Quality Control (AQC) by the CPCB. The institutes/universities carrying out water quality monitoring have been entrusted with the additional responsibility of evaluating the performance of the sewage treatment plants set up.

Index

National River Conservation Plan and Ganga Action Plan Phase-II

The Ganga Action Plan model with necessary corrections on the basis of lessons learnt and experience gained for GAP Phase- I has been applied to the main polluted rivers of the country under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). It consists of the following components;

Index

Ganga Action Plan Phase-II

Since Phase-I of the Ganga action plan covered the pollution loads only partially, Phase-II of the Ganga Action Plan was launched and approved in stages between 1993 and 1996 for implementation. The total project cost of GAp Phase-II is Rs. 1498.86 crore which includes the following components:

Index

Yamuna Action Plan

Originally, Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) covered pollution abatement works in 15 towns, out of which six are in Haryana, eight in U.P and one in Delhi. This component is being funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) through a soft loan of Yen 17.77 billion. In April 1996, on the directions of the Supreme Court, six additional towns of Haryana were included under Yamuna Action Plan. Works in these towns are implemented through the Plan funds of the Ministry. Thus, YAP at present covers pollution abatement works in 21 towns. The approved cost of YAP is Rs. 509.45 crore of which an expenditure of Rs.466.63 crore has been incurred so far. Works under JBIC assisted package in original 15 towns are in the final stage of completion. The proposed treatment capacity of 724 million litres per day has been created. Works in the additional six towns in Haryana which are not covered under the JBIC assistance, are in different stages of completion. Of the 141 schemes of pollution abatement sanctioned, 106 schemes have been completed so far.

Because of appreciation of Yen against Rupee, a saving of Yen 8 billion equivalent to about Rs. 300 crore is available in the JBIC assistance package. The JBIC have agreed to make available these savings for additional works in the same 15 towns and have also agreed to extend the loan agreement upto April 2002. Keeping in view the rigid time frame of completion, additional pollution abatement works of short gestation period amounting to Rs. 222.60 crore have been approved in May, 2001 for inclusion under this proposal. The break-up of the estimated cost is Rs. 22.28 crore for Haryana, Rs. 166.62 crore for Delhi and Rs. 29.65 crore for UP. In addition, an amount of Rs. 4.05 crore has been provided for fee payable to Indo-Japanese Consultants Consortium. Fortyfive schemes of pollution abatement have been sanctioned under this package.

Index

Gomti Action Plan

The approval for Gomti Action Plan was obtained in April 1993 for Rs. 61.11 crore for taking up river pollution abatement works in the towns of Lucknow, Sultanpur and Jaunpur and the share of Lucknow was Rs. 47.75 crore. The pattern of funding was subsequently changed from 50:50 cost sharing between Centre and State to 100% Central funding, with cost of land to be borne by the State Government and percentages were reduced from 14% to 8%.

While works in Sultanpur and Jaunpur have been taken up from budgetary resources of the Ministry and are under implementation, pollution abatement works in Lucknow were initially taken up with grant assistance provided by Department for International Development (DFID), UK. The 1st phase of the DFID assisted project at Lucknow started in September, 1995 has been completed. Meanwhile the DFID, UK informed that they are not willing to fund the 2nd Phase of the project because of the change in the development aid policy of their Government with focus shifting to projects pertaining to poverty alleviation etc.

As aid from DFID, UK is not forthcoming a decision has been taken to take up the Lucknow project also from budgetary resources of the Ministry.

On the directions of the Monitoring Committee of National River Conservation Authority (NRCA) headed by Member (Environment), Planning Commission, a Group under the Chairmanship of the Project Director, NRCD reviewed the various technology options for sewage treatment at Lucknow to meet the additional fecal coliform standards so that pollution abatement works in the town could be started urgently. The Group recommended setting up of three decentralized STPs (sewage treatment plants), one of 48 mld capacity at Daulatganj and two at Kakraha village downstream of the barrage with a capacity of 254 mld thereby making the total capacity of 302 mld.

