[Commission on Sustainable Development, United Nations Environment Programme, Global Environmental Facility, State of Environment Report, United Nations Development Programme, South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, India-Canada Environment Facility, UNDP/GEF/CCF Small Grants Programme, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Bilateral Co-operation, United States Environment Protection Agency, Industrial Pollution Prevention Project, Environmental Management Capacity Building Project]

The International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Division in the Ministry has been renamed as International Cooperation and Sustainable Division (IC&SD). In addition to the work relating to international cooperation in the field of environment, the Division has now been entrusted with the additional responsibility of coordinating sustainable development activities.

IC&SD is the nodal point within the Ministry for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP). The Division handles bilateral issues and matters pertaining to multilateral bodies such as the Commission on Sustainable Development, Environment Support Programme of UNDP under Country Cooperation Framework-I, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the regional bodies like Economic & Social Commission for Asia & Pacific (ESCAP), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), European Union (EU) and the India-Canada Environment Facility (ICEF).

In the area of sustainable development, following new initiatives have been taken up by the Division :-

The Ministry is the nodal agency in the Government for various environment related multilateral conventions and protocols. These include Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl habitat, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Vienna Convention for the protection of the Ozone Layer, Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, Conventions on Biological Diversity, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol, the Basel Convention on Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes, Convention to Combat Desertification and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, etc.

Environment related multilateral conventions and protocols etc., are being handled by the respective technical and scientific divisions in the Ministry and details about them are given in respective chapters. IC&SD Division plays a coordinating role in the matters relating to these Conventions. A compendium on various environment related Conventions is to be brought out by the Division.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) was held in Brazil in 1992. This Conference adopted Agenda 21 which is a blue print for a global plan of action for achieving sustainable development. The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was set up in 1993 under Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), United Nations for the purpose of review of progress of implementation of the Agenda 21.

Ministry of External Affairs is the nodal ministry for the CSD matters. However, this Ministry plays a role for providing technical support and for implementation of Agenda 21. For each of the sessions, every country has to present its National Report on progress achieved on the themes selected for the session. This is done alternatively by Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Environment and Forests.

On completion of ten years of the Rio process, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held from 26th August – 4th September, 2002 at Johannesburg, South Africa. The Summit reviewed and appraised progress towards sustainable development and the commitments made ten years ago at Rio and forged a cohesive set of global partnerships to achieve comprehensive implementation of Agenda 21. Preparatory meetings for this important event, both at international level and regional levels were organized. India actively participated in these meetings.

At the national level, the Ministry initiated the preparatory process for the WSSD. These included :

Following documents were also brought out by the Ministry:

Indian delegation to the WSSD was led by Hon’ble Minister of Environment & Forests.

A major outcome of the Summit was adoption of Plan of Implementation and Johannesburg Declaration. The Ministry has set up a mechanism for taking follow up action on various decisions taken on the World Summit on Sustainable Development. IC&SD Division is coordinating these activities.

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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972 with its headquarters at Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP works to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices everywhere. Its activities cover a wide range of issues, the promotion of environmental science and information, to an early warning and emergency response capacity to deal with environmental disasters and emergencies.

The 22nd Session of Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GMEF) of UNEP was held from 3-7 February, 2003 at Nairobi, Kenya. The Session addressed the state of environment and contribution of UNEP to address various environmental challenges. The follow up actions arising from WSSD, and in the field of International Environmental Governance, linkages among and support to environment related conventions were discussed.

Indian delegation led by Secretary (E&F) played an important role at the 22nd GC/GMEF Session. India mentioned that Delhi Ministerial Declaration after 8th meeting of the Conference of Parties of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has brought forth the linkages between Climate Change and Sustainable Development and urged to advance adaptation measures. India’s views were widely supported and the Delhi Declaration was prominently quoted in the final decision focussion on adaptation to Climate Change.

