216. 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 Ist June 1991. The major objectives of the Council are as wider:

1. To undertake. aid and promote education. research and its application.
2. To develop forestry extension programmes and propagate the same through mass media audio-visual aids and extension machinary.
3. To provide Consultancy services in the field of forestry research- education and training in allied sciences.
4. To develop and maintain a National Library and Information Centre for forestry and allied sciences.

ICFRE is implementing the World Batik-aided project viz. Forestry Research, Education and Extension Project (FREEP). This is mainly research capacity building project for ICFRE. The project was initially approved at the cost of Rs. 158.75 crores of which Rs. 129.385 crores is available from the World Batik. The project commenced from Sept. 94 and was originally scheduled to end on 31.12.99. The project has been extended by the World Batik for one more year upto 31.12.2000 and the project cost is being revised to Rs. 168.065 Crores. The main objectives of the projects are to strengthened as the first phase of a long-term process of improvement in India's forestry research system. It shall also improve standards of forest education and researchers staff in public and private sector organisation involved in forest management. Further, it provides for training of specialists within the country and overseas. Emphasis has been laid on to the development of socio-economic experiment necessary for the implementation of the new forest policy. Besides, it also supports extension of research. The revised Ninth Plan Outlay for ICFRE is Rs.267 Crores (including externally aided component).

217. ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS AND SANCTUARIES

There arc 84 National Parks and 447 Wildlife Sanctuaries in the country for which central assistance is provided to the States/UTs wider 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.85 crores.

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

India Eco-development Project was conceived as a Project to conserve biodiversity, through Eco-development with the World Bank assistance. Ali Indicative Plan was drawn up for the eight sites, which was financed by UNDP. This Plan was discussed by Pre-Appraisal Missions of the World Bank and on that basis the work of preparing the detailed India Eco-Development project was taken up.

The eight sites were Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal), Palamu Tiger Reserve (Bihar), Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka), Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala), Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh), Gir National Park (Gujarat), Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan) and Similipal Tiger Reserve (Orissa). Similipal was, however, dropped later on due to certain activities relating to relocation which was considered by World Bank as violative of their directive. Now the project is being implemented in the remaining seven sites at a total cost of US $67 million. The main objectives of the project are:

1. Improved P.A. Management.
2. Village Eco-development.
3. Development of more effective and extensive support for P.A. Management and Ecodevelopment.
4. Overall Project Management. Preparation of future Bio-diversity Projects.

The project is for a period of five years and will cost Rs. 294.93 crores to be financed as under:

i)	Loan from IDA	Rs. 122.10 Crores
ii)	Grant from GEF Trust	Rs. 87.98 Crores
iii)	Government of India and Project States	Rs. 64.63 Crores
iv)	Project Beneficiaries	Rs. 20.22 Crores

The five-year period of the Project falls from the financial year 1996-97 to 2001-2002.

World Bank has declared the Project effective from 27.12.1996. However, the implementation of the project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in its meeting held on 14.10.1997.

The expenditure on the Project is to be met out of Government funds and then claimed as reimbursement from the World Bank.

The details of funds released to Project States and expenditure incurred by them as well as Ministry of Environment & Forests as under:

(Rs. in lakhs)

Year	Funds released to the State Governments	Expenditure by MoEF	Total
1995-96 (PPF)	190.00	4.13	194.13
1996-97		41.74	41.74
1997-98	1386.50	48.72	1435.22
1998-99	2043.51	45.82	208933
1999-2000 (upto Dec.'99)	1869.94	34.17	1904.11

219. NATIONAL AFFORESTATION & ECO-DEVELOPMENT BOARD

There are two 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 Revised Outlay
1.	Integrated Afforestation Eco- development Project (IAEP).	100% Government of India	273.87
2.	Area Oriented Fuelwood & Fodder Projects Scheme (AOFFP).	50% by Government of India and 50% bv State Governments.	200.00

Thc main thrust of the above W o 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 two schemes were implemented in the 8th FYP also. The IAEP scheme is implemented by field level implementing agencies in different States in selected watersheds. The AOFF P scheme is mainly focussed on raising Fuelwood and fodder plantations in identified Fuelwood fodder deficit districts of the country.

