Maharashtra Government has formed a climate action cell that will advise government departments on the various policies and measures available to reduce emissions, and will also help formulate climate action in each district and city. The State Environment and Climate Change Department has issued a government resolution (GR) on the appointment of Climate Action Cells at division, district and city levels which will monitor and help local bodies to formulate climate action. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to cut India’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2070. The intention behind forming these cells is to ensure Maharashtra plays its part.

 

The cell will ensure there is a focused attempt by all major departments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stated the GR. Environment Department has identified a clutch of Maharashtra government divisions that by their nature of work tend to be major polluters, and the cell will handhold these departments to modify their policies to reduce emissions. These departments include Energy, Transport, urban development, housing, industries, public works and the water resources department. The state government is in the process of updating its ‘State Action Plan for Climate Change’ of 2014, and the updated plan will be published soon. The department is planning to give measurable targets in the district and city-level action plans which local bodies and district administrators can meet. The cell will monitor their performances too.

 

The Divisional Climate Action Cell will help to prepare the district and city level ‘climate action plans’ and proper implementation of the plan at divisional level. The divisional commissioner will be the chairman of the DCAC and all meetings will be held under his chairmanship. In DCAC, the members will be Chief Conservator of Forest (Territorial), Chief Conservator of Forest (Social Forestry), Additional Municipal Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Deputy Commissioner (Development), Deputy Director (Agriculture), Deputy Commissioner (Transport), Deputy Chief Executive Officer (MIDC), Deputy Director (Industry), Deputy Director (Health), Deputy Director (Education), Chief Engineer (PWD), Chief Engineer (MAHAGENCO), Chief Engineer (Water Resource), NGOs and think tanks. Deputy Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department will be the Member Secretary of the cell whereas Divisional Technical Expert of Majhi Vasundara Mission will be the Monitoring Officer (MO).

 

District collector will be the chairman of the District Climate Action Cell. Whereas, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Zilla Parishad; Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Gram Panchayat); District Superintending Agriculture Officer; Deputy Regional Traffic Officer; Deputy Collector; Regional Officer (MIDC); General Manager (District Industrial Centre); Superintending Engineer (MAHAGENCO, MSEDCL); Superintending Engineer (PWD); Superintending Engineer (Maharashtra Jivan Pradhikaran); Superintending Engineer (Water Resource); Deputy Conservator of Forest; District Forest Officer (Social Forestry); Project Officer (Ekatmik Aadiwasi Vikas Prakalp) will be the members of the committee. Regional Officer, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board will be the Member Secretary of the committee and District Technical Expert, Swacchha Sarvekshan will be the District Monitoring Officer. Similarly, Municipal Commissioner will be the chairman of the City Climate Action Cell. In the City Climate Action Cell, CEO, Smart City Development Corporation; Deputy Commissioner, Solid Waste; Superintending Engineer, Traffic; Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation; City Engineer; Town Planner; Garden Superintendent; Chief Medical Officer; Senior Geologist; Education Officer; NGOs and think tanks will be the members of the committee. Deputy Commissioner, Environment will be the member secretary of the city committee and city co-ordinator of Swachha Bharat Abhiyan will be the City Monitoring Officer.