The Union Environment Ministry on Friday told the National Green Tribunal that recommendations pertaining to the inclusion of an action plan for heatwaves have been made to the Delhi government.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) told a Bench headed by NGT judicial member Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore that following the submission of the State Action Plan for Climate Change (SAPCC) by the State government, the Ministry had made further recommendations.
Referring to a meeting held between officials of the Delhi government and the Centre, the Ministry in its affidavit said, “In the meeting, the importance of e-mobility and heatwave action plan was highlighted by the members and accordingly the government of NCT Delhi was advised to consider incorporating these issues in their State action plan on climate change.”
“Further it was advised that the State action plan on climate change should take into consideration the targets outlined in India’s Nationally Determined Contribution and also to bring out the likely funding from State’s own resources over and above the Centre’s missions or schemes,” the Ministry stated.
Revised plan
In a letter dated January 10, the State government had submitted the State action plan to the Centre following which it was asked to submit a revised plan by incorporating recommendations made by the Ministry and the National Steering Committee on climate change.
The suggestion to include an action plan on heatwaves was recommended to the Delhi government in a subsequent meeting held in February.
The submissions by the Centre was made when the green panel was hearing a plea moved by scientist Mahendra Pandey seeking directions to draft, finalise and implement the SAPCC.
The plea had contended that the Capital was adversely affected by various environmental issues and sought implementation of the SAPCC.
In January, the Tribunal had directed the Centre to finalise the action plan after the State government said that the SAPCC had been sent to the Ministry for approval.
A senior officer of the Environment Department of the State government said the authorities are in the process of revising the plan.
