Stalin announces palmyra plantation drive to prevent erosion

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday announced that palmyra plantation drive would be implemented to prevent sea erosion. The announcement was made at the first meeting of the Tamil Nadu climate change management committee that took place at Namakkal Kavignar palace in the city. Electricity minister V Senthil Balaji, industries minister Thangam Thennarasu, environment minister Meiyyanathan, environment department secretary Supriya Sahoo and other officials attended the meeting.

The climate change management committee was constituted in October 2022 with an aim to implement schemes that reduce the impact of climate changes. The committee has economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Infosys founder and chairman Nandan M Nilekani, UN former assistant secretary Eric S Nirmala Raja, head of Ramco Social Services, Solhim as its special members. The committee has been working on ways to reduce air pollution, to prevent usage of plastics, to increase green cover, to make the state suitable place for animals, of handling the industrial effluents and to improve the environment.

Stalin said

Addressing the gathering, he said, “The state government has been implementing several schemes to reduce the impact of climate changes.  The government has set the benchmark by announcing the climate policy and allocating Rs 500 crore towards it.   Last year, we implemented schemes to increase the green cover to 33% within a decade and as a part of it, works to plant 2.80 crore saplings are going on.

 The government has also allocated Rs 10 crore to develop unique weather models and produce equipment.”“To declare the state as the carbon-balanced state, we need to achieve it and for it, we would be implementing a scheme. Announcement regarding the establishment of a climate awareness movement would be made soon. Palmyra plantation programme would also be implemented,” he added.He said that the government for the first time has set up sanctuaries to protect sea sponges and slender loris, and implemented a ‘yellow bag’ scheme to reduce usage of plastic bags.

Claiming that it was in the hands of the committee to set the deadline for the state to achieve the carbon-balance, he said that development and creating a sustainable society were two eyes of a person and the state needs both the eyes.He said that he had urged the ministers to announce schemes only after conducting proper research on it.“Just like how we are handling floods and storms, we need to learn to handle heat waves. I am hopeful that the committee would help the state to achieve carbon-balance before 2070. To achieve it, we need to work together,” he added.