The Ministry of Environment and Forests is the nodal agency in the administrative structure of the Central Government for the planning, promotion coordination and overseeing the implementation of the various environmental and forestry programmes. The Ministry has also been designated as the nodal agency in the country for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and looks after the follow-up of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
Conservation and survey of flora, fauna, forests and wildlife, prevention and control of pollution, afforestation and regeneration of degraded areas and protection of environment, are the mandates of the Ministry and these tasks are being fulfilled by the Ministry through environmental impact assessment, eco-regeneration, assistance to organisations implementing environmental and forestry programmes, promotion of environmental and forestry research, extension, education and training to augment the requisite manpower, dissemination of environmental information, international cooperation and creation of environmental awareness among all sectors of the country’s population.
These objectives are well supported by legislative and regulatory measures, which are aimed at the preservation and protection of the environment. Some of them are the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, the National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995, the National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997, Wildlife Protection act, 1972 and Forests (Conservation) Act, 1980. Besides the legislative measures, a National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development, 1992, National Forest Policy, 1988 and a Policy Statement on Abatement of Pollution, 1992 have also been evolved.
The organizational structure of the Ministry indicating various divisions, associated and autonomous offices/agencies is given in Annexure-1.
Environment and Ecology, including environment in coastal waters, in mangroves and coral reefs but excluding marine environment on the high seas
Botanical Survey of India and Botanical Gardens
Zoological Survey of India
National Museum of Natural History
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
The Indian Forest Act, 1927
The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
Biosphere Reserve Programme
National Forest Policy and Forestry Development in the country, including social forestry
Forest Policy and all matters relating to forests and forest administration in so far as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are concerned
Indian Forest Services
Wildlife preservation and protection of wild birds and animals
Central Zoo Authority
Fundamental research, including coordination thereof and higher education in forestry
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
National Assistance to Forestry Development Schemes
Central Ganga Authority
The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997
Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, Bangalore
Forest Survey of India, Dehradun
National Afforestation and Eco-development Board
Desert and Desertification.
An overview of the activities undertaken by the Ministry and its associated offices/agencies during the year, is as follows:
About 30 exploration tours were undertaken by various circle offices and units of Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in different priority areas, hotspots, fragile ecosystems of North-Eastern India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, South-Western Ghats and Western Himalayas. A total of 6,000 specimens were collected, out of which 3,100 specimens were identified and about 1,550 specimens were inventorized by different circle offices/units of the BSI.
Ex-situ conservation of 153 rare and threatened species were carried out by multiplication at different experimental gardens of circle offices of the BSI.
State flora of Nagaland (Volume III and IV), Madhya Pradesh (Volume III) and Mizoram (Volume II) were finalized.
Thousand specimens of wild plants of economic and medicinal value were collected and information stored for about 380 species.
A database relating to medicinal plants, type collection and rare and threatened species, has been developed.
A total of 75 extensive faunistic surveys were undertaken covering seven states, 15 conservation areas and five ecosystems by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Ecological studies including status survey of endangered animals were also carried out under nine different projects.
Detailed taxonomic studies conducted by ZSI resulted in the discovery of a total number of eight species of Insecta.
Two examples of crustacea, 9 examples of arahchnida, twenty-four examples of lepidopetra, eighteen examples of myriapoda, eighteen examples of mollusca, twenty-two of odonata, 231 examples of Pisces and six examples of amphibia were identified during the year.
Faunal survey in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Gulf-of-Mannar and Pachmarhi Bio-sphere Reserve were undertaken during the year.
Out of the material obtained during the cruises of Sagar Sampada, a total of 2,562 examples belonging to seven species of chaetognatha were identified.
The national zoological collections were enriched by the addition of 24,678 specimens belonging to 1,025 species including eight species new to science.
Trichotaxonomic studies of the endangered mammalian species and cytotaxonomical studies on mammals were carried out during the year.
