Around 60 agencies, including NGOs, have submitted bids to participate in state government’s ‘eco-villages’ project.
Around 60 agencies, including NGOs, have submitted bids to participate in state government’s ‘eco-villages’ project. The project, implemented by the state rural development department and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will be experimented in 15 villages that will be designated as ‘model villages’.
These villages will adopt a variety of schemes for water harvesting and conservation, solar and other renewable energy sources, waste management and pollution control, with the help of the private agencies. These groups will help the villages develop a development plan that will conserve the village’s ecology even while generating jobs and incomes. Based on the success of these villages, the scheme will be taken to other places in the state.
The agencies will first document the village’s demographic profile and its environmental features, including water resources, air and water pollution and waste disposal. The agency will then prepare what will be called a vision document and village development plan.
The first village chosen for the scheme is Katewadi near Baramati in Pune district. Work in this village is expected to start in six months, said Dr Amar Supate, principal scientist, MPCB. The rural development department is in the process of selecting the other villages for the project.
“We had called for ‘expression of interest’ bids from NGOs. The NGOs and companies will provide the expertise while residents will select the project they want. Villagers will be encouraged to use green options to preserve the ecology,” said Supate.
The MPCB is in the process of selecting the agencies from those that have submitted their bids. The funding for each village will depend on the project that will be implemented and the technology that will be used. While MPCB and rural development department will provide some of the funding for the project, some of the projects will be completed using funds available under other development schemes, including those sponsored by central government for rural employment.
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