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

DEHRADUN

 

ICFRE was constituted as a comprehensive attempt towards re-organisation and re-vitalisation 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 and promote education, research and its application.

 

ii) To develop forestry extension programmes and propagates 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 initially 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 was originally scheduled to end on 31.12..99. The project was extended by the World Bank initially for one more year upto 31.12.2000 and the project cost revised to Rs.168.065 Crores. A further extension of one-year upto December 2001 has been granted by the World Bank on the basis of satisfactory performance of the first year benchmarks, assessed by the World Bank Supervisory Mission. The total outlay of the Project for the extended period is being enhanced to Rs.195.360 Crores (ICFRE component).

 

FREEP is mainly research capacity building project for ICFRE. The main objectives of the projects 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 funding. The project is designed 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 in public and private sector organisations involved in forest management. Further, it provides for training of specialists within the country and overseas. Emphasis has been laid on 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.260.00 Crores (including externally aided component).

 

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

India Eco-development Project was conceived as a Pilot Project with the World Bank assistance to conserve bio-diversity through Eco-development. An 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), Palamau Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand), Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka), Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala), Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh), Gir National Park (Gujarat), Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan) and Simlipal 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 in operation in the remaining seven sites.

World Bank 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 project is for a period of five years. The project took off only in the last quarter of 1997-98. The completion date is 31.12.2001 and closing date of credit is 30.6.2002. The total cost of the project is Rs.294.93 Crores which is 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

______________

Total Rs.294.93 Crores

The objectives of the project are to conserve Biodiversity by addressing both (a) the impact of local people on the protected areas and (b) the impact of the protected areas on the local people, and envisages to improve the capacity of Protected Area Management to effectively conserve Biodiversity and support collaboration between the State and the local communities in and around ecologically valuable areas.

The major components of the Project are as under:

• Improved Protected Area (PA) management to assist in the improvement of PA planning processes and building capacity, protection and management of ecosystems and habitats within PAs and to upgrade PA amenities for field staff. The major activities under this component are Survey and Demarcation, Construction of Staff Quarters and Patrolling Camps, Road Improvement, Wireless Tower, Fire Towers, Watch Towers, Fencing, Causeways, Vehicle/Boats/Elephants etc., Water Source Developments, Eradication of Weeds, Workshops/Study Tours, Training Courses, Assessment Studies, Pump, Handpumps, Trenches, Equipments, Information Technology Equipments, Office Building, Eco/Habitat Restoration, Plantation, Desilting of Tasks, Restoration of EPTs, Solar fencing, Construction of EPT Walls.
• Village Eco-development to assist in conducting participatory microplanning and provision of implementation support, implementing reciprocal commitments from villages and financing special programmes for joint forest management; The main activities under this component include Training Courses, Microplanning, Study Tours, Village Eco-development Fund, Rehabilitation of Degraded forests, Vehicles, JFM Plantation.
• Education and awareness and impact monitoring and research to assist in promoting public support for conservation through Environmental education and awareness campaign and impact monitoring and research and
• Overall Project Management

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 since 1995-96 (PPF stage) till 31.10.2000 are as under:

(Rs. in Crores)

The Mid Term Review of the project was conducted by the World Bank Mission in April-May, 2000. Keeping in view the progress of the project which is due for completion on 31.12.2001, the World Bank Mission has reduced the targets of the project. Revised Final Figures are awaited.

215. NATIONAL AFFORESTATION & ECO-DEVELOPMENT BOARD

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

(Rs. in Crores)

The main thrust of the above two 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.

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 AOFFP 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 basic features of these 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 two schemes:

1. Joint Forest Management (JFM) 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 creation 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.
4. Incorporation of improved technologies at the nursery/plantation stages, as may be necessary.