On the issue of Intergovernmental Panel on Global Environmental change, the Indian delegation was not in favour of expanding the mandate as it would lead to duplication of activities via-a-vis other Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

There was an attempt by some countries to raise issues related to ‘Asian Brown Cloud’ through the aegis of UNEP basically to rope in the developing countries into the mainframe of mitigation commitments, which are otherwise not applicable to the developing countries. The Indian delegation succeeded in getting the draft resolution on ‘ABC’ deleted.

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Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a financial mechanism that provides grants and low interest loans to developing countries to help them carry out programmes to relieve pressures on global ecosystems. The GEF was created to fulfill a unique niche – that of providing financing for programmes and projects to achieve global environment benefits in the focal areas of Biodiversity, Climate Change, International Waters, Persistent Organic Pollutants (PoPs) and Land Degradation as it relates to these focal areas. The Facility supports international environment management and the transfer of environmentally benign technologies. It is a cooperative venture among national governments, the World Bank, the UNDP and the UNEP in the specific areas of concern. The Ministry is the technical nodal point of this facility in India.

So far, twelve projects are under implementation while one has been completed. Presently, fifteen projects have been approved in principal under GEF and are in the preparatory phase.

A Global Environment Cell (GEC) with UNDP assistance has been set up in the Ministry with the objective of examining and providing technical and scientific inputs into the process of project formulation including those for GEF assistance.

The Ministry has formulated the National GEF Strategy which will facilitate diagnosis of various problems and to evolve an effective mechanism for planning, formulating, implementing, monitoring and coordination of GEF projects in the country. An Empowered Committee has also been set up for identification of GEF projects, formulation, implementation and monitoring for GEF activities in the country.

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State of Environment (SoE) Report

A new Plan scheme has been incorporated in the Tenth Five Year Plan for preparation of State of Environment (SoE) reports. The objective behind this scheme is to highlight the upstream and downstream linkages with environmental issues besides creating a baseline document. This would imply a sound data collection and management apparatus at the Central and State Government levels and logical follow-up of SoEs. So far, as data management is concerned, a comprehensive assessment of the present data management apparatus in the country and identification of software and hardware aspects of up-scaling the data apparatus would be necessary to provide quality SoE Reports.

Following institutions have been designed as Nodal Host Institutions (NHIs) for carrying out the above exercise in different States and UTs assigned to each NHI:

The primary goal of the SoE Report is to design and operationalise a participatory and scientifically rigorous SOE reporting System in India that enables informed debate, policy/strategy formulation, decision making and follow up action. The SOE Report would go beyond data collection and suggest solutions to dovetail with policy and strategy formulation.

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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The Ministry has signed the Programme Support Document under the Country Cooperation Framework-I(CCF-I) with the UNDP to enhance cooperation between the Government of India and the UNDP in the environment sector with outlay of US $ 8.1 million. The programme, which was valid upto 2002 with some sub-components extended upto 2003, focuses on growth with equity, poverty alleviation and human development as the central concerns. The CCF-I strategy places emphasis on technology upgradation, poverty eradication and environmental preservation etc. The four thrust areas of the Environment Programme are:-

- Management of natural resources,

- Strengthening of capacity for decision making.

- Management of development, and

- Spread of information, advocacy and participation.

To recommend, implement and monitor the projects under this programme, a Programme Management Board (PMB) has been constituted in the Ministry which comprises of senior officers of the Ministry, representatives of other concerned Ministries, representatives of UNDP and four NGOs, one each for the four identified thrust areas. Twenty one projects approved under the programme are at various stages of implementation and are being implemented by several agencies including non-government organizations.

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South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP)

SACEP was set up in 1982 and is headquartered in Colombo. It focuses on formulating regional strategies for Environmental Management and Ministry is the Focal Point for India. The SACEP holds its Governing Council (GC) meetings which concentrate on current regional issues as well as global concerns. The last Ministerial level meeting was held on 20th – 21st January, 2003 wherein issues relating to follow up on the recommendations of WSSD at sub-regional level South Asia, UNEP-SACEP and SAARC-SACEP collaboration issues were deliberated upon. With the initiative of SACEP, a Memorandum of Understanding for a Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan has been drawn up and a South Asian Environmental Education Training Plan is also proposed to be implemented. In addition, SACEP is already assisting its member countries in the field of air pollution monitoring by setting up network stations in each country.

