IMPHAL, November 8: The Planning Commission of India has advised the state government for the constitution of a working group on “Mountain eco-systems and challenges faced by the people living in the hilly areas” for the formulation of the 12th five year plan. The PCI has also instructed the working group to submit its report by November 30, said an official source.
According to an official source, the advice from the planning commission comes in the aftermath of the two day national workshop on climate change especially in the NE region organized by the state planning department during the first half of October 2011 and comes under the action agenda taken up during the two day workshop.
Further according to the source, the issues of vulnerability of mountain eco-system, environmental sustainability and the problems faced by the people living in the hilly areas are being raised during various forums from time to time.
The PCI while complying with the action agenda has advised the state government to set up a working group to work upon the action agenda of the recent workshop and further has also advised the state on the composition of the said group.
The PCI wants the working group to be chaired by BK Chaturvedi, member Planning commission.
Further according to the advice of the PCI, the members of the working group should include secretaries of various central ministries including that of environment and forests, tribal affairs, DoNER, chief secretaries of all Northeastern states and Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal, the source further informed.
The PCI also wants various professors from various reputed national universities as members and PCI advisor SN Brohmo Chaudhury as member secretary.
The source has also informed that the PCI has sorted out the terms and reference of the working group.
The PCI has set the group to consider the various aspects of the mountain eco-systems, environmental sustainability and the problems faced by the people living in the hilly areas, social and basic infrastructure and livelihood issues, etc and further suggest appropriate measures to tackle the problems.
The PCI also wants the group to form suggestions on how best the identified issue can be addressed within the schematic framework or suggest alternative mechanisms for tackling such challenges and to consider any other issues appropriate for making policy recommendations, the source added.
The chairman may further constitute sub groups if the need arise and co-opt other members for specific works.
The source has also informed that the expenditure towards the travel allowances and dearness allowances (for non-officials) in connection with the meeting of the working group would be meted by the PCI.