Inspired by the environment-related programmes undertaken by Costa Rica, the Himachal Pradesh government is preparing a comprehensive environment plan for submission to the World Bank.
The Rs. 365 crore plan would incorporate lessons learnt from the central American country of Costa Rica in the field of environment, Environment and Forest Minister J. P. Nadda said today in reply to a question of Congress G. R. Mussafir in the Assembly.
An eight-member team, led by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, had toured Costa Rica from February 10 to 19 to study various environment-related programmes.
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During the visit, the team also met chairman of the World Bank.
The minister, who was also a part of the team, said, if approved, the WB funding of the project would be 90 per cent grant and 10 per cent soft loan.
Praising Costa Rica for efficient environment management system which helped it increase its forest cover from 21 per cent to 51 per cent in the last two decades, Nadda said the state is studying ways and means to adopt these systems.
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He said the government was committed to make the state a model carbon neutral state in the country and as part of the efforts, board leaves tree would be planted in 4000 hectres of land.