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

SAARC has seven countries of the region as members, viz. Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka. So far, five Environment Ministers Conferences have been held under SAARC, which also has a Committee on Environment, Meteorology and Forest, for working out the detailed plan of action in these areas and implementing the same. The last Environment Ministers Conference was held in Thimphu, Bhutan.

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India-Canada Environment Facility (ICEF)

The India-Canada Environment Facility (ICEF) is a joint initiative of the Government of India and the Government of Canada created by signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two Governments on October 20, 1992 for the purpose of undertaking projects related to the environment.

The funding is provided by the Canadian International Development Agency and is managed jointly by representatives of both the Governments. The primary focus of the ICEF is to enhance the capacity of Indian institutions and organizations to promote and deliver sustainable development programs addressing the environment.

So far 21 projects have been approved for funding under the programme with a total outlay of Rs.162.56 crores. Of the expected amount of 72 million Canadian Dollars, India has received CAN-$ 59 million and the remaining amount is expected to be transferred in 2003-04.

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UNDP-GEF/CCF Small Grants Programme

This programme was launched in 1992 to support activities that demonstrate community based approaches. With a total budget of Rs.8.25 crores, it has supported 90 projects in India in three phases. The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) is the identified National Host Institute (NHI) assisting the Ministry in execution of this programme. The Country Programme Strategy was approved by GEF (Washington) last year, which brought in additional GEF funding of US $500,000.

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Climate Change

Climate change is widely believed to be one of the most serious environmental concerns of our time. According to the Third Assessment Report (TAR) of the Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published in 2001, there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last fifty years is attributable to human activities. According to the TAR, it is estimated that the Earth’s surface temperature has increased by 0.6±0.2ºC over the twentieth century. The global mean sea level has been rising at the rate of 1 to 2 mm annually during the 20th century. It projects that globally averaged surface temperature would rise by 1.4ºC to 5.8ºC between 1990 and 2100. The global mean sea level may rise by 0.09 to 0.88 m during 1990-2100.

The tropical and sub tropical regions are amongst the more vulnerable areas in the world. The potential yields of cereal crops in the region are projected to decrease for most of the increases in temperature. Water scarcity in many water scarce areas is projected to worsen further. Populations in low-lying coastal areas and small islands would be at particular risk. Ecological productivity and bio-diversity may be altered with increased risk of extinction of some of the species. Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are also projected to result in changes in frequency, duration and intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves and heavy precipitation events. Climate change is also projected to increase the threats to human health due to increase in vector borne diseases. The impacts of climate change are expected to fall disproportionately upon developing countries and would further increase inequities in health status, access to food, clean water and other resources.

The growing evidence of the link between greenhouse gas emissions and the human activities led to establishment of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) by the United Nations General assembly in 1990 for drafting a framework Convention. The INC adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992. The Convention came into force in March 1994. The objective of the Convention is to stabilize the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. India became a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November 1993. India has been amongst the most active players in the area of climate change ever since.

The Year 2001-2002 was a truly remarkable year for India as it ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted in 1997 committing the developed countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by an average of 5.2% during 2008-2012 with reference to 1990 level of emissions. The ratification was reaffirmation of India’s commitment to strengthening of global endeavor to combat climate change in accordance with the principles of the Conventions.

During the year, India hosted the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from 23rd October to 1st November at Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi. Over 4300 delegates from all over the world attended the Conference, making it one of the biggest international event of its kind ever held in the country. The organizational success of the Conference has been a major accomplishment and was made possible by excellent cooperation between various Ministries of Government of India and organizations.

