Regarding the State Action Plan on Climate Change in the state, the concerned departments will have to come forward for innovations with new policy initiatives. Chief Secretary Radha Raturi directed the Tourism Department to make new guidelines for sustainable tourism development, 100% garbage disposal at tourist places and work on innovation for paperless ticket system. Chief Secretary Radha Raturi reviewed the State Action Plan on Climate Change in the Secretariat on Thursday. She discussed with the departments on the desired amendments in the State Action Plan and the policy points related to it. Information was taken on the action taken at the level of all departments including Forest and Environment on climate risk, status of greenhouse gas emission in the state, financial support, monitoring and regular evaluation of the Action Plan.
Special attention on 14 sectors
Special attention is being given to 14 sectors under the State Action Plan. These include agriculture and horticulture, animal husbandry and dairy, fisheries, forest and biodiversity, health and migration sites. Along with this, water, disaster management, tourism, energy, road, transport, energy, science and technology have been taken up. The Chief Secretary gave special emphasis to the Agriculture and Horticulture Department to promote organic farming to improve the quality of soil, increase irrigation capacity and expand the cultivation of local crops. He said that there is a need to increase the access of farmers to loans, insurance and modern machines and capacity development. The use of clean energy with the help of solar power pumps will have to be encouraged in agriculture. Under the State Action Plan on Climate Change, the Tourism Department has been instructed to increase research on tourism. He also gave instructions to promote environmental protection of tourist places by increasing public awareness through workshops on the subject of climate change. The Chief Secretary asked the Energy Department to organize capacity development and workshops on energy conservation. He said that seminars and training on water conservation and green building are necessary. The number of model energy villages should be increased. Instructions were given to pay special attention to the development of micro hydro and solar projects. He expressed the need for the Forest Department to focus on continuous research for biodiversity and forest conservation, construction in hilly areas and policy aspects for forest conservation. He emphasized on giving priority to aspects like the use of Pirul as fuel and biomass. Officials of all the concerned departments including Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu were present in the meeting.
