Climate change cell takes off, begins work on collating data from depts

Panaji: Based on the state action plan for climate change (SAPCC) report prepared for Goa, a full-fledged climate change cell has now been established in the state, which has already begun the work of gathering information from all state departments of any climate change related measures they are presently working on.
The SAPCC had recommended that a special cell be set up in Goa to exclusively work on the mitigation measures for Goa against climate change suggested in the report. The implementation of the SAPCC mitigation measures is expected to begin this year through the special cell, and the mitigation strategies are set to be reviewed every three years in view of the dynamic climate change impact scenario.
The cell has been established under the state environment department with an office at the Goa State Pollution Control Board complex in Saligao and three experience research scientists have already been appointed and have begun work at the cell.
The special cell will operate as a climate secretariat, as suggested in the SAPCC.
As per the report, one of the first tasks recommended is that the cell take up is study on climatic resilience of the vulnerable Mormugao, Salcete, Tiswadi and Bardez talukas and development of an action plan for them.
The SAPCC has said that an initial provision of Rs 1.1 crore will be required for the cell to operate. The SAPCC has been drawn up following meticulous work over a period of two years, with suggestions taken from experts across varied fields and also from common citizens.
The total budget required for implementing the SAPCC in Goa has been projected to be Rs 465 crore for a period of 10 years, “which works out to be Rs 46.5 crore per annum and amounts to approximately 0.22% of the annual budget and 0.050 % of the gross state domestic production (GSDP) of Goa”.
The SAPCC has suggested that since the talukas of Bardez, Tiswadi, Mormugao and Salcete contain most of the state’s population, economic activity is at the highest risk here due to climate change. As mitigation, it has recommended some adaptation measures for these talukas such as conducting a climate-based infrastructure vulnerability assessment.