CBED – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT IN CMA

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has initiated a program for improvement of environment in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) within the Chennai Metropolitan Area. During the year 1995. UNHABITAT and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) jointly launched the Sustainable Cities Program (SCP). The SCP implemented in Chennai was known as sustainable. Chennai Project (SChP). The CMDA was the implementing partner in the project. Implementation of the SchP gave an opportunity to CMDA to project itself as an organization that is alive to meet the needs of the population at the grass root level and involve them indecision making process which is unique experience in investment process and creation of infrastructure rather than “top down” approach. As a follow-up of the SchP, the CMDA has evolved a Community Based Environment Development Program (CBED), which aims to achieve sustainable urban development with the active involvement of stakeholders particularly in identifying local environmental problems, formulating workable proposals and even providing monetary contributions besides implementation of projects.

The objectives of the Community Based Environment Development (CBED) program are as follows:

To enable the participation of the community at the grass roof level to identify and prioritize environment related issues affecting all sections of the community.
To ensure full stakeholder participation including the elected representatives, to create a common platform for the community to work together to solve the local issues that will be unique to the respective areas, in the manner that is acceptable to all stakeholders.
To help build capacity at the local level to plan, co-ordinate and formulate feasible, bankable project proposals with emphasis on environmental considerations, multi-sectoral co-ordination and effective participation of public and private sectors.
To ensure better maintenance and utilization of the assets created and to develop a spirit of ownership amidst the beneficiaries.
To Institutionalize the process and
To replicate and upscale the process.

The CBED program is extended to all the ULB (Municipalities, Panchayat Unions and Village Panchayats) within the CMA. The cost sharing is indicated below:

CMDA Grant	80%
Local Body Contribution	10%
Community Contribution	10%

A local body may avail Rs.10 lakhs per year (maximum) as grant under this programme. The following issues are given priority for funding under CBED Program.

Improvement to the burning / burial grounds.
Improvement to the parks / play fields.
Solid Waste Management.
De-silting of lakes / ponds / tanks to augment water supply and improve the ground water table.
Construction / Renovation of toilets and other environmental improvements in the schools run by local bodies.
Construction of storm water drains.
Construction of common utility buildings.
Any other projects with an object to improve the local environment.

The rain water harvesting and tree planting have to be implemented wherever it is possible and made compulsory.

The following steps are ensured in all the projects:

The local council has to pass a resolution for the works to be undertaken, to signify the priority issues.
Key plan, detailed plan, design, which are part of the project formulation and capacity building are to be prepared.
The site should be free from litigation and owned by the local body
Detailed estimate to be approved by the competent authority.
Undertaking to be obtained from the community that the contribution would be made for the project, to ensure peoples participation.
Administrative sanction from the respective agency to be obtained.

Partnership is ensured by CMDA by organizing meetings with the NGOs, CBOs, Heads of Institutions, Local Bodies, Communities and Stakeholders, Periodical Seminars are held to sensitize the partners. Projects are monitored through a monitoring committee to ensure that the projects achieve their objects, with participation of all stakeholders concerned. The Local Bodies are encourage to document their experiences in order to keep the institutional memory intact, communication between the various groups is kept alive by periodical assessments.

The CBED Program strives to bring about an attitudinal change among the stakeholders, to have a mind set for a bottom-up approach, involve experts and special categories of people like the women, children and physically challenged to participate actively.

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority allots about Rs.1 Crore every year for assistance to local bodies under this programme.

Projects approved by the Project Sanction Committee of community based environment development programme during the financial year 2008-2009

CBED Projects - Amount released during financial year 2008 - 2009

List of Local Bodies benefited under CBED Program 2002-2009

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Booklet on "Best Practice" on LAP & CBED Schemes