Delhi sets ball rolling for climate change action plan

Being the first state that finalised a specialised climate change action plan,decks have been cleared for hiring officers who will specifically push the 65-point plan forward,months after it was announced. Most states are in the process of still finalising their climate change action plans. Gujarat,for example,has set up a dedicated climate change ministry.

A file has been sent to Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna’s office to finalise a name to head the Delhi government’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Management Centre,which has been without a chief for some time and will be one of the nodal points for getting the action plan rolling. The government will also hire two joint secretary-level officers for implementing the plan.

“While the plan has been formalised,we need a team that can coordinate the implementation,as the action plan incorporates nearly every department of the government,” a senior official said.

Delhi’s action plan incorporates several points: constructing green buildings,promoting renewable power through solar lighting,and compact fluorescent lamps. Delhi is also specifically looking at a new subsidy system for solar power. While meetings related to the action plan have been called,it was felt by that there was no one ‘face’ to be held accountable. While the Department of Environment has been holding workshops for departments like the Delhi Jal Board and the MCD,it will not be the implementing agency.

Singh,meanwhile,has stressed on the implementation of localised plans,which are within the ambit of eight National Missions announced earlier.

“Much of the action in respect of the National Missions has to be taken by the states. There will be need for local adaptation,for assessing what will work and above all,for involving the local communities… It rests upon you to provide the necessary leadership and impetus to the implementation of these very important eight missions,” he said at the conference today.