Empanelment of NGOs/VOs for NWM, Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR!

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Please find below an email from TISS that is self explanatory!

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

=============

From: Nwm Tiss <nwm.tiss@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 30, 2016 at 3:10 PM
Subject: EoI for Empanelment of NGOs/VOs for NWM, Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR
To: Nwm Tiss <nwm.tiss@gmail.com>

Dear All,

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on behalf of National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) is empaneling Non-Government Organisations/Voluntary Organisations to carry out various activities under the National Water Mission.  

Organisations having experience in executing water related projects (Watershed, Drinking Water, Water Literacy and Mass Awareness, and Advocacy on Water Conservation and Environment etc.) may apply for this EoI. Only empaneled organisations will qualify for submitting proposals to National Water Mission, MoWR, RD & GR to undertake activities related to identified goals of the Mission. 

Please note that International NGOs, National NGOs, Regional NGOs and Grassroots NGOs/Voluntary Organisations are eligible to apply granted that they meet the Eligibility Criteria as mentioned in the Terms of Reference

Last Date for Submission of EoI: The Last Date for Submission of application for this EoI is 12th January, 2016 till 15:00 Hours. Applications received late or not received in the prescribed format will not be accepted or considered. 

For Application Procedure, Eligibility Criteria and Scope of Work, please visit the website: http://nwm.tiss.edu/index.php/empanelment/

 
For all queries and clarifications related to empanelment please visit: http://nwm.tiss.edu/index.php/forums/forum/faqs/

Request you to circulate this email widely in your networks and groups

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​Expression of Interest (EoI) For Empanelment of NGOs/ VOs For National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR)

Apply By: 12th January, 2017, 15:00 Hours

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on behalf of National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR), Government of India (GoI) intends to empanel reputed Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) having prior experience in water sector to promote water conservation, augmentation and preservation.

Release of EoI advertisement in major Newspapers 21st December 2016
Last date for receiving Application of EoI 12th January 2017, 15:00 Hours

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO APPLY:

1. Registered Distinct Legal Entity: The NGOs or VOs applying should not be running for profit to any individual or body of individuals and be a registered distinct legal entity under:

a. The Central Societies Registration Act 1860 or under corresponding State Act or;

b. Indian Trust Act, 1882 (Not for profit) or;

c. Charitable Company licensed under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1958 or;

d. Autonomous bodies incorporated under a statute of Govt. of India or a State Govt. or;

e. Private limited non-profit Company under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 or;

f. The Charitable Trust Act or Other statutes or;

g. Cooperative Societies or; Public Trusts

2. A Minimum of 3 Years’ Experience in Water Resource Management: The NGOs at the time of Applying for the empanelment should have minimum 3 years of experience in executing water related projects (eg. Watershed, Drinking Water, Water Literacy and Mass Awareness, and Advocacy on Water Conservation and environment etc.).

3. Should Not Have Been Blacklisted: The NGOs or VOs applying should not be blacklisted by Central/State Governments in the last 3 years at the time of submitting the application for this EoI.

Non-Governmental Organisations who are interested and committing to bringing change in the water sector may express their interest and apply as per the instructions given below: 
1. Procedure for Submission of Application: The Terms of Reference (ToR) for submitting the Expression of Interest (EoI) with details regarding Scope, Eligibility, Application procedure available at the website http://nwm.tiss.edu/index.php/empanelment

2. Last Date for Submission of EoI: The Last Date for Submission of application for this EoI is 12th January, 2016 till 15:00 Hours. Applications received late or not received in the prescribed format will not be accepted or considered.

3. Registration of Applicant with NGO PORTAL DARPAN: NGOs applying for this EoI should take note that, for receiving financial support from the Government it is now mandatory to be registered (http://niti.gov.in/content/ngo-darpan) with the NGO PORTAL DARPAN. In this context, at the time of submitting this EoI, the applicant should: a) Either have already registered with the NGO PORTAL DARPAN and have received the NGO Unique Identification Number (NGO-UID) or b) Have submitted their registration form along with the required documents and are awaiting to receiving the NGO-UID from the NGO PORTAL DARPAN.