1. The Ganga Action Plan Phase I (cost = Rs.462.04 crores) was launched in 1985, with the expectation that it would be completed within the five years of the VII Plan. However, the Plan was considerably delayed due to the following reasons and has now been declared closed since 31.3.2000:

1. The fact that such a project was taken up for the first time in the country and

1. Difficulties in acquiring land for some schemes under the project and number of litigation cases.

 

2. Diversion of funds released for the various schemes under the project.

 

3. Contractual disputes in several cases.

Additionally, the cost of the scheme was revised upwards due to change in scope to Rs.462.04 crores compared to the original estimated cost of Rs.256.26 crores. Fund released by the Government of India has been of the order of Rs.451.70 crores (till 31-3-2000).

2. The Ganga Action Plan Phase II has got 5 sub-components:-

1. The Yamuna Action Plan approved in 1993 with a cost of Rs.509.45 crores was scheduled to be completed by 1998-99. It is being funded with loan assistance from the Japan Bank of International Co-operation at a cost of 17.77 billion yen. The Plan has been further granted extension till April, 2002 by JBIC.

2. The Gomati Action Plan and the (iii) Damodar Action Plan are less than Rs.100 crores each.

 

3. The Second Phase of the Ganga Action Plan has been launched with effect from July, 1995 when additional 19 towns along the Ganga over and above the 10 towns 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 8 towns. The total cost of the programme is of the order of Rs. 461.16 crores.

- progress in preparation of DPRs by State Government;

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

2. 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 crores. The plan received approval in October, 1996 and is expected to be completed within the IX Plan period.

Funds released under the programme have been of the order of Rs.5.18 crores so far. Slow progress in preparation of DPRs by the State Governments and the similar problem of funds released 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.

2. The NRCP was approved in July, 1995 at a cost of Rs.737.13 crores. It covers 46 towns located along the banks of 18 major rivers in 10 States. In September, 2000, approval has been granted by CCEA for the protection of two more rivers of Chennai at a cost of Rs.491.52 crores. A 10 year implementation schedule has been approved for the programme. Expenditure incurred by States under the plan is of the order of Rs.105.45 Crores by August, 2000

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

4. The National Lake Conservation Programme is a new scheme which received in principle approval from Planning Commission in April, 1997. Although originally 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 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-I, 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 minimize 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 under 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 stake holdership, 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 been taken up at the highest levels with the Governments of Bihar and U.P. 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 responsibly for non-operation of assets in Bihar and U.P. 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 Stabilization based technology for sewage treatment and use the treated sewage for irrigation purposes.

 

7. It is proposed to take up Kanpur in U.P., Nabadwip in West Bengal and Patna in Bihar for projecting as model towns by tackling all aspects of River Action Plan including non-point sources, resource recovery through plantation and better O&M of assets.

 

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 non-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 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 synchronized with those prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board. The NRCD has now adopted the standards prescribed by the CPCB under 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 treated 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.

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 39.09

and Fatehpur Sikri.

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 10.65

9) Widening of Agra Bye-pass 0.75

10) Improvement of Master Plan of roads of Agra city 21.22

Total 222.21

___________________________________________________________________________________

Financial requirement showing cost of projects, released amount, expenditure, progress and completion schedule of 10 projects referred above are as follows:

1. Water supply Agra

Amount released: Rs.20.50 crores

Amount spent: Rs.11.62 crores

The following works have been completed.

• 16 km. of pipe line has been laid in Hariparwat, Ghatwason and Lohamandi zone.
• 2 Nos. filter beds of WWI have been repaired and ready to use.
• Repairing and rehabilitation works in WWI such as wastewater drain, pump houses etc. are under progress.
• Supply order for replacing pumping plants of 11 old zones have been placed and delivery of pumping plants is in progress.
• Construction of Service reservoirs of Kotwali, Shahganj-III and Tajganj-I zones are under progress.

Work had started in 1998-99 and proposed to be completed by 2001-2002.

2. Water supply Mathura-Vrindaban

Cost of the project: Rs.42.00 crores.

Amount released: Rs.24.32 crores.

Amount spent: Rs.14.50 crores.

