Govt rapped for delaying plan on climate change

UNDER LENS NGT says delay was aggravating problems caused by pollution

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday observed that even though the national capital was facing pollution issues,which, experts say, will influence climate change in the long run, the Delhi government had delayed the finalisation of the ‘state action plan on climate change’ by almost two years.

The green tribunal observed that the delay was aggravating the problem caused by pollution and other environment issues further.

The NGT, while hearing a plea in the matter earlier this week, has asked the secretary (environment) of the Delhi government to appear before it. The next hearing in the matter is on October 25.

The plea was filed by Mahendra Pandey, an environment activist and former scientist, seeking directions from the court to draft, finalise and implement the Delhi state action plan on the lines of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

In his plea, filed through advocate Guarav Bansal, he had stated that Delhi was facing multiple environment-related issues due to the ill-effects of climate change and that every state must have its own action plan to fight it.

The NAPCC contains entails formulating specific targets to cut down emissions from various polluting sources.

It includes enhancing use of energy-efficiency measures such as use of solar power, conserving water, creating mechanisms for sustainable habitats and increasing the green cover, among others.

The Delhi government told the tribunal that the Delhi state action plan on climate change (SAPCC) has been prepared as per the framework of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEF) and an interim report had also been sent to the ministry.

However, officials in the department said that the Union ministry had suggested certain modifications in the report submitted by the department, which are being incorporated into the plan at present.