Progress of implementation of these two 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 schemes have been fine tuned to the mandate of NAEB and during 91h FYP. The following activities have been made an integral part of the implementation process for these two 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 n-Lid term corrections in light of evaluation indicators can be carried out.
4. Incorporation of improved technologies at the nursery/plantation stages as may be necessary.

220. NATIONAL RIVER CONSERVATION DIRECTORATE:

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 V11 Plan. However, the Plan is still continuing. Major reasons for delay in completion of schemes are:

1. The fact that such a project was taken up for the first time in the country and adequate technical expertise was initially lacking.
2. Difficulties in acquiring land for some schemes under tile project and number of litigation cases.
3. Diversion of funds released for tile various schemes under the project.
4. 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 estimated cost of Rs. 256.26 crore. Fund released by tile Government of India has been of the order of Rs. 451.70 crore as on date (31.12.1999).

The plan is expected to be completed by March. 2000. Hence, the tentative projection for the next year is around Rs. 10.34 crores to take care of balance payment.

2. Regarding Ganga Action Plan Phase II, there are 6 sub-components : -

(i). The Yamuna Action Plan approved in 1993 with an original cost of Rs. 156.78 crore was scheduled to be completed by 1998-99. It is being funded with loan assistance from the Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund of Japan at a cost of 17,77 billion yen.

During 1996-97, the Supreme Court directed 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 2000.

The delays in this programme have been on account of

• unduly long 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
• delay in appointment of Consultant by the external funding agency for reviewing monitoring the progress of the plan,

Expenditure oil tile plan so far has been Rs. 327.75 crores. It is likely to go up in tile coming months. Expenditure projected for this financial year is higher in view of the need for completion of tile plan by March. 2000.

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

iii) The Second Phase of the Ganga Action Plan has been launched with effect from July, 1995 AN-lien additional 18 towns along the Ganga over and above the I I towns covered ill 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 tile programme is currently of the order of Rs. 396.16 crore of which capital cost is Rs. 378 crore.

The plan is expected to be completed with-in 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. 27.60 crore only. Progress is rather slow, basically because of slow progress in preparation of DPRs by the State Government:

• State Government's reluctance to release matching share to implementing agencies,
• withholding Government of India's funds by State Governments and not passing the funds to the executing agencies.

iv) The last component of the Ganga Action Plan Phase-11 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 of Rs. 5.18 crore so far. Slow progress in preparation of DPRs by the State Governments and the similar problem of funds as 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 revisions from time to time.

The NRCP was approved in July, 1995 at a cost of Rs. 737.13 crore. It covers 46 towns located along the banks of 18 major rivers in 10 states. A 10 year implementation schedule has been approved for the programme. Progress has been rather slow mainly on account of reasons bedevilling the other Action Plans. Expenditure under the plan was about Rs. 105.05 Crores by December, 1999.

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 pattern into 100% Centrally funded plans, with effect from 1st April, 1997 and subsequently CCEA approved. This conversion and decision of releasing funds directly to implementing agencies without routing through State Government, may lead to reduce the time taken in the implementation of the Action Plan.

The National Lakes Conservation Programme is a new scheme which received in principle approval from the Planning Commission in April, 1997. Although originally the proposal was to take up 21 urban takes for pollution abatement activity, the Planning Commission has only approved cleanup 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 has been proposed for Cabinet approval.

Measures for improvement:

The NRCD has undertaken a series of measures to improve the performance. Keeping in mind the experience gained by the implementation of GAP-L the important measures include.