NWM, MoWR, RD & GR reserves the right to accept/ reject any or all the applications received without assigning any reason thereof and will not entertain any communication from the applicants in this regard.

Registrar,
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Mumbai

-- 

Ranjan K Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)

Convenor, Combat Climate Change Network, India

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Mobile: +919437050103
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

Tweet @ranjanpanda

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/

Fighting water woes, combating climate change...25 Years and On!

India's environment ministry stands for everything that destroys environment!

In today's pick, I am compelled to give this statement regarding our Environment Ministry.

I can very well read between the lines from an interview of the Minister in an interview published in Times of India. India's environment minister clears air on some of the hypocrisies his ministry has been living with. The plan is to destroy more forests, kill wild life and please corporate masters. What he also exposes is the lie the government had spoken the other day reg the Ken-Betwa link project. Even though essential clearances have not been obtained, Uma Bharti said all hurdles have been cleared for the link. Or she actually meant to say, "the clearances have already been fixed, so nothing to worry!!!"

You can find the interview here:

We need to control animal populations: Anil Madhav Dave

Vishwa Mohan & Rajeev Deshpande| TNN | Dec 30, 2016, 04.12 AM IST

Minister of state for environment, forests and climate change Anil Madhav Davesays he is committed to conservation, but feels that certain animal populations need to be controlled by means other than culling to contain man-animal conflict. He also speaks on GM foods, Western Ghat conservation and climate change. Excerpts from a conversation with TOI :

National Board for Wildlife has cleared the Ken-Betwa river linking project. When will environment and forest clearances follow?
Both clearances are expected soon. We want this project to be completed. We want this to happen so that we can do a cost-benefit analysis and move accordingly. Both forest and environment clearances may come simultaneously.

Uttarakhand dam projects have become controversial, in view of the ecologically fragile nature of the region. How will you act to protect environment and ensure ecological flow of Ganga?
We are looking at all aspects of such projects very carefully. Final decision will be taken in consultation with all stakeholders, keeping in mind the environment of the region, employment and electricity needs of the people of Uttarakhand. It will take 2-3 more months to arrive at a final decision.

Has any decision been taken on commercial release of genetically modified mustard?
No. The matter is still with an expert sub-committee of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee. It will come to me once the subcommittee takes a decision. Any decision will be taken on the basis of science, and that too on science that has not been twisted by presenting wrong data. We want to take a correct decision so that 10-20 years later, no one can say it was a wrong decision.

The draft of National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) is ready. Is there a timeline to come out with the final plan?
We have not yet finalised a date but it will be soon. Our track record and our practices in wildlife conservation are very good. The world is looking at us, the way we conserve tigers, elephants and rhinos. But at the same time, we will also have to think about fixing an upper limit of animal population to avoid risks to farmers and human settlements. We have seen how monkeys, pigs and nilgais make lives of people, specifically farmers, difficult. We have to think about them when such animals destroy their crops — their hard work of four-five months.

Can we go for selective and supervised culling, the way it is practised in some western countries?
No. We won't go for such an option. India is a country where people believe in non-violent action. Violent actions are not acceptable here.

Then how will you control animal population?
We also have increasing instances of leopards entering human settlements.

That's why I am talking about fixing an upper limit for animal populations, keeping in mind habitat and other resources. We need to look at ways (through scientific interventions) to control their populations. Conservation of wildlife is a serious issue. At the same time, controlling their population is also a serious issue. We have to think about the issue of animal management to avoid man-animal conflict and animal-animal conflict.