The Seventh Report of the assessment of forests cover of the country was finalised by the Forest Survey of India (FSI)
The FSI has completed the mapping and assessment of potential mineral resources of three States, namely, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in forest area.
A study on the assessment of shifting cultivation areas of seven North-Eastern States was conducted and the total area affected in last ten years were estimated.
Conservation of Natural Resources including Forestry and Wildlife
An area comprising 2,619.92 sq. kms. of the Kanchanjanga Hills in Sikkim was designated as the 12th Bio-sphere Reserve in the country.
A set of guidelines, for protection, maintenance, research and development in the Biosphere Reserves in India, were brought out.
Wetlands, Mangroves and Coral Reefs
The National Committee on Conservation of Wetlands has identified 20 wetlands in the country for intensive conservation and management. Management Action Plan for 16 wetlands have been prepared.
Under Global Environment Facility (GEF) programme, a project on conservation and sustainable use of globally significant threatened wetland of India has been approved during the year.
Management Action Plants for Sundarbans Mangroves in West Bengal, Mahanadi delta and Bhitarkanika Sanctuary in Orissa, Pichavaram and Muthupet in Tamil Nadu, Goa and Achra-Ratnagiri in Maharashtra were recommended by the National Committee on Mangroves and Coral Reefs.
A Status Paper and draft of the Atlas of Indian Mangroves were finalized during the year.
A Task Force, constituted for rapid assessment of the status of mangroves in the State or Orissa after the recent super-cyclone, has recommended the establishment of a Mangrove Genetic Resource Centre (MGRC) in Bhitarkanika and identified Devi and Subarnarekha delta in Orissa for mangrove afforestation.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar and Gulf of Kutch in the country have been identified for conservation and management of coral reefs.
Monitoring Action Plan on coral reefs in Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Gulf of Mannar have been prepared for implementation.
"National Policy and Action Strategy on Biological Diversity" emphasizing the need for conservation and analyzing the provisions of the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was released during the year.
An outline of bio-diversity legislation aiming at regulating access to biological resources and for equitable sharing of benefits for such access resources has been prepared.
An ad-hoc Working Group, under the aegis of Convention on Biological Diversity, has negotiated a draft Protocol on Bio-safety.
After identification of critically important areas and gaps in taxonomic work, an All India Coordinated Project has been drawn up for capacity building in taxonomy and nine centres for research and two centres for training have been identified.
The Indian Institute of Bio-Diversity has been proposed to be set up at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh as an autonomous institute of the Ministry to conduct research on various aspects of bio-diversity.
In order to implement the United Nation Convention to combat desertification at the national level, a National Action Programme is being prepared and a high level Inter-Sectoral National Steering Committee has been constituted.
Under the Regional Action Programme for Asia, six Thematic Programme Network (TPN) areas have been identified for regional co-operation amongst member parties in Asia region. The Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad has also been identified as the technical coordinator for establishing TPN-1 network in India.
During the year, 17 institutions were provided financial support for improvement of infrastructure facility in their botanical gardens.
A site for setting up a National Botanic Garden at NOIDA-Delhi to facilitate ex-situ conservation and propagation of important economic and threatened plants of the country, has been selected after careful evaluation of the land.
A decision has been taken to protect Medicinal Plant resources to achieve their in-situ conservation and to encourage cultivation of such resources to be made available for use in the traditional and local health systems.
In order to streamline and simplify the procedure under the Forests (Conservation) Act, 1980 and to give legal force and strength to various provisions of the Act in the overall approach to forest conservation, the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 1981 are being amended.
Out of 742 proposals received in the Ministry for forest clearance, 377 cases have been decided as on 30.9.1999.
The final draft for the amendment of Indian Forests Act, 1927 has been approved.
Twentytwo States have issued their resolutions for joint forests management as per the policy prescription and guidelines of the Ministry to involve the village communities in the development and protection of degraded forests.
A National Forestry Action Programme (NFAP) has been formulated and released during the year. The NFAP is a comprehensive work plan for sustainable development of forests in the country in next 20 years as well as to achieve the national goal of 33% geographic area of the country under the forest and tree cover.
