Government of Maharashtra now to follow ‘Green ‘norms

By Pallavii Pitale

In a state summit, that is being conducted in Mumbai, Government of Maharashtra has committed to follow stringent norms by TERI- The Energy  and Resources Institute, for the ‘green’ development in the state. It is first of it’s kind of decision taken by any state in the country.

For centuries earlier, India always had sustainable ways and practices in every field. In the process of modernisation, following these practices stopped slowly . It is necessary to revive and follow these practices for the Environmental  protection.

Maharashtra being the most active state in industrial growth, the urbanisation and infrastructural developments here, can not be stopped. Instead , it is the need of the time to develop environment friendly projects.

Once the island city, Mumbai , the financial capital of India, is now surrounded by the sea on three sides. In spite of that, most of the infrastructural developments in the city up till now, have not followed all the prescribed environmental norms. Failed to do so in the upcoming years, the coastal areas of Mumbai , will soon be submerged. Same is the  case of many other cities in India and in the other parts of the world.

TERI has been appointed as a consultant for conducting an overall environmental assessment on global warming and it’s effects on agricultural, coastal and rainfall pattern in the state for the next five years. All these fields ultimately are responsible for further developments in various other sectors important for developing the economy of the country. In order to monitor the related activities, a national environment protection authority  ( NEPA )will be set along with National green tribunal.

In order to take  Environmental Conservation to the grass root level, Each district in the state shall have a ‘Green’ development plan for which the state plans to appoint environmental Committees ,district wise , which would submit their area development plans to the sub committee. Reviving the existing water bodies, cleaning of rivers and lakes also shall be undertaken within this programme.