Hon’ble Minister of Environment and Forests, was elected the President of the Conference of the Parties on 23rd October and led the negotiations at the Conference which successfully completed negotiations in several critical areas. Parties agreed on the rules and procedures for the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism under Kyoto Protocol, as well as simplified procedures for small-scale projects. The Conference concluded guidelines for reporting and review under Kyoto Protocol after three years of intense negotiations. It adopted the New Delhi Work Programme for five years relating to education, training and public awareness and also set a time frame for operationalization of the Special Climate Change Fund by 2003 at the Conference of the Parties next year. Most importantly, the Conference adopted the Delhi Ministerial Declaration, which firmly establishes the link between climate change and sustainable development and brings out importance of adaptation in this context. The high point of the Conference was the Speech of the Hon’ble Prime Minister in which he outlined the basic tenets of Indian perspective on the ongoing climate change negotiations.

Earlier during the year, Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Director General, Tata Energy Research Institute, was elected the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), was set up jointly by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988 to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human induced climate change and is the most respected body involved in assessment of scientific basis; impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; and mitigation of climate change. Dr. Pachauri was nominated by India and has a distinction of being the first Chairman of IPCC from a developing country.

An important development during the Year was endorsement of six projects in the renewable energy sector by India for implementation as Clean Development Mechanism Projects under the Kyoto Protocol. It is expected that implementation of these projects would help in attracting foreign investments in such projects in the country as well in accessing more efficient technologies. The Year also saw launching of new scheme relating to climate change with the goal of raising awareness in the country about climate change, and providing impetus to adaptation and capacity building activities in the country, a number of workshops and seminars were held for the purpose. Substantial progress was also made in the preparation of India’s Initial National Communication to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change including preparation of inventories of greenhouse gases of anthropogenic origin.

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Ozone Layer Protection

Ozone is an extremely rare component of the earth’s atmosphere and in every ten million molecules of air, only three are ozone. Most of the ozone (90%) is found in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere), between 10 and 50 kilometers (6-30 miles) above the Earth’s surface. This ozone layer absorbs all but a small fraction of the harmful ultraviolet radiation emanating from the sun. It, therefore protects plant and animal life from Ultraviolet (UV) radiation which in high doses can be particularly damaging. UV radiation has the potential to cause skin cancer, eye damage, suppress body’s immune system, decrease crop yield, causes damage to forests and effects ocean life. Global efforts to protect the Ozone Layer started in early seventies, led to the adoption of the Vienna Convention in 1985 and the Montreal Protocol along with its London Amendment. In India, its provisions came into effect from 17.09.1992.

To ensure compliance with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol several fiscal measures were taken up urgently to discourage use of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and encourage use of ODS substitutes. The Government grants customs and excise duty exemption on goods required for ODS phase out projects and new investments with non-ODS technologies. The Reserve Bank of India has issued directions to all financial institutions and commercial banks not to finance new establishments with ODS technology. Licensing system has been adopted to regulate import and export of ODS. A ban has also been imposed on trade of ODS with non parties.

The Notified Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, provides a legal framework for ensuring compliance of Montreal Protocol. It sets the deadline for phasing out of various Ozone Depleting Substances, besides regulating production, trade, import and export of ODS. The rules prohibit the use of CFCs in the manufacture of various products beyond 1.1.2003 except in metered dose inhalers and for other medical purposes. Similarly, use of halons is prohibited after 1.1.2001 except for essential uses. Other ODS such as carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform and CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used upto 1.1.2010. Further the use of methyl bromide has been allowed upto 1.1.2015. Since hydrochloroflurocarbons (HCFCs) are used as interim substitutes to replace CFCs, these are allowed to be used upto 1.1.2040. The Rules also provide for compulsory registration of ODS based products, importers, exporters, stockiest and sellers and the same provision is applicable to manufacturers, importers, and exporters of compressors. They are also required to maintain records and file periodic reports for monitoring production and use of ODS. Enterprises which have received financial assistance from Multilateral Fund for switchover to non ODS technology have to register the date of completion of their projects and to declare that the equipment used for ODS has been destroyed. Rules also regulate production of ODS and the use of ODS for manufacturing product containing ODS as per the specified time schedule. Creation of new capacity or expansion of capacity of manufacturing facilities of ODS has been prohibited. This has also been extended for manufacturing of ODS based equipment except equipment containing HCFCs.

