BANGALORE: The former Chief Secretary and Adviser to the Chief Minister, A. Ravindra, on Monday said the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) has been entrusted with the task of preparing a State-level action plan to combat climate change.
Mr. Ravindra was speaking at the one-day workshop on ‘Climate Change: Action Plan for Karnataka', organised by the CSD.
Deadline set
Mr. Ravindra, who is also chairman of the CSD, said the State would have to submit the plan to the Centre by March 31, 2011. He said there was a need for a balance between development and environment.
He said non-governmental organisations and other organisations have to join hands with the Government to come up with a plan.
Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath said climate change is the most serious challenge that the world is facing today. He said Karnataka is among the few States that has taken up the task of preparing an action plan to combat climate change.
Secretary, Department of Environment and Ecology, Kanwar Pal, said a committee of 21 Principal Secretaries has already been constituted to formulate the action plan.
Third State
A CSD office-bearer, Srinivasa, said Delhi and Orissa had already formulated the plans and Karnataka was the next in line. Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary of Urban Development Subhir Hari Singh was present.
Papers presented
The workshop held several paper presentations on the environment and sustainable development, and the national and State climate action plan.