The Group also recommended for a Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for the following priority works at Lucknow from the Govt. of U.P.

Diversion of Gaughat, Sarkata, Pata and Nagaria drains to a common treatment site at Daulatganj and construction of a STP of 48 mld capacity. By this about 15 to 20% of pollution load of river Gomti upstream of the barrage will be reduced, with minimal interception and diversion works.

Diversion of Wazirganj, Ghasiarimandi and Kukrail nalas downstream of barrage.

The implementation of the above priority works will improve the water quality of the river in the core area of the city upstream of the barrage.

As a follow up to the above, UP Govt./UP Jal Nigam have listed 10 priority schemes for being taken up in the first phase of the project. The NRCD has so far approved six projects amounting to Rs. 25.45 crore and Rs. 10.18 crore have also been released.

Index

Damodar Action Plan (DAP)

Under this Action Plan, pollution abatement works are being taken up in 12 towns. Of these, eight are in Jharkhand and four in West Bengal. It has opened its account with the approval of three schemes of Low Cost Toilet recently. About 68 mld of sewage is targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated under these works.

Index

Ganga Action Plan - Main Stem (Gap-II, M.S.)

Under this Action Plan pollution abatement works are being taken up in 59 towns. Of these 22 are in U.P., 14 in Bihar and 23 in West Bengal. Out of 115 schemes of pollution abatement sanctioned, 13 schemes have completed so far under this Action Plan. About 780 mld of sewage is targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated.

This plan includes substantial outlay for scheme implementation in the towns of Allahabad, Kanpur and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The schemes in Kanpur are being taken up under the Indo-Dutch Cooperation Project and are being progressively sanctioned. In Allahabad, four schemes including emergency works implemented during the recently held Kumbh Mela amounting to Rs. 7.08 crore have been sanctioned .

Schemes in Bihar are being sanctioned after due scrutiny and examination owing to the poor performance of the State Govt. in the operation and maintenance of assets created under Ganga Action Plan Phase-I and the diversion of funds released for GAP-I works for other purposes by the State Govt. The schemes in West Bengal have been duly prioritized and are proceeding at a steady pace.

Index

National River Conservation Plan

The National River Conservation Plan was launched in 1995 to cover 23 major rivers in 10 States of the country. Under this action plan pollution abatement works are being taken up in 57 towns. Of these four are in A.P., three in Jharkhand, one in Gujarat, eight in Karnataka, five in Maharashtra, 11 in M.P., four in Orissa, six in Punjab, two in Rajasthan and 13 in Tamil Nadu.

Out of 215 schemes of pollution abatement sanctioned under this action plan so far, 69 schemes have been completed. About 2455 million litres per day (mld) of sewage is targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated. Out of the approved cost of Rs. 1830.56 crore, the expenditure incurred by States totals to Rs. 193.70 crore.

After the launching of the NRCP in 1995, it was decided to merge the Ganga Action Plan Phase-II with NRCP. A notification to this effect has also been issued. With this, the present approval cost of NRCP as a whole stands of Rs. 3329.42 crores covering pollution abatement works in 152 towns along polluted stretches of 27 rivers spread over 16 states.

Index

Standards

Based on the design criteria for sewage treatment plants, the environmental standards followed by NRCD for treated wastewater are:

BOD	-	30mg/litre
TSS 	- 	50mg/litre

Keeping in view the interest of public health, an expert group has reviewed the water and wastewater standards with special reference to the levels of microbial load and made the microbial standards in water and treated wastewater stricter. The revised standards for microbial quality are:

(i)  River water quality		Fecal coliform count of 
     standards for bathing class	MPN 500 per 100 ml
					(Desirable)
					
					MPN 2500 per 100 ml 
					(Max. permissible)

					Fecal Streptococci 
					100 per 100 ml
					(Desirable)

					500 per 100 ml
					(Max. permissible)

(ii  Treated waste water		Fecal coliform count of
     (for irrigation)			MPN 1000 per 100 ml
					(Desirable)
		
					MPN 10,000 per 100 ml 
					(Max. permissible)

The revised river quality standards for bathing class have been notified by the Ministry.

