The State Government has gone ahead hammering the environmental pollution caused due to growing number and uses of vehicles, the single largest source of green house gases in open air. Those who buy more than one car would have to pay more tax. Also, a task force is in the offing to coordinate with various departments to handle the carbon and other emissions.
The declarations were made by Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Monday on the occasion of the World Environment Day. "Jharkhand has been a nature loving State where clean air and water with lots of forest were its identity. But this tag is fading out due to growing AC fitted vehicles which are polluting environment. We have decided to amend the vehicular tax system in which more taxes would be levieds on a second car. The Government would also make a task force for coordination with all the departments which would work for environmental audit," said the CM.
The task force would be headed by the Chief Secretary and ensure that all the departments adhere to the set standards meant to reduce emissions of all kinds, especially vehicular. "It would also work for pressing the departments to adopt eco-friendly work culture as much as possible. Departments may be given ratings and awards based on that," said a senior official of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change department.
The CM went on underlining inherited culture of the State as far as safeguarding nature is concerned. "Jharkhandis have a culture to worship Mother Nature, be it trees, rivers, plateaus or mountains. The Sarna society is a nature lover. We as a Government have to promote this culture and thus are dedicated to save environment. This is also vital for our survival. If we don't act now, the earth would become uninhabitable and our coming generations would not forgive us," said the Chief Minister.
He, on the occasion, also made it clear that the mammoth task is only possible if all the stakeholders and common man work in a collective manner. "Only legislations are not going to do things for us. Public participation is also required. What we need now is action, besides laws. We have to think about judicious uses of resources with us so that the kind of Jharkhand we have got from our forefathers can be transferred to the next generation," said the CM.
He also added that the Government is working in the direction of clean energy through harnessing solar power and promoting uses of lED lights. "Besides, the Government has gone ahead digging lakhs of Dovas for rain water conservation and plantation through CM Jan-Van scheme," added the CM and also released a booklet for environment protection.
Counting on the step the Department has taken for environment protection, Principal Secretary Sukhdev Singh said that 1000 MW capacity of solar plants are to be installed in the State along with planting 24 crore trees. He also stressed on saving older trees along with doing new plantations.
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kumar recalling older days underlined the importance of jute bags which are being replaced now with polythene bags. PCCF RR Hembrum, JSPCB Chairman AK Pandey and other officials were present on the occasion.