Sops for green power in Delhi climate plan

New Delhi, Nov 5 : Encouraging use of solar power, increase in use of energy-saving lighting, setting up of an electronic waste facility, more CNG buses, promoting use of bio-fuel and shutting down coal-fired power plants form the highlights of the Delhi government's 65-point three-year agenda to fight climate change.

"We have identified 65 actions to be taken in various fields like solar mission, energy efficiency, green India, water conservation, sustainable habitat and others in next three year"," Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta told reporters here Thursday.

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh unveiled the plan in the presence of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

With this, the national capital became the first state to come up with an action plan to tackle climate change, in line with the prime minister's National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC).

The plan aims to encourage use of solar power, increase in use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LEDs, setting up of an electronic waste facility, more CNG buses to promote public transport, promoting use of bio-fuel and shutting down coal fired power plants.

It also plans to encourage reuse of construction waste, increase green cover from 290 square km to 500 square km by 2012 by developing more city forests and parks, restore water bodies and reuse waste water.

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"The government will increase awareness and involve people through Bhagidari (partnership). A carbon map of Delhi will be drawn up to examine carbon emissions sector wise for policy alternativ"s," Mehta said.

Dikshit stressed that the ever rising population of Delhi is increasing pressure on the city's resources.

She requested Ramesh to encourage development of other cities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) so that the pressure on the national capital is reduced. "

"2012 is not far away and we want to make Delhi a role model for other sta"es," Dikshit said.

Ramesh sa"d: "India is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. We have to take a leadership role as our future depends on"it." Karnataka, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are also in the process of preparing such plans, he added.

The union minister wanted the Delhi government to take treatment of sewage as a challenge.

He also requested the chief minister to make a "special task force" of passionate people to implement the action plan.

--IANS