HYDERABAD: Looking at Telangana’s green cover enhancement initiatives,
Niti Aayog officials have asked the state to use carbon financing to further increase its tree cover.
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The suggestion comes at a time when the state has been ranked second in the country after
Andhra Pradesh in forest cover increase.
Sources said Telangana’s Haritha Haram programme to improve the green cover has been praised immensely during a recent meeting in Delhi.
“The state should look into more ways to use carbon finance as many countries, such as
Switzerland
, are willing to fund these activities as grants in states that have shown significant improvement in green cover,” a government source privy to the development said.
Carbon funds help nations finance forest conservation and reduce climate change impacts from forest degradation.
Many of the world's big corporations support carbon financing to address the larger goals of global warming.
Haritha Haram is billed as the largest plantation drive in the country and third in the world after China and Brazil.
State government officials were in Delhi a few days ago to discuss and seek funding for backward districts in the state.
"During the discussion, officials said that many states do not comply with various parameters in order to receive funding, even by the great effort they don't become eligible but Telangana does, which is huge for us," a top official said.
Vice-chairman of the State Planning Board B Vinod Kumar said Niti Aayog officials have recognized the efforts and have asked the government to intensify the programme.
"Telangana has consistently worked to improve the green cover, forest cover, and greenery since its formation in 2014," he added.