GUWAHATI, July 29 - A consultation was organised by the Centre for Environment, Social and Policy Research (CESPR) and the Indian Network for Ethics and Climate Change (INECC), in collaboration with the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), CCIP-CPGD, and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) at the NEDFi House, where important sectors under the State Action Plans for Climate Change (SAPCC) were discussed.
The Northeast, including Assam, is expected to be highly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change because of its sensitive geo-ecological set-up.
Dr AK Johari, Additional PCCF, Assam, who is also the nodal officer for the State Action Plans for Climate Change, Assam, said that the draft would be ready by August this year. �The draft prepared by the Government of Assam was submitted to the Union government with some observations and the State is in the process of including those comments with the help of Climate Change Innovation Programme � Climate Proofing Growth and Development, DFID,� he said.
Dr Johari added that the State Action Plans for Climate Change are almost ready as per the new guidelines of the Union government with financial projections, and the draft would be re-submitted by mid-August.
Nandita Hazarika, State Project Officer, ASDMA, said that in view of Assam falling in the highest rainfall intensity zone in the country, with an average rainfall of 1,750 mm in the plains and 6,400 mm in the hills, there is a need for putting in place a traditional mechanism to deal with the adverse effects of climate change. Explaining the implications of climate change, Arup Sharma, Professor, IIT-Guwahati, said, �From a study we have found out that the maximum temperature is increasing in Sonitpur and minimum temperature is going down. Also, decrease in total annual rainfall has been observed. To tackle the impact of climatic uncertainty on agriculture, rainwater harvesting system should be adopted.� He also stressed the need for engaging the scientific community and studies in preparing an effective strategy to deal with climate change.
Prashanta Neog, Associate Professor, Biswanath Agriculture College, suggested the use of climate-resilient agriculture practices to tackle climate change.
Regarding the plans of the Forest department to handle climate change, Dr C Muthukumaravel, DFO, Golaghat Wildlife Division, said that they had taken up the REDD+ strategy to fight climate change. �In Assam, there are no REDD+ forests, but we are preparing one such forest in Golaghat. We are also encouraging 40-50 villages to use vermi-compost methods,� he said.
Mrinal Choudhury from the Assam Energy Development Agency and Anuj Goswami from the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd, while speaking about the clean energy potential of the State, said that though Assam does not have a clear-cut solar energy policy, solar plants are increasingly getting popular in the rural areas of the State.
The renewable energy policy is under review with the help of the CCIP-CPGD programme. Ajita Tiwari Padhi termed the State Action Plans for Climate Change as a good beginning despite its limitations, while Supriya Singh demanded formation of a platform at the Centre where State governments could voice their various concerns regarding the actions plans. Nafisa D�Souza called for adopting community-oriented approaches.
Ajay Jha of PAIRVI said the State Action Plans for Climate Change should give more protection to the vulnerable people, while Abhinandan Saikia stressed data collection from various sectors to make the action plans more comprehensive.