Index

Usage of Treated Waste water

Image of 38 mld STP (Oxidation Ponds) at Saharanpur

Fig 59. 38 mld STP (Oxidation Ponds) at Saharanpur

Emphasis is on using the treated waste water to the extent possible for irrigation. This will have the following benefits:

Index

Technology Option

Waste Stabilization Pond (WSP) technology, which is eco-friendly and simple to operate, is mainly supported to treat wastewater. The waste stabilization ponds can be constructed and maintained by the local community and are not power dependent. The waste stabilization pond technology is recognized to be cost effective technology, capable of killing pathogens to make the levels of microbial pollution in treated wastewater safe for agriculture, aqua-culture and bathing. Land, however, is the primary requirement for Waste Stablisation Pond technology. In cases where land is not available then conventional technologies followed by maturation pond and other disinfections technologies are considered. In such cases, technology options are based on the cost benefit analysis of various options and the most economic option selected without compromising the achievement of standards.

Index

Integrated Approach

The Tenth meeting of the National River Conservation Authority (NRCA) under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister was held on 13-3-2001. After considering the resolution adopted in the Coimbatore meeting it was decided that all the projects of River Action Plans in future will be formulated in an integrated and holistic manner by addressing not only the issue of river pollution but that of other components like internal sewerage, low cost sanitation, solid waste disposal etc. also with active people’s involvement. All future works will be on cost sharing basis of 70:30 between Centre and States. The share of public shall be a minimum of 10% of the total cost.

Index

Public Participation

The National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) took steps for public involvement and participation in the light of experience gained in the implementation of development programmes of Ganga Action Plan and accordingly reframed its guidelines in this regard. It is now recognized that programmes of conservation of water bodies and town improvement can succeed only if communities are aware that they will be benefited from the Conservation Programme and cost of the programme involved in such programme has to be shard and borne by the public. The entire programme of conservation now will be conceived, formulated, implemented, monitored and evaluated in close consultation with the stake holding communities and undertake the approach of participatory appraisal. The public participation is being given high priority by involving local bodies, social organizations and NGOs through wider publicity and voluntary involvement.

Index

Common Effluent Treatment Plant

Under the Indo-Dutch Sanitation Project, a common conveyance and treatment system continued to be operated for about 175 tanneries at Jajmau in Kanpur. This has helped in preventing the discharge of untreated/partly treated effluent of tanneries into river.

A common effluent treatment plant for a cluster of tanneries has been approved for Calcutta Leather Complex (CLC) at Kolkata for an amount of Rs. 65 crore as per the approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCA) for setting up 30 mld CETP in six modules of five mld capacity each for treatment of wastewater from tanneries. The cost of the project is to be shared on 50:50 basis between Centre and the State Government . The Central Government’s share for the implementation of the project is interest free loan. The detailed project report (DPR) for CETP (two modules of five mld capacity each) has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 22.82 crore. The State Government has invited the tenders for construction of the CETP. An amount of Rs. 11.41 crore has been released to State Govt. as Central’s share for the implementation of the scheme.

Index

National Lake Conservation Plan

Image of  A view of the Nani Lake at Nainital

Fig 60. A view of the Nani Lake at Nainital

A proposal for conservation and management of 10 polluted urban lakes was put up for consideration of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs earlier but the Committee only approved the proposal for Dal Lake Conservation Plan ‘in principle’. The Ministry also posed the project for external assistance for implementation of the National Lake Conservation Plan to various Donor Agencies. None of the external funding agencies evinced any interest in the project. The Detailed Project Report of Dal Lake Conservation Plan however has been prepared by AHEC, Roorkee and sent to the state government of J&K for their concurrence. A proposal for conservation of three small lakes namely, Powai (Maharashtra) and Ooty and Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu) using bio-remediation technology at an estimated cost of Rs. 14.90 crore was approved by the Government on 31.5.2001.

