Climate change in our backyards, time to act is now: Aaditya

Nagpur: No other government recognizes the need to act on climate change like Maharashtra in the same measure, said state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray in an exclusive interaction with TOI.
The minister's statement is indicative that the state has taken the destruction caused by recent climate catastrophe seriously. The deadly floods and landslides triggered by unprecedented rain reportedly took away over 200 lives. Many people remain missing in the flood-ravaged districts of western Maharashtra and Konkan.
As the state is limping back from the disaster, the government is gearing up for confronting the climate calamities. “We realized that climate change is here and in our backyards, our lanes and farm fields and the time for messaging is long gone. The time to act is now,” the minister said.
Further pointing out that for a state that has faced severe drought, floods, hailstorms in five years and two major cyclones in 11 months, Thackeray said that the compensation spent has been to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore. “Most acts that are in place and environmental norms ensure that climate change action is the norm. However it wasn’t given its due importance previously. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government realises the depth of the issue and we are keen to ensure no rules are flouted and they are the same for all,” he added.
The minister stressed that the state’s record in the past one-and-a-half year, even while tackling Covid pandemic, has been of some “stellar work” on climate change action. “Right from protecting 9,800 hectare of mangroves to urban forests and Aarey’s 808 acres in Mumbai, from 10 conservation reserves and two sanctuaries to changing alignments of roads and metros to saving a single heritage tree -- no other government recognises the need to act on climate change than Maharashtra in the same measure. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has spelt out clear that every bit of development must and will be sustainable,” Thackeray added.