Climate change: activists seek time to submit suggestions

The Hindu , Friday, June 18, 2010
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
BHUBANESWAR: Even as State government is fast moving to finalise Orissa Climate Change Action Plan (OCCAP), civil society groups and environmentalists have demanded extension of deadline to submit detail suggestions and objections.

According to the notification June 25 is the last date for submission of comments.

“Twenty days is not enough to decide future of Orissa. Government must extend the date of seeking public comments and suggestions by at least three months,” said Ranjan Panda, convenor of Sambalpur-based environment group Water Initiative of Orissa (WIO).

“The State government has come out with a draft OCCAP in haste. The formulation process of this draft has not been participatory and the involvement of people, civil society groups, local self governments and even people's representatives have not been properly and systematically done,” Mr. Panda alleged. WIO convenor said, “if the government is serious about seeking public opinion on the draft then it must come out with Oriya translation of the complete draft and make ample copies available at all levels. Further, to ensure people to participate, government must organize meetings at many levels.”

Bijay Mishra of Vasundhara, a voluntary organisation, said there were many chinks in the draft OCCAP. “Water mission talks about pricing, which will be good if it will be used for commercialisation, but certainly not for domestic or agricultural use as it will directly affect the common men,” Mr. Mishra said.

Himanshu Patra, a researcher, said the proposal for capacity addition in thermal power generation needed to be re-examined as it would have catastrophic impact on climate.

 
SOURCE : http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/18/stories/2010061856470300.htm
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us