Udhagamandalam: Centrally-sponsored Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) which came into being in the Nilgiris about 30 years has undergone several changes over the years and now it is all set to introduce a major component.

The proposal, which many here said was a long felt need, would ensure that those receiving funds from the HADP were made accountable.

Objectives of the HADP included eco-restoration, preservation and conservation of sholas and grasslands, planned development of forests and cultivated areas, conservation of soil and water to increase farm productivity, economic uplift of tribals in remote areas and ensuring people's participation in all developmental activities.

The allocation by the Union Planning Commission which was a mere Rs. 1.26 crore in the beginning has been steadily increasing. According to the Nilgiris Collector Santosh K. Misra, the amount sought for 2006-07 was Rs. 35.50 crore.

Though on account of its long association with the Blue Mountains, the HADP has touched practically all aspects of life in the district, a grey area in its implementation which struck both discerning and casual observers was that it lacked an effective system of evaluation.

Since evaluation was an essential component of any programme, evaluation studies had been periodically conducted by the Directorate of Evaluation and Applied Research and Price Waterhouse on various topics of importance particularly the core sectors - Soil Conservation, Forestry and Horticulture.

However, it was felt that the importance given to evaluation did not match the huge outlay. Consequently the HADP secretariat was now in the process of putting in place a mechanism by which all the schemes being funded by the HADP could be monitored effectively.

Speaking to The Hindu here the Project Director, HADP, C. Samayamoorthy said that with the help of the National Informatics Centre a special software was being developed.

With its help the officials here could constantly keep track of the progress of schemes being implemented with HADP funds.If the secretariat was not satisfied with the manner in which any of the projects were being implemented or if it was found that there was substance to complaints from the public , the final payments would not be released.

Pointing out that the proposed system would help carry out physical verification of works at short notice, Mr. Samayamoorthy said that it would also make officials of various line departments accountable.

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