Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the 4^th meeting of the Core Committee of the Tripura JICA Project constituted for inventorization of the Biodiversity resources of Tripura held in the Conference Hall of Aranya Bhavan, Agartala on the 6th January, 2009

The meeting to finalize the action plan to initiate the inventorization work of the Bio-diversity resources was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Tripura in the conference hall of Aranya Bhavan on the 6^th January at 3.00 P.M. The list of the officers present is appended.

        The discussion was individual by the Chief Wildlife Warden and Head /Principal Investigator of the Member Institutions presented their revised scope, methodology and budget for the study to be undertaken by them. Detailed discussion was held on the methodology of the studies (to be undertaken and the budget) and finally the decisions emerged in the meeting: 

1.     The Member Institutions shall submit their revised budget within a week with the acceptance of the clauses of the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with the clarifications on the points raised on timeline for completion of the task so that necessary steps can be taken up by the PMU  towards authentication of the MoU  and effect release the first installment of the approved fund.

2.     The MoUs shall be signed with the following institutions.

3.     It was decided that the equipments approved for the study would be procured by the respective Institutions. The PMU will provide them the names and addresses of different vendors who have supplied GPS to the Project. In case of digital cameras the Core Committee will procure them and give it to the respective institutions.

4.     The reference books can only be purchased and the Institutions need to submit a list of books to be purchased to the Core Committee before hand.

5.     The financial resources for the equipments will be released at one go. This should be released along with the first installment for the research.

6.     For the research the funds will be released on a quarterly basis. Once the inception report is accepted one installment i.e. expenses to be incurred in the first quarter will be released. Subsequent release of funds will be based on the submission of statement of expenses and fund request for the next quarter.

7.     The institutions will be requested to open separate bank account for transaction of funds for the biodiversity research and inventory.

8.      Looking at the difficulties to hire Research Associates and Junior Research Fellows within the state as per the UGC/CSIR norms it was decided to recruit the following Positions for carrying out the biodiversity research and inventory. 

 Besides the Committee has decided to engage two Office Assistants to  

      work with the Chairman and Member Secretary respectively  during the

      project execution period at a fixed monthly remuneration of Rupees

      5000/- month and authorized the engagement from the month of   

     January, 2009.

9.     It was suggested to all the Institutions to go ahead with recruitment/selection of persons for carrying out the research work. The work needs to be started as early as possible. For the butterfly, plants and fish the possible start date is 1^st March 2009 as formalization of project and appointment of staff will at least a month’s time. Others were requested to start the work from January, 2009.

10.            Before the commencement of work it was decided to organize a workshop around 20^th January 09 to discuss the scope and methodology of the biodiversity research and inventory with the Researchers (Project Associates, Project Fellows, Technical Assistants and Field Assistants). Dr. Ajith Kumar, Biodiversity Specialist of General Consultants to TFIPAP will be requested to participate in the workshop.

11.            Before commencement of research work, half a day workshop would be organized with the local forest officials and other institutions in each group of sites/hotspots to discuss about the inventory work and to ensure their participation in the process of research.

12.            The Core Committee will meet every month to review the progress of biodiversity research and inventory and to address the operational problems.

13.            The Core Committee, once in a quarter, will undertake a thorough review of progress of the project.

14.            The meeting was concluded thanking everybody present.

                                                                 Sd/-Dr. A K Gupta

                                                                Chief Wildlife Warden

                                             No.F.22-3(6)/ For- JBIC/I&P/BD/07/

Government of Tripura

 Project Management Unit, Tripura JICA   Project.

Pt. Nehru Complex ,  Kunjavan, Agartala.     

                                                                               Dated  Agartala, the 9^th January, 08.

To,

------------------------------------------------- (All Core Committee Members by name)

Copy to all PMU   Members:

1-3. Director (M&E) & Director NCE / Director (P&I) / Director (Adm & Fin.)

4. Addl. Director (Planning)

 5. Addl. Director (HRD & Trg.) & NCE

6. Addl. Director (E,A & M)

Copy for information to:

  1 Conservator of Forests, Northern Circle/ Southern Circle

  2. Dean, College of  Fisheries, Agartala.

  3. Joint Director, ICAR, NEH region, Tripura.

  4. Register, Tripura University, Surya Chowmohni, Agartala

  5-6. General Secretary, Dishari, No. 1 Tilla, Belonia/ ARPAN, C/o Dr. A.K. Nath, 

         Ganaraj Chowmohni, Agartala

  7. The Divisional Forest Officer (CPO)______________________  Division. (DMU)

  8. Wildlife Warden (CPO) Trishna/ Sepahijala DMU.

  9. Range Officer (Project Manager)___________________________Range.(RMU)

Copy also to:

1.      Team Leader, Project Management Consultants, Tripura JICA Project.

Copy forwarded to:

1.      Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Tripura.

2.      Chief  Wildlife Warden, Tripura, Agartala

                                                                        (P. Biswas)

                                                                           Director

                                                             (Administration & Finance)

                                                      Member Secretary, Core Committee