NDA rule has seen a number of environment clearances which critics find detrimental to environment.
I firmly believe that environment protection and development can go hand in hand. Whatever you do, there will be some who will always criticise. We want to take the right decisions for the larger interest of people while taking care of the environment. Why would you stop industries which follow rules and adhere to best practices in protecting environment? We took balanced and correct decisions.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/we-need-to-control-animal-populations-anil-madhav-dave/articleshow/56246523.cms

Application period open to MDP in Environmental Policy and Law / University of Eastern Finland

We are now accepting applications for the University of Eastern Finland’s two-year Master’s Degree Programme in Environmental Policy and Law.

The Master’s Degree Programme is a unique multidisciplinary two-year programme taught in English at the University of Eastern Finland. The programme combines group teaching and independent research, bridging theory and practice, with the objective of providing participants with strong professional skills in environmental law and policy.

Our experienced teaching staff includes: Prof Kati Kulovesi, Prof Harro van Asselt, Prof Rauno Sairinen, Prof Kim Talus, Prof Juha Kotilainen, Prof Lasse Peltonen, Adjunct Prof Elisa Morgera, Adjunct Prof Antto Vihma, Adjunct Prof Ismo Pölönen, Dr Irmeli Mustalahti, Dr Yulia Yamineva, Dr Seita Romppanen, Dr Sabaa Ahmad Khan, Dr Niko Soininen, and Ms Eugenia Recio.

Courses offered include:

• Climate Change Law and Policy
• International Environmental Law
• EU Environmental Law
• International Energy Law and Policy
• EU Energy Law and Policy
• Global Environmental Politics
• Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
• Mining, Environment and Society
• Contemporary Issues in Environmental Policy
• WTO: Clean Energy, Environment and Natural Resources
• Forests and International Law

Study and application essentials:

• Two-year Master’s degree programme (120 ECTS) with interactive study methods.
• Two alternative majors: 1) Environmental and Climate Change Law; and 2) Natural Resource Governance.
• Minimum admission criteria: Appropriate Bachelor’s degree or equivalent university degree and proof of English language proficiency.
• Application period: 1 December 2016 – 13 January 2017.
• Tuition fees: There are no tuition fees for students from EU/EEA countries. For non-EU/EEA students, tuition fee is €8,000 per year. Scholarships are available to cover tuition for non-EU/EEA students.

More information, detailed admission criteria and information on available courses are available here.

The Master’s Degree Programme benefits from the research and education networks of the Institute for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (LYY). The Institute combines expertise in social and cultural research and applies it to the analysis of natural resource use and the environment. The LYY has made the University of Eastern Finland one of Finland’s leading places for social-scientific environmental research, focusing especially on issues of natural resource governance and policies of sustainable development.

The Master’s Degree Programme also benefits from the UEF Centre for Climate, Energy and Environmental Law (CCEEL), which brings together four professors and more than 20 researchers specializing in climate, energy and environmental law. The Centre hosts regular events, including the annual UEF-UNEP Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

For more information, contact: envirolawpol (at) uef.fi

Feel free to circulate this information!

Drought PIL of Swaraj Abhiyan: Supreme Court Order Dated 1st December 2016

ITEM NO.1                             COURT NO.5 SECTION                                  PIL(W)

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s).857/2015

SWARAJ ABHIYAN                                                                             Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA                                                                               Respondent(s)

(With appln.(s) for interim directions and office report)

Date : 01/12/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN B. LOKUR

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA

For Petitioner(s) 

Mr. Prashant Bhushan, AOR

Mr. Rohit Kr. Singh, Adv.

Mr. Omanakuttan K.K., Adv.

Mr. T. Sudhakar, Adv.

For Respondent(s)

UOI Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, AG

Ms. V. Mohana, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Ajit Sinha, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Rajiv Nanda, Adv.

Ms. Movita, Adv.

Mr. Mukul Singh, Adv.

Mr. Ajay Sharma, Adv.

Mr. Mukesh Kumar Maroria, AOR

Ms. Diksha Rai, Adv.

