PALAKKAD: The Rs.219-crore Japan-aided eco-restoration project that could complete just one-third of the schemes is hanging fire with no extension coming through.

Though the project period got expired on March 25, 2005, only Rs.65 crores was spent on it. The project was inaugurated in 1996 and the actual work began in April 2002. The initial years were devoted to creating the organisational set up for the implementation of the project.

The unique Attappady Wasteland Comprehensive Environmental Conservation Project is based on watershed management principles. It attempts to evolve development models incorporating poverty alleviation and environmental rehabilitation of the area with full participation of the beneficiaries.

The project has special emphasis on the uplift of the tribals of the area with a holistic approach.

The project director of the Attappady Hill Area Development Society (AHADS), Siddappa, says the objective of the project is ``ecological restoration of degraded wastelands in Attappady and development of replicable models of participative eco-restoration, so as to prevent further degradation and promote sustainable method of livelihood for the local people, particularly the tribals, in harmony with the resource base.'' He says the State Government has taken up the issue of extension of the project with the Union Department of Economic Affairs. The matter is now under the consideration of the funding agency, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

He says that out of the total 507 sq km area of Attappady Hills 330 sq km is wasteland. But only 105 sq km area has been afforested so far. If the project is stopped now the work already done will go waste because the infant plants will get destroyed in the absence of their tending. Another five year is required to complete the project, Mr. Siddappa says.

During the course of implementation, it became clear that the twin issues of environmental degradation and economic destitution could not be solved without addressing the basic socio-economic maladies. Thus the upgraded Comprehensive Development Programme for Schedule Tribes and Scheduled Caste was launched by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on November 17, 2002.

Under this scheme, 660 houses will be constructed for tribals. Fifty houses have been completed and work on 250 houses is nearing completion.

The afforestation drive and the work on micro-watersheds and soil and moisture conservation have yielded results.

Two of the dried up streams, Varagar and Kodungarapallam, have been regenerated, providing drinking and irrigation water to large areas.

The biggest achievement of the project is that the women are given more than 50 per cent representation in all project-implementing agencies.

This has empowered to a large extent the tribal women in the tribal area.

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