A survey conducted by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) between 1983-90 had warned that the 2000 species would become rare or threatened by the year 2000 and the Union environment ministry had sanctioned the project proposed by the Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah, for ex-situ conservation.

Though the assistance required for the project was estimated at Rs 50 lakh, including Rs 10 lakh for development of a seed bank and Rs 40 lakh for plant conservatories, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 17.81 lakh in March 1994.

The objective of the project titled "ex-situ conservation of bio-diversity with special reference to rare, threatened, endangered and endemic species of plants", was to select the species of plants from BSI publications, multiply and distribute them among different botanical and experimental gardens.

While the project had not even been initiated even after five years of its sanction and the entire fund of Rs 17.81 lakh remained idle, the expected time of extinction of the 2000 species of plants was almost over, the CAG report said.

As of July 1998 only 50 plants of 10 species, accounting for 0.5 per cent, had been propagated and no other significant conservation measures had been taken, it said. The cag also reported a BSI statement in June 1998, that the work was being carried out by traditional methods and hoped that many species would be saved by different institutes of the country engaged in such projects. "The statement of BSI reflects their non-chalant attitude towards environmental issues," the report added.

Though the entire amount of Rs 17.81 lakh was drawn in March 1994, no action was taken for one year. An amount of Rs 7.86 lakh provided for the mist chamber and glass house was paid in March 1995 to the Central Public Works Department for deposit work.

The remaining amount of grant had not been spent as of June 1998, when BSI stated that the mist chamber was expected to be completed shortly. The expected date of completion of construction of the glass house remained uncertain.

In another report CAG pointed to the non-utilisation of training facilities offered by three State Forest Service Colleges (SFSC) of the environment ministry.

The SFSCs located at Burnihat, Coimbatore and Dehradun were were set up in 1976, 1980 and 1981 respectively, to impart professional training to in-service officers of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) and state forest services.

Though the number of recruits to the colleges drastically declined though the expenditure incurred showed an increase over the years, neither the college authorities nor the ministry "made any effort to investigate the reasons for continued decline in the number of candidates and reluctance of sponsoring states, the CAG report said.