Volume 2

Perspectives in science & technology : technical reports / by the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.

  • India. Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Date:
[1990], ©1990
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Perspectives in science & technology : technical reports / by the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/448 (page 409)
    1 Executive Summary The Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) pro- poses to undertake a five year project on evolving environmentally sound development strategies in five microcatchments representing the different ecological zones of the state. The project would be executed by a mullti- disciplinary working group including technical experts, government offi- cials and representatives of the local people. This working group would be supported at the field level by village ecodevelopment task forces. This organisation has been evolved and is working satisfactorily in two micro- catchments, in which KSCST has an ongoing programme. The project would focus on a holistic view of the resource base to be developed in a sustainable fashion and in a way such that benefits would accrue to the weaker segments of the society. To ensure replicability the outlay on development schemes would be at the current state-wide level of Rs 250 per head per year. The total outlay for the project, including developmental expenditure which would be incurred in any event, comes to Rs 4.5 crores for a five year period. . Objectives To evolve a methodology for utilisation and development of natural re- sources that would : Result in sustenance of the resource base on a long term basis Be based on a holistic view of the resource base Take proper account of features specific to the local environment Be responsive to the needs and aspirations of the local human communities. 3 Background Our conventional approaches to development have emphasised sectorally oriented programmes of intensification of resource use, without due regard to long term consequences or side effects. The result has often been a liquidation of the capital stock of resources, and a degradation of the environment. The consequences of such exhaustion and degradation have largely been passed on to the weaker segments of our population, while benefits of development have tended to be accrued to those already better off. On the other hand, our attempts at environmental conservation, such as