CHAPTER-III

APPRAISAL REPORTS OF MAJOR PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES

COSTING Rs.100 CRORES OR MORE

 

1.0. INDIAN COUNCIL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH & EDUCATION (ICFRE), DEHRADUN

ICFRE was constituted as a comprehensive attempt towards reorganisation and revitalisation of Forestry Research, Education and Training in India in December, 1986. It was formed an autonomous institution under this Ministry with effect from 1st June, 1991. The major objectives of the Council are as under:

i) To undertake, aid, promote education, research and its application.

ii) To develop forestry extension programmes and propagate the same through mass media, audio-visual aids and extension machinery.

iii) To provide consultancy services in the field of forestry research, education and training in allied sciences.

iv) To develop and maintain a National Library and Information Centre for forestry and allied sciences.

ICFRE is implementing the World Bank-aided project viz. Forestry Research, Education and Extension Project (FREEP). This is mainly research capacity building project for ICFRE. The project was approved at the cost of Rs.158.75 crores of which Rs.129.385 crores is available from the World Bank. The project commenced from Sept. 94 and will end in Sept, 99. This is mainly a research capacity building project for ICFRE. The main objectives of the project are to strengthen the capacity of national and state institutions to plan and undertake priority research programmes, to improve the system of forestry education in research and academic institutions and to improve the extension of research findings. Further, it provides for training of specialists within the country and overseas. The Ninth Plan outlay for ICFRE is Rs.235 crores (including Rs.100 crores for externally aided component.).

1.1. ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS AND SANCTUARIES

There are 84 National Parks and 447 Wildlife Sanctuaries in the country for which central assistance is provided to the States/UTs under the scheme. This is an on-going scheme started during the VI Five Year Plan. The objective of this scheme is to encourage States/UTs to extend Protected Area Network. The schemes provide financial assistance for habitat development for Wildlife and biodiversity conservation, create infrastructural facilities for better protection and management. 100% assistance is provided under this scheme for identified items of non-recurring expenditure while 50% assistance is also provided in case of national parks in respect of recurring items of expenditure.

The total outlay of the scheme during IX Plan is Rs.110 crores.

1.2. INDIA ECO-DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (World Bank-aided)

The project aims at conserving biodiversity through Eco-development and is to be implemented as a pilot project in seven protected areas, as under:

  1. Gir National Park, Gujarat.

ii) Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka.

iii) Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

iv) Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala.

v) Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan.

vi) Palamau Tiger Reserve, Bihar.

vii) Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal.

The project will be implemented by the project states with a view to acheive the following objectives:

i) Improved protected area management.

ii) Village eco-development.

iii) Environmental education & awareness campaigns.

iv) Improved impact monitoring & research.

v) Preparation of future biodiversity projects.

Credit/Grant and project agreements were signed by the Govt. of India and State Governments concerned on 30.9.96. The India Eco-development Project was formally made effective from 27.12.96. The total outlay of the scheme viz. Rs.294.93 crores is to be financed as under:

i) Loan from IDA Rs.122.10 crores

ii) Grant from GEF Trust Rs. 87.98 crores

iii) Govt. of India and States Rs. 64.63 crores

iv) Project Beneficiaries Rs. 20.22 crores.

    1. NATIONAL AFFORESTATION & ECO-DEVELOPMENT BOARD

There are three Schemes of NAEB having cost of more than Rs.100 Crores during the 9th Five Year Plan. These Schemes are:

(Rs. in Crores)

S.No.

Name of the Scheme

Pattern of Assistance

9th Five Year Plan Outlay

1.

2.

3.

Integrated Afforestation & Eco-development Project(IAEP).

Area Oriented Fuelwood & Fodder Projects Scheme(AOFFP).

Non-Timber Forest Produce Scheme(NTFP)

100% by Government of India

50% by Government of India and 50% by State Governments.

100% by Government of India

334.00

230.00

120.00

The main thrust of all the above three schemes is to promote afforestation and ecological development especially in degraded forest areas so as to restore through natural regeneration or management intervention the forest cover in the country for ecological security and to meet fuelwood, fodder and other non-timber forest produce needs of the rural communities.

All the above three schemes have been continuing in 8th FYP also. The IAEP scheme is implemented by field level implementing agencies in different States in selected watersheds. The AOFFP scheme is mainly focussed on raising fuelwood and fodder plantations in identified fuelwood fodder deficit districts of the country. The NTFP scheme focuses medicinal plants, herbs and shrubs for meeting the felt needs of local population.

