45% Chandigarh to be covered in green by 2050 - Hindustan Times
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45% Chandigarh to be covered in green by 2050

Hindustan Times | By, Chandigarh
Dec 04, 2014 10:21 AM IST

The State Action Plan on Climate Change for Chandigarh approved by UT administrator Shivraj Patil a fortnight back aims at increasing green cover in the city. The UT administration plans to increase the city’s green cover to 40% till 2020, 42% till 2030 and 45% by 2050.The city’s green cover is currently 37.5%.

The State Action Plan on Climate Change for Chandigarh approved by UT administrator Shivraj Patil a fortnight back aims at increasing green cover in the city.

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The UT administration plans to increase the city’s green cover to 40% till 2020, 42% till 2030 and 45% by 2050.The city’s green cover is currently 37.5%.

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In line with global development on climate change, the Chandigarh administration in its action plan for climate has planned to reduce urban carbon footprint. Chandigarh will also work towards becoming a model for sustainable water management, use of renewable sources of energy and protecting the local ecology and environment.

Santosh Kumar, conservator of forests, UT, said, “The plan with UT administration indicates that nearly Rs 17,500 crore would be spent over a period of 50 years to complete various activities to help Chandigarh cope with the climate change impacts and make life in Chandigarh habitable.”

In the action plan it has been suggested that Chandigarh should be made pedestrian and cycle friendly so that the use of motor vehicles is reduced, which is a major source of pollution, besides reducing vehicular congestion.

The plan also recommends water audit for existing buildings. Water use audits are suggested to be an important initiative towards understanding a building’s water use, including for sanitation, maintenance, mechanical systems, building processes and landscaping, and how it can be reduced.

As part of the Mission for Sustainable Habitat and Green Code, Chandigarh has already been developing the Solar City concept to harness solar energy to meet the requirements of power.

The administration plans to come up with 25 megawatt solar energy in next 10 years. By 2015 the administration aims to commission five mega watt solar plants. The administration has so far commissioned 3.2 mega watt plants and has set up solar energy equipments on roof tops of at least 28 buildings.

Actions would be aimed at adopting scientific waste management systems with options for recovery of wealth from waste, that is compost and energy recovery from solid waste.

As a sustainable city plan, the city according to the action plan is also moving towards adopting electricity reducing measures and solar water heaters in a big way. It is expected that nearly 15% of total energy consumption will be reduced in the next 20 years. The proposal, which was drawn up in August, was approved after a detailed discussion. It will now be sent to the union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF).

Geared up

(Estimated gross expenses under various sectors for UT Chandigarh Climate Change Action Plan)

Green India mission including Agriculture, animal husbandry and horticulture
Rs 58.7 cr

Energy sector (involving solar, electricity, transport)
Rs 1,714.5 cr

Water sector
Rs 51.7 cr

Sustainable habitat mission (including health, waste management, comprehensive mobility and biomedical sector)
Rs 15,641 cr

Total
Rs 17,468 cr

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