The Hindu 26.08.2009
8-point plan to preserve natural resources
Special Correspondent
To serve as a code of conduct
Work on to develop a “hybrid rickshaw”
NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday spoke of an eight-point programme of her government that would help preserve natural resources and also serve as a code of conduct for the citizens of Delhi.
Inaugurating a conference on “Climate change and relevance of new and renewable energy systems”, Ms. Dikshit said the programme would involve campaigns on “No to plastic bags, propagation of solar energy, water harvesting, recycling of water, segregation of waste management, car pooling, no to posters and conservation of water and power”.
Noting that climate change was impacting people across the globe, Ms. Dikshit said it was causing damage to standing crops besides resulting in depletion of natural resources such as water and forest.
She said her government had for the sake of protecting the environment introduced eco-friendly CNG for its fleet of public transport, expanded the Delhi Metro rail network, taken up massive forestation and introduced measures to conserve water, install waste water treatment plants and interceptor sewers, banned use of plastic bags, subsidised electric cars and solar water heating systems, brought in gas-based power plants in place of thermal plants, and established bio-diversity park and eco-clubs.
Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta informed the gathering that the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Combating Climate Change in Delhi was working on a project to develop a “hybrid rickshaw” with a capacity for eight to solve the problem of transport in city’s congested areas.