The budget estimates for the three approved lakes is as follows:

Powai		-	Rs. 6.62 crore
Ooty		-	Rs. 1.95 crore
Kodaikanal	-	Rs. 6.33 crore

Keeping in view the decisions of NRCA taken during its 10th Meeting to give similar impetus to NLCP and NRCP, it is proposed to enlarge the scope of work under NLCP by taking up the remaining identified lakes along with new proposals on lakes received from different state governments during the X Plan.

Index

National Afforestation and Eco-development Board

National Afforestation and Eco-development Board (NAEB) was established in August 1992 in the Ministry of Environment and Forests as a sequel to the formation of the separate Department of Wastelands Development in the Ministry of Rural Development and the transfer of National Wasteland Development Board to that Department. The NAEB is mainly charged with the responsibility of promoting afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development activities in the country with the special focus on degraded forest areas and lands adjoining forest areas, national parks, sanctuaries and the other protected areas like the Western Himalayas, Aravallis, Western Ghats, etc. The mandate of the Naeb is :

The growing portfolio of the Ministry focuses on sustainable utilization of natural resources, fosters sustainable livelihood and emphasizes creation of enabling environment for the promotion of sustainable development. In the pursuit of the overarching goal of improvement of vegetative cover and meeting the fuelwood and fodder requirement of the community in a sustainable manner, the active participation of the people is posited as the core element of the strategy. This is in due recognition of the fact that poor people are directly or indirectly dependent upon the forests for variegated needs of livelihood, food security, access to various requirements and environmental factors. Any degradation in the natural resources induces direct impact on the quality of life of the people particularly those who are residing in the vicinity of the forests and are dependent upon the natural resources. The inextricable link between poverty alleviation and the sustainable management of the forest resources has assumed significance in the formulation of the determinants of the policy approach of the Ministry. Within the framework of the mandate of the Ministry and growing realization to promote the active involvement of the community in the management of the forest resources, a number of initiatives have been taken. The thrust of the strategy is primarily to ensure sustainable development which inheres in it the imperative of meeting the fuelwood and fodder requirements of the community, augmentation of their livelihood , encouraging market oriented plantations and to enhance access of the people to the capital assets. The main schemes under implementation during the Ninth Plan are as under:

Index

Integrated Afforestation and Eco-Development Project Scheme (IAEPS)

This is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme intended to promote afforestation and development of degraded forests and adjoining lands by adopting an integrated approach and management of these areas on a watershed basis with people’s participation. This scheme has also been extended to include 100% centrally sponsored Coastal Shelterbelt plantations after Orissa Cyclone of 1999 as a thrust area. The revised Ninth Plan allocation for the scheme is Rs. 247.00 crores with a physical target for treating 2.27 lakhs ha. of degraded areas. A total of 160 projects including 13 for Coastal Shelterbelt plantations and 31 for Forest Development Agency projects have been sanctioned so far to the States in the Ninth Plan with a total project cost of Rs. 310.25 crores. Expenditure during 2001-02 (as on 15.1.2002) was Rs. 57.63 crores.