Progress of implementation of these three schemes during 8th Five Year Plan was got evaluated through an independent agency. Based on the recommendations of the Evaluation reports and feed back from implementing agencies, the basis features of these three schemes have been fine tuned to the mandate of NAEB and during 9th FYP, the following activities have been made an integral part of the implementation process for these 3 schemes:

1. Joint Forest Management will be a central and integral part of all plantation activities under these schemes. For building up awareness and thereby ensuring active participation amongst local communities, "entry point activities" will be taken by project implementing authorities which would involve creating of community assets which can be maintained by the community.

2. Microplanning of the project area by the Project implementing agencies in consultation with the local population will also be an integral part of all projects.

3. Monitoring & evaluation of project activities so that adequacy of JFM efforts and microplanning exercises could be ascertained and mid term corrections in light of evaluation indicators can be carried out.

1.4. NATIONAL RIVER CONSERVATION DIRECTORATE:

The costs of all the action plans of the Directorate taken in terms of their broad classification are in excess of Rs.100 crore as the under para 2.2 in Chapter-II indicates. The exception to this rule is in the case of:

- Gomati Action Plan currently costed at Rs. 61.11 crore (likely to be revise in the light of changes in scope of works, price escalation and non-availability of ODA aid from UK).

- Damodar Action Plan costing Rs.23.58 crore; and

- CETP, Calcutta estimated at Rs.65 crores with Govt. of India's share being 50%.

A Plan-by-plan appraisal is attempted below:

1. The Ganga Action Plan Phase I (cost = Rs.462.04 crore) was launched in 1985, with the expectation that it would be completed within the five years of the VII Plan. However, the Plan is still continuning. Major reasons for its running into the 12th year are:

a. The fact that such a scheme was taken up for the first time in the country and adequate technical expertise was initially lacking.

b. Difficulties in acquiring land for the project and number of litigation cases.

c. Diversion of funds released for the projects.

d. Contractual disputes in several cases.

Additionally, the cost of the scheme was revised upwards due to cost increases and scope changes to Rs.462.04 crore compared to the original Rs.256.26 crore. Expenditure measured as fund releases by the Government of India has been of the order of Rs.449.20 crore as on date.

The plan is expected to finish by March, 1999. Hence, the tentative projection for the next year is around Rs.12 crores, to take care of balance payment.

2. Regarding Ganga Action Plan Phase II, there are 6 sub-components associated with this plan.

(i) The Yamuna Action Plan approved in 1993 with an original cost of Rs.356.78 crore was scheduled to be completed by 1998-99. It is being funded with loan assistance from the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan at a cost of 17.77 billion yen.

From 1996-97, the Supreme Court has entered the scene. Orders issued by the Court were that works under the Plan in Haryana and Delhi were to be completed by 31st March, 1999. This schedule, however, has not been met but the Plan in these two States are expected to be completed by 31st March, 1999.

The delays in this programme have been on account of:

- undue time taken to finalise the treatment technology for sewage treatment plant;

- failure of the State Government to release their matching share for the plan; and

- further delay in appointment of Consultant by the external funding agency with a view to monitoring the progress of the plan.

Esxpenditure on the scheme so far has been Rs.258.52 crores. It is lilely to step up in the coming months. Expenditure projected for next year would be still higher in view of the need for completion of the plan by March, 1999.

ii) The Gomati Action Plan, the Damodar Action Plan and the Calcutta CETP are all less than Rs.100 crore individually.

iii) The Ganga Action Plan has launched into its second phase with effect from July, 1995 when additional 19 towns along the Ganga over and above the 25 covered in the first phase were taken up for pollution abatement work. In the first instance, the approval of the Action Plan was received only for the UP and Bihar components. In October, 1996 the Cabinet approval was received for the West Bengal component of the Plan covering 9 towns. The total cost of the programme is currently of the order of 396.16 crore of which capital cost are Rs.378 crore.

The plan is expected to be completed within 4 years from the date of approval of schemes in a particular town. Expenditure in terms of fund release by the Government of India for the programme has been Rs.16.34 crore only. Progress is rather slack, basically because of slow preparation of DPRs by the State Government.

- their reluctance to release matching share to implementing agencies;

iv) The last component of the Ganga Action Plan Phase-II pertains to the towns that have been covered under the directions of the Supreme Court mainly class II and class III towns. About 30 towns have been taken up under this phase at a total cost of Rs.220.95 crore of which capital cost constitutes Rs.209.89 crore. The plan received approval in October, 1996 and is expected to be completed within the IX plan period.

Expenditure incurred under the programme has been of the order Rs.16.37 crore so far. Slow preparation of DPRs by the State Governments and the same problem of funds indicated earlier dog the scheme. In a number of cases, the DPRs prepared are not in line with guidelines issued by the Directorate and therefore have been returned for repeated revisions.

