The State Government has come out with a draft climate change action plan in much of haste. The formulation process of this draft has not been participatory and the involvement of people of the state; civil society groups and even local self government and people's representatives have not been properly and systematically done, alleged Ranjan Kumar Panda of the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO).
"From the draft and the process it is clear that the Government has heard the World Bank and not the people of Odisha in the process. We have found an uncomfortable hurry at the Government's level in finalising this draft and now the Government is making it further undemocratic by giving only 20 days for the people of the State to give their comments and suggestions.
We believe this is not enough for deciding the future of the poor State of Odisha. The State has been the climate's worst playfield as WIO has been voicing concern over it for about two decades now. We urge upon the Government to extend the date of seeking public comments and suggestions on the draft by at least three months", Panda said.
"The State Government has uploaded the draft in the internet and has asked people to read and send in their comments on it. We believe this is not going to ensure larger participation of people of the State since majority of the State's people _ most importantly rural and poor people who are the worst affected by climate change _ do not have internet access. If the Government is serious about seeking public opinion on the draft then it must come out with an Odia translation of the complete draft and make ample copies available at all levels such as district, block and panchayat. Further, to ensure people to participate the Government must organise meetings at many levels at least at each district by ensuring participation of all sections of society," Panda added.
It is already clear from the draft and the process followed so far that the World Bank has played a major role in preparation of the draft. Globally civil society groups including WIO, who are working on climate change issues, have been raising concerns over the profit and business interest in the World Bank's role in climate change mitigation through Clean Development Mechanism and other forms of Climate Finance. During the recently concluded Bonn climate talks, which ended with utter disappointment without any positive progress on the Copenhagen Accord, this was also raised.
"We therefore urge upon the State Government to study the real intention of the World Bank in helping Odisha in its climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes and enter into any partnership with the World Bank cautiously. The Government should make public the amount of loan and the conditions with which these loans come from international financial institutions such as the World Bank," demanded Panda.
