Chandigarh slips from 2nd slot to 9th on eco parameters

The Times of India , Thursday, March 14, 2013
Correspondent :

CHANDIGARH: Despite tall claims of UT administration to have taken effective environment protection steps, it has scored rather badly on 15 parameters with substantial forest cover as the only saving grace. The survey was conducted by the planning commission on the basis of data provided by all states and UTs. On the basis of cumulative score, Chandigarh has slipped to the ninth position in 2012 as compared the enviable second slot in 2011.

Water management and air pollution are two parameters on which the city has scored badly. For waste management, the city is ranked 10 among various states and union territories. The parameters include municipal solid waste, bio-medical waste, and hazardous waste. Besides, Chandigarh has been ranked 27 among 28 states and seven union territories for water quality in Environment Performance Index 2012 drafted by the planning commission.

Another cause for concern is UT's performance on climate change planning, which was most deplorable. The city is ranked 30 in climate change planning considering indictors of preparation of state action plan for climate change, renewable energy growth rate including mini-hydro, electricity intensity.

But the silver lining is the city's ranking on forest cover. Chandigarh, with an average score of 1, has been named as the best place in criteria of forests which included indicators like contribution to national average, increase/decrease in forest cover, growing stock and afforestation efforts.

Respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) levels have been more than permissible limits. Though UT has tried to bring down vehicle pollution by introducing LPG-driven autorickshaws, diesel-run autorickshaws continue to ply in the city from Punjab and Haryana. The city has scored 0.8841 in air quality, 1 in forests, 0.0380 in climate change and 0.6963 in waste management and 0.5811 in water quality, which gives it a cumulative score of 0.6399.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Chandigarh-slips-from-2nd-slot-to-9th-on-eco-parameters/articleshow/18964031.cms
 


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