The scheme of Modern Forests-Fire Control has been implemented in the eleven states of the country. A National Master Plan is also being prepared to combat forests-fires on a long-term basis.
The export of peacock tail feathers, articles and handicrafts made therefrom, has been banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and Export-Import Policy of India.
The draft amendment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has been prepared for vetting by the Ministry of Law.
Financial assistance for development of National Parks and Sanctuaries was provided to 32 parks and 158 sanctuaries in 24 States and two Union Territories in the country.
Apart from 25 Tiger Reserves, spreading over in 14 States of the country, six new Tiger Reserves have been approved for creation during the Ninth Plan period.
An amount of Rs. 500 lakhs was allocated during the year to the elephant-range States in order to provide financial assistance for habitat management, management of man-elephant conflict, payment of ex-gratia relief for the loss of life, strengthening of anti-poaching measures, capture and translocation of problem-elephant populations, etc.
Financial assistance was provided to various zoos in the country for upgradation of infrastructure and veterinary facilities in order to improve upkeep and health care of the animals.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) for establishment of a laboratory on conservation of endangered species near Nehru Zoological Park at Hyderabad with the objective of monitoring of genetic variation by DNA finger printing, establishment of gene banks for conservation of endangered species and standardizing techniques for in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer to save and preserve the endangered species of wild animals.
Environmental Impact Assessment
A total of 262 projects were appraised for environmental and site clearance during the year, out of which, 104 were cleared, 85 were either rejected or exempted or closed and the remaining were pending.
Two studies - one on Sustainable Development Plan for Environmental Protection of Kutch District in Gujarat and the other on Evaluation of Characterization of Natural and Alternate Sand Resources in Selected Zones of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, were sponsored.
Draft notification on siting for industrial projects and proposed amendments to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991, were issued during the year.
Prevention and Control of Pollution
In 17 categories of identified highly polluting industries, as on 31.12.99, out of 1,551 industries 1,284 have provided the necessary pollution control facilities, 153 industries have been closed down and remaining 114 industries are defaulting. Legal actions under the Environment (Protection) Act were taken for the defaulting units.
Emission standards for new generator sets (up to 19 KW) run on petrol and kerosene were finalized and notified during the year.
Standards for coal-mine (open cast) including code of practice were finalized and being notified and those relating to textile industries and primary water quality criteria for bathing water are also finalized.
The revised notification on Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation), was issued on 14th February 2000.
Noise standards for stationary diesel generator sets (15-500 KVA), notified during January 1999, were implemented. Standards for noise limits within cinema halls and vehicles were also being notified.
In order to control noise pollution, standards for bursting crackers have been issued in October 1999 to restrict the use of crackers in the metro cities.
476 industries have installed the pollution control systems to comply with the prescribed standards, 130 industries have been closed and 245 industries have to install the necessary pollution control systems to comply with the standards as suggested by the Ministry.
In consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Ministry of Surface Transport has notified more stringent emission standards known as Bharat Stage-II similar to Euro-II emission standards for registration of motor cars and four-wheelers.
Only unleaded petrol is supplied in all retail outlets of the entire country with effect from 1.2.2000 and 0.25% sulphur in diesel with effect from 1.1.2000 respectively.
A notification containing the draft rules to provide for uniform consent procedure to be followed by the State Pollution Control Boards and the Pollution Control Committees has been issued on 20.12.1999 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Under the Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) scheme, 88 CETPs have been approved for financial assistance to 12 States in the country.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) continued the monitoring of water quality of national aquatic resources in 507 stations, out of which, 414 stations are on rivers, 25 on groundwater, 38 on lakes and 30 on canals, creeks, drains, ponds, etc.
According to the studies on water quality status conducted by the CPCB, it has been revealed that Yamuna river is most polluted river in the country, having high BOD and coliform in the stretch of about 500 Km, between Delhi and Etawah.
