ENVIS Newsletter January- March, 2012
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ENVIS Newsletter January- March, 2012 Supported by: Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, New Delhi 110003 1 Editorial Index ‘Environment' & 'Development' Introduction ..... 1 are the two sides of the same coin. Conservation & Protection.... 1 Invariably Development had great of Natural Resources.... impact on the environment. Since last 1. Lake Conservation Plan.... 1 few decades, need for protecting the a) National Lake Conservation precious Environment during the Plan (NLCP).... 2 development process has been realized & b) State Lake Conservation Plan various efforts at national & (SLCP).... 2 international level are being taken. 2. River Conservation Plan.... 10 Percolating such efforts at a) National River Conservation ground level is the way towards Plan (NRCP).... 10 Sustainable Development. For this, local governing bodies play an important b) State River Conservation Plan role. Being State Environment (SRCP).... 10 Department, various efforts have been 3. Sardar Sarovar Project taken to balance Environment & Monitoring Cell (SSP).... 15 Development in effective manner. Environmental Awareness Environment Department have & Education.... 16 identified thrust areas like Natural 1. Environmental Information Resource Conservation, Environment System (ENVIS).... 16 Education & Awareness and Sustainable 2. National Green Corps (NGC).... 19 Development. 3. Environmental Service Various schemes focusing on Scheme (ESS).... 22 these thrust areas have been initiated by 4. Srushtimitra Awards.... 24 the Department. These 'Green Schemes' are a step towards protecting 5. Vasundhara Awards.... 26 environment and live a sustainable life. Steps towards Sustainable Efforts have been taken through Development.... 27 this newsletter to compile information 1. Climate Change Action about all the departmental schemes and Plan (CCAP).... 27 to help everyone to understand & be a 2. Call for Green Ideas.... 30 part of this initiative. 3. Western Ghat Development I hope this Newsletter will Program.... 32 certainly help in widening the reach of Important Information.... 33 the schemes. Editorial Board: Compiled By: Supported By: Valsa R. Nair Singh (IAS) Archana Shirke Sudhir Shetty Secretary, Environment Dept. Project Officer Kirti Amritkar-Wani Dr. B.N. Patil Designed By: Director & ENVIS Coordinator Chandrakant Girkar Unnayan Acharekar Conceptualised By: Web Administrator Dinesh Banate Anish Parshurame Under Secretary & Scientist-II 2 Introduction- Directive Principles of State Policy of Indian Constitution were aimed to establish social and economic democracy through a welfare state, under which the citizens can lead a good life. The manifold development and other measures are necessary to carry out to establish a welfare state. To achieve this, various Government Departments are engaged in developmental activities like construction of roads, dams, health centres, Public schools, colleges etc. All these developmental activities utilize various Natural Resources at large scale. Besides this there is need of healthy environment to live healthy life. Providing clean air and water, safe habitats, sufficient and healthy food is the biggest challenge. This can be achieved by spreading environmental literacy through environmental awareness programmes & environmental education at all levels . It develops the environmental consciousness among people and thus e nvironmental protection and conservation can be achieved through multi-sectoral efforts. Sensitization of all citizens with regards to environment will undoubtedly help achieving sustainable development. The Environment Department, Government of Maharashtra is implementing various Green Schemes to achieve the agenda of environmental conservation and sustainable development through public awareness & participation. These schemes can be categorized as follows - Conservation & Protection Environmental Awareness Steps towards Sustainable of Natural Resources & Education Development Lake Conservation Plan Environmental Climate Change Action Information System Plan (CCAP) River Conservation Plan (ENVIS) National Green Corps Call for Green Ideas Sardar Sarovar Project (NGC) Monitoring Cell (SSP) Western Ghat Environmental Service Development Program Scheme (ESS) Srushtimitra Awards Vasundhara Awards Conservation & Protection of Natural Resources - 1. Lake Conservation Plan Lakes constitute an important part of the fresh water resources and serve as important life support system. They not only contribute significantly to socio economic development of the surrounding region but also provide various benefits such as influencing the microclimate, flood control, encouraging biodiversity and replenishing groundwater table. Lakes are important freshwater habitats throughout the world but increasing human populations result in an accelerating demand on water supplies for domestic, industrial and agricultural use. In spite of their fundamental importance to humans, freshwater systems have been severely affected by a multitude of anthropogenic disturbances, which have led to serious negative effects on the structure and function of these ecosystems. 