The UT Administration seems to have adopted an ‘ostrich strategy’ to deal with the crucial environmental issues in Chandigarh.
Even after a year of deliberations, the higher authorities have failed to finalise the climate change action plan for the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
The draft for State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) for Chandigarh was prepared in 2012 but the Administration had failed to meet the last year’s deadline to submit the draft to the Centre.
Sources said that the UT top brass is yet to take a final call on the policies proposed in the climate change action plan to address various environment related concerns including the emissions of greenhouse gases. And, the draft plan has not been submitted to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil for final nod before sending it to the Centre.
“The UT Administration has also received several reminders by the Centre to finalise the plan but the SAPCC file had been gathering dust since 2012,” said sources.
Chandigarh has a total area of 114 sq kms having green cover of nearly 52 sq kms including the area of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary that spreads over 26 sq km. At present, the green city of Chandigarh is facing the threat of ever-increasing pollution levels.
Notably, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment had last year met the UT senior officials to review the preparation of SAPCC and other measures taken by the UT Administration to control pollution levels here.
When contacted, Santosh Kumar, Director UT Environment Department said, “The draft action plan on climate change for the city is being prepared but is yet to finalised. We are waiting for the approval of senior officials for the SAPCC. “
He said, “The plan has been discussed in several meetings held last year and is likely to be finalised soon. The copy of the action plan on climate change would also be forwarded to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil for final nod and then will be submitted to the Centre.”
If the UT Administration’s action plan on climate change sees the light of day, the policy recommendations including congestion charge model, scrutiny of parking areas before vehicle registration, use of renewable energy and recycled water for large buildings among others would be made mandatory in Chandigarh.
The proposed draft action plan chalked out by the UT Environment Department had put forth local risks and vulnerabilities pertaining to climate change, goals and targets, baseline emissions and estimated results of mitigated actions.
Aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of climate change in the city, the action plan lays out a strategy including specific policy recommendations that should be adopted in Chandigarh to address various environment related concerns including the emissions of greenhouse gases. The initiatives including promoting car-pools, better public transport facility, introduction of metro rail project, promotion of use of solar powered products among others have also been recommended in the SAPCC.
The action plan also suggested construction of green and intelligent buildings in the city. A green and intelligent building is the one that uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, helps conserve natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier space for its occupants.