National

NGO report "rejected"

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A day after a non-government organisation Kalpavriksha alleged that the Union Environment and Forest Ministry had not taken any action on its report "National Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan'' for two years, the Ministry said that the report had been rejected as a major part of it was "scientifically invalid.'' In a statement issued here on Wednesday, a Ministry spokesperson said the report after being reviewed by a group of scientists (appointed by the Ministry) had found it scientifically invalid. The Ministry has started afresh the process of developing the National Bio-diversity Action Plan.

Kalpavriksha was paid more that Rs. 3 crores as consultancy fee by the Global Environment Facility under the United Nations Development Programme for preparing the report but unfortunately this international assistance to India has not yielded the expected benefits, the statement said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu