States »SoutPosted at: Aug 13 2021 2:08PM

Green TN Mission to enhance forest, tree cover

Chennai, Aug 13 (UNI) A Green Tamil Nadu Mission will be launched
to enhance the total area under the forest and tree cover to 33 per ce
of the land area of the State, Finance Minister Dr Palanivel Thiagarajan
told the State Assembly today.
Present his maiden budget, he said under the Mission, a massive
tree plantation programme of indigenous and diverse species, in
co-ordination with multiple departments, public and private
institutions will be taken up with people’s participation over
the next 10 years.
He also said the DMK Government will launch the Tamil Nadu Climate
Change Mission under Chief Minister M K Stalin to focus on climate
change adaptation and mitigation activities with a total outlay of
Rs.500 crores.
"Special attention will be paid to the modernization of the forest force
by equipping them with modern equipment and technology including
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), artificial intelligence, GIS and MIS
based management systems, updated weaponry and forest worthy
vehicles", he said.
Mr Thaiagarajan also announced that over the next five years, 10 beaches
will be upgraded with the active support of local bodies to achieve the
prestigious Blue Flag Certification which mandates higher standards of
quality, safety, environmental education and information and safety
services.
Apart from setting up India’s first Integrated Environment Monitoring
Studio for forecasting air quality on a real time basis with an early
warning system, the government will also launch the ‘Tamil Nadu Wetlands
Mission’ under the leadership of the Chief Minister with the objective
of ecological restoration of wetlands in Tamil Nadu.
The mission will identify and map 100 wetlands in five years and restore
the ecological balance with focus on livelihood options at a cost of
Rs.150 crore.
UNI GV 1405