Under River Action Plan, the Central and State Pollution Control Boards have identified 26 coastal river stretches in the medium and minor rivers and their tributaries in the peninsular region, for assessment of pollution load for restoration of the water quality.
Vehicular emission monitoring were conducted by the CPCB during the year and it was revealed that 89.5% two-wheelers, 95% of 3-wheelers and 85% of the four-wheelers were complying to the prescribed carbon monoxide (CO) standards.
During the year, the Eco-Mark license was granted to M/s Madhya Bharat Paper Ltd., Bilaspur (M.P.) for manufacturing writing and printing papers as per the standards.
Hazardous Substances Management
Amendment to the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 were notified on 20.1.2000.
Amendment to Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989 were notified on 6.1.2000.
The final notification to conserve topsoil and prevent the dumping and disposal of flyash discharged from coal or lignite based thermal plants have been issued by the Ministry on 14.9.1999.
A draft of the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules has been issued during the year inviting objections/suggestions from the public within 60 days.
5th edition of red book containing duties to be performed during emergency, names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc. of the key functionaries of State Governments, State Pollution Control Boards, Chief Inspectors of Factories, experts/institutions have been published and circulated.
Public notices dated August 1, 1999 and September 1, 1999 for registration of reprocessers/recyclers of metallic waste, waste oil and lead acid batteries were issued with the purpose of evaluating units having environmentally sound management practices and in compliance with various environmental legislations.
A Steering Committee has been constituted to oversee the implementation of the Biomedical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. The Committee has finalized the draft amendments to these rules.
A Basel declaration on the Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes and a Protocol on Liability and Compensation were adopted during the 5th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-5) to the "Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal" held at Basel during 6-10th December 1999. The Indian delegation was led by Honourable Minister of Environment and Forests.
National River Conservation Directorate
Out of the 261 schemes of pollution abatement sanctioned under Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I, 258 schemes were completed during the year.
As against the target to intercept, divert and treat 873 mld of sewage under GAP Phase-I, 835 mld has been commissioned so far.
The GAP Phase-II has been merged with the extended National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and the expanded NRCP covers 141 towns located along 22 inter-State rivers in 14 States.
Under Yamuna Action Plan, pollution abatement works are being taken up in 21 towns out of which, 12 are in Haryana, and eight are in U.P. besides Delhi. Under the Plan, 31 schemes have been completed so far.
Out of the sanctioned 159 schemes of pollution abatement under NRCP, 37 schemes have been completed so far.
The criteria for identification of grossly polluting industries under Industrial Pollution Control along the Rivers and Lakes, has been revised after detailed consultation with CPCB and SPCBs and a new criteria has been developed.
Water quality monitoring has been initiated for the River Sutlej in Punjab, Betwa, Tapti, Khan, Kshipra, Narmada, Wainganga and Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and Cauveri in Tamil Nadu, besides the rivers covered under GAP Phase-I and Phase-II.
Citizens’ Monitoring Committees are being constituted in every town where the NRCP is being executed.
Activities in connection with the Dal Lake Conservation Programme (DLCP) under the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) were continued and an amount of Rs. 25 crores was released to the State Government as additional financial assistance.
A Standing Committee on the National River Conservation Authority (NRCA) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Minister (E&F) to enable a more frequent review of the progress of the programmes under the River Action Plan.
A Committee of NGOs, environmentalists and public health engineers has been constituted for suggesting for measures of improvement in the River Action Plans.
National Afforestation and Eco-development Board
Continued to implement specific schemes for promoting afforestation and management strategies, which help the States in developing suitable afforestation and eco-development packages for augmenting biomass production through a participatory planning process with the local people.
Four key elements have been emphasized in the afforestation schemes during the Ninth Five Year Plan: Promotion of Joint Forest Management, Microplanning, incorporation of Improved Technologies, and Monitoring and Evaluation of the projects. The project authorities are being given adequate flexibility by way of ‘entry-point activities’ and requisite funds for building up awareness etc. amongst communities.
