EPCO

As humankind faces unprecedented environmental challenges due to multiple stress factors, importance of a well thought out actionable planning gets all the more pronounced. That said, an efficient environmental planning turns a spate of challenges into a set of opportunities. In its farsighted approach, GoMP seized the moment in 1981 and established a pioneering institute named Environmental Planning & Co-ordination Organization (EPCO) as an opportunity to embed environmental planning into statewide development process. EPCO was founded on World Environment Day, June 5, 1981, as a registered society, under the aegis of Department of Environment to act as the advisory body to the Government of Madhya Pradesh on environmental matters.Over the years, EPCO has further expanded its activities and strengthened its technical, mana­gerial and financial capabilities for taking up broad-based field oriented programs of environ­mental research, training and planning.

Mandate

EPCO is a unique organization in terms of the foresight and the width of its mandate. Over the past 40 years, EPCO has brought out scientific publications like State of Environment reports and formulation of State Environment Policy and has helped the state in taking informed decisions though these publications. The USP of EPCO is its ability to prevent silo thinking in environment planning and act as an environment problem-solving intermediary and hence it connects government as well as non-governmental agencies in solving the environmental problems.

The mandate of the organization can be summaries as follows.

• Assist and advice the Government of MP in formulation and implementation of environmental policy for the state.
• Create public awareness with regard to environmental aspects
• Assist and advice Government of MP and other agencies in the management of human environment
• Offer consultancy services in regard all matters pertaining to environment
• Liaise with other national and international agencies working in the field of environment

To fulfill this mandate, EPCO has divided its functions and activities broadly into these following eight categories –

• Environmental Policy related matters
• Environmental Research Studies 
• Environmental Management Projects 
• Environmental Planning and Urban Designs
• Environmental Consultancy Services 
• Environmental Education, Training and Awareness 
• Environmental Statutory Activities 
• Environmental Research Lab and other research activities