1. To avoid diversion of funds by State Governments, it has now been decided to make releases of money directly to the implementing agencies.
2. To minimise slippage on account of delays in land acquisition. the State Governments have been asked to process the schemes of land acquisition first before the schemes of sewage treatment plants etc. are approved.
3. A Standing Committee on the National River Conservation Authority (NRCA) has been constituted wider the Union Minister of Environment & Forests to enable a more frequent review, of the progress of these programmes.
4. A Project Advisory Committee under Shri K.C. Sivaramakrishnan, member NRCA has been constituted. In order to strengthen local stakeholdership, Mayors and Chairmen of the respective local bodies are also members of this committee.
5. The matter of continuous supply of electricity for operation of assets has also taken up at the highest levels with the Governments of Bihar and UP concurrently, on the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the State Pollution Control Board have issued show cause notices to the local bodies which are responsible for non-operation of assets in Bihar and UP under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. CPCB has also issued notices to such local bodies under the Environment (Protection) Act. 1986,
6. In order to address the problem of bacterial pollution. it has been decided to use Waste Stabilisation based technology for sewage treatment and use the treated sewage for irrigation purposes.
7. The core schemes of STPs and interception and diversion account for the major expenditure under the River Action Plans. The impact of these programmes on the public will be visible only when non-point sources of pollution as disposal of garbage, cattle sheds along the river banks, cattle wallowing in the river and disposal of dead bodies and animal carcasses are simultaneously tackled by the local bodies. The Ministry proposes to appoint a Technical Group from IIT, Kanpur to carry out a detailed survey at Kanpur of the extent of pollution of the river from non-point sources
8. It is proposed to execute Memoranda of Understanding between the Central Government, the State Governments and respective local bodies to ensure operation and maintenance of assets as well as pollution abatement from other noti-point sources like garbage, cattle washing in river, cattle sheds and open defecation along the bank- on a sustainable basis.
9. A new criteria has been introduced while examining the project proposals where the financial status of the local bodies of each Action Plan town is being evaluated and schemes are approved only when a firm commitment for appraisal and maintenance is available from them.
10. Regular consultations with Members of Parliament, MLAs and Mayors/Presidents in the major Ganga Action Plan towns are being held to discuss outstanding problems of operation and maintenance, delay in implementation of the programmes and measures necessary to control pollution from non-point sources.
11. A scheme of 'Green Rating' of municipal towns its is proposed to be introduced under which large towns will be rated on the basis of overall cleanliness and hygiene. 'Green Rating' proposal for Kanpur and Delhi has already been sanctioned.
12. The environmental standards for river water quality have been synchronised with those prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board. The NRCD has no", adopted the standards prescribed by the CPCB tinder the Environment Protection Act, for the application of treatment waste water for irrigation, thus, (a) reducing the cost of sewage treatment substantially - and (b) conserving valuable organic matter in treatment sewage which will be highly useful for irrigation. At the same time, the standards of levels of Microbial pollution in treated waste water for irrigation have been prescribed in the interest of public health.
13. A committee of NGOs, environmentalists and public health engineers has been constituted for suggesting measures of improvements in the river action plans. The recommendations of the committee are being given due consideration which formulating the schemes under the river action plans to make them more responsive to the needs of the public.

221. TAJ PROTECTION MISSION

Consequent to the Supreme Court orders dated 4.9.96 in the Writ Petition No. 13381/84, the Planning Commission estimated (in consultation with the State Government) an amount of Rs. 600 crores on a 50:50 percent (Centre-State) matching basis to implement various schemes relating to protection of the Taj Mahal. A Mission Management Board under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. UP has been constituted for overseeing the implementation, monitoring and reviewing of the various programmes/schemes formulated for the protection of the Taj Mahal. Schemes were submitted relating to uninterrupted power supply, augmentation of water supply, improvement of drainage and sanitation, city tree plantation in the context of environmental protection of the Taj Mahal.