3. The NRCP was approved in July, 1995 at a cost of Rs.736.86 crore. It covers 46 towns located along the banks of 18 major rivers spanning 10 states. A 10 year implementation span has been approved for the programme. Progress has been rather slow largely on account of reasons bedevilling the other Action Plans. Expenditure under the plan was about Rs.66 Crores by November, 1998.

Later Developments

As a result of the problems faced by the States in providing matching 50% share under the Action Plans, the National River Conservation Authority took a decision in July, 1997 to convert the 50:50 Centre/State funded action plans into 100% Centrally funded plans, with effect from April, 1997. However, the CCEA approval for the conversion is currently awaited. This conversion and with release of funds directly to implementing agencies without routing them through State Government, may serve to reduce the time taken in the implementation of the Action Plan.

The National Lakes Conservation Programme is a new scheme which received approval from the Planning Commission in April, 1997. Although in its original form, the proposal was to take up 21 urban lakes for pollution abatement activity, the Planning Commission has only approved clean-up operations in 10 lakes. One more lake namely the Bhoj in Madhya Pradesh has been already taken up with foreign assistance from the OECF. A tentative cost estimate of Rs.637 crores have been proposed for Cabinet approval.

    1. TAJ PROTECTION MISSION

CCEA approval has been obtained on 23.2.99 for initiating the following activities:-

(Rs. in Crores)

S.No.

Name of the Scheme

Total cost

1.

Improvement in Electric Supply at Agra Part-II

9.11

2.

Improvement in Electric Supply in and around the rural areas of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri

39.09

3.

Water Supply Agra-I

72.80

4.

Water Supply Agra-II

42.00

5.

Gokul Barrage

12.50

6.

Solid Waste Management

7.49

7.

Storm Water System Agra

6.59

8.

Construction of one part of Agra Bye-pass

10.65

9.

Widening of Agra Bye-pass

0.75

10

Improvement of Master Plan of roads of Agra city

21.22
 

Total

222.11

 

The action for release of Central assistance has been initiated.

 

1.6. POLLUTION PREVENTION PROJECT PHASE-II

The total outlay of the project is US $ 330 millions. The objective of the project is to promote cost-effective Pollutiion abatement from industrial sources. The specific goals are:

i) to strengthen four State Pollution Control boards.

ii) facilitate priority investments dedicated to prevent pollution from industrial sources.

iii) provide technical assistance.

Present status of the project:

1. The Government of India (Ministry of Environment & Forests) had signed an agreement with the World Bank to strengthen the State Pollution Control Boards of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the Industrial Pollution Prevention Project besides extending assistance for the Pollution Prevention Activities in small, medium and large scale industries.

2. The specifications, for procurement of equipment have been made and a tender evaluation committee is being constituted by RITES taking representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB). This arrangement will facilitate the procurement of equipment’s according to the requirements of the SPCBs and also will provide effective and timely inputs from the CPCB and SPCBs.

3. In the technical assistance component of the Industrial Pollution Prevention Project for GIS programme, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board has already advertised in the leading News Papers for procurement of information systems equipment, soft-ware and support services.

 

4. In the technical assistance component of the Industrial Pollution Prevention Prevention Project for Waste Minimisation Circle, seventeen workshops have been held at various parts of the Country. So far, 15 waste minimisation circles in the sectors of electroplating, pulp and paper, tannery, textiles-dyeing and printing, hosiery, etc. have been established in different parts of the country. About 300 waste minimistion measures have been identified by the circle members so far and majority of them have already been implemented. These measures have resulted in the reduction of pollution load to the extent of 15 to 30 percent. In addition, samples to the tune of Rs. 1.50 crores are expected per annum Extension of waste minimisation circles to 100 Nos in various sectors throughout the country and Development of communication strategy for launching awareness campaign on the concept of waste minimisation has also been taken up through NPC during the year.

1.7. INDIA: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CARRYING CAPACITY PROJECT

In pursuance of the Environment Action Programme, 1993 the World Bank has inititated a project proposal entitled "India: Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project". The Project will be implemented through the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Department of Ocean Development and Gujarat State. The main components of the project are Environmental Economics, Environmental Indicators, Environmental Law, Environmental Awareness, Mining, Strengthening of Regional Offices, Strengthening of Pollution Control Board and Strengthening of Environment Protection Programmes in Gujarat. The basic focus is to build capacity in these areas for better/informed decision making and monitoring and enforcement of Environmental Legislations.

The project involves a total outlay of US $ 61.48 millions comprising of IDA credit of US $ 50 million and Government of India contribution of US $ 11.48 million. Special emphasis is being placed on the State of Gujarat as an area specific programme as the state is not only one of the fastest growing industrial regions of the country, but also as the nature of the industries making a headway in the State involves high levels of pollution.