The Hindu : New Delhi News : A brand new climate change agenda for Delhi

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Sunday, May 24, 2009
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A brand new climate change agenda for Delhi

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Govt. devises 65 action points for all departments to follow

Progress to be monitored on a monthly basis
Target to bring 500 sq.km under green cover by 2012

NEW DELHI: With an eye on arresting the Capital’s carbon footprint, the Delhi Government has identified a set of 65 action points that each department of the administration would have to follow.

These pointers, put together in a volume titled “Climate Change Agenda for Delhi 2009-2010” and authored by Delhi’s Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta cover a variety of issues like noise pollution, air pollution and water pollution, municipal waste generation and greening.

“Each department has been assigned a set of action points, which they will have to follow and their progress will be monitored on a monthly basis,” Mr. Mehta said on Saturday.

The agenda that took a year to shape up is similar to the one released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year. “The challenges posed by climate change are a critical issue and each one of us has a role to play in sustaining the eco-system and reducing the carbon footprint. The agenda lists the actions that need to be taken in this direction. While certain steps have already been initiated, the agenda will help us strengthen them and reinforce the idea of safeguarding the planet,” said Mr. Mehta.

He pointed out that a map for claiming carbon credits was being drawn and steps to reduce the emission of green house gases were under way.

“Apart from the areas of air, water and noise pollution that need to be addressed, we also need to add land and knowledge to the list. If we address each of these five areas in a holistic manner and put in place an agenda to be followed over the next three years, there will be a huge difference made to Delhi’s environment,” he added.

The Chief Secretary said though Delhi has taken a lead by switching over to eco-friendly Compressed Natural Gas, a cleaner fuel, transport still remains a critical area.

“Transport is the most critical area, we need more buses and we need to integrate the Delhi Metro railway and the bus service,” he said.

On the issue of water pollution, the new agenda calls for promoting decentralised wastewater treatment systems to reduce carriage cost and maintenance of large sewerage system.

While the targets for the State Transport Department include induction of more CNG buses, imposition of congestion tax to check growth of vehicle population and the possibility of using low sulphur diesel/petrol to reduce harmful emissions, the Department of Environment has been marked to work on the possibility of converting waste oil from commercial establishments into bio-fuel.

The Forest Department has been set a target of bringing 500 sq.km under green cover by 2012 and open a new eco-task force by 2009. Creation of about 250 green buildings, increasing the capacity of solar water heating, building retro fitment for 100 buildings for energy efficiency and encourage the use of renewable energy to 5 per cent of the total energy produced by 2012 are some of the targets for the Power Department.

The Delhi Jal Board’s brief is to increase the efficiency of water use to 20 per cent, check leakages, install water recharge system in 1,000 buildings and provide sewer connections, complete 80 per cent work on the Renuka Dam project and restore water bodies.

Targets have also been set for the Education Department, the PWD, the Health Department, the Delhi Police and the Industries Department.

“Efforts like introduction of compact fluorescent lamps, setting up of air ambience fund to provide support for battery-operated vehicles, mandatory use of solar water heaters in all buildings above 500 sq metres, nine new city forests and waster to energy projects will be intensified to ensure the proper implementation of the agenda in helping check the adverse impact of climate change.”

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