(1) The Project Preparation Fund may, in addition to the purposes specified in sub-section (4) of Section 25 of the Act, be used for the following purposes:
(a) Any technical study required to finalize the technical, legal or financial parameters of a project including legal reviews and commercial assessment studies;
(b) Preparation of Impact Assessment Studies including Environmental Impact Assessment Studies;
(c) Preparation of tender documents including standard tender documents;
(d) Preparation of other essential project documentation prior to signing concession agreement;
(e) Training; and
(f) Conduct of outreach events including seminars and conferences.
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(2) Any public agency will be eligible to apply for support from the Project Preparation Fund for hiring of experts and consultants, preparation of feasibility studies, detailed project studies and the activities specified in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of sub-rule (1) intended for a specific project, whether already recommended by the Board under sub-section (4) of Section 14 of the Act or not.
(3) Such application shall be made in the format contained in Appendix III;
(4) The Board may also utilize the Project Preparation Fund for any of the activities covered under sub-rule (1);
(5) The expenditure related to the conduct of the meetings of the Board or the Executive Committee, sitting fees and allowances of expert members and any staff recruited by the Board may also be met from out of the Project Preparation Fund;
(6) Financial assistance from the Project Preparation Fund shall not be utilised for the following purposes:
(a) Expenses incurred by the Public Agency on its own staff;
(b) Expenses incurred for engagement as Consultants of any serving employees of Government by the Board or a public agency.