Index

Samanvit Gram Vanikaran Samirddhi Yojana (SGVSY) and Creation of Forest Development Agency (FDA) - being implemented from 2000-01 under IAEPS

Image of Agro forestry in semi arid tropics - a cropping Cajanus cajan with turmeric

Fig 61. Agro forestry in semi arid tropics - a cropping Cajanus cajan with turmeric

The above approach is being implemented from 2000-01 onwards on pilot basis with a view to establish convergence in flow of funds under various ongoing centrally sponsored afforestation schemes of this Ministry from the Tenth Plan period. The Ministry is presently implementing four centrally sponsored schemes for promoting afforestation on degraded forests and adjoining lands including national parks and sanctuaries. It is planned to merge these schemes from the 10th Five Year Plan to establish interconnectivity between rural development in the forest fringe villages, forest conservation and employment generation with smooth and timely flow of funds to the field level. This umbrella scheme, called Samanvit Gram Vanikaran Samirddhi Yojana, is being implemented through a decentralized set up at the field level for forest fringe villages on the pattern of DRDAs, to be called Forest Development Agency (FDA). The FDAs are also taking up rural development works in the forest fringe villages which are generally difficult to access by the normal rural development machinery. The FDAs are also trying to institutionalize monitoring of activities closer to the field and have greater flexibility in project formulation, identification of funding sources, thereby meeting local requirements effectively.

Index

Composition of FDAs

The FDAs consist of a General Body (comprising Chairpersons of all Village Forest Committees (VFCs)/ Eco-development Committees (EDCs), Member Secretaries of all Village Forest Committees, one designated woman member from each Forest Committee, Chairperson of District Panchayat Forest Committee, Range Forest Oficer, ACFs/SDFs, and an Executive Body (comprising Chairperson- Conservator of Forests (territorial/wildlife), Member Secretary cum Chief Executive Officer- Divisional Forest Officer (territorial/wildlife), Ex-officio Members (without voting rights)- District Development Officer, District level officers of agriculture, animal husbandry, soil conservation, tribal welfare, industries, panchayat, health & engineering and education departments, Chairperson of District Panchayat Forest Committee, 25 nominees from the VFCs/EDCs to include a minimum of 14 women.

Index

Implementation Schedule

Image of An ecologically restored limestone mined quarry site at Bhatti

Fig 62. An ecologically restored limestone mined quarry site at Bhatti

The scheme is being implemented in the first phase as pilot project from the year 2000-01 onwards in selected territorial/wildlife forest divisions in all States/UTs which have adopted Joint Forest Management (JFM) Resolutions. Based on the experience and availability of additional funds, the scheme is proposed to be extended in the remaining territorial/ wildlife forest divisions of the country in phased manner during the Tenth Plan. The outlay for this pilot scheme during 2001-02 is Rs. 34.79 crores. In the current pilot phase, projects under the scheme are being sanctioned under the existing guidelines and cost norms of the IAEP scheme.

Index

Present Status

So far, project proposals have been received under the scheme from 22 States, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The project proposals pertaining to 31 FDAs from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal (18 states) have been sanctioned at a total project cost of Rs. 97.68 crores as on 15.1.2002.

Index

Area Oriented Fuelwood and Fodder Projects Scheme

This centrally sponsored scheme is operated on 50:50 sharing basis between the State Governments and the Central Government, with a view to augment production of fuelwood and fodder in the 242 identified fuelwood deficient districts of the country to meet the needs of the communities. The revised central outlay for the Ninth Plan for this scheme is Rs. 135.00 crores. A total of 26 projects have been sanctioned so far to the States in the Ninth Plan with a total outlay of Rs.181.00 crore. Expenditure during 2001-02 (as on 15.1.2002) was Rs. 17.54 crores.

Index

Conservation and Development of Non-Timber Forest Produce including Medicinal Plants (NTFP)

Under this 100% centrally sponsored scheme, financial assistance is provided to the State Governments for increasing production of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) including Medicinal Plants. It has a special focus on tribal population for whom NTFP is an important source of livelihood. The revised Ninth Plan allocation for the scheme is Rs. 80.50 crores. A total of 75 projects have been sanctioned so far to the States in the Ninth Plan at a total cost of Rs. 100.14 crores. Expenditure during 2001-02 (as on 15.1.2002) was Rs. 19.77 crores.

