Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh government has come up with the ‘Climate Change Management Mission- 2047’, a roadmap for the state to contribute to the global efforts to minimise and mitigate climate change.
Chairing the monthly e-Pragati review meeting virtually, Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday informed that the next Cabinet meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will exclusively discuss climate change and directed the department to submit the detailed ‘Climate Change Management Mission- 2047’ document for the same.
He opined that Arunachal Pradesh, being a part of the Himalayas and one of the largest forest covers in the country, has a big role to play in dealing with climate change and global warming.
“Human activities have increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, driving up temperatures. Extreme weather and melting glaciers are being witnessed which are a threat to all forms of life on earth. We cannot sit idle on it,” Khandu said.
Prepared and presented by the state Department of Environment and Forests, the ‘Mission’ has put up water conservation goals, habitats goals, agriculture sector goals, forest sector goals, disaster management goals, energy and transport sector goals, waste management goals and health sector goals to be achieved in the next two decades.
The goals envision to attain climate regulation, increased carbon sinks and reduced CO2 emissions, increased green cover, eco-system restoration, germplasm conservation, improved livelihood and opportunities, improved health sector, water security, better exposure
of climate change to local communities and eco-tourism and revenue generation. It was also decided in the meeting that the state government, through its Department of Geology and Mining, would collaborate with the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD), a
constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), under the direct control of PMO, to explore atomic minerals in Arunachal Pradesh, a chief minister’s office (CMO) communique said.
Besides the atomic minerals, it was also decided to fast-track survey and exploration of dolomite, limestone, tourmaline, base metal and cement-grade limestone in various parts of the state, it said.
Other issues and projects reviewed, include release of funds by GoI, expenditure and status of Utilization Certificates for Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna (PMAY), RURBAN scheme, pending hydro projects, land acquisition for Hollongi airport and ALGs, installation of 4G telecommunication towers, development of Parashuram Kund, Miao-Vijayanagar road, etc. The meeting also decided to observe the 75-week long ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ for which a draft action plan was discussed, the release said.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Agriculture Minister Tage Taki along with the Chief Secretary and Commissioner Finance attended the meeting at the chief minister’s office (CMO), while Home Minister Bamang Felix and RWD Minister Honchun Ngandam along with Commissioners, Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) joined the meeting virtually from their respective offices.