A number of activities were also undertaken during the year to bring about awareness regarding the harmful effects of Ozone Depleting Substances. The International Day for the protection of ozone layer was celebrated at Bangalore on 16th September 2002, and a set of newly designed posters, special covers, stickers and the fifth edition of a book entitled "The Montreal protocol, India’s Success Story" were released on this occasion. An exhibition of ozone friendly products developed by industry with assistance from Montreal protocol Multilateral Fund was also organized. One of the companies exhibited refrigerators operating very efficiently with hydrocarbon as a refrigerant. A national poster competition has been organized in which Mr. Rana Mitra, New Delhi Mr. Nitesh Shah, West Bengal and Mr. Anup Das Gupta, Arunachal Pradesh have been awarded first, second and third prizes respectively. All the three posters were also sent for South Asia Regional Poster Competition and the Poster of Mr. Rana Mitra adjudged second. A number of competitions held (debates, elocutions, plays, banner painting etc.) which designed to increase awareness regarding harmful effects of ODSs were held and children from schools all over the State participated.

Workshops were conducted jointly with State Environment Department and Pollution Control Boards in seven States and four Union Territories (Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Goa, Mizoram, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Damn & Diu). These have helped the state authorities to understand and appreciate the actions to be initiated towards phasing out of ODS’s used by industries. A workshop was organized in collaboration with National Academy for Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) in December 2002 at Kolkata to train enforcement officers to combat illegal trade in ODS.

During the year, seven investment projects (including terminal project for foam, commercial refrigeration and aerosol) and three non-investment projects at a cost of US $ 13,866,127 were approved by the Executive Committee of Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund. These projects will help in phasing out 1428 ODP tonnes when completed. Of the projects approved earlier, 25 have completed phasing out 1560 ODP tonnes.

Project Management Unit (PMU) for phasing out of ODS in India has been established and registered as a ‘Society’ under the Societies Registration Act, Act XXI of 1860. The PMU is responsible for implementation of gradual phase out of CFC production in India and to implement technical assistance component under this project. So far, the CFC producers have achieved a reduction of 3718 MT of ODS production since the baseline year 1999 and have complied with their respective production quotas. The achievement and the future target as per the agreement under the Montreal Protocol with Multilateral Fund is given in the Bar-chart Fig.87.

Fig. 87. Agreed Phaseout Plan for ODS

Four producers of CFCs, SRF Limited, Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited, Navin Fluorine Industries and Chemplast Sanmar Limited, came together and signed a pledge reiterating their commitment to Montreal Protocol on phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances. This pledge was signed in the presence of Executive Director, UNEP and Additional Secretary, Ministry, Government of India. Representatives from UNEP in Paris and Regional Office at Bangkok also participated in this event. In this pledge, the producers reiterated their commitment to go beyond Montreal Protocol mandate and take steps to reduce emissions that harm the environment.

A strategy for the refrigeration service sector and phase out of ODSs in the chiller sub sector is being prepared as a part of the program to achieve the phase out schedule of Ozone Depleting Substances as per the Montreal Protocol. National plan for phase out production and consumption of CFC is also being prepared.

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Bilateral Co-operation

Ministry has bilateral MoUs/Agreements with nine countries namely : Austria, China, Germany, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, USA & Vietnam. These MoUs / Agreements cover a wide array of areas which pertain to general issues of environmental concern. The recent initiative in this field is an MoU proposed to be signed with the Israeli Government. This is under active consideration on both sides.

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Indo-European Commission

While education and health are the central areas, environment linkages as they pertain to these two sectors would be given priority by the European Union.

