11.1 Science & Technology

For creating suitable infrastructure for the spread of Science and Technology in the State, the Govt. of M.P. set-up the council of Science and Technology in November, 1981 as an autonomous Society registered under the Society Registration Act, 1973.

The main objectives of the council are to identify areas where Science & Technology input is required for development in various sectors (with special reference to SCs/STs and weaker sections), to contribute towards development of Science & Technology capabilities in the state and to take all such steps which will promote modernisation in the State through inputs of Science and Technology etc. The Council is also authorised to initiate and assist in the development of laboratories which would promote development of the State and popularise science in the state.

Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India has drawn out a National Level Action Plan in pursuance of the Science & Technology policy 1993. The MPSCT is the nodel agency for the implementation of such programmes in the state. The M.P. Council of Science & Technology has also initiated some schemes for promotion of Science & Technology in the State.

• Popularisation of Science

• Aquaculture

• Research and development activities

• Remote Sensing Application

• Control of spread of scrub cattle population by vaccination

• Information technology, Manpower Development and training in library science & Geomology.

• Application of S&T for poverty alleviation and improvement of quality of life.

• Biodiversity and conservation

(a) Conservation of Medical plants.

(b) Tissue culture

• Patenting and intellectual property rights

• Conservation and cultivation of Aromatic grasses and Medicinal plants.

• Advanced instrumentation training for university students Bio-village State natural resources management systems.

2 Ninth Five Year Plan 1997-2002

2.0 The main objectives are popularation of Science, Training & Employment and Development of Indigenous technologies.

2.1 The 9th Plan approved outlay is Rs. 935.00 lakh.

2.2 Programmes to be implemented during the plan include popularisation of Science, Rational Management of land and Water Resources, promotion and development of suitable technologies for SC/ST and other weaker sections, creation of facility for Environmental research, management of Mineral resources, creation of facilities for Non-convential sources of energy, science and Technology for women for self employment, povery alleviation and improvement in rural economy, disaster management etc.

2.3 The expenditure during the year 1997-98 was Rs. 100.28 lakh, in 1998-99 - Rs. 79.06 lakh, 1999-2000 Rs. 120.00 lakh, 2000-01 Rs. 133.47 lakh.

2.4 Approved outlay for current years Annual Plan is Rs. 170.00 lakh which will be fully utilised.

2.5 Various programmes as proposed in Ninth Plan were successfully implemented. Technology for culture of fresh water, gaintprawn was developed and successfully demonstrated. In the field of Bio-technology tissue protocols were developed for some important forestry and medicinal plants, like surpentine and Buch, Bomboo, etc.

Two science parks have been established at Narainpur and Raipur. Science quiz were organised in various schools. Remote sensing application centre has been generating maps and other information on various natural resources. Some of the important projects completed are (i) Mapping of Ground water potential. (ii) Rajeev Gandhi water Shed Mission (iii) Integrated Mission for sustainable developments (IMSD) (iv) Natural Resource information system etc.

A patents information centre was made operational in the council Centre helped about 80 inventors to file their patents.

All the on going activities and programmes are proposed to be continued in the Tenth Plan.

Following new areas have been proposed :-

(i) Intellectual Property Rights and Management Centre.

(ii) Biotechnology Application centre.

• An outlay of Rs. 858.30 lakh is proposed for Tenth Plan of which Rs. 30.20 lakh are for above new schemes.

• For Annual Plan 2002-03 are outlay of Rs. 171.66 lakh of which Rs. 4.00 lakh are proposed for two new schemes.

• Following Programmes viz. : Research and Development Activity, popularisation of science application, of S&T for alleviation and improvement of quality of life.

Remote Sensing Application Centre, intelluctual property rights and knowledge management centre would be continued.

11.2 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The State government brought out its state policy and initiation on information technology' in 1999. It invasions the creation of a society with global opportunities.

In the people centre approach to development the State Government believes that information technology initiatives should focus on creative and environment for dissemination of information to every citizen pertaining to his own welfare needs and opportunities for individual and social development and for effective delivery of citizen services.

For core activity programmes the plan and budget of IT Department shall mainly comprise of provisioning of grants-in-aid to MAPIT for various items like funding of projects studies funding for participation in exhibitions and organising seminars and workshops.

During 9^th five year plan there was no separate department of information Technology. Therefore the progress of the 9^th plan has not been given.