Mr. Ajit Singh, Adv.

Ms. Sunita Sharma, Adv.

Ms. Shikha Kumari, Adv.

Mr. Neeraj Kumar Sharma, AOR

Assam 

Mr. Shuvodeep Roy, Adv.

Mr. Sayooj Mohandas M.

A.P. 

Mr. Guntur Prabhakar, AOR

Ms. Prerna Singh, Adv.

Bihar 

Mr. Gopal Singh, AOR

Mr. Manish Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Shivam Singh, Adv.

Chattisgarh 

Mr. Aniruddha P. Mayee, AOR

Mr. A. Selvin Raja, Adv.

Mr. Charudatta Mahindrakar, Adv.

Gujarat 

Ms. Hemantika Wahi, AOR

Ms. Puja Singh, Adv.

Ms. Aagam Kaur, Adv.

Haryana 

Mr. Tushar Mehta, ASG

Mr. Anil Grover, AAG

Dr. Monika Gusain, AOR

Ms. Noopur Singhal, Adv.

Mr. Sandeep Yadav, Adv.

Mr. Arun Tewatia, Adv.

Jharkhand 

Mr. Tapesh Kumar Singh, AOR

Mr. Mohd. Waquas, Adv.

Mr. Aditya Pratap Singh, Adv.

Karnataka 

Mr. V. N. Raghupathy, AOR

Mr. Lagnesh Mishra, Adv.

Mr. Parikshit P. Angadi, Adv.

M.P. Mr. C. D. Singh, AOR

Ms. Sakshi Kakkar, Adv.

Maharashtra 

Mr. Tushar Mehta, ASG

Mr. Mahaling Pandarge, Adv.

Mr. Nishant R. Katneshwarkar, AOR

Odisha 

Mr. Sibo Sankar Mishra, AOR

Rajasthan 

Mr. Vijay Hansaria, Sr. Adv.

Mr. S.S. Shamshery, AAG

Mr. Amit Sharma, Adv.

Ms. Anu Dixit Kaushik, Adv.

Mr. Prateek Yadav, Adv.

Mr. Aankit Raj, Adv.

Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Adv.

Mr. Irshad Ahmad, Adv.

Telangana 

Mr. S. Udaya Kumar Sagar, AOR

Mr. Baskula Athik, Adv.

U.P. 

Mr. Irshad Ahmad, AAG

Mr. Tanmay Agrawal, Adv.

Mr. Vinay Garg, AOR

Mr. Deepam Garg, Adv.

Mr. Upendra Mishra, Adv.

Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma, AOR

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

O R D E R

It has been pointed out by learned counsel for the petitioner that an application for registration as a political party has been filed by Swaraj India (not by Swaraj Abhiyan) and that is still pending before the Election Commission of India. In view of this, in our opinion, any discussion on whether a public interest petition filed by a political party should be entertained or not appears to be pre-mature as on date. 

List the matter on 18th January, 2017 at 10.30 a.m. for submissions in this regard.

It has been pointed out by the learned Attorney General that pursuant to the order dated 28th October, 2016, a meeting was held by the Secretary in the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution on 9th November, 2016. The Minutes of that meeting have been placed before us. It is in paragraph 8 of the Minutes that in terms of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (for short “the Act”), flexibility is provided to the State Governments for designating some existing Commission to act as the State Food Commission. It is further mentioned that many States have opted for this flexibility and the suggestion given by the Secretary is to the effect that the State Governments should frame Rules to be followed by the designated Commission in its role as State Food Commission. In our opinion, while the flexibility is certainly provided by the Act, the constitution of the State Food Commission, whether it is an independent body by itself or whether it is some other Commission functioning as the State Food Commission, must meet the requirements of the statute. In other words, whatever body it is, it must consist of a Chairman, five Members and a Member-Secretary who shall be the officer of the State Government not below the rank of Joint Secretary to that Government and there should at least be two women, whether Chairperson, Member or Member-secretary and one person belonging to the Scheduled Castes and one person belonging to the Scheduled Tribe, whether Chairperson, Member or Member-Secretary and the eligibility criteria mentioned in Section 16 of the Act should also be met. It is not as if some other body can be described as a State Food Commission even though the members of that body do not meet the requirement of Section 16 of the Act. Learned Attorney General informs us that it was not the intention of the meeting held on 9th November, 2016 to bypass Section 16 of the Act. While that may be so, we are of opinion that the State Food Commission should be constituted at the earliest in accordance with Section 16

