Shimla MC to spend Rs 74.49 crore on environmental conservation

In an effort to make Shimla cleaner and ensure environmental friendly development, the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to allocate Rs 74.49 crore to environmental conservation. The decision has made Shimla the first city in the state to introduce a climate budget.

The MC is planning to spend 28 per cent of the amount on greenhouse gas mitigation, 22 per cent on solid waste management, 21 per cent on improving the air quality, 19 per cent on urban planning, greenery and biodiversity and the remaining 10 per cent would be spent on water management.

Over the coming years, the funds would be utilised to strengthen and promote renewable energy, sustainable waste management systems, low-carbon transport, urban greenery and biodiversity conservation and making water and drainage systems climate-resilient

Mayor Surinder Chauhan said urban development and climate change were emerging as serious challenges around the world, adding that it had become essential for urban local bodies to examine their expenditures from a climate perspective and prioritise climate-sensitive projects and initiatives.

He said the Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban Act) project was being implemented in selected countries of the Asia-Pacific region, including India. “The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action under the International Climate Initiative (IKI). In India, it is being implemented jointly by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the German Development Agency in three pilot cities. Shimla is one of them,” said Chauhan. “Under this project, activities such as urban heat island studies, construction and demolition waste management plan, climate risk and vulnerability assessment are being undertaken in Shimla. Moreover, an Urban Climate Action Plan has been proposed for Shimla.”

“During the next financial year, about 35 climate-related projects will be implemented across various wards under the Shimla MC,” he added. “Rapid urbanisation and seasonal tourism have significantly increased the demand for water, energy, transport and waste management services. At the same time, unplanned development has heightened climate and disaster risks. To address these challenges, the MC has decided to adopt climate budgeting, focus on sustainable development, water and waste management and ecological conservation,” he added.