Samir Mehta - ESA and supplemental work

2012 work done and 2013 proposal

( MoU route in 2012) (Project route in 2013)

Project proponent: Keystone FoundationProject leader: Samir Mehta

Project period : January to December 2012 ((and continuing in 2013)

Presentation of the proposal to AID SF Bay area Chapter (www.aidsfbay.org)

Project Objectives

2 Main Objectives for 2012 (and continuing for 2013 also)

Declaration of (parts of) Western Ghats as ESA(s) Core objective Focus on ESA for the major part of his work with AID Focus on Western Ghats (Kerala and Tamilnadu)

Improved environmental governance, WGEEP and others including amendments to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification

Supplementary objective. Closely tied to ESA area

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) The main goal of AID funding Samir via MoU is for his ESA work.

What is ESA http://assets.wwfindia.org/downloads/indias_notified_ecologicallysensitive_areas.pdf

ESA have been identified and notified by the Indian Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) since 1989. Notifications declaring areas as ESAs are issued under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

Protects vital areas from destruction and ‘development’.

People are protected and are not evicted (unlike Sanctuary declarations) from ESAs.

Only 3 in India Matheran - Maharastra Mahableswar - Maharastra Mount Abu - - Rajastan

Fully involved/lead in Matheran/Mahableswar. Involved in Mount Abu

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) AID funding was in the form of MoU to Samir Mehta in 2012

Based on Matheran and Mahableswar model, Samir is working in Valparai (TN) and Nelliyampathy (Kerala).

The idea is to replicate the model and protect these areas.

ESA protection is to ensure to parts of Valparai (vital WG area including source of water bodies that feed Aliyar river and

where the Asia deepest dam –Sholyar is located and also huge bio diversity hot spot ranging from Elephants to Giant Squirells).

to parts of Nelliampathy (vital WG area including catchment area for the magnificient Chalakudy river and huge bio diversity hotspot).

ESA Work done in 2012 Identified and delineated boundary of proposed Valparai ESA in Tamil Nadu. Had

meetings with various stakeholders.

Identified and delineated boundary of proposed Nelliyampathy ESA in Kerala

Multiple visits to site locations to both Valparai and Nelliyampathy.

Working closely with local groups including River Research Center (Latha’s group).

Held meetings with various stakeholders in the local areas.

Having conference at state level in Chennai and Trivandrum on ESA for these areas.

Documentation of all of the above work on the model of Matheran and Mahableswar

Supplemental work (to support ESA) done in 2012

Analysing Maharashtra and Kerala governments response to WGEEP report

Assisting petitioner in Bombay High Court to make public and implement portions of the WGEEP report

Procuring the Government of Maharashtra response to WGEEP report

Strategizing on when to do what with respect to Western Ghats, implementation of WGEEP report, Kasturirangan Committee, functioning of EAC-RV&HEP, amendments to EIA notification and environmental governance

Supplemental work (to support ESA) done in 2012

Letters and/or notes and/or submissions to MoEF Critiquing WGEEP report On acceptance and implementation of certain critical / key sections of Western

Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) report Critiquing the draft notification declaring Bhagirathi river as an ESA On amendments to EIA notification On implementation of EIA notification On functioning of Expert Appraisal Committee-River Valley & Hydro Electric

Power projects On environmental governance

Petition before Chief Information Commissioner on making WGEEP report public

Petition before National Green Tribunal on implementation of WGEEP report

Submission to Kasturirangan Committee and commenting on their discussions as recorded in the minutes of their meetings

Project challenges

Working with MoEF on following realted to ESA and other things is an ongoing area of considerable effort (as with any government department)

Kasturirangan Committee report (to reject this report) WGEEP report (to accept the report in total or major portions of it) Environmental governance (strengthening this angle) EIA notification (changes suggestion to strengthen it)

Working with State Govt is a challenge and opportunity in its own ways and the 2 angles here are

Government of Tamil Nadu to declare Valparai as ESA Government of Kerala to declare Nelliyampathy as ESA

This slide as it notes captures the project challenges. Like any project has challenges, the challenge here is mainly on the regulatory level to make sure that local efforts are taken into account as per law at the Government bodies.

Current proposal(via Keystone foundation)

ESA Continue work on ESA. Work is continuing in 2013 and will take 2014 to come to

completion.

First the focus is to wrap Valparai. The Valparai ESA proposal will be completed and submitted and discussed with the Government of Tamil Nadu. The proposal will also be submitted to MoEF.

A process similar to Valparai ESA will be undertaken for Nelliyampathy ESA in Kerala.

Full attention is given to Valparai which is closely getting tagged by Nelliyampathy work.

Work with local/state level angle as was done in 2012 and being done in 2013 including meeting/conference/report preparation/boundary delineation/onsite visits/etc

Current proposal Supplemental Work

Engage with the Kasturirangan Committee on the WGEEP report to ensure that key recommendations in the WGEEP report are not diluted.

(Met the Kasturirangan Committee and had detailed discussions and this is being continued) (Critiqued the Kasturirangan Committee report and submitted it to MoEF. Since it was the

first critique it also became the base for others to use when they submitted their critique to MoEF.)

Engage with MoEF on multiple levels on Environmental governance

amendments to the EIA notification functioning of Expert Appraisal Committees set up under EIA notification

WGEEP report follow-up to make sure major portions of this vital committee report is accepted.

Engage with Governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Meetings were to be held in the first week of June 2013. However they have been

postponed by the Governments. Meeting in Kerala is now scheduled for July 2013.

I am also focussed on working in Tungareshwar ESA (near Mumbai) and Bhagirathi ESA (in UttarKhand)

Funding

Last year we funded Indian Rupees 2.4 Lakhs @ Rs. 20,000 pm for 12 months = Rs. 2,40,000

This was for Jan 2012 to Dec 2012.

This year based on standard procedures of AID we can fund 2.4 Lakhs + 10% or 2.4lakhs + 20%.

We will also need to add Keystone overhead. This is 15% addition to the above amount.

I will submit the correct funding amount in a week or two based on above.

This year it will be Jan 2013 to Dec 2013.

I am bringing this project late as I got confused with the joint project review of projects.

Next year Samir will be presented around Feb 2014 and wrapped by April 2014.

Appendix In Appendix we will see

Background Some of Past work Strengths How he fits within AID principles

BackgroundQuick background of project leader Education: 1. M.A. Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School, USA; 2. Diploma in

Environment Education, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune; 3. B.Sc. Statistics, St. Xaviers College, University of Bombay

Doing pro bono work on ESAs with the Save Western Ghats Movement, on environmental governance with MoEF, with MoEF on setting up of proposed Western Ghats Ecology Authority, identification and declaration of ESAs in Western Ghats, etc. This is over and above the 40 hour week with IRN. This is not sustainable and hence this project proposal.

Work experience of over 30 years. The first 8 years was in IT, of which the last 3 were managing my own company. Worked for over 17 years with Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) as an environmental activist. Presently working with International Rivers Network (IRN) managing South Asia program.

BEAG: Worked on issues that few other NGOs did (if at all). Formulated, analyzed, drafted, reviewed and revised legislation, policies, proposals and plans and advocated for their acceptance and implementation. Collaborated with various Ministries of Government of India and Departments of State Governments.

IRN: Identify and fill gaps in information, knowledge and legislation. Initiate, commission and guide research, factsheets, citizens guides and reports.

Some of past work

Matheran (1999 to 2005): Achieved declaration of Matheran as eco sensitive by the Supreme Court of India Drafted, for the MoEF, the regulations declaring Matheran ESA Drafted, for the State Government, heritage regulations for Matheran Served on the Monitoring Committee constituted by the MoEF for Matheran ESA

Master Plan of Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani ESA (2002 to 2005) Member of Land Use and Environment Committees of Planning Board set up by

Government of Maharashtra to prepare the Master Plan Drafted the Development Control Regulations Introduced two new land use classifications in the Land Use Plan Authored the Report of the Environment Committee

Assisted other NGOs in delineation of boundaries of other ESAs (for example, Munnar ESA and North Konkan ESA) (2000 to 2006)

Prepared, for the MoEF, the first draft of the notification to declare Mt. Abu as an ESA (2005)

Provided guidance and technical advice to the SWGM Core Group on ESAs (2010 to 2012)

Worked on the Bhagirathi ESA, a path breaking notification

Project Leader’s Strengths Knowledge of workings of Governments, State and Central

Ability to work with Governments to achieve the desired results

Worked with all levels of Government, from village level officials to Secretaries to Governments

Understanding of laws and Courts

Strong research and analytical skills

Courage to challenge Government decisions in Courts

Strong network with NGOs and CSOs

Top tier expertise in ESA area in entire India

How Samir fits into AID principles

Worked in core areas of environmental laws such as EIA, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), River Regulation Zone (RRZ), forest issues, etc. all of which are crucial for just and sustainable development of India, a cause dear to AID

Worked extensively on Ecologically Sensitive Areas to ensure that development is based on the the carrying capacity of natural resources

Influenced policy through changes in legislation

Worked on issues of urban, rural and remote areas, from ports in Kutch to tourism in Sunderbans, from forests in Himachal Pradesh to ESAs in Kerala, from review of rehabilitation of tsunami affected in Andamans to preservation of coral reefs in Lakshadweep

Questions??