of the Act rather than to have some other body function as the State Food Commission without having the necessary expertise or the qualification to function as a State Food Commission. It is stated by the learned Attorney General, on instructions, that the entitlement of foodgrains under the Act, even though it is 75% for the rural areas and 50% for the urban areas but if the rural population or the urban population or both exceed that cut-off percentage, the benefit of the Act is not being denied to the eligible persons as long as they are able to prove their identity. Learned Attorney General further states that as far as the Union of India is concerned, it is providing foodgrains as per the State-wise requirement as mentioned in Annexure A to the affidavit dated 26.10.2016. We take this submission on record. It is submitted by Mr. Prashant Bhushan, learned counsel for the petitioner that the State Governments are not lifting the additional allocated foodgrains since it is being supplied at the Minimum Support Price and not at the price mentioned under the Act. We require the State Governments to file an affidavit within two weeks to indicate why they are not lifting the additional allocated foodgrains. Learned Attorney General has handed over the replies to questions posed by the petitioner in their letter dated 22.09.2016. This is taken on record.

(SANJAY KUMAR-I) (JASWINDER KAUR)

AR-CUM-PS COURT MASTER

Children too are vulnerable to heatwave: Australian Scientists

Scientists in Australia have said that it was a common misconception that elderly people were the only ones at risk in a heatwave. Children too are affected by heatwave. That’s shocking and can be dangerous not only in Australia but for places like ours in India where heatwave is becoming a deadly permanent disaster.

Please see further details in this link:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-01/experts-warn-against-underestimating-heatwave-threat/8081264

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)

Combat Climate Change Network, India

Mob: +91-9437050103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Tweet @ranjanpanda

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

Canada to phase out coal by 2030! BBC

Canada announces plan to phase out coal by 2030

• 21 November 2016
 
• From the sectionUS & Canada

Share

Image copyrightSCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Image captionA number of countries worldwide are moving to phase out coal plants

Canada will phase out traditional coal-fired electricity by 2030.

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said coal currently accounts for close to 10% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.

France, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Austria have all also announced plans to phase out coal.

Four provinces currently use coal in their electricity mix: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

Canada also exports coal, with Asia as a major market.

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Ms McKenna said on Monday the federal plan will allow flexibility for coal-burning regions, specifically New Brunswick, to ensure energy rates remain stable.

Last November, Alberta committed to eliminating emissions from coal-fired electricity by 2030. Ontario shuttered its last coal-fired plant in 2014.

"We know the world is moving to a low-carbon future," Ms McKenna said. "This is part of it."

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionCanada's Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says Canada needs more sustainable energy

Traditional coal-fired electricity units are those that do not use carbon capture and storage technology that traps and stores carbon dioxide.

The goal is to make sure 90% of Canada's electricity comes from renewable sources, up from 80% currently, Ms McKenna said.

This latest move, part of the federal Liberal government's support for clean energy and climate change initiatives, is likely to put Canada at odds with the United States.

President-elect Donald Trump made coal one of the centrepieces of his campaign and has promised to revive the industry in the US. He also said he would cancel the Paris climate deal.

In October, Canada ratified the Paris climate agreement. The Liberal government also said it will implement a minimum carbon price by 2018.

However, concerns have been raised that Canada will fail to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 30% below 2005 levels in 2030.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38056587