EcoCity Project – X Plan Project of CPCB

The EcoCity Project initiated by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) has focus on bringing in visible environmental improvement through implementation of projects related to sewerage & drainage, solid waste collection & disposal system, protection of water bodies, improvement of traffic & transportation and plantation & landscaping. Funding for the project is on 50:50 cost-sharing basis wherein 50% of the total budget comes from the municipality of the participating town and 50% (limited up to Rs 25 million) from CPCB. Six towns namely, Tirupati, Puri, Ujjain, Kottayam, Thanjavur and Vrindavan are covered in the first phase of the project.

The main steps involved in execution of the project are:

Step 1: Preparation of EcoCity Development Plan or project proposals and identification of priority projects

Steps 2: Preparation of DPRs (detailed project reports) including designs, drawings, specifications and cost estimates

Stage 1: Conceptual level is approved by the DPR Expert Committee of CPCB
Stage 2: Detailed plans and designs are approved by the Project Coordination Committees set up at the towns
Stage 3: Final approval by DPR Expert Committee of CPCB and issue of sanctions by CPCB

Step 3: Implementation by the municipalities
The main stakeholders are:

• Overall control of the EcoCity Project: Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India
• Planning & coordination of the project: Central Pollution Control Board
• Technical support, project development and facilitating strategic alliances: GTZ (ASEM Programme)
• Implementation: Municipalities in the identified towns (Tirupati, Puri, Vrindavan, Ujjain, Kottayam, Thanjavur)