In a bid to cope up with climate change and other environmental challenges, Kerala government has announced Rs 1000-crore ‘Green Fund’ for the next five years while earmarking an initial provision of Rs 100 crore in the budget for 2010-11.
State Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said that the fund would be utilized to take up projects to preserve natural assets like forests and promote green technology.
Besides restoration of degraded forests, it envisages steps towards acquisition of land to link patches of forests and protect core areas from interference.
It would also give thrust to preservation of mangroves, much of which is facing threat of degeneration. Since a large extent of mangroves is under control of private individuals, a fixed amount would be given to them as incentives to protect mangroves.
Energy conservation being a critical component of green initiatives, all industrial and commercial establishments would have to submit to mandatory energy audit.
The 'Green building' concept would be introduced in the construction sector to promote use of environment friendly methods and materials.