nbsap
Requests to MoEF for publication of information under s.4 of RTI Act in context of NGO publication/advocacy as National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of a purportedly participatory technical report funded by $1 million grant and, as per press note dated 05.10.05, rejected by MoEF
04-oct-2005: Kalpvriksh release of NBSAP technical report in Delhi >> press reports: The Telegraph | Financial Express >> Comment on FE report: Reinventing the wheel!
05-oct-2005: MoEF Press Note: National Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan submitted by the NGO Kalpvriksha has been rejected >> Comments on azPlan: remembering Lalkhet | Aravali Biodiversity Park
07-oct-2005: Kalpvriksh Press Release: Why is the MoEF misleading the public regarding the NBSAP? >> Comments on azPlan: Kalpvriksh information/advocacy
10-oct-2005: Kalpvriksh release of NBSAP technical report in Pune: >> Comments on azPlan: Kalpvriksh, Shekhar Singh & Aravali Biodiversity
15-oct-2005: Note accompanying request for information under s.4 of RTI Act, 2005: The Biodiversity Discourse: Running to stand still? | Milestones on the path to where we stand | Available Information | Right to Information | some questions about validity in terms of the Biodiversity Act, 2002 | examples of related activities of NBSAP protagonists / associates (Aravali Biodiversity Park - implementation of NBSAP style ideas; and DJB restructuring - replication of NBSAP style processes) | + covering request for information | >> RTI NGO Jansunwayi re DJB (related post) | follow-up request (08-nov-2005)
07&10-nov-2005: MoEF response: | 2005/11/07: "...We are not aware of any Press Note dated 05.10.2005 ... Accordingly MoEF website may not include any information on the subject... ...A group of experts was constituted by the Ministry to scrutinize the draft report prepared by the Kalpvriksh and rectify discrepancies and inconsistencies. The report has been duly corrected. The same is going to act as one of the inputs for the draft National Action Plan which is being prepared in the Ministry. The concerned organizations have meanwhile been paid all their dues. We expect that the above satisfies your query." | 2005/11/10: "... this is to inform you that meanwhile we have been able to trace the Press Note dated 05.10.2005. The Press Note is self-explanatory and gives reasons for the decision taken. If you need further information in this regard, please specify the document that is required by you. The same would be examined by the Ministry and action would be taken as per the provisions of the RTI Act".
10-nov-2005: PMO Press Release: PM Gives away Green Governance Award of Bombay Natural History Society, NBSAP partner and MoEF-ENVIS centre allotted land in Asola Forest in 2004.
13&14-nov-2005: NGOs/CEJI Press Release about their protest against MoEF (Public Hearing before a panel including Shekhar Singh, NBSAP Steering Committee member and CEC special invitee for NGO petition for Aravali Biodiversity Park, and theatrical dharna by about 200 demanding scrapping of EIA reform (on which public comments were invited on 15.09.05) and draft NEP (on which public comments were invited in 2004), etc, and intending to meet PM)
16-nov-2005: MoEF Press Release in response disclosing dates of consultations with representative groups on EIA and NEP and claiming due consideration of all comments received
18-nov-2005: media advocacy of NGO NBSAP (Opinion article in Hindustan Times)
19-nov-2005: e-mail to editor about media advocacy of Aravali Biodiversity Park (report in tabloid News-of-the-Week about plans of movement with Medha Patkar)
21-nov-2005: media advocacy of RTI (s.6) (Full page HT-Research feature, including guest column by Smt Aruna Roy)
21-nov-2005: RTI request to MoEF re NBSAP and also NEP and EIA