Central fund cut to hit eco projects

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, June 8, 2015

Conservation and environmental awareness programmes in Kerala are set to take a big hit as the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) prepares to cut off funding.

The National Green Corps and National Environment Awareness Campaign are two of the major initiatives that may have to be pared down following the drying up of Central funds, official sources said. Kerala has made remarkable progress in both the programmes.

Launched in 2001, the National Green Corps is a major initiative of the Ministry operated through a network of eco clubs at schools.

For the past five years, the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE) has received an annual assistance of Rs.95 lakh from the Ministry for 3,500 eco clubs for activities such as planting herbal and vegetable gardens, preparing rainwater harvesting structures, nature study trips, campaigns on cleanliness and conservation, organic farming, wasteland afforestation, and biodiversity mapping.

“In March, we sent the utilisation report and new proposals to the Ministry. A follow-up enquiry revealed that there is no chance of getting support this year as the Ministry had limited funds at its disposal,” an official said.

Little chance

The National Environment Awareness Campaign, implemented through a network of more than 300 NGOs in Kerala, also faces a bleak future. The Centre for Environment and Development (CED), the coordinating agency for the project in Kerala, had completed the selection and training of agencies for the current year, only to be told that there was little chance of getting the Rs.38 lakh approved as financial aid. The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) centre functioning under the KSCSTE is another Ministry-aided initiative that faces uncertainty. ENVIS Centre Kerala had won ‘A’ grade for two consecutive years, making it eligible for incentives. The data provided by ENVIS centres are critical for decision makers, policy planners, scientists, and engineers working in different areas of environment.

State government officials fear that the move could be part of the National Democratic Alliance government’s general indifference to environmental issues. They feel it would be difficult for the projects to survive on State government funding alone.