Dhumal claims that Rs 15,000 crore as tentative value of the carbon credits has been conceptualised, conceived and initiated by the present BJP Government. He has rebuked Virbhadra Singh for quoting the figure of forest wealth in terms of amount of carbon credits. It only exposed the lack of understanding on the part of the former Chief Minister on the issue, who, he alleged was trying to confuse the people, causing incalculable harm to the State.

Dhumal also ridiculed the statement of Singh for assessing the value of carbon credits at Rs 1, 50,000 crore, and pointed out that he was confusing the value of entire forest wealth of the State with carbon credits expected to earned by the State. The figure of Rs 1, 50,000 crore quoted by Singh only reflected his ignorance and lack of knowledge on the issue.

Dhumal also grabbed the opportunity to launch a tirade against Singh and recalled that such attempts were made earlier also by him soon after the BJP Government assumed office and hiked the daily wages and social security pension, and termed these as part of agenda of Congress party.

This was nothing but a reflection of deep-rooted frustration which was erupting in one form or the other but the Government was committed to the welfare of the people and remained unruffled by indifferent and self-defeating attitude of the former Chief Minister, he asserted.

The Himachal Pradesh Government has prepared the Draft Policy for Climate Change-2008 (Carbon Credits through Clean Development Mechanism) as an important component of new strategy for environment in the State and the draft prepared by Department of Science, technology and environment has been circulated amongst the stakeholder departments for their comments and suggestions.

What is carbon credits

The alarming increase in emission of greenhouse gases due to rapid economic growth in developed countries has heightened the risk of global warming and a beginning has been made to check these emission by bringing major countries under Kyoto Protocol. The protocol provides for carbon credits for checking emissions through Clean Development mechanism (CDM) and carbon sequestration.

Adoption of clean technology to prevent emission of greenhouse gases and plantation of such species of plants in waste and fallow lands, which absorb carbon dioxide are two important components for earning carbon credits.

Preservation of forests and forestation and reforestation on waste lands are crucial for keeping the atmosphere free from greenhouse gases but the Kyoto Protocol does not provide for any incentive for preserving the forests for maintaining the ecological balance.

Last year, Himachal became the first State in Asia and only second in the world to introduce a scheme for selling carbon credits to the World Bank directly for villagers who could earn Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per hectare annually from the plantations for a period of 30 years.