Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the 6th meeting of the Executive Body of the Tripura Forest Environmental Improvement & Poverty Alleviation Society held in the Conference hall of Aranya Bhavan, Agartala on the 24th March,09, at 5 p.m

The 6th meeting of Executive body of the Tripura Forest Environmental Improvement & Poverty Alleviation Society was held under the Chairmanship of the Chairman, Executive Body (PCCF, Tripura) in the Conference hall of Aranya Bhavan, Agartala on the 24th March, 09 at 5 p.m. The list showing the names of the Members of the Executive Body present and those who are absent in the meeting together with the invitees present is appended.
The Member Secretary welcomed the Chairman and the participants and informed that the meeting has attained special significance because of the fact that execution of some of project components listed below are suspended due to proclamation of the model code of conduct which has come into effect after declaration of General Election 2009. Besides enforcement of Recognition of Forest Rights Act and consequent granting of usufructory rights to the Scheduled tribe population and other forest dwellers are bound to affect the objective and implementation of the project since the Project when originally conceived was not designed to accommodate this development. The meeting is convened in the above back drop and the members were apprised accordingly. Execution of following Project components are held up:
i) Selection process of Community Organizers.
ii) Socio economic baseline data survey.
iii) Training of the JFMC members.
iv) Project activities involving engagement of people.
v) Preparation of Microplan through participatory process
vi) Field identification of the notified JFMCs.
The members are apprised that the progress of the above components shall get delayed because these shall be taken up for execution only after the model code of conduct cease to exist. The agenda were discussed seriatim and following Resolutions emerged in the meeting,

Agenda no.1: The Executive Body noted with satisfaction the progress made in execution of the Project components barring the components which are mentioned above. A copy of the statement is placed in annexure I.
Agenda no. 2: The position of utilization of fund and status of reimbursement is reviewed. It has been informed by the CCF (P&D) that the Finance Department has informed about the anomalies in regard to the status of reimbursement made by JICA, RBI notes on reimbursements and statement of reimbursement received from JICA by the PMU. So, it has been decided that the Director (Administration & Finance) shall accompany CCF (P&D) to the Finance Department to sort out the problem with a view to effecting early release of next installment of fund.
Agenda no. 3: The Executive Body noted with satisfaction the progress made in regard to construction of PMU/DMU and RMU buildings. It is found that with the pooling of additional amount of Rs. 1236.025 lakhs from the Soil and Moisture conservation component of Project, total amount available with the PMU is Rs. 2268.765 lakhs. A sum of Rs. 1043.49 lakhs is likely to be required for the PMU building at Agartala and its two extensions at Udaipur (including the DMU, Udaipur) and Kumarghat. Therefore the DMU/RMU building/quarters shall have to be constructed with the balance amount of Rs.1225.27 lakhs. The PMU shall take note of it and arrange execution of work accordingly. The List of constructions taken up by R.D Department in West and South Tripura district under JICA Project is enclosed.
Agenda no. 4: The Annual Plan of Operation for the year 2009-2010 has been approved for a sum of Rs. 4550 lakhs for the reimbursement component. The PMU has been authorized to revise the APO if more funds are found necessary considering the progress of the works. Under the Forest Department budget head provision of Rs. 12.50 lakhs has been earmarked for meeting the cost of administrative expenses. Rs. 60.125 lakh and Rs.300 Lakh have remained due which are required to be released by the Finance Department against committed administrative expenses of previous two financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09. The PMU shall initiate proposal for enhancement on this count since the State government has commitment to provide 15% of Project cost towards the administrative expenses.
Agenda no. 5: The PMU has been facing acute shortage of manpower and the status paper of the PMU to fill in the vacant posts though contractual engagement is examined and it was found to be necessary. The PMU has accordingly been authorized to initiate proposal immediately to fill in the vacant posts from the open market through contractual engagement.
Agenda no. 6: The status of implementation of the biodiversity component is reviewed and considering the fact that there has been great progress in documentation of biodiversity resources of the State with the help of Member Institutions, the Core Committee formed shall make available the documents so prepared to the State Biodiversity Board for future usage and the future reference.
Agenda no. 7 : The Member Secretary presents that usufructory right under the Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006 has been vested over 29507 ha of forest land as on the 16th February, 2009 and there has been further progress in this direction. The formation of JFMC and demarcation of area has become difficult in view of the above fact and as such the Forest Department shall be approached for providing decision and direction as to how the JFMC shall be constituted and whether or not the objective of the Project shall require modification.
Agenda no. 8: It is noted with concern that the Science & Technology Department has not yet issued revised order of deputation of the two Scientists- Engineers who are sent on deputation to the GIS laboratory of the Project despite decision taken by the Hon’ble Forest Minister and Chief Secretary communicated to the S&T Department twice in the past. It is decided that the S&T Department shall be requested to issue the revised order at the earliest.

The meeting was concluded everybody present.