A workshop was held on 23rd September, 2002 to finalise the five year cooperation strategy for India, one of the major elements of which is developing State level partnerships.

On 18th October, 2002 delegations from the Finland Government and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India met in New Delhi for the first meeting of the India-Finland Joint Working Group on Environment.

Mr. Jukka Uosukainen, Director, UN and other multilateral Co-operation, Ministry of Environment, Finland led the Finnish delegation. In addition to Ministry officials, representatives from Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Commerce and Head of Environment Division, Confederation of Indian Industry participated from the Indian side. The meeting covered a wide array of areas while focusing on a few key identified environmental issues for immediate action which included areas such as paper and pulp, sustainable forestry, renewable energy under CDM. There was also exchange of views on Sustainable Development with India and Finland aiming at developing common approaches in key areas. The first meeting of the Working Group opened up an opportunity for bilateral interaction, not merely between the two Governments but also between the various stakeholders and offered an opportunity to both the sides to concretize a programme of action with specific sector identification for future cooperation.

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United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Environment was signed between Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) this year during the visit of Ms. Christine Todd Whitman on 16.1.2002. The MoU provides a framework for policy and technical cooperation between the Ministry and the USEPA on the basis of common concern for the protection of environment as well as to pursue sustainable development. The activities covered under this MoU reflect adequately our environmental concerns – environmental governance, air and water quality management, management of toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes. Projects relate to areas such as environmental health, environmental management system, environmental risk assessment and risk management, public access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making, environmental education, strengthening of the environmental law regime and implementation of international environmental agreements.

The following areas for future cooperation are envisaged under the MoU:

This is an umbrella project under the aegis of Indo-German technical collaboration under which, all present and future projects being supported by German aid in the environment sector would fall. The project has just taken off and presently sectors of cooperation are being identified. The initial funding is Rs.6 crores (2001-2004) which would be enhanced later by the German Government.

The Environmental Institutional Strengthening Project is a five year, $5 million, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded project. It is being implemented by Environment Canada in partnership with Ministry of Environment and Forests (2000-2005). The purpose of the project is to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ministry to address environmental issues of global concern and national priority for India and promote environmentally sound development. Under the project, work has been undertaken in the field of air emissions monitoring and control, Hazardous Waste products, bio-technology, capacity analysis of customs labs to deal with hazardous substances and preparation of a National Chemicals Management Profile, etc.

India hosted the first regional conference on ICTEAP during 2-3 May, 2002 for enhancing use of ICT for environmental management and governance. This was a joint initiative by Ministry, UNEP, TERI and CII. Over 2050 participants including 30 international delegates attended. The focus of the Conference was on networking and fostering partnerships in the region. As an outcome of this conference, a pilot project on setting up of a medicinal plants portal for the state of Uttaranchal has been taken up.

Several officials from Ministry, State Governments, SPCBs were nominated for training abroad in the field of the environment and forests. A data bank of officers of various State Governments, SPCBs, Environment Departments, etc. is maintained by the Ministry for this purpose.

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World Bank Aided Projects (Externally Aided Projects)

Industrial Pollution Prevention Project started in 1994 and ended on 30th November, 2002. The objective of the IPPP was to promote cost-effective pollution abatement from industrial sources. The Project comprised three components, viz. (i) Industrial (ii) Investment, and (iii) Technical Assistance. Under this Scheme, funds released by Government are reimbursed by the World Bank. The participating states under this Project are – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (including Chhattisgarh). A total sum of US$23 million was allocated for the IPPP by the World Bank. The main achievements under this Project are as follows:

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Environmental Management Capacity Building (EMCB) Project

India is a major country producing over 60 minerals from several thousand small to medium sized mines. Mining is known to cause environmental problems through pollution of air, surface and ground water, dumping of overburden, release of toxic elements and gasses, noise and vibration due to blasting, occupational health, destruction of forests, displacement of human settlements etc. Consequently, Environmental Management in the mining sector has been identified as a high priority component for bringing about the necessary improvements therein in the World Bank assisted Environmental Management Capacity Building (EMCB) Project. The EMCB Mining component has been under execution since 1999.

