WB to help Himachal prepare environment masterplan

“The Department of Environment has been advised to consult all departments,local stake holders,NGOs and experts at length so that the document becomes a practical guide for all future action,” says Forest and Environment Minister J.P. Nadda.

Enquiries reveal that the environment department has already done a broad exercise on the issues,which will form the main focus of the master plan. The first,however,to come,will be a policy on climate change. “There has already been a great deal of work done. By March 2009,Himachal Pradesh may come out with this policy,though much will depend on the Central policy,which is still awaited,” says Dr Nagin Nanda,Director,Environment and Scientific Technologies.

Setting up of an environment fund,a voluntary initiative,has already helped the government to generate an awareness about serious affects of environmental pollution. The drive to undertake an environment audit of all government departments and CFL scheme have invoked a positive response.

Payment for Environment Services(PES),an issue which Himachal Pradesh had raised with the Planning Commission,after its team visited Costa Rica to study the country’s model,has received endorsement from environment experts. “Himachal Pradesh should get PES,but before it actually puts up its case,there is a need to study as to which type of model will suit Indian conditions. The locals should and must be made partners in all future plans on climate change,PES and afforestation,” Sunita Narain told The Indian Express.

The issues which Himachal Pradesh has decided to include in its action plan on climate change include introducing technological interventions for reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as industrial,business,residential,automobiles,energy,landfills and agriculture sectors. It also aims to counterbalance the current Greenhouse gas emissions through conservation strategies such as afforestation programmes,promoting use of renewable energy,meeting energy requirement from the hydel power,biomass rather than fossil fuels,recovery of energy from the waste and to prevent change in forest land use.

Snow,hail lash Shimla,Manali

Shimla and other tourist resorts in the state today experienced fresh snowfall,beside a spell of hail,intensifying the cold conditions in the town and higher reaches,including the entire tribal belt of Kinnaur,Lahaul-Spiti and Bharmaur. The hill town witnessed at least 3 cm of snow in the early hours,followed by an intense spell of hail and rain. The day temperature in Shimla has further dipped down to 1.2 degrees Celsius,while it is already below minus in the tribal belt. Reports say Narkanda experienced 7 cm of snow during the day and Kufri had six cm of snow. Kufri today witnessed a huge rush of tourists,arriving mainly from Chandigarh and parts of Punjab and Haryana. Similar reports have been received from Manali and other hill stations,including Dalhousie and Dharamshala.