3 a) National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP):- Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) has been implementing the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) for polluted and degraded lakes in urban and semi-urban areas since 2001. Three lakes in the first phase of the plan namely, Powai (Mahrashtra), Ooty & Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu) were approved for conservation and management. The major objectives of NLCP include encouraging and assisting state Governments for sustainable management and conservation of lakes. Initially, the scheme was approved as 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The funding pattern under NLCP was, however, changed to 70:30 cost sharing between Central and State government/local bodies with effect from February 2002. Under NLCP, conservation works for 41 projects covering 61 lakes from 14 States is being carried out. In which 6 projects covering 14 lakes are covered from Maharashtra. The total Sanctioned cost for 41 projects is 1028.19 crores. Out of these 61 lakes works for 18 lakes have been completed which covers 3 projects (11 lakes) (Powai Lake- Mumbai, Nine Lakes- Thane & Mahalaksmi Lake- Vadgaon) are from Maharashtra. b) State Lake Conservation Plan (SLCP):- As it was difficult to select all degraded lakes in Maharashtra for conservation under NLCP, the need for their conservation was felt by State Government. Thus, considering the large number of lakes in Maharashtra and their importance, State Government initiated State Lake Conservation Plan (SLCP) in the year 2006-07. Government of Maharashtra (GoM) shares 70% to 90% of the total project cost and remaining 10% to 30% share is borne by local bodies depending upon their financial status. The activities covered under the program are same as NLCP. Activities Carried out: Prevention of pollution from point sources- Intercepting, diverting and treating. In-situ measures of Lake cleaning - De-silting, removals of weed, Bio-remediation, aeration, nutrient reduction. Catchments area treatment - Bunding, afforestation, Silt trap, storm water, drainage, fencing and shore line development etc. Lake front eco-development . Prevention of pollution from non-point sources - Providing low cost sanitation. Public awareness and participation Other activities depending upon location specific conditions including public interface. Funding Pattern: For NLCP Cost sharing between the Central and the State Government. o Government of India (GOI)- 70% o Local body/ State Government- 30% GOI releases funds directly to the concerned local body for 4 implementation of the project. For SLCP Cost sharing between the State Government and Local bodies. o Government of Maharashtra (GoM): 70 – 90% o Local body: 10 – 30% ‘A’ class Municipal Councils, Municipal corporations- 30 % ‘B’ class Municipal Councils- 20 % ‘C’ class Municipal Councils- 10% The Operation & Maintenance costs of the project for both scheme is borne entirely by the concerned local bodies/ implementing agency. Website NLCP- http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/nlcp/index.html SLCP- http://envis.maharashtra.gov.in/envis_data/?q=schemes Who Can Apply Local Municipal Bodies/ Trust/ owners of lake Procedure for selection Step I- Submission of application for lake conservation with of lake under NLCP/ following Lake Details SLCP Name and location of lake, important features of lake Lake area (ha) and depth (m) Water holding capacity of lake; Source of water Present lake water use and its management Pollution level of lake - water quality analysis from authorized laboratory (pH, TDS, BOD, COD, Nitrogen, Phosphorous) Presence of weeds in lake (water hyacinth etc.) Sources of pollution Current environmental problems of lake (like sewage inflow, weed growth, siltation, solid waste disposal, agricultural runoff etc.) Information about catchment area of lake and lake surroundings (area, nature – hilly / plain, land use, biodiversity, population, sewage treatment facilities, solid waste management) Ownership of lake Active involvement of local body in conservation of lake and willingness to bear a share of project cost as specified. Step II- Scrutiny by Environment Department with input from local body / officials Step III- Presentation & Submission of DPR to Steering committee Step IV- Recommendation of the project by Steering Committee, for taken up under NLCP or SLCP 5 Government Order/s For