The project involves following major activities:

Activity I : Review of existing mining / environmental policies, legislation / standards and mechanism for monitoring compliance. This Activity has 5 Tasks and 19 sub-tasks

Activity II-A : Institutional Strengthening. This Activity has 5 Tasks and 36 sub-tasks

Activity II-B : Training. This Activity has 3 Tasks and 22 sub-tasks

Activity II-C : Demonstration Projects. This Activity has 2 Tasks and 16 sub-tasks

The above activities are being implemented by Central Mining Research Institute (CMRI) and Center of Mining Environment CME (ISM) as nodal institutions. During the year, following progress has been achieved:

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The Environmental Law Component

Pursuant to the Development Credit Agreement (DCA) between India and the International Development Association (IDA), Government of India has decided to undertake the Environmental Management Capacity Building of the country with the assistance from the IDA.

The projects is to strengthen: legal capacity of Government, advocates, judges, teachers, industry, Local Self Government (LSG), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) etc; encourage the development of comments based decision making and dispute resolution and strengthening of legal research and education.

Under the Environment Law components, a number of training / workshops / seminars have been organized by National Law School of India University (NLSIU) to strengthen the legal framework. 2923 members of law teachers, lawyers, judges, members of local self government and NGO, enforcers, industrial managers and others from cognate discipline benefited under community capacity building. First batch of 21 students passed the Post Graduate Diploma Course in Environmental Law, seven publications have been completed, 30 research / case studies are undertaken by four core Group Institutions.

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Environmental Research Sub-component

Under the Environmental Research Sub-component of Environmental Management Capacity Building Programme (EMCB) of World Bank – Training in Research and Development Management was imparted to 120 scientists and officials at Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad. The participants included Principal Investigators of the Research Projects funded/being funded by the Ministry, officials of the Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards and the State Councils of Science & Technology and Environment.

Out of 120 officials / scientists trained under the training programme, 19 officials / scientists of the Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board and State Council of Science & Technology and Environment were given an opportunity to familiarize themselves with R & D Management in Sweden, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Ministry has taken up the task of preparation of State of Art Reports in 23 critical areas which require immediate attention for promoting Research & Development. The job of preparation of State of Art Reports have been given to Experts / Institutions. The reports will be available by the end of March 2003.

Under this project, it is planned to prepare executive summarises of completed research projects funded by this Ministry. Executive summaries of 130 such projects have been prepared and are being printed.

Working facilities in the Research Division were upgraded to handle the work with greater efficiency and transparency. Entire supporting staff has been provided with computers and LAN system was established. In depth training of the staff to use specifically designed software developed by ASCI will be completed before March, 2003. Dust proof file cabinets were provided and entire Research and Eco-regeneration (RE) Section has been air conditioned. Modern facilities of photocopying, scanning etc. have been acquired.

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EIA Sub-component

The EIA sub-component was initiated for improving the Environmental Clearance Process with a view to streamline and rationalize the existing EIA policies and procedures.

The project has made notable progress in all the spheres of activities during the year. Major milestones reached include:-

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Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Sub-component

The sub-component of "Ambient Air Quality Monitoring" in the World Bank Environmental Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project is implemented by the Central Pollution Control Board. The objectives of the project include:-

Under the Project various activities initiated so far are:-

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Development of Standards Sub-component

"Development of Standards" under the World Bank Environment Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project is being implemented by Central Pollution Control Board with the following major objectives:

The activities taken up under the project so far include the following:

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ENVIS Sub-component

The ENVIS sub-component under the World Bank assisted EMCB Project was initiated in January, 2002 and aims to strengthen the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) by expanding its reach by involving premier institutions/ organizations, State Governments, the Corporates and NGOs. The main objectives of this sub-component are:

The following tasks were identified to meet the objectives:-

- Four meetings of the Monitoring Committee was held.

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