National Evaluation-cum-Interaction Workshop, 2014

A three-day evaluation-cum-interaction Workshop for all ENVIS Network Centres at Gangtok, Sikkim was held and hosted by ENVIS Centre at State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim (SCSTS) on 28-30 March 2014. Around 120 senior participants from various national institutions and various State Government departments participated in the evaluation process for further strengthening the ENVIS system in the country. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary of Sikkim, Shri A.K. Srivastava stressed on protection of environment and need to have strong institutional instrument for repository of database and information system which ENVIS Centres can provide. An ENVIS Android application developed by FRLHT ENVIS for on Medicinal plants was also released on the occasion.

Two parallel sessions for evaluating the activities of 68 Thematic and State Centres were carried out in the National meet. Following independent experts from reputed national institutes evaluated the activities of various ENVIS centres for 2013-14: Dr. N. Ramaiah, Chief Scientist, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO); Dr. Avinash Chandra, Professor (Retd.), Centre for Energy Studies, IIT Delhi, New Delhi; Dr. Bharat H. Desai, Professor, Centre for International Legal Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; and Dr. M.N.V. Prasad, Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad. The workshop concluded with a thought-provoking address by Ms. Vandana Aggarwal, Economic Adviser.

Indian State Level Basic Environmental Information Database

In order to develop the databases on environment and its related parameters and to make it online to the Ministry for to and fro information flow, a web enabled software, namely, Indian State Level Basic Environmental Information Database (ISBEID) was developed by ENVIS in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC). The objective for development of this software is to cover the gap in environmental data dissemination with regard to vast parameters such as air pollution, water pollution, forestry, land resources, flora and fauna, etc. In total there are 17 modules. Initially, the database consisting of 23 modules in various environmental fields was tested on pilot basis by Eight States with 12 modules in two phases. During the two phase of the programme, it was observed that there were some practical problems in collecting the data and filling the database software. After deliberations, it was decided that the existing 23 modules will be revisited and revised in consultation with all the States / UTs ENVIS Centres and to extend the ISBEID project for all the States / UTs.

State of Environment Reports

During the 10th Plan period, Ministry launched SoER scheme for which 100% central assistance was provided to the States/UTs to prepare their State of Environment Reports. The scheme for preparation of State of Environment Report with the objective of highlighting the upstream and downstream linkages with environmental issues besides creating a baseline document in the form of SoE Report in each State/UTs continued during the 11th Five Year Plan.