Fallow, non-agri lands worry govt

Fallow, non-agri lands worry govt
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Rapid decrease in the fallows and increase in the land used for non-agriculture purposes have been posing a challenge for the government in their efforts to put in place the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC).

Hyderabad: Rapid decrease in the fallows and increase in the land used for non-agriculture purposes have been posing a challenge for the government in their efforts to put in place the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC).

According to sources, there had been rapid increase in the diversion of uncultivated lands for non-agriculture purposes. The non-agricultural land’s use increased from 8.19 lakh hectare in 2008-09 to 8.95 lakh hectare in 2013-14. During the same period, the fallows decreased from 16.79 lakh hectare to 9.60 lakh hectare.

The sources pointed out that it is one of the areas of concern as the land use pattern will have a direct bearing on the climatic change of the State. Further, the State government’s policy to give priority to the development of urban areas in the State would pose further challenges to mitigation plans under SAPCC.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the forest department said the Environment Protection Training and Research Institution (EPTRI) had prepared the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) for united Andhra Pradesh.

However, the same had been revised after the bifurcation of the State following a direction from the State government in 2015. Preparation of a new SAPCC for Telangana was needed because, the environmental settings, land forms, sloping pattern in respective river basins and drainage pattern, agro climatic zones, soil patterns and other conditions of the new State were different from that of Andhra Pradesh, he said.

As per the new SAPCC, reduction of the impact of climate change (CC) on household incomes, particularly in agriculture and allied sector had been identified as the priority area for intervention. Also, reduction of the impact of CC on forests green cover, biodiversity and water resources, protection of vulnerable population against climate induced events, including adverse effects on human and animal health had been the other areas to be addressed under the SAPCC.

Of the 10 major sectors, adaptation interventions had been designed for the sectors like agriculture, rural development, transportation, tourism, forestry and biodiversity, urban development, health and family welfare. Besides, mitigation options had also been identified for sectors like energy, industry and transport.

Now, the intervention plans designed for agriculture and allied sectors, and urban development comes in conflict with the implementation of SAPCC, he pointed out. However, senior officials from the agriculture department said, “It is only a short-term scenario. Though fallow lands, and in some cases, agriculture lands have been diverted, efforts to bring in one crore acres under irrigation would resolve the issue.”

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