The Bihar Government has decided to establish the “Bihar Green Climate Fund,” which will play an important role in increasing green cover in the state, protecting the environment and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
Announcing the initiative in Patna on Sunday, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said that climate change and continuously rising temperatures have become matters of serious concern for the entire world.
He said resources for the fund would be mobilised from various sources, including a 0.25 per cent contribution on tenders, a 1 per cent fee on the registration of new vehicles, and a 0.50 per cent royalty cess on mining activities. In addition, voluntary contributions would also be accepted under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Choudhary said, “The entire world is currently struggling with the problem of climate change. If people do not become aware and alert in time, rising temperatures could assume even more serious proportions in the future.”
He said the Bihar Government has been working on the issue with sensitivity and commitment.
Recalling earlier initiatives, he said that under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, the state government had launched the “Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali” campaign in 2019, which had led to positive improvements in Bihar’s groundwater levels.
He added that the government led by Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary is now taking these efforts forward.
During the press conference, Choudhary also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for greater use of public transport and shared vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and strengthen environmental protection. He said that along with energy conservation, people must also bring positive changes in their daily lifestyle and habits.