MEL&D Services for CEPMIZ Watershed Development Programme

The Comprehensive Environmental Plan for Mining Impact Zone (CEPMIZ) is a strategic watershed development initiative implemented by the Watershed Development Department (WDD), Government of Karnataka. The programme is supported by the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) and operates under the oversight of the Hon’ble Supreme Court Oversight Committee. CEPMIZ focuses on restoring ecologically degraded and mining-affected landscapes across the districts of Ballari, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Vijayanagar.

The programme is being implemented from 2023–24 to 2027–28 in alignment with the PMKSY-WDC 2.0 guidelines. It adopts an integrated watershed management approach that emphasizes natural resource conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihood enhancement. The initiative covers 35 projects across nine taluks, spanning approximately 2.92 lakh hectares. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Documentation (MEL&D) is a core component of the programme, enabling real-time data generation, performance tracking, adaptive management, and evidence-based decision-making.

TERI as an independent third-party agency, is responsible for implementing a comprehensive MEL&D framework. This includes baseline surveys, impact evaluations, GIS and remote sensing-based analysis, and concurrent process monitoring supported by a robust Management Information System (MIS). TERI also undertakes thematic and case studies to assess programme outcomes and facilitates systematic documentation and dissemination through high-quality media outputs, thereby strengthening institutional learning and informing policy and practice.