Odisha set to implement Climate Change Action Plan

Concerned over the impact of climate change in the state, Odisha government has decided to implement the Climate Change Action Plan without waiting for central assistance.
This was decided at a meeting of the Monitoring and Advisory Committee on Odisha Climate Change Action Plan chaired by Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra yesterday.
"Availability of funds will not be a bottleneck in the process. Required funds will be made available to the implementing departments and agencies," Mohapatra said.
Asking the line departments to take up activities with commitments, he said their actions were crucial for future growth and survival.
Forest and Environment Department has been asked to increase plantation and intensify the raising of nurseries at block and district levels. The department has also been asked to increase density of tree converge in 20,000 sq km forests.

The chief secretary said around Rs 1,700 crore was available for plantation under different schemes and more funds, if required, would be made available.

The energy secretary has been asked to take measures for reducing transportation and commercial loss of energy to save it and reduce the requirement for more production.
The energy department has been told to create a common pool of funds for incentivising solar project initiatives and increase the use of energy saving devices, an official said.
Around Rs 20 crore is available for promotion of solar projects, energy secretary P K Jena said. The department has been asked to scale it up to Rs 50 crore. Two state-run agencies were directed to work out specific target oriented action plan for promoting improved chullah and Bio-gas plants.

The Department of Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, Water Resources have been asked to undertake activities under the action plan.
The meeting also decided that incentives would be provided to private houses for having roof top solar panels and rain water harvesting system.