Gulf of Mannar project may be extended after 2009!

Rameswaram, Oct 07: Tamil Nadu government's project to conserve and promote sustainable use of the biodiversity in the Gulf of Mannar's biosphere reserve may be extended for two years after 2009, officials here said. The project, inaugurated by then Tamil Nadu Chief minister Jayalalithaa in 2002, was taken up only in 2003 due to administrative delay. Work was progressing slowly as many officials were unwilling to work in Ramanathapuram district, they said. However, the pace of work on the Rs 140 crore project, funded by the state government and Global Environment Fund and United Nation's Development Fund, picked up pace from 2004. The funding agencies, including the Tamil Nadu government, had already requested for... [read full story]