Odisha Government's CCAP sketchy to say the least’

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

Government CCAP sketchy to say the least’

Express News Service First Published : 22 Jun 2010

11:12:04 AM IST Last Updated :

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Government’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) has come in for serious flak for its “naive approach” to a problem as multi-dimensionl as global warming and its impacts on
agriculture and food security. Hosted on its official website for public response, the plan
charts out actionable points for 11 sectors with budget outlines.
Objections and reactions will be accepted till June 25. The
report can be view at http://orissa.gov.in/portal/occap.pdf.

However, most find the document ill-conceived since it does not provide for institutional delivery mechanism for many sectors.

“The priorities section does not talk about targets leading to achieving the objectives.

There is no mention about the mechanisms to execute the plan. Furthermore, the document deals more with research and studies and adequate emphasis is not given on action points,” said
Orissa Civil Society in its response to the Government.

One of the key challenges that climate change offers is food security and it has not been dealt adequately by the action plan given the state of Orissa’s economy, its vulnerability quotient and the
extreme poverty levels.

The State being extremely vulnerable to natural calamities such as floods and drought which occur regularly, food security assumes serious importance because Orissa banks heavily on agriculture.

Issue of food security, challenges faced by small and marginal farmers in agriculture has not been given adequate emphasis in the action plan.

Similarly, system of rice intensification which is emerging as a sustainable paddy cultivation practice and contributing positively to arrest climate change by emitting less methane should be promoted among
the farmers. Such practices like Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative
should be promoted but are missing in the CCAP. There is no system to enhance farmer’s participation in
planning and implementing.

Besides, drought being a major impact of climate change, any mitigation plan not finding place in the document is surprising. No focus on indigenous seed variety and traditional
weather-resistant crops are given any focus. The action plan is silent on how low carbon economy can be brought about which ideally should be the thrust.
Stating that the document is completely silent on the follow-up
actions to be undertaken based on the research findings which the
government intends to undertake in the coming days, the critics said,
the budget of Rs 143 crore outlined for reviewing the present
agricultural policy is big waste.

According to Bijay Mishra of Vasundhara, creation of more forest in revenue areas to compensate the loss on green cover to mining and industries will cost the State dear. The loss is that of potential
agricultural land which could have been used for growing more
foodgrains to address food insecurity. He also felt that the Government
should have ideally given more time for gathering response instead of
hurrying through it. The CCAP was posted on the website June 6.

Himanshu

Vasundhara