Centre confirms possible climate change in North East

Nagalim Times 30Aug: Centre confirms possible climate change in North East
Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 29 – The Centre has on Monday confirmed that reports of possible climate change in the North East in the next 20 years. Temperatures are projected to rise and the change in the rainfall pattern is likely to affect forest cover in the region.
A recent assessment ‘Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA): Climate Change and India: A 4x4 Assessment – A Regional and Sectoral Analysis for 2030 by the Ministry of Environment and Forest has projected rise in temperature by 1.8 degree C to 2.1 degrees C. Whereas the mean annual rainfall is likely to increase by 1-6 mm per day, Minister for Environment and Forest, Jayanthi Natarajan said in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Minister, however, added that the number of rainy days may decrease by 1-10 days. The rise in temperature and changes in rainfall pattern is projected to affect forests of the North East. Health sector is also found vulnerable in this region especially due to increase in malaria incidence, Natarajan said.

The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) aims to protect the Himalayan ecology. Besides these, Government of India has also developed guidelines and best practises for Sustaining Himalayan Eco-system (G-She), which has been shared with all State Governments in the Himalayan region.

Government of India has also requested State Governments to prepare State Action Plan on Climate Change. The North Eastern States have prepared their draft documents on SAPCC. These Action Plans primarily, focus on adaptation to the impacts of climate change on various sectors in the respective States.

Meanwhile, at least three coke units in Assam including Kamrup Coke Industries, Parashnath Coke Industries and Jupiter Coke Industries, Beherbari, Guwahati were found violating the environment norms, Minister for Environment and Forest said in reply to a question by Ramen Deka.

The Assam State Pollution Control Board has directed the units to ensure compliance of standards and guidelines for pollution prevention notified for beehive hard coke oven. It was also directed to identify the sources of SO2 emission in the area and to take adequate measures to reduce the emissions, the Minister added.

The North-east zonal office of the Central Pollution Control Board has monitored 16 coke units in Assam and two units in Meghalaya during the last three-four years. Assam T.