Odisha readying climate plan for 2015-20

Odisha, which pioneered Climate Change Action Plan in 2010, is working on a similar exercise for the second phase covering the period 2015-20 to combat the challenges of climate change.

"The state has initiated a process for low carbon growth through fiscal instruments for industries. We are now in the process of preparing the second phase of Climate Change Action Plan for the period 2015-20," said additional chief secretary (forest & environment), U N Behera.

The state today released the progress report on the action taken on the first phase of Climate Change Action Plan, in the presence of chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

"The budget allocation for climate change related activities as a percentage of total budget has increased from 3.3 per cent in 2012-13, to 3.6 per cent in 2013-14 and four per cent in 2014-15. This is largely for highly relevant priorities identified in the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC). Several initiatives such as promotion of SRI (system of rice intensification), livelihood diversification through fruit tree plantation, use of micro-irrigation, aggressive plantations in degraded areas, coastal process study and construction of multi-purpose cyclone and flood shelters, mangrove protection, promotion of water use efficiency are major adaptation measures," Patnaik said after releasing the report.

The budget for climate change has increased from Rs 1,700.17 crore during 2012-13 to Rs 2,184.35 crore in 2013-14 and to Rs 3,207.26 crore in 2014-15.

"Amongst various initiatives, agriculture, water resources and disaster management departments lead in adaption while energy, urban development and forest & environment departments lead in mitigation," said Behera.

The adaptive measures taken up under SAPCC are disaster preparedness, construction of flood and cyclone shelters, improvement in agricultural productivity including cultivation of climate resilient crop varieties, increasing perennial fruit plantation and adoption of integrated farming systems.

Similarly, mitigation measures undertaken include adoption of super critical technology in power generation, higher solar power generation, efficient energy use in reduction initiative, efficient energy use in urban water supply, energy efficient building, development of inland waterways and transportation of bulk material through rail network.

The state has also successfully taken up the pilot project on intensive carbon sequestration through micro algae in the captive power plant of National Aluminium Company (Nalco).