PALNI HILLS CONSERVATION COUNCIL
                     --------------------------------

Minutes of the Fourth Annual General Body meeting of the Palni Hills
Conservation Council (PHCC) held on 22nd May 1989 at 4.00 p.m.
at 'Nutshell'.

                             MEMBERS PRESENT
                             ---------------

 1. Robert Stewart                      15. M.S. Viraraghavan
 2. Tanya Balcar                        16. Andal Damodaran
 3. V. Sampath                          17. Meenakshi Meyyappan
 4. Jaima Mani                          18. V.R. Ramachandran
 5. Laeeq Futehally                     19. Shrimathi Mahesh
 6. Girija Viraraghavan                 20. Vasantha Menon
 7. Chandra Shankar                     21. Zai Whitaker
 8. D. Thiagarajan                      22. Rom Whitaker
 9. Mohan Raman                         23. K.M. Matthew
10. A. Jeyachandran                     24. C. Krishnamurthi
11. R. Kannan                           25. T. Rajkumar
12. C. Israel Bhooshi                   26. David Nagel
13. A.R. Damodaran                      27. C. Amalraj
14. C. Jeyakaran                        28. Zafar Futehally


        Mr. Viraraghavan welcomed the PHCC members to the 4th Annual General
        Body meeting.

1.  The Annual report, which had been circulated to members, was adopted.

2.  The audited accounts were approved by the meeting. Mr. Jeyakaran,
    Treasurer, informed the members that PHCC had received its foreign
    contributions number and that the NWDB tree planting sub-committee had
    submitted a 2 1/2 crore project to NWDB for funding. There was a
    discussion about survival rates, protecting seedlings; mixed plantation
    and the need to get more money for administrative expenses.

3.  Mr. V. Elango is appointed as auditor for 1989-90, at the same fees, for
    PHCC as well as for the tree planting project.

4.  Executive Committee members and officer bearers were elected for '89-90.
They are:

Sl.No.                  Name                    Post
------                  ----                    ----

 1.               Zafar Futehally             President
 2.               K.M. Matthew                Vice-President
 3.               Navroz Mody                 Vice-President
 4.               Girija Viraraghavan         Secretary
 5.               T. Rajkumar                 Joint Secretary
 6.               C. Jeyakaran                Treasurer
 7.               M.S. Viraraghavan           Member
 8.               Zai Whitaker                Member
 9.               Pippa Mukherjee             Member
10.               Jean Pouyet                 Member
11.               V.R. Rajagopal              Member
12.               David Nagel                 Member
13.               Chandra Shankar             Member
14.               R. Kannan                   Member
15.               Rom Whitaker                Member
16.               Rauf Ali                    Member


a) The nominations of Jaima Mani, Laeeq Futehally, C. Krishnamurthi and J. Nath
were withdrawn.

b) The Chairman stated that even though he had been nominated Vice-President,
he would like to withdraw it and allow Mr. Mody to continue. A valid
nomination had not been received for Mr. Mody only because he was away in
Delhi on PHCC work and it was agreed that this should be overlooked.

5.  The new subscription rates as per the agenda were approved - i.e Rs. 25
to 50 for Annual subscription and Rs. 250 to 500 for Life membership.

6.  The ammendment pertaining to the formation of a category for Associate
members was approved subject to legal opinion being favourable. The Committee
was asked to look into fee structure for this category.

7. a) Fr. Amalraj said there would be an exhibition on Kodai's environment
and people and invited everyone to come.

b) Rom Whitaker said it was necessary for the PHCC to widen its scope to
encompass sociology, agro-engineering etc. as this was connected closely
with eco-development. Instead of volunteers, we need to hire experts and
pay them well.

c) Fr. Amalraj asked why there was no action on, or concern about Ponds, which
could cause a dramatic ecological disaster of Bhopal proportions. This was
discussed and was felt that the PHCC had neither the expertise, nor the
equipment to test for mercury. Fr. Matthew suggested that we enlist the help
of Dr. C.R. Krishnamurthi, 18/1 Third Main Road, Kasturbai Nagar, Adayar,
Madras 600020. who is a renowned environmental chemist. This will be done.

d) There were questions about the writ petition against the Sterling Resort
and the Chairman explained that the judgement had been passed and an Expert
Committee asked to study the problems. He said that the only way to achieve
effective water treatment would be to insist that the organisation concerned
use the treated water.

e) There was a discussion about the excessive and unregulated traffic in
Kodai and the need for checking pollution from motor vehicles.

        A Vote of thanks we given to Mr. Rajagopal for the use of 'Nutshell'
and to the Chairman for guiding the PHCC to its present state.

        The meeting was concluded at 5.45 p.m. by the Chairman.


                                             For Zai Whitaker