Index

Trees and Pasture Seed Development Scheme

The State Governments are assisted under this 100% centrally sponsored scheme to develop infrastructure facilities to generate quality seeds, which would lead to the growth of healthy and better quality trees. Financial assistance is provided to the States to develop facilities for collection, storage, testing, certification and distribution of quality seeds. From 1998-99, seed production of pasture grasses, and legumes including selection of superior stands of endemic grasses, their collection, processing, storage and distribution has also been included in the scheme. A one-time central assistance is provided to the States to meet non-recurrring expenses relating to infrastructure development, while State Governments meet all recurring expenditure (salary, wages, TA, training costs etc). The revised Ninth Plan allocation for the scheme is Rs. 6.00 crores. A total of 19 projects have been sanctioned so for to the States in the Ninth Plan with a total outlay of Rs.7.98 crores. Expenditure during 2001-02 (as on 15.1.2002) was Rs. 0.74 crore, against an outlay of Rs. 0.90 crores.

Index

Grants-in-aid Scheme for Voluntary Agencies

In tune with the philosophy of eliciting and encouraging people’s participation , the Board provides financial assistance to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/ Voluntary Agencies (VAs) for afforestation and tree planting activities. The revised allocation for the Ninth Five Year Plan for this scheme is Rs. 13.00 crores. Central assistance of Rs. 11.49 crores to 377 projects, has been provided so far under this scheme in the Ninth Plan Period including release of Rs. 2.99 crores during the year 2001-02 as on 15.1.2002.

Index

Eco-Task Forces

Four Ecological Task Forces (ETFs) of ex-servicemen are deployed in remote and difficult areas to undertake restoration of degraded ecosystems through afforestation, soil conservation and water resource management techniques. The scheme also serves as a mechanism to rehabilitate the ex-servicemen for productive work and to create employment for retired army personnel mainly in the rural areas. The financial outlay for 2001-02 is Rs. 9.75 crores against which the expenditure incurred as on 15.1.2002 was Rs. 6.10 crores. The ETFs are presently located at Kiarkuli (U.P) Bikaner (Rajasthan), Samba (J&K) and Pithoragarh (Uttaranchal).

Index

Thrust Areas

Coastal Shelterbelt Plantation Programme

This programme aims at afforesting coastal areas in the country with suitable tree species to form shelterbelts under the ongoing centrally sponsored Integrated Afforestation and Eco-Development Projects Scheme, with the objective of mitigating the impact of strong cyclonic winds. A total of 13 projects for Coastal Shelterbelt Plantations have been sanctioned to West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat with a total outlay of Rs. 32.69 crores for the Ninth Plan earmarked from the overall outlay for IAEP scheme. An amount of Rs. 4.61 crores has been released to State Governments during 2001-02 as on 15.01.2002.

Image of Restoration of land : Plantation over reclaimed (back filled) area

Fig 63. Restoration of land : Plantation over reclaimed (back filled) area

Index

Bamboo and Medicinal Plantation Projects

Recently, bamboo and medicinal plantations have been identified and declared as one of Thrust Areas of the Ministry. Though such species are planted as part of mixed plantations taken up under the ongoing NTFP scheme, projects solely for Bamboo and Medicinal plantations are now being sanctioned separately under the scheme. A total of 21 projects with an outlay of Rs. 20.69 crores for covering an area of 30,163 ha. under bamboo plantations, and 18 projects with an outlay of Rs. 8.60 crores for raising medicinal plants over an area of 5,285 ha. have been sanctioned during the Ninth Plan. During 2001-02 an amount of Rs. 6.58 crores for bamboo plantation and Rs. 2.35 crores for medicinal plants have been released to the State Governments as on 15.01.2002.

Index

Twenty point programme

NAEB has been designated as the nodal agency at the Centre for monitoring the progress of seedling distribution and afforestation under points No. 16 (a) and (b) of the Twenty Point Programme (TPP). Afforestration and tree planting activities are taken up through the schemes of Ministries of Environment and Forests, Rural Development, Agriculture, Water Resources etc. as also through the funds provided under the State Plans. The performance during the Eighth Five Year Plan, and in the Ninth Five Year Plan so far is given in Table-13.

