Bhubaneswar: The impact of climate change needs to be addressed in a planned manner so that habitations, especially Indian cities will prepare themselves to mitigate possible climate changes in their jurisdiction. The Government of India had long back initiated a climate change impact. It has also created a road map with a National action plan of climate change.
Bhubaneswar city being a member of River Cities Alliance (RCA) under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has come forward to take part in the discussion on Eco system based adaptation. A round table discussion was held here on Thursday in the presence of Additional Commissioners Laxmikant Sethy and Suryabanshi Mayur Vikash.
As part of the programme, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Senior Project Officer, Dr Udaya Bhonde and the team members were present in the meeting. Dr Bhonde told that city plan of Bhubaneswar may be upgraded as per climate change and scopes for it need to be discussed among the stakeholder agencies. Government stakeholders need take forward the preparatory actions required and it is the high time to start the initiatives.
The Bhubaneswar city has important wetlands, water bodies and riverine ecosystem like Daya River in the South and the Kuakhai River in the East. A study by UNDP in 2014 has warned that the city is highly vulnerable to climate change. Even today, the city is facing major water-related challenges. Groundwater levels in the city and its periphery is declining since 2006 urban flooding in the low-lying areas of the city has also become common.
It was also discussed that there will be a mapping to create nature based solutions of water related issues. Water bodies and vulnerable areas will be included in it where different line departments will converge to contribute their portions.
Pertinent to mention that, the EPIC project “Proliferating Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in India Cities (EPIC)” by the national institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is one such attempt an enabling environment to enable Indian cities to mitigate and adapt to the effects of possible climate change.
Among other dignitaries CEO, WATCO, Director ORSAC, DFO, Fisheries, Secretary BDA, City DFO, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, South Eastern Region, BBSR, Executive Director, OSDMA, Deputy Commissioner (Sanitation) BMC, Environment Officer, BMC, Superintending Engineer (Drainage), BMC, Chief Engineer, Ground Water Development, HP Building, Delta square, BBSR, Chief Engineer Planning, Secha Sadan, BBSR, City Engineer, BMC, City Planner, BMC, General Manager, BSCL, Zonal Deputy Commissioners (South West, North, South-East), BMC.