Special focus given to development of bamboo and medicinal plants under the Conservation and Development of Non-Timber Forest Produce Scheme, with a view to augment income of tribal and rural poor living on the forest fringes.
Report of the Advisory Committee for increasing the role and participation of Women in forestry finalized.
NAEB continued to monitor the progress of afforestation and seedling distribution under Point No. 16(a) and (b) of the Twenty Point Programme.
Under the major research schemes, namely, Environmental Research Programme, Eco-systems’ Research Scheme and Action-Oriented Research Programme for Eastern and Western Ghats, twenty-eight studies were completed, twenty-one new projects initiated and 106 on-going projects were reviewed and monitored for their progress during the year.
The interim report of the Environment Research Management Plan under World Bank assisted Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project, was discussed and accepted.
The Fifth Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Bonn, Germany to discuss various issues relating to implementation of the commitments by the parties under the convention and issues relating to Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms.
The meeting of the National Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Member-Environment, Planning Commission, discussed the plan of implementation and other issues in the sectors like coal, power and renewable energy with reference to options for stabilization of greenhouse gases.
Guidelines in the Road Sector in the IHR, rain water harvesting for irrigation and domestic use; Location planning and site selection for residential buildings, tourist/commercial complexes in Hill Towns was prepared by the G.B. Pant Institute on Himalayan Environment and Development during the year.
The Project Evaluation Committee of the G.B. Pant Institute approved 29 project proposals under the Integrated Eco-development Research Programmes for the Himalaya. The Institute also completed an empirical study of development of tribal communities, particularly with reference to Rajis (Van Rawats) during the year.
The Institute also conducted various training programmes, seminars and workshops on the issues related to people’s participation in bio-diversity conservation, methodology for estimating canopy structures and removal of Himalayan yew, etc. during the year.
The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) continued various research activities of different bio-geographical regions of the country in its eight research institutes and three advanced centres located in various parts of the country.
Methods were developed to convert the "dye-extracted bio-mass" compost in short duration by Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. New species Populus illicifolia and P.euchratica were introduced by the Institute to India.
Six salt-tolerant clones of Casuarina equisetifolia were identified for afforestation in salt affected areas by Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree-Breeding, Coimbatore. Various agro-forestry systems for the farmers were also developed by the Institute.
The Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore, evolved techniques for commercial preservation of wood specimen by use of cashewnut shell oil. Scientific debarking techniques to minimize damage to Machilus macrantha were also developed by the Institute.
Potting media for container nursery for A.procera, A.nilotica and D.sissoo were standardized by the Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur. The Institute also established low-cost drum type driers demonstration in the four selected villages of Madhya Pradesh and two villages in Orissa.
Standardized methods for establishing short-term sub-culture and long-term sub-culture from mature tree of Ailanthus excelsa and Acacia nilotica were developed by the Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur.
The institute also developed Volume tables for irrigated plantations for E.camaldulinisis and D.sissoo.
Standardized nursery techniques for Paulownia and Poplar were developed by the Institute of Forest Productivity, Ranchi.
The Centre for Forestry Research and Human Resource Development, Chindwara, conducted certificate courses and nursery and plantation technology during the year. The Institute also evolved micro plan for Village Forest Committees of the State Forest Departments.
The ICFRE also continued its various externally aided projects during the year and downloaded the requisite information in its newly developed web-site for easy accession by the users.
The Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, Bangalore, successfully developed technology for manufacture of Bamboo Mat Board (BMB), Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheet (BMCS), etc. The technology on BMB has been registered as World Project for Expo-2000.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun continued its research activities on the ecological, biological, socio-economic and managerial aspects of wildlife conservation in various parts of the country.
The Institute also initiated research projects on Sea Turtles on East-coast of India and collaborative project with US Wildlife Service on development of interpretative facility in Panna and Corbett Tiger Reserves.
The Institute also conducted various training programmes and advisory services in the field of wildlife to several professional agencies including government and corporate organizations.
The Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore undertook 26 research projects during the year. The important achievements include sound scientific recommendations for the conservation of the Andaman Teal, Narcondam Hornbill and Nicobar Megapode. The Centre also studied extent of pesticide contamination in a few water bodies affecting bird-life and anthropogenic pressures in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserves and its effect on some endangered bird species.
National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS)
The Standing Committee on Bio-resources and Environment, constituted by the Planning Commission, recommended 13 new projects to various organizations in the country under the NNRMS Scheme during the year. The Committee also monitored the progress of 28 on-going projects.
Education, Training and Information
Forestry Education, Training and Extension
The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun continued to organize, direct and manage the activities related to forestry education, extension and training.
During the year, 45 persons were awarded Ph. D. degree and 216 fellowships were allotted to various institutions.
The Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun conducted five compulsory training courses for in-service IFS officers during the year. The Academy also trained 51 officers promoted from State Forests Services of different State Cadres under the training programme.
The Directorate of Forest Education, Dehradun conducted 10 training courses for rangers, forest officers and other personnel throughout the country during the year.
The Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute conducted several short-term courses and training in specific areas of wood processing technology during the year.
The Indian Institute of Forest Management organized 11th batch of the Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management consisting of 37 students.
Under the Management Development Programme, the Institute also imparted training to serving forestry personnel from the various State Forest Departments, NGOs and officers from other development departments.
Wildlife Education and Training
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun completed its XX Diploma Course for the officers from various States and Union Territories. The Institute also commenced its XXI Diploma Course during the year.
The XV 3-Month Certificate Course on Wildlife Management, was also conducted by the Institute for the Range Forest Officers from various States and UTs.
Two Orientation Workshops for Wildlife Watch Coordinators and a special course in "Wildlife Protection, Law, and Forensic Science for probationers of Indian Customs and Central Excise Service" were conducted by the Institute during the year.
A one-week capsule course for IFS officers was also organized by the Institute and a total of 34 IFS officers were trained.
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH)
The NMNH continued to promote non-formal environmental education, conservation and awareness among the people through various in-house and out-reach activities during the year.
A tableau on the theme encompassing the overall environment, the spoilt environment by the human race and the sustainable development with least effect on environment was prepared by NMNH for participation in the Republic Day Celebrations, 2000 on behalf of the Ministry.
The NMNH and its Regional Museums in Mysore and Bhopal also conducted diverse activities on conservation and education among various groups during the year.
The building landscape work of the Regional Museum of Natural History in Bhubaneshwar was completed during the year and various specimens were collected and finalized for display in the museum.
The Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards and Mahavriksha Puraskar for 1994-1997 were announced.
The Pitambar Pant National Fellowship Award for the year, 1999 was given to Prof. R. Raghavendra Rao, of National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow.
The B.P. Pal National Environment Fellowship Award for Bio-diversity for the Year, 1999 was given to Dr. K.P.S. Chandel, former Director, NGPGR, New Delhi.
The Rajiv Gandhi National Wildlife Conservation Award, was awarded for the year, 1998 to WWF, India in the institutional category and to Shri H.S. Panwar, Ex. Director, WII, Dehradun in individual category respectively.
Paryavaran Aur Van Mantralay Vishisht Vaigyanik Puraskar for the years 1996-97 and 1997-98 were awarded on 5.6.1999 on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Environmental Education, Awareness and Training
Formal Environment Education and Awareness
Subsequent to the adoption of a concept paper persuant to discussion in revitalization of environment education in school, by the State Education Ministers’ Conference, a Study is being conducted to assess the status of infusion of environmental content into the school curriculum and the effectiveness of its delivery. As a part of this project, a National Consultation on Environment Education was organized during 10-12 January 2000 with the objective of discussing the strategy for environment education formulated by the Ministry. Based on the discussions during the National Consultation, the EE strategy is being revised.
Non-formal Environment Education and Awareness
The National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) for 1999-2000 was organized by the Ministry with the major theme as "Keep our environment clean and green".
