As part of its plans to “make West Bengal a model in green movement in the country”, the State Government will install solar panels in 100 schools and government-run hospitals across 19 districts in the state. 

“This is just a beginning. We will soon go all out to make green and clean living a movement of sorts,” said Dr Sudarsan Ghosh Dastidar, West Bengal Minister for Environment at the Climate Change Conference 2014 in Kolkata today. 

The West Bengal Pollution Control Board will fund the solar panel projects, according to the WBPCB Chairman, Prof Binay Dutta, who also attended the Conference. Some of the schools and hospitals will be grid connected. 

Dr Ghosh Dastidar said the state government is committed to low-carbon growth. “Reason, why I appeal to all – industries, NGOs, civil society and people at large – to join us in ensuring that our green vision becomes a reality. Please promote green technologies, please construct green buildings and renewable energies,” he added. 

The Minister also said climate change has come to be a serious global concern. “The most vulnerable are the low-lying and coastal areas where disasters such as floods, tsunami, etc., are striking with alarming frequency. We need to be very alert and careful or else our food security will be at stake. Diseases such as diabetes are becoming common everywhere, including Kolkata, which is one of the worst affected by diabetes. That’s the reason why the government is going for massive afforestation and extensive green plantation across the state. We need to organize more training programmes and create awareness,” the Minister added. “The Government is working on business models on waste management, energy conservation and water conservation. There are a lot of takers,” he said. 

Notably, in the course of the conference, the Minister unveiled its Vision 2022 which was prepared in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). 

Mr K S Venkatagiri, Deputy Executive Director, CII Godrej Green Business Centre, explained why the country should embrace green models. “It is a major driver of growth opportunities. It enhances competitiveness, increases funding and ensures better quality of living. Opportunities are limitless – for waster-processing industries, green transportation, green building, renewable energy,” said Mr Venkatagiri. 

Mr Abraham Stephanos, Chairman, Environment Task Force, CII Eastern Region & Executive Director, Tata Steel Processing & Distribution Ltd, said the Climate Change Conference is a platform for interactions and exchanges of ideas on various climate change mitigation actions adopted in industries and buildings amongst various stakeholders. “It seeks to understand the critical linkages between climate risks and opportunities and explore the competitive advantage the forward-thinking companies have achieved,” he said. 

Mr Umesh Chowdhary, Chairman, CII West Bengal State Council & Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Titagarh Wagons Ltd & Honorary Consul of Switzerland, appreciated the West Bengal Government for understanding that Climate Change can prove to be a threat as well as an opportunity. “Some key sectors require additional efforts over and above its existing programmes and policies. These include the water resources, agriculture, biodiversity and forests, human health & habitats and energy,” he said.

Kolkata