The construction works of intake well, 101 MLD Treatment Plant, clear water reservoir of 4500KL is under progress and likely to be completed by the year 2001. Feeder line has been laid in 4-km length and is in progress. Ground level reservoirs of Bhuteshwar, mukherjee Park, Jawahar Bagh area are under construction. Supply orders for raw water pumping plants and clear water pumping plants have also been placed. Power load has been sanctioned by UPSEB. Two Tubewells have also been constructed in Laxminagar locality, which is presently a Tubewells zone. Work is supposed to be completed by 2001-2002.

3. Storm Water Drainage System, Agra.

Cost of the project: Rs.6.6 crores

Amount released: Rs.6.6038 crores

Amount spent: Rs.1.92 crores.

Construction of drains namely Nawal Ganj in Trans Yamuna area, Bheem Nagar, Sikanda and Mustafa Quarter of namner Nala are in progress. Cleaning of Paliwal park drain, Mantola drain, Bhairon nala and Tajganj drain have already been completed and other works are in progress. Project started in 1997-98 and will be completed by 2001-2002.

4. Solid Waste Management in Agra.

Cost of the project: Rs.7.49 crores

Amount released: Rs.6,42 crores

Amount spent: Rs.6.38 crores

In this project the procurement of equipments such as dumper placers, wheel dozer, excavator loader, wheel barrows, tipping carts and mvd sludge pump have already been completed. Land has been acquired at Kubepura. 2 trenching grounds are been constructed at Karbhana and Foundry Nagar and 20 community latrines are being made. With the present level of completion the system can handle 70% of the solid waste generated and it is expected to go upto 90% once the project is completed. Expected to be completed by 2000-2001.

5. Gokul Barrage

Cost of the project: Rs.12.50 crores

Amount released: Rs.22.92 crores

Amount spent: Rs.18.84 crores

The barrage has been made on the river Yamuna near Murlidhar Ghat in Mathura with view to augment the water availability for Agra and Mathura, a project for the construction of a Barrage at Gokul was initiated in the year 1990. The progress of the works was slow on account of the shortage of funds. The total cost of the project at 1998 prices is about Rs.92.20 Cr. The Department of Urban Development had released about Rs.61.50 Cr. With a view to expediting the completion and commissioning of the project a proposal had been sanctioned by the Mission Management Board for bridging the financial gap. The catchment area of this Barrage 25900 sq. km. And it is designed for a flood discharge at 9500 cu. M. The proposed pond level is 165.0 m. Rs.12.50 crores which has been released as a part of the TTZ scheme, has been spent. However, the project has not been commissioned as a part work is incomplete for construction of some of the gates. In order to complete this project, an additional amount of Rs.10.42 crores is required. The project is expected to be completed by November 2000.

6. Construction of one part of Agra bye-pass.

Cost of the project: Rs.10.65 crores

Amount released: Rs.4.0 crores

Amount spent: Rs.1.97 crores

The work has been taken up in a phased manner. In the first phase, the existing canal service road has been widened and strengthened. From an initial width of 3m it has been widened to 3.7 m. In the second phase a road parallel to the existing canal road of 4.7 m. wide is being made.

Out of a total length of 20 km. land has been acquired upto 12 km. Earth work is under progress. Work has started in 1998-99 and will be completed by 2001-2002.

194. Widening of Agra bye-pass

 

The project worth Rs.0.76 Cr. Was sanctioned by the MMB and sought to strengthen &

increase the width of the canal service road upto 4.7 meters. It has been completed with an expenditure of Rs.0.72 Cr.

 

195. Improvement of Master Plan roads of Agra city.

 

Cost of the project: Rs.21.22 crores

Amount released: Rs.11.60 crores

Amount spent: Rs.6.28 crores

 

In the first phase 10 Master Plan roads to complete the missing links have been taken for a project cost of Rs.7.59 crores. Out of which, work for 7 roads have been completed and 3 are in progress. Land acquisition for rest of work is in progress. The remaining work is expected to be completed by 2000-2001.

