Forest, Housing and Environment Minister Mohammad Akbar has said that reducing carbon emissions is necessary for environmental protection. He has said that a comprehensive and balanced action plan is necessary for renewable alternatives of energy using the resources for the energy requirement. In the chief hospitality of Shri Mohammad Akbar, a workshop was organized by the State Planning Commission here today at Yojna Bhawan, Nava Raipur. The theme of the workshop was ‘Impacts on Switching to Renewable Energy from Coal in Korba District of Chhattisgarh’. Food Minister Shri Amarjit Bhagat presided over this workshop. The Food Minister said that we need to make a long-term plan for energy needs and alternatives to energy for the future. He said that the livelihood of about 88 thousand people in Korba district is directly and indirectly dependent on coal mining. Therefore, before considering this, there is a need to consider all the aspects as well. The participants gave important suggestions in the workshop. Initially, State Planning Commission member Dr. K. Subramaniam elaborated on the background and purpose of the workshop. Addressing the workshop, Forest, Housing and Environment Minister Mohammad Akbar said that Korba is the most important coal producing district of the country and the state. He said that Korba is playing an important role in providing energy to two crore 50 lakh population of the state. He said that dependence on coal is indispensable for sustainable development till adequate infrastructure and systems are developed to consider other alternatives of energy. Deputy Chairman of State Planning Commission Shri Ajay Singh said that the Government has also resolved to achieve Zero Emissions by 2070 in Glasgow Conference COP-26. In this, it has also been decided to supply 50 percent of the country’s total energy needs from renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030. State departments will need to plan for this in a phased manner. He said that in future, along with the development of eco-friendly energy sources, there is also a need to pay attention to the impacts on the socio-economic life of the local people. Korba’s forest resources, forest produce, forest processing industries can be important in livelihood development. Addressing the workshop, Secretary, Department of Energy, Mr. Ankit Anand gave his views on the alternatives of solar energy and other energy sources. He gave detailed information on the work being done on all alternative energy options in the state and other aspects. During the discussion in the workshop, representatives of other departments including officers of South Easton Cold Field Limited gave their views. In the workshop, Shri Chandra Bhushan and Shrestha Banerjee gave detailed information through presentation on behalf of I Forest. He informed about the study done by Korba coal mine institutes. He said that alternatives of renewable energy sources are being considered in the country. Coal production from coal mines is decreasing in Korba district. It is likely to have a direct impact on the state’s electricity supply, revenue, livelihood. He elaborated on all the aspects related to equitable conversion of energy in Korba like livelihood options of the people, reuse of mine land, other energy options etc. He also discussed the possibilities of forest resources, livelihood development in agriculture in Korba. He also stressed on the need for a phased and time-bound plan for Korba by following the example of Germany. In the workshop, the Member Secretary of the State Planning Commission, while expressing gratitude to the representatives of I-Forest and the representatives of the departments present in the meeting, further work will be done on the suggestions given in today’s sensitization workshop on re-planning of Korba district and all aspects related to it. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Rakesh Chaturvedi, Managing Director of State Minor Forest Produce Association Shri Sanjay Shukla, Commissioner Higher Education Smt. Sharda Verma, Director Livestock Development Smt. Chandan Tripathi and officers of Horticulture, Industries and Minerals Department and other departments were present in the workshop. Like this:Like Loading… Continue Reading