The Hindu : Front Page : Changes in conservation project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Changes in conservation project

Staff Reporter

"Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust faced some difficulties in implementing the project"

Ramanathapuram: The methodology to implement biodiversity conservation and sustainable coastal management project of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust will be changed.

Its Director V.K. Melkani said here on Monday that the trust had set up eco development committees in various coastal villages of Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin districts and started implementing the project.

But, it faced some difficulties due to lack of proper mechanism to execute the project in the field level and involve all stakeholders including fisheries, pollution and other departments.

So, it recently conducted a brainstorming session. Experts and representatives of various departments discussed the problems.

Sejalworha of World Wildlife Fund and Anil Bharadwaj of Wildlife Institute of India were asked to rewrite implementation part of the project.

They were expected to complete the task in a month.

Mr. Melkani said the UNDP's Global Environmental Facility had agreed to clear obstacles in implementing the project.

The basic aim and goal of the project would not be altered and the new report would clearly specify the works of all stakeholders.

The implementation of the project would gain momentum from March.

The project was started in 2002 at an estimate of Rs.140 crore. Of this, the GEF agreed to contribute Rs.40 crore in a phased manner.

While the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust spent Rs.2 crore in implementing the project so far, Rs.5 crores was spent on the pilot project.

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