10^th Plan 2002-2007 and Annual Plan 2002-2003

The approved outlay for the 10^th five-year plan 2002-2007 and the Annual plan 2002-2003 is Rs. 400.00 lakh and Rs. 80.00 lakh respectively. The table below shows the details:

11.3 BIO-DIVERSITY AND BIO TECHNOLOGY

The State Government have recently constituted separate Department for Biodiversity and Biotechnology with the intention to focus attention on sustainable use of the State's rich and diverse bio-resources and promote the use of application in biotechnology for deriving benefits in a wise range of sectors such as forestry, environment, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, human health etc.

The Biological Diversity Bill 2000 is under consideration before the Parliament. This bill propose to provide a regularly and developmental frame work for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of use of biological resources.

The State Government has constituted State Bio diversity Board under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. The objectives of the department are as follows : -

1. Development of an agenda for bio technology application, based on the concern voiced by the State Biodiversity Board and informed by the various studies and projects commissioned by it.

2. Encourage and promote research and development in bio-technology in both public and private sector institutions.

3. Develop necessary infrastructure for establishment for biotech industry within the existing industrial areas and by promoting the setting up of biotech parks.

4. Develop an incentive package for the biotech and related sector.

5. Promote the establishment of education and training facilities for the development of a pool and researchers, technicians and entrepreneurs.

Keeping inview the broad objectives the following programmes are proposed to be included in the plan.

• Establish new and upgrade existing facilities R&D in bio technology applications.

• Establishing institute of life sciences

• Funding of research projects and development programmes

• Scientific validation of traditional knowledge and its documentation for IPR protection

• Industrial promotion and establishment of Bio_Technology packs

• Package of incentives for establishing bio_tech units.

In the 9^th five-year plan this department was not in existence.

To achieve the objectives as stated above the outlay proposed for the 10^th five-year plan is Rs. 500.00 lakh while for Annual plan 2002-2003 the proposed outlay is 100.00 lakh.

11.4 Environment (EPCO)

Consciousness towards the environment has increased considerably during the last two decades, largely on account of the realization of the damage caused to environment by various human actions.

Madhya Pradesh is one of the few states in the country which recognised early the imperative need for environmental conservation and management. A separate Department of Environment was created in 1973, with the aim to identify various problems and to co-ordinate development activities in such a manner that the ecological balance is restored and maintained.

The Environmental Planning and Coordination Organisation (EPCO) established by the Housing and Environment Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1981, was one such initiative.

Over the years, EPCO has steadily grown to become the State's premier organisation for environment related matters. It has worked closely with the State Government on various projects; yet it has established its own identity as an autonomous organisation. It is a think-tank for environmental matters, but is also project oriented.

This organisation was created with the following aims :-

(i) To create public awareness with regard to Environment in the State.

(ii) To assist and advise the Government of M.P. in the formulation and implementation of environmental policies for the State.

(iii) To identify major environmental problems and assist in solving these through research studies.

(iv) To organise educational and training programmes for professionals, managers, administrator and people in general.

(v) To coordinate the activities of Government and Semi-Government agencies in these efforts.

2.1 The main objectives set up were - to create environmental awareness, among the people and to encourage people’s participation, identify and solve major environmental problems, organise educational and training programmes for professionals etc. and to co-ordinate the activities of Govt. and Semi Govt. Agencies.

2.2 The approved outlay for Ninth Plan is 17795.00 lakh.

• Programmes proposed to be implemented during the plan were environmental upgradation of pressure areas. Research and publication, workshop and training environmental and awareness activities and Bhoj wet land project, conservation and Managements of Sagar Lake.

• During the first four years of Ninth Plan an expenditure of Rs. 1309.55 lakh during 1997-98 Rs. 2090.70 lakh in 1998-99 Rs. 1843.75 lakh 1999-2000 and Rs. 3369.40 lakh in 2000-2001 was incurred, including major expenditure on Bhoj Wetland Project.

• The approved outlay for Annual Plan 2001-02 is Rs. 5039.40 lakh against which Budget outlay is 14340.00 lakh (including Rs. 14300.00 lakh for Bhoj wet Land). The expenditure of Rs. 40.00 lakh on continuing schemes and Rs. 14300.00 on Bhoj Wet Land Project is expected.

