Green Action for National Dandi Heritage Initiative (GANDHI) Memorial Project, a unique project aimed at overall development and conservation of the environment of Dandi & its surrounding villages was launched today at Dandi by Shri Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of Environment & Forest, Government of India & Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Chairman, Dandi Memorial Committee. Under this project, the implementing agency will shell out an amount of Rs. 25 crore for the purpose and Dandi will be declared as eco-sensitive zone in order to develop it as an eco-friendly tourist destination.

After launching the project at Dandi, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of Environment & Forest, said, “Under this new initiative, Dandi & surrounding villages will be declared as eco-sensitive zone under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. This will ensure eco-friendly overall development of the area and proper monitoring system as per the provisions of the law will be made accordingly. This is a national project and cutting across the party lines, all the political fronts will try their best for implementation of the project.”

He handed over a cheque of Rs. 42.90 crore to Dr. S.K. Nanda, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Forest & Environment, Gujarat, at the function for implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project in the state. This project is being implemented by SICOM with assistance of Rs. 300 crore from the World Bank.

Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Chairman, Dandi Memorial Committee, constituted by Government of India, said, “It is unfortunate that no initiative is taken for development of Dandi Heritage Route in last five years. But now, along with renovation of Saifee Villa, where Mahatma Gandhi spent a night before breaking the salt act in 1930, 15 acres of land opposite the villa will also be developed as a memorial.”

Dr. S.K. Nanda, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Forest & Environment, Gujarat, said, “The project will mainly focus on four tools for successful implementation. These include conservation of coast & coastal resources, adopting nature-based development of resources, encouraging integrated village & community development, promotion of eco-tourism and branding of Dandi as an ‘Environment-Positive’ tourist destination. The initial outlay for the project, to be completed in about two years, is about Rs.25 crore. The funding will be done through World Bank assisted Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project, being implemented by SICOM.”

Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM), an agency working under Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, will implement the project in collaboration with Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad & Gujarat Ecology Commission, Government of Gujarat.

All the implementing agencies will work out a plan for integrated development and heritage conservation in the specified areas, embodying Gandhian principles meant for village development and environmental conservation. Shri E. Balagurusamy, IFS, Member Secretary, GEC, said, “Various activities to be undertaken as a part of the project include mangrove afforestation and bio-shield development, beach nourishment, conservation of coastal features and wetlands, harnessing and encouraging use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, conservation of water, waste management, transformation of target villages in to carbon neutral areas, improvement in source of livelihood and so on.”

“After implementation of the project, respective Village Panchayats will look after the maintenance and sustenance of the assets and take advantage of the opportunities created by the project. A plan for supporting the Village Panchayats in this task will also be worked out under this project,” he added.

About SICOM

SICOM is a society set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to implement the World Bank assisted Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project.

About GEC

The Gujarat Ecology Commission is an institution established in 1992 by the Forest & Environment Department, Government of Gujarat to address the State’s environmental issues and develop sustainable technologies.

Dr. S.K. Nanda, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Forest & Environment is the chairperson of The Gujarat Ecology Commission. The Commission is currently headed by Shri. E. Balagurusamy, IFS, Member Secretary. The main role of the commission is to design, execute, monitor and evaluate projects associated with ecological and environmental protection.