Jayalalithaa unveils eco-friendly initiatives

Chennai: Good news for environmentalists and campaigners advocating zero carbon.

The state government on Thursday announced greening projects and extension of zero waste management in municipal areas. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said her government would replace eight lakh existing streetlights in many rural parts with LED bulbs.

The project estimated to cost Rs 300 crore will help the state to reduce power and maintenance bills of streetlights.

Solid waste management is another key area where the government is working on. Waste management projects practiced in a few corporation areas will now be expanded to municipal, town and panchayat areas at a cost of Rs 300 crore.

The state would also recruit 2,000 conservancy guards to improve the sanitation and hygiene and for the purpose Rs 300 crore will be allocated to gram panchayats across the state, she said.

In another green initiative Jayalalithaa announced a major sapling drive. Under the new project saplings will be planted covering a length of 2,000 km of rural roads.

The government will also provide fruit-bearing saplings or others to families covered under different housing schemes, she said.

Under the scheme 1.14 lakh beneficiaries of Indira Awas Yojana and the state government’s solar-powered green house initiative will receive saplings of their choice and workers of MNREGA will be roped in the for the project, she explained.

“Zero carbon and urban forestry are the current popular subjects. It’s a welcome move by the state to replace LED lights and add greenery to the existing roads, but there has to be more follow up on the survival of the saplings plant”, said R. Govindaraj, joint general secretary, Exnora international.