a mega eco-development project in seven protected areas of the country funded by the World Bank ( wb ) has come under fire from environmentalists. The wb had recently approved a us $28 million-loan and a us $20 million-grant from the Global Environment Facility for the project. It aims at con serving the biodiversity in seven national parks and sanctuaries located in Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Bihar.

Environmentalists including John Hontelez, chairperson, Friends of the Earth International, Amsterdam, and Anil Agarwal, director, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, are opposing the way the project is being implemented as it would affect the livelihood of communities dependent on these protected areas. The project holds the communities primarily reponsible for their destruction. They will be moved out of forests and be given various incentives to adopt alternate sources of fuel and fodder. The project is directly against the idea of a partnership between the forest department and the communities in running the national parks and sanctuaries. It is also not cost-effective and would put the country under great financial burden, they said.