Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Stakeholders endorse Rs. 2.50 crore management plan for Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

GANGTOK, 19 Aug: The Management Action Plan for conservation and management of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve for the year 2011-12 has been set to an outlay of Rs. 2.50 crore.
This was announced during the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve state-level stakeholders committee meeting today and was approved with the provision to make some amendments received in the form of suggestions from different stakeholders. The final proposal will now be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forest for approval.
Today’s meeting was chaired by Additional PCCF Manjeet Singh and was attended by the officials and staff of the Forest Department along with stakeholders and members from different concerned organisations. 
In his presentation, the DFO [KNP/ KBR], Sangay Gyatso Bhutia, presented a detailed report on the overall achievements of the department in 2010-11 and tabled the draft project proposal for the year 2011-12. 
While presenting the proposed outlay for the year 2011-12, he explained the various activities to be taken up under different programmes.
The Department has projected Rs 23.25 lakh for Eco-Development activities, Rs 41.8 lakh for Social Welfare activities, Rs 44.22 lakh for Habitat Management, Rs 85 lakh for Infrastructure Development, Rs 64.0632 lakh for Forest Protection, Rs 8 lakh for Research, Extension and Education and Rs 7.99 lakh for Over-Head Expenses. This comes to total of Rs 274. 33 lakh and after adding second instalment of last financial year fund of Rs 20.95 lakh, the proposed outlay for the year 2011-12 comes to Rs 295.27 lakh.
The DFO also clarified that this was a ‘tentative proposal’ and that suggestions and feedback from the concerned stakeholders will be included in the final proposal.
He explained the proposal allows for application of Information Technology tools in wildlife conservation, development of infrastructure and communication for protection and conservation activities, implementation trekking regulation Act etc.
In his address, the APCCF remarked that the meeting was made fruitful by the participation of all concerned stakeholders and assured that all feasible suggestions and feedback will be included in the final proposal.
He also approved the proposed plan, reiterating that amendments to include feasible suggestions and feedback collected at the workshop be incorporated.
The workshop was also addressed by Conservator of Forest [Wildlife], Gut Lepcha, Scientist from GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development [Sikkim unit], Dr Hemant K Badola and Jointe Director [KNP/KBR], JB Subba.
During the workshop, programme manager of Khangchendzonga Conservation, Committee, Yuksom, Nima Tashi, and president of Mutanchi Lom Aal Shezum, Dzongu, Mika Lepcha, made presentations on activities undertaken by their respective organisations and placed several suggestions on the proposed plan.
A new brochure on the Khangchendonga National Park was also released during the workshop.


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