 

196. Improvement of electric supply in Agra.

 

Cost of the project: Rs.9.11 crores

Amount released: Rs.4.55 crores

Amount spent: Rs.0.85 crores

 

Rs.9.11 crores has been approved for installation of a 315 MVA transformer at 400 KV sub-station at Pilpokhar. Order for the purchase of the transformer has been placed by UPSEB and it is expected that the transformers will be installed by march, 2001. Expected to be completed by 2001-2002.

 

197. Improvement of electric supply in the rural areas of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.

Cost of the project: Rs.39.09 crores

Amount released: Rs.19.55 crores

Amount spent: Rs.9.92 crores

Rs.29.09 crores has been earmarked for works in the distribution sector and about 10.00 crores has been set aside for improving the transmission system. A new sub-station of 132/33 KV is being constructed at Bodla for which land at confessional rates has been provided by the ADA. Transmission capacities of the 132/33 KV sub-stations at Bah, Gokul and Shamsabad road Agra are to be enhanced. Projects worth Rs.10 Cr. have been sanctioned for this. A total of about 357 villages shall be electrified. Ninety Five slums within the municipal limits of Agra shall be electrified. Sub-station at Saiyan has been constructed and at Dhanauta and Karkoli, work is in progress. In 85 villages rural electrification is in progress and expected to be completed by 2001-2002.

The objective of the project is to promote cost-effective Pollution abatement from industrial sources. The specific goals are:

1. to strengthen four State Pollution Control Boards
2. facilitate priority investments dedicated to prevent pollution from industrial sources
3. provide technical assistance

components and financing plan is under:

project, is also responsible to disburse the US $ 25.0 million which is now revised to US $ 23.30 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.

Till date, expenditure incurred under this project is Rs.35.72 crores, Out of this Rs.10 crores have been spent during 2000-2001. The progress is satisfactory in respect of all the components. It is expected that an amount of Rs.22 crores will be spent during 2001-2002.

The project on Environmental Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project became effectively operational in 1998. 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 23.08.97. At the 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 cores). The project started in September 1997 and its target date of completion is 30^th June 2003. The progress of the Project has been reviewed periodically through periodical Supervision Missions of the World Bank. Between June 1999 and April 2000 seven Supervision Missions took place. It was agreed during these Missions that certain components such as (i) Regional Offices of MoEF; (ii) Paryavaran Vahini; (iii) ENVIS Centres; and (iv) Environmental Indicators should be dropped since no progress had been made in their implementation. In October 1999 the Mid Term Review Mission of the Bank suggested a reduction in Project outlay to 43 million dollars considering the progress made till then. The Ministry was also requested to reset priorities for the Project. For this purpose a senior officers meeting took place in January 2000 followed by a meeting of the Steering Committee in March 2000. After this the final Mid-Term Review concluded in April 2000 and it was felt that considering the last depreciation in the value of the rupees against the dollar the project outlay should be reduced to 45.53 million dollars. The Mission also agreed to include three new components namely Environmental Impact Assessment, Coastal Zone Management Plans and Training of Media in Environmental Journalism. Since the expenditure was low, recorded only 5.82 million dollars by June 2000, another short Mission of the World Bank visited the Ministry in October 2000 to pave the way for amendment in the Development Credit Agreement. They felt that there was only a 80% probability of expenditure considering the time available and the procurement of progress achieved in the past. Large reductions were also suggested under certain components such as (a) Environmental Law Component – reduction of US $ 0.70 million (b) Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management (Deptt. Of Ocean Development) – reduction of US $ 0.96 million (c) Institutional Strengthening (Gujarat) Component – reduction of US $ 2.25 million (d) Contingencies – reduction of US $ 1.00 million; and (e) Coastal Management Plan (Ministry of Environment & Forests) Component – reduction of US $ 2.00 million. The project outlay, therefore, came down to 29.62 million dollars. Another Mission of the World Bank visited the Ministry on 7^th & 8^th December 2000 and discussed the various components about the possible simplifications of project procedures and the status of the progress with regard to the various components. The final amendment to the Development Credit Agreement was handed over to the Ministry of Finance by this Mission and it is expected that project restructuring will be completed shortly.