Under this campaign, 4040 organizations including NGOs, universities, schools and colleges, research institutions, women and youth organizations, Army units etc., from all over the country, were provided financial assistance for conducting awareness creating activities and for preparation and distribution of environmental education resource material to a wide range of target groups.
During the year, about 1800 Eco-Clubs were set up in different parts of the country with the objective of imparting environmental education as well as mobilization participation of school children in various environmental conservation activities in their localities.
A National Contest for Creating a Logo and Slogan for the Ministry was organized during the year through INTACH, New Delhi. Prizes were awarded to the winners and an exhibition of selected entries was also held in INTACH for the general public.
The Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad and the CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPREECC), Chennai continued to organize various activities with the objective of creating environmental awareness among all sections of the society especially the students and the teachers.
Both CEE and CPREEC organized a number of training programmes on environmental education during the year designed for each target group and conducted a number of exhibitions on environment and its related areas in order to inculcate awareness among the people for conservation of nature and natural resources.
A variety of environmental education resource materials were also brought out by CEE and CPREEC and distributed to several target groups during the year.
During the year, the Centre for Ecological Sciences, CES, Bangalore carried out 23 projects in the broad areas of bio-diversity of India, ecology and conservation biology, animal behaviour, mathematical ecology and evolution, conservation genetics and molecular ecology, climate variability, etc.
Based on the studies carried out by the CES, the major findings of some of the projects like ant-plant interactions, assessment of non-timber forest products for promoting sustainable and participatory forest management, etc., were recorded by the Centre.
The Centre for Mining Environment (CME), Dhanbad, continued its three-semester M.Tech. programme in Environmental Science & Engineering during the year. Besides, the Centre also organized ten training programmes on environmental management in mining areas and a number of R&D activities in its field.
The Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Eco-system (CEMDE), New Delhi developed a unique and novel bio-pesticide, which not only acts as a termiticide but also serves as a plant growth promoting bacteria. Besides, "lectin mediated technologies" for manipulation of rhizosphere microbial communities were also developed by the Centre during the year.
The Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Tiruvananthapuram, continued its activities for ex-situ conservation and sustainable utilization of tropical plant diversity in the country. About 1000 accessions of living plants belonging to 200 species from different tropical regions of India were added to the existing collections of the Garden during the year. The Institute also initiated the preparation of an Atlas of endemic plants of the Western Ghats of India.
The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Network with the Focal Point in the Ministry and 25 subject-area Nodes, known as ENVIS Centres located throughout the country, continued its activities in environmental information collection, collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination to its users.
The ENVIS Network responded to a total number of 14,100 queries during the year, of which 12,921 were national and 1,179 were international.
The ENVIS Focal Point continued to publish the ‘Paryavaran Abstract’ a quarterly journal reporting information on environmental research in Indian context.
‘ENVIRONEWS’ the monthly-newsletter of the Ministry reporting various important policies, programmes, enactments of new legislations/rules, important notifications and other decisions taken by the Ministry from time to time was regularly published by ENVIS Focal Point. The Annual Report (1998-1999) of the Ministry was also coordinated and published by the ENVIS Focal Point.
ENVIS Focal Point periodically updated the homepage of the Ministry in order to disseminate the up to date information on various aspects to all users through internet. Several major documents published by the Ministry were also downloaded in the homepage by ENVIS focal point.
The website of the Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP), a joint project of UNDP and IDRC, Canada and implemented by ENVIS was developed during the year and could be browsed in the URL: http://sdnp.delhi.nic.in.
Various services like dev-online service, interactive bulletin board service, lease server service, etc., were regularly provided by SDNP during the year.
Information on various sustainable development issues continued to be provided by SDNP through its web site, which was accessed by several users, both national and international on an average of 150 hits per day.
All the ENVIS Centres continued their activities related to the development of the databases in their specific subject-areas and dissemination of information to all concerned. Majority of the ENVIS Centres have developed their home pages and down loaded the necessary information in their specific subject-areas for dissemination to all concerned.
