NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Minister for Environment Rajendra Arlekar on Wednesday informed the state legislative assembly that the state government is in the process of formulating and preparing the Goa state action plan on climate change including undertaking ‘capacity building on climate change’. It was also mentioned that a climate change secretariat would be established for the purpose.
“In order to attain the same effectively, the government has requested the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change to release a grant of Rs 10 lakh, for the said purpose,” the written information added.
“The proposal for this action plan envisages undertaking a comprehensive awareness and capacity building programme to various stakeholders in the state, on variations of the climate on the human population, specially the coastal population, as the unprecedented variations on climate will have serious economic impacts and implications for sustainable development of Goa,” the written reply pointed out, informing that Goa has a broad physiographic setting comprising Western Ghats, the midland, and the coastal plains, and all these areas are directly or indirectly subjected to variations and impact of global warming.
Arlekar, in his written reply also maintains that of these regions, the coastal region of Goa with 110 km of coastline and intricate backwaters is highly susceptible to impact of global warming, specifically due to sea level rise, flooding, erosion hazards and various related coastal disasters.
“Based on the variations in relief, topography, land use, land cover, demography, and other related socioeconomic issues, the GSAPCC as well as the CBCC would be formulated,” he stated observing that likewise saltwater intrusion into freshwater domain is another serious issue faced by the state.
The written information further stated that a letter written by director of environment Srinet Kotwale to the Union ministry has mentioned about the coastal population and properties, besides flora and fauna resources and finally, the ecosystem of Goa being affected considerably by the impacts of climate change and global warming scenario.
“In this regard, the department of environment, along with various state line departments and stakeholders desire to organise a series of ‘capacity building on climate change’ workshops and awareness programmes on the impacts of climate change,” Arlekar maintained, stating that all the probable sectors like transport, energy, agriculture, forests, solid waste, health, water, and food security would be part of the capacity building programme on climate change.
It was also mentioned that the department of environment is short-staffed and considering the necessity of augmenting and attaining various environment related schemes/ programmes including the establishment of climate change secretariat, formulation of the GSAPCC and its implementation, the state government is of the opinion that the department if environment needs to be strengthened.