A State-level convention on climate change policy and sustainable development held here came up with a host of proposals to save the ecology and environment of Odisha and get a relief from the climate change impact.
The convention organised by the National Alliance of People’s Movement Odisha Chapter and lok Shakti Abhiyan and attended by several people’s outfits and environmental forums strongly pitched for no mining to protect green hills like Khandadhar, Niyamgiri, Karlapat, Deomali, Maliparvat, Kuturumali.
Besides, its other proposals to the State and Central Governments included limitation in production of thermal power up to 7,000 megawatt instead of 70,000 mw in Odisha to save rivers like Mahanadi, Baitarani, Ebb, Tel etc; production of renewable energy like solar and wind at least 50 per cent of their need within five years by the coporates and priority for sustainable agriculture and economic support to farmers to shift chemical farming to natural farming.
Most pertinently, the convention citing the historic decision of Gram Sabhas in 2013 on ‘no’ to mining in Niyamgiri and keeping in view the ecology of the hills and Bansundhara river recommended for dismantling of the Vedanta plant at lanjigarh. It also urged to stop Polavarum Dam as well as not to proceed for proposed Manibhadra Dam under river link project on river Mahanadi.
The convention also urged the Central Government to follow its action plan on climate change, which was submitted to the UNO for Paris Convention of Parties on Climate Change to be held in December next. The action plan speaks that India is being guided by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and that Indian development process is guided by the aspiration of making India prosperous and progressive on the path of “development without destruction”.
The Centre was also asked to take a lead along with the third world countries to pressurize the rich western countries to agree for reduction of high consumption and simplify luxurious life style to provide basic needs of the poor people.
This is possible only if there will be an agreement to limit the increase of global warming up 1.5 degree Celsius at the end of 21st century, it said.
Madhuresh Kumar of NAPM inaugurated the convention. Prafulla Samantara of lok Shakti Abhiyan, lingaraj of the Farmers Movement, scribe Rabi Das, leaders of people’s movements of Odisha like Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti, Banshadhara, Deomali Surakhya Samiti, anti-thermal power movements, anti-Posco movement among others participated.