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Tue, Dec 15 06:06 AM

Winter session : Day One sees lengthy discussion on environment issues; CM says Himachal has potential to become carbon-negative state

Thousands of miles away from Copenhagen and just below the snow-clad Dhauladhar ranges, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly took up the issue of climate change on the first day of its Winter Session here on Monday. The government resolved to give the country a lead in offsetting carbon emissions, which are threatening to severely disturb the entire Himalayan ecosystem.

On the opening day of the weeklong session, the house had a lengthy discussion on climate change issues. Later, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal rolled out a high agenda and declared that Himachal Pradesh had the potential to become a "carbon- negative" state.

"The advantages, which Himachal Pradesh enjoys as being a low-carbon emission state, hold the potential to make it a carbon-negative state, even as steps are already under way to position Himachal as a carbon-neutral state," he announced in the house after hours of discussion initiated by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vidya Stokes.

Dhumal, however, emphasised that development activities, including setting up of hydel projects and cement plants, could not be stopped, though these were required to be aptly balanced to sustain the environment and hill ecology. He listed steps like ban on polythene bans, distribution of CFL bulbs and introduction of green technologies to reduce carbon emissions as some of the pioneering steps taken by the government.

The CM took credit for making the Centre agree on the state's demand for "green bonus" to states — a payment for environment services. He, however, said the benefits should be extended beyond "bonus" to the actual cost of the services.

As a new initiative in the pipeline, Dhumal announced to set up carbon neutrality parks close to all industrial townships in the state. The Department of Environment Protection, the nodal agency for carbon neutrality action plans, will design the project and also oversee its implementation. The CM hailed the Centre's stand at Copenhagen, but added that this was only after the Opposition forced the government not to bow under pressures exerted by the developed nations.

The discussion on climate change witnessed an overwhelming participation of the members, including young entrants Rajesh Dharmani, Renu Chadha and Rakesh Pathania and seniors like Hari Narain Saini and Kuldeep Pathania who voiced serious concerns on the impact of the climate change in the Himalayan state. Stokes highlighted the dangers posed by cement plants and tried to question the BJP government if it was ready with mitigation and adaptation strategies. "You are good in propaganda, but not in action," she said.

Forest Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, who spoke in length on the initiatives taken by the government, asserted that Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh had given Himachal the highest credit for its "green initiatives".

He said Himachal could be one of the first states of the country to have taken the bio-carbon project of mid-Himalayan region to the almost final stage.

Carbon emissions high at new Vidhan Sabha complexDuring discussion on climate change, Congress MLA Rajesh Dharmani pointed out that the new Vidhan Sabha complex built at a cost of Rs 15 crore had no provision of sunlight, which meant it had higher carbon emissions as it needed more electricity. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal blamed it on Vidya Stokes, CLP leader and former minister of power and renewable energy, for not paying due attention to the issue when the building was being constructed during the Congress regime.