Legislation and Institutional Support
In pursuance of the recommendations made by the Commission on "Review of Administrative Law" the Ministry has initiated necessary actions for the amendment of various Acts, namely, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, etc.
The green-rating project of the industry, has been implemented by the Ministry, in association with the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.
Secretary (E&F) lead the Indian delegation for participation in the VIII Session of Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), held in New York from April 19-30, 1999.
Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forests and Secretary (E&F) attended the Fourth Meeting of the High Level Committee of Ministers and Officers of United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP), on 1st November 1999 in Bonn, Germany, for discussing the various emerging environmental issues and the recent activities of UNEP.
A Global Environment Cell (GEC) with UNDP assistance has been set up in the Ministry to examine and provide technical and scientific inputs into the process of project formulation for GEF assistance.
The Ministry signed the "Programme Support Document" under the Country Cooperation Framework-I with the UNDP, which provides a comprehensive focus on UNDP support to environment programmes.
The International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was celebrated at the national and state level on 16.9.1999 and a booklet entitled "The Montreal Protocol : India’s Success Story" detailing the evaluation of the Montreal Protocol outlines, and various activities taken by the Government of India to fulfill its obligations of the Montreal Protocol, was published on the occasion.
Draft Rules on Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Phase Out under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 was notified for public suggestions for comments.
Fiftyfive projects for about US$11.4 million were approved by the Multilateral Fund for India during the year. The Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund also approved US$82 million for the gradual phase-out strategy for production of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in India. The Indian delegation to the meeting in Beijing during December 1999, was led by Hono’ble Minister of Environment and Forests.
India was also elected as a Member and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the ODS for the year 2000.
Bilateral Cooperation Programmes and follow-up of MOUs/Joint Statements of Intent have been signed with Brazil, China, Germany, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, USA and Vietnam.
The Ministry participated in the 8th Regional Seminar for Tropical Ecosystem Management, held in Mynamar from 25-29th October 1999.
Administration, Civil Construction, Plan Coordination and Budget
Under the Modified Flexible Complementing Scheme (FCS), involving a two-tier system of evaluation, 57 scientists of the Ministry have been screened till 31.12.1999 for review becoming due as on 01.01.1999 and 01.07.1999 respectively.
During the year, cadre review of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre, revising the strength and composition of the Kerala and West Bengal cadres were conducted and necessary notifications issues.
Thirty direct recruits and 43 State Forest Service Officers under the IFS Promotion Regulations have been inducted into the service.
On an average, 35 questions were answered by the Ministry, on each question day, allotted to it in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha of the Parliament.
The Office Council of the Ministry, constituted under the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) Scheme, continued its activities. During the year, two meetings of the Council were held to discuss and sort-out various matters pertaining to the staff.
During the year, 13 new disciplinary cases were received from the various State Governments in the Vigilance Desk of the Ministry, out of which, seven cases have been decided and remaining cases are being finalized.
Golden Jubilee Celebration of Raj Bhasha-Hindi, was celebrated by the Ministry through various programmes and competitions and 65 officials were awarded for the best performance.
Cash prizes to eighteen officials of the Ministry were given as an incentive for performing internal work in Hindi.
The Ministry was awarded the first Indira Gandhi Raj Bhasha Shield for its excellent performance in the Official Language Policy of the Government for the year 1997-98.
The Civil Construction Unit (CCU) created in the Ministry, completed 23 civil construction activities in various wings of the Ministry, its attached and subordinate offices as well as autonomous organizations located in various parts of the country. The use of primary timber has been stopped in all the projects by the CCU and in its place, wood substitutes are being used in a phased manner.
The budget allocation of the Ministry for 1999-2000 was Rs. 700.00 crores against Rs. 704.09 crores for 1998-1999.
The Ministry has been allocated an out lay of Rs. 850.00 crores for the Annual Plan - 2000-2001 and Rs. 3013.84 crores for the Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-2002).