Table-13

Seedlings in lakhs/area in hectares

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Year		Targets				Achievements
		Seedlings	Area***		Seedlings	Area ***
		Distribution**			Distribution	
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eighth Plan	62,585.11	55,22,201.00	55,869.67	5,15,678.09
Ninth Plan

1997-1998	11,166.10	11,46,800.00	10.335.63	9,65,638.15

1998-1999	11,166.10	11,75,000.00	9,377.86	11,05,275.67

1999-2000	12,130.35	13,18,480.00	11,814.13	14,24,214.29

2000-2001	12,236.35	13,19,680.00	10,221.43	11,43,685.41

2001-2002	12,176.00	12,99,580.00	5496.97*	5,69,783.24*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*	Report upto January 25, 2002.

**	Seedling distribution : for planting on private lands-under Point No. 16(a) of the TPP.

***	Area coverage : on public lands including forest lands-under Point No. 16(b) of the TPP.

Index

Communication and Awareness

New technologies and methodologies of participatory management, eco-development and regeneration of degraded forests are being progressively developed. In order to share such experiences and technologies widely, NAEB documents such developments and the related information in the form of publications, and shares these with State Governments, NGOs, and all other concerned agencies. The Board has brought out a number of publications for the purposes of dissemination.

Index

Regional Centres

The Board has seven Regional Centres located in Universities and National level Institutions. These Centres help NAEB in promoting extension of replicable technologies and for dissemination of research findings. They provide technical and extension support to the State Forest Department in preparing projects for regeneration of degraded forests and adjoining lands with people’s participation, and also act for an exchange of ideas and experiences amongst the states of the region as well across the regions. In addition, these centers carry out problem-specific studies as well as evaluation of NAEB’s programmes in the field, organize training and workshops on relevant topics. Details of these centres and their state-wise area of operation are given in Annexure II.

Index

New Initiatives

The major initiative taken during the Ninth Plan has been the establishment of the Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) on a pilot basis to secure the involvement of the community, to ensure smooth flow of funds and also to encourage the mechanism of the micro planning to assess objectively the requirements of the community. With the initiation of the concepts of FDA, a paradigm shift has been countenanced for decentralized system of implementation of centrally sponsored afforestation schemes. With the grounding of the concepts through two tier structure of FDA at level of Conservator of Forest and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), all the forest fringe villages numbering 1,73,000 are proposed to be brought under the ambit of the scheme in a phased manner. Major achievement has been the establishment of about 60,000 JFMCs in 27 States involving 2.8 million families. The scheme has evoked tremendous response. A total of 22 states have already adopted the resolution for the establishment of the FDAs and 18 States have already been assisted in selected forest divisions as on 15.01.2002.

In the above backdrop, during the Tenth Plan all afforestation schemes of the Minstry are proposed to be rationalized and streamlined with a view to improving delivery mechanism, sharpening the focus on quality parameters and sustainable use of resources to heighten the usufruct sharing with the community, to give thrust to the medicinal plants, bamboo and the coastal shelterbelt plantation. There would be also an active participation of the non-governmental institutions and the private sector investment for the purpose of encouraging and promoting the tree plantation outside the forest areas to achieve the goal of 33% coverage of the geographical area under tree/forest cover.

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Shifting Cultivation (Jhum)

Taking cognizance of the aggravation caused in terms of soil erosion and depletion of natural resources due to shifting cultivation (Jhum) in the North Eastern Region, an inter Ministerial Task Force has been constituted in the Ministry to evolve a holistic and integrated approach for sustainable management of Jhum affected lands. The Task Force had organized a two-day workshop during 11-12 October, 2001 at Shillong, where-in Government representatives of North Eastern States, academicians, NGOs had participated in the deliberations.

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