Environmental Economics Research Committee (EERC) Chaired by Professor Jyoti Parikh awarded about Rs.6.5 Crore (US$ 1.5 million) as grants to research projects in India. EERC funded 57 research projects from over 30 universities, 23 research institutions and NGOs.The purpose of the programme was to enhance the capacity for the application of economic principles and tools to environmental management in India across the full range of issues such as priority setting, cost-benefit analysis of alternative policies for pollution control, resources management and biodiversity conservation. They cover grass root level case studies or policy studies in many states of India, carried out by reputed institutions like Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Kolkata, Madras School of Economics (MSE) Chennai, Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) Delhi, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) Mumbai, and organization.

The projects funded by EERC explored the interface between environment and economics and covered a wide spectrum of issues in 8 thematic areas :

This may be the largest compilation of environmental economics studies in India A rich menu of analytical studies has emerged which fulfills the long existing vacuum of case studies on India. Together these studies provide not only micro level understanding but also national and global perspectives.

The projects tried to come up with policy suggestions for sustainable natural resource management. The field level case studies have added a substantial body of information and understanding to the natural resource management policy in the country.

Role of EERC

EERC set the priorities for research in Environmental Economics and coordinated with other core institutions. EERC undertook the following tasks and responsibilities:

The main objective is to enhance the local capacity to undertake research projects on the economics of environmental management. To achieve this goal, the EERC provided not only financial support but arranged meetings, conducted thematic workshops, training programmes for the investigators of the research projects, provided consultancies for data analysis and information about resource persons and encouraged publications based on the findings of the projects.

Under the MoEF implemented "India: Environmental Management Capacity Building (EMCaB) Technical Assistance Project" with aid from the World Bank, several organizations, executed a countrywide environmental economics capacity Building initiative. Madras School of Economics coordinated the project. Four core institutions viz.

1. Madras School of Economics (MSE) Chennai;

2. Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) Delhi;

3. Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) Mumbai; and

4. The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Kolkata,

were identified keeping in view of their expertise and involvement in the subject and the desired regional spread of the programme. MSE is the core institute for overall coordination.

Four sub-committees from the above selected institutions executed Research, Training, Curriculum development and Overseas fellowships :

Environmental Economics Research Committee (EERC) -IGIDR