GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS

NEW DELHI

MEMORANDUM IN RESPECT OF CONTINUATION OF THE SCHEME “ASSISTANCE FOR ABATEMENT OF POLLUTION” DURING X FIVE YEAR PLAN.

1. Name of Scheme : ASSISTANCE FOR ABATEMENT OF POLLUTION

(A) Background note of the proposal and its objectives :

The scheme, namely, “Assistance for Abatement of Pollution”, meets the need to strengthen the CPCB and SPCBs for enforcing the statutory provisions for taking up pollution abatement measures. The scheme was started in the Seventh Five Year Plan and has been continuing since then. When the EFC Memo was approved for the Eighth Five Year Plan, it has been amended to shift the emphasis from supporting man-power requirements to supporting equipment, studies and projects to meet the objectives of the Policy Statement. As per the above approved EFC memo, grants are being provided to the State Pollution Control Boards/UT Pollution Control Committees, Environment Departments, Central/State Research Institutions, and other government agencies/organisations with the aim of strengthening their technical capabilities to achieve the objectives of the Policy Statement. Further, it had been intimated to the States that expenditure on staff would have to be from their own resources from the financial year 1993-94 i.e. 1.4.1993, except for the Union Territories. This was based on the decision to delegate the powers of CPCB to the UT Administrations. The powers vested in the CPCB are being exercised by the State Boards and Units set up in the UTs. As there was no deviations in the scheme for its continuation during IX Five Year and also that the conditions laid down by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure are met in this connection, the above scheme was continued during IX Five Year Plan without fresh EFC memo. During the Ninth Five Year Plan period, an expenditure of Rs. 294.71 lakhs had been incurred as grants to various SPCBs, UT PCCs (including salary support to UT PCC), Government agencies, Research Institutions etc.

The above scheme is continuing one during X Five Year Plan also. Total outlay for the X Five Year Plan is Rs.18.42 crores. The Budget Estimate for the financial year 2005-2006 is Rs.387.2 lakhs. The programme will continue for the whole of the X Five Year Plan period.

(B) Justification for the proposal/scheme

The Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution lays down action points. Grants will be provided to the State Pollution Control Boards/UT Pollution Control Committees, Environment Departments, Central/State Research Institutions, and other government agencies/organisations with the aim of strengthening their technical capabilities to achieve the objectives of the Policy Statement.

With the increasing responsibilities of the Pollution Control Boards, greater emphasis is being laid on severely polluted areas, low and no waste technologies, chemicals, small scale industries and other innovative schemes for control of pollution for which technical studies are needed and items will be added to the list of equipment as and when the need arises. Appropriate equipment for emerging concerns will be provided to all States/Union territory PCCs e.g. noise, land, air and water pollution and bio-monitoring facilities.

To further curtail the gap an on-line network among pollution control boards is necessary. Grants assistance will also be given for studies related to environmental management in the critically polluted areas and river stretches, urban areas, health related studies including contamination of ground water from chemicals; establish a computerised data base; and upgrading the administrative and scientific capabilities of the scientists through training in CSIR, IIT and Institute of Management within the country.

The States which do not get assistance under multilateral or bilateral programmes need to be strengthened to develop their capabilities. These are such States which are backward and have large number of small scale industrial units and impact on health, soil contamination and ecology is also more severe in these regions.

An objective of the Policy Statement on Abatement of Pollution is to involve the public in decision making. According to the statement, the information about the environment will be published periodically. In order to identify sources of pollution and create awareness among the public, the non-governmental organisations can play a major role. The scheme will supplement the existing regulatory machinery through either individual or NGOs for this scheme. They shall be provided with material support to develop basic infrastructure like setting up of laboratories and equipment etc.

(C) Implementation and execution of the Scheme:

The scheme will be implemented through the State Pollution Control Boards/UT Pollution Control Committees, CSIR Institutions and Government agencies like the NIC, Medical Colleges, IITs and Institutions like the Institute of Management & Administrative Staff College of India, Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board etc.

(D) Schedule of Programme and target date of completion :

Total outlay for the X Five Year Plan is Rs.18.42 crores. The Budget Estimate for the financial year 2005-2006 is Rs.387.6 lakhs. Grants will be released to the State Pollution Control Boards, UT Pollution Control Committees (including salary support for UT PCCs only), Environment Departments, Central/State Research Institutions, and other government agencies/organisations on receipt of their proposals with full justification and after examination in the Ministry and in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board, wherever necessary. The programme will continue for the whole of the X Five Year Plan period.

2. FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF THE PROPOSAL

(a) Nature of the Scheme :

Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme

(b) Total outlay :

Total outlay for X Five Year Plan is Rs. 18.42 crores. Budget Estimate during the financial year 2005-2006 is Rs.387.6 lakhs.

(c) i) Plan Allocation :

X Five Year Plan allocation is Rs. 18.42 crores

ii) Budget Provision :

2005-2006 is Rs.387.6 lakhs

(d) Foreign Exchange Component of the outlay and how it is proposed to be met :

Nil.

(e) Component of grant loan & subsidy if any, in the total outlay involved and their proposed terms :

The entire amount would be given as grant.

(f) Number of posts, their pay scales and basis adopted for staffing :

Not applicable.

(g) Broad details of construction :

Nil.

(h) Requirement of stores :

Nil.

(i) Achievement/returns expected :

The functions given at 1(B) are directed towards upgrading the institutional capacity of the State Pollution Control Boards/UT PCCs and other organisations for effective control of water, land and air pollution in order to prevent deterioration of the environment.