The Planning Commission in its approach paper to Tenth Plan has stressed the need on improvement of environment. It has been emphasised, that, there is enough emperical evidence to establish that environmental conservation must go hand in hand with economic development, because any eco. dev. which destroy the environment will create more poverty, unemployment and diseases and thus can’t be called even economic development. It may just be transfer of resources from the poor to the rich because poor depends upon nature for their daily survival and for them "Gross Nature Product" is more important than the "Gross National Product" Pollution in our air, soil degradation, deforestation, desertification, shrinking wetlands, inadequate public health and sanitation, indoor pollution in rural areas growing water searcity, falling ground water tables, minimum flow in rivers and over extraction of water for irrigation purposes are some of the environmental problems that need an urgent attention before any poverty allevication programme can meet success. Therefore in the ultimate analysis environmental management and economic development are mutually supportive aspects of the same Agenda.

Keeping in view the above strategy the main thrust schemes proposed in 10th Plan 2002-07 and Annual Plan 2002-03 are as under :-

On going Schemes :-

(i) Conservation of Urban Water Bodies.

(ii) Environmental Resource & Study Education and training.

(a) Environmental Research and Study.

(b) Environments Education, Public awareness and Technical Training.

(iii) Indira Gandhi Fellowship for environmental management.

(iv) Bhoj wetland

(v) Development of Environmental Pressure Areas and Pressure Points.

(vi) Green Plantation.

An outlay of Rs. 698.00 lakh (of which Rs. 500.00 lakh is for Bhoj Wet Land Project) for Tenth Plan and Rs. 539 lakh for Annual Plan 2002-03 are proposed of which Rs. 500.00 lakh are earmarked for Bhoj Wet Land Project.

The disaster Management Institute was established in 1987, to impart training in industrial health and safety and to improve emergency preparedness, to Govt. officials and industry managers, Personnels of other Public and Private sector industrial establishments.

After Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the major thrust has been placed on prevention, control, and management of Industrial Disaster.

In addition the Institute has some main objectives :-

(i) Run postgraduate Diploma and Degree courses on disaster Management and industrial safely.

(ii) Carryout Research oriented studies on disaster management.

(iii) Collect and disseminate information related to hazards, and Disasters.

(iv) Offer consultancy services to Industries and others.

(v) Awards scholarship, fellowship and Prizes to motivate the society.

2.1 The outlay approved for Ninth Plan is Rs. 421.00 lakh. The year wise expenditure in first four years had been 1997-98 Rs. 15.00 lakh 1998-99 Rs. 13.50 lakh, 1999-2000 Rs. 6.30 lakh and 2000-01 Rs. 11.20 lakh.

2.2 Approved outlay for Annual Plan 2001-02 is Rs. 11.20 lakh which is likely to be utilized by year end.

2.3 During Ninth Plan the Institute has conducted 99 training programmes and imparted training to some 11311 persons from Govt. and Private sector.

3.1 An outlay of Rs. 139.00 lakh has been proposed for Tenth Plan and Rs. 15.00 lakh for Annual Plan 2002-03.

3.2 It is proposed to conduct 150 training programmes on Disaster management and will assist district Admn. in organizing 25 Awareness programmes during Tenth Plan and 30 programmes on disaster management and 5 programmes on Awareness in 2002-03.

The M.P. Pollution Control Board is entrusted with primary responsibility of implementation of three basic Environment Acts, viz :-

(i) Water (Prevention and Control Pollution) Act 1974.

(ii) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 and

(iii) Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

The main spirit of these Acts is to maintain whole some ness of environment by way of prevention and Control of pollution with enforcement of these Acts. The Board is also the nodal agency for the implementation of National River conservation Programme in the State.

2.1 The approved outlay for Ninth Plan is Rs. 1869.00 lakh. The main objects set were Water and Air Pollution Control, regulation and monitoring of hazardous substances, preparation of National River Action Plan for 11 towns and minimising pollution in industrial areas.

2.2 During the first four years 1997-98 to 2000-01 of Ninth Plan on expenditure of Rs. 273.01 lakh. Rs. 96.15 lakh Rs. 90.00 lakh and Rs. 122.60 lakh was incurred.

2.3 For Annual Plan 2001-02 an outlay of Rs. 261.20 lakh has been approved against which an expenditure of Rs. 74.00 lakh is expected.

3.1 An outlay of Rs. 3375.00 lakh has been proposed for Tenth Plan and Rs. 175.00 lakh for Annual Plan 2001-02.

3.2 The various programmes and activities being carried out in Ninth Plan under the various Acts are proposed to be continued. The schemes programmes are - Monitoring of Pollution, Research and Development, strengthening of organization, Environmental upgradation through public relation, EIA studies for development of Hazardous waste, disposal site and National River conservation Plan of 11 towns situated along 9 rivers.