Guwahati: The first-ever “Green Budget” was presented on Thursday during the ongoing budget session in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
While addressing the assembly, Finance Minister Ajanta Neog said, “We recognize Climate Change as an imminent global threat and through the State Action Plan on Climate Change, we have been attempting to mainstream adaptation strategies into development process.”
“This year, I am proposing to introduce Chief Minister’s Green Initiative Incentive Scheme as part of Assam’s agenda in implementing India’s ‘Panchamrit’ strategy for combating climate change. We plan to incentivize private-led carbon sequestration initiatives and promote climate resilience through community participation. Methods to quantify carbon emissions of a village and strategies to make the villages net-zero within a finite period will be identified,” Neog added.
The finance minister made this statement while introducing the first-ever “Green Budget” to the state assembly.
She further said, “A Green Innovation Fund will be set up with a corpus of Rs 25 cr for promoting Research & Development Grants for Green Solutions and Alternatives Incubation Program in collaboration with state agencies (like Guwahati Biotech Park, Startup Assam).”
A three-year master plan for Greening Greater Guwahati is included in the budget.
Neog said, “We are committed to enhance the green cover of the state and to achieve this we will raise 6 cr seedlings across the state and carry plantation in 10,000 hectares in Financial Year 2023-24. We have prepared a three year master plan for Greening Greater Guwahati.”
The state government has given ex-gratia and compensation of Rs. 20.62 crore for 9459 victims of man-animal conflict.
The finance minister said, “Our government is fully committed to reduce man-animal conflict in the state and in this direction wildlife depredation cases have already been declared as cases of natural disaster for providing expeditious relief to the families of victims.”
“Our government has disbursed ex-gratia and compensation amounting to Rs 20.62 cr to 9459 victims of man-animal conflict,” she added.
Moreover, 300 bighas have been designated for the establishment of the Lakhimpur branch of the Assam Forest Protection Force.
“The third battalion of the Assam Forest Protection Force is being established at Lakhimpur for which land of 300 bighas has already been allotted,” she said.
A modern natural history museum will be built at Panbari in the Golaghat district as part of the budget, showcasing Assam’s rich biodiversity in general and Kaziranga in particular for educational and study purposes.
The budget further includes the following:
- To ramp up the anti-poaching initiatives, all frontline staff posted in wildlife areas shall be equipped with modern assault rifles.
- The government plans to establish the Assam Forest Development Corporation Ltd in FY 2023-24 for optimal utilisation of forest resources.
- Encroachment activities will be monitored through use of satellite imagery and drone photography.
- A modern zoological rescue and rehabilitation facility will be set up in Kaziranga National Park.
The Environment and Forest Department has been allotted a total of Rs. 1056.70 lakhs.