The EFC Memo giving details of the scheme on Taj Protection Mission was approved in the EFC meeting held on 26.10.98. On 23.2.99, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved schemes of Rs. 222.21 crores for the following 10 projects:

(Rs. in crores)

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)	72.80
4)	Water Supply (Mathura-Vrindavan)	42.00
5)	Gokul Barrage	12.50
6)	Solid Waste Management in Agra city	7.49
7)	Storm Water Drainage System (Agra)	6.59
8)	Construction of one part of Agra Bye-pass	10.6
9)	Widening of Agra Bye-pass	0.75
10)	Improvement of Master Plan of roads of Agra city	2 L22
Total		222.21

Time frame for each project is given below:

Power supply project in Agra city and rural areas of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri

Projects for improvement of electricity supply in and around the rural areas of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri has been approved by the MNTB and the Central Government and this project will start in 1999 and proposed to be completed by 2001.

Water supply Agra

• Work has already been started in 1997-98
• 23% of the intake well construction has been completed
• Work is proposed to be completed by 2001-2002.

• Intake well has been constructed
• Laying of pipe line has been started
• Work for the water treatment plant has been started
• Proposed to be completed by 2001-2002

• Cost of construction is Rs. 74.38 crores and remaining work is only for 12.5 crores
• Construction of the bridge has been completed
• Construction of pond is mostly completed
• Buildings are being constructed
• Project, initiated in 1997-98 and will be completed by March 2000.

Solid waste management in Agra city

Project started in 1997-98 and will be completed by 1999-2000.

Storm Water Drainage System

Project started in 1997-98 and will be completed by 2001-2002.

Construction of one part of by-pass

Work have been initiated in 1998-99 and will be completed by 1999-2000.

Widening of Agra bye-pass

Project started in 1998-99 and will be completed by 1999-2000

Improvement of Master Plan road of Agra city

Land acquisition Partly complete and remaining part is under progress Project will be completed by 2001-2002

222. WORLD BANK AIDED INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION PREVENTION PROJECT

The objective of the project is to promote cost-effective Pollution 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

The total outlay of the project is US $ 13,0 millions. The Ministry of Environment & Forests which is a nodal agency for implementing this project, is also responsible to disburse the US $ 25.0 million which is now revised to US $ 2130 million (equivalent to Rs. 98.9 crores) under IDA credit for three components viz. Institutional. Investment and Technical assistance. The term of the Project is till March, 2002.

Present status of the project:

Till date, expenditure incurred under this project is Rs. 25.4 crores. Out of this Rs. 14.88 crores have been spent during 1999-2000. The progress is satisfactory in respect of all the components. It is expected that an amount of Rs. 22 crores will be spent during 2000-2001.

223. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT (WORLD BANK AIDED)

The project on Environmental management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project became effectively operational in 1988. During the year 1998-99, the concerned Executive Agencies responsible for implementation of the respective environmental components remained busy with preparation and finalisation of the respective Project Implementation Plans (PIPs) which underwent several revisions on the advice of the World Bank before the same could be finally approved by the Bank The project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in its meeting held on 23.8.97. At tile time of finalisation of the outlay its approved cost was US $ 61.48 million comprising of IDA credit of US $ 50 million and Government of India contribution of US $ 11.48 million (Rs. 221.38 crores). The project started in September. 1997 and its target date of completion is 30th June, 2003. The progress of implementation of tile project has been slow and its progress has been received from time to time by a team of Experts from the World Bank based on which some components have either been dropped such as Regional Offices, ENVIS, Environmental Indicators and Paryavaran Vahini necessitating reduction in the project outlay. Therefore, upward revision in the project is not anticipated. The expenditure incurred so far is Rs. 25.93 crores. The World Bank has recommended a reduced outlay for the project of the order of US $ 43, million till completion of tile project in June. 2003.

The project became effectively operational in 1998-99 and tile progress so far has been completion of activities such as hiring of consultants, finalisation of requirement of equipment recruitment of staff, completion of collection of preliminary data, preparation of inception reports, review of several studies, setting of Export Committees and Working Groups.

100 CRORES OR MORE