Gangtok,13 April:
The 5th State Project Steering Committee of the GEF-GOI-UNDP SECURE Himalaya project was held today in Gangtok at the Barbet Hall of Forest Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Forests, Government of Sikkim Karma Loday Bhutia and was attended by the Hon’ble Zilla Panchayat Adhaksha, West Sikkim and the Additional Chief Secretary-cum-PCCF , Forest & Environment Department. The meeting was also attended by other committee members including the Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Conservator of Forest (Territorial), Director, Khangchendzonga National Park, representatives from the line departments including Finance, Animal Husbandry, Rural Development, Agriculture departments and members of NGOs like Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee & Mutanchi Lom Aal Shezum. Senior Officers of the Indian Army, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police also attended the meeting which began with a welcome address by the CF(WL)-cum-Nodal Officer. The State Project Officer presented the consolidated progress update of the project in the past year and mentioned that due to the COVID restrictions, the project was not able to utilize the allotted budget fully and around 64 lakhs was budget was remaining, which would be processed for revalidation from the MoEF&CC, Govt. of India. However, despite the challenges, the project was able to form strategic partnerships with line departments and agencies to implement innovative pilot solutions to conservation and sustainable livelihood challenges. The interventions include support to the forest department to strengthen management of Khangchendzonga National Park & Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, collaboration with State Biodiversity Board to strengthen the Biodiversity Management Committees, supporting KCC to upscale zero-waste model in and around Yuksom, enhancing the value chain of nettle fibers in Dzongu etc. The chair and the other members appreciated the initiatives and stressed the project to maintain proper documentation of all activities. The draft Annual Work Plan of 2022-23 was presented next by the State Project Officer and proposed activities were deliberated and discussed by the committee. The proposed activities include follow up action with State Biodiversity Board regarding management of Biodiversity Heritage Sites, post-training mobilization and product value addition for nettle and honey, institutional awareness generation for military and para-military etc. In the end, the committee approved the Annual Work Plan of 2022-23 with a total budget of 342.64 lakhs with a State Grant in Aid budget of INR 200.64 lakhs and UNDP Country Office Support of INR 142 lakhs. In his remarks, the ACS-cum-PCCF urged the project team to ensure timely and most effective implementation of activities on ground & to maintain prepare a conclusive documentation of the project impact achieved so far. In his concluding remarks, the Minister of Forests & Chair of the committee appreciated the initiatives undertaken and urged the project to concentrate on reaching out to the poor and deprived beneficiaries for giving support through livelihood and conservation oriented activities.
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