The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : State to promote projects under Clean Development Mechanism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

State to promote projects under Clean Development Mechanism

Special Correspondent

TEDA to get Rs. 9.16 lakhs to set up cell for supporting small-scale CDM projects

READYING PROJECTS: Surjit K. Chaudhary, State Environment and Forest Department Secretary (left) and K. Allaudin, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, at a workshop in Chennai on Monday. — Photo : M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is one of the States chosen for capacity building initiatives for the promotion of small-scale projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

(Identified in the Kyoto Protocol, the CDM provides for giving greenhouse gases reduction credits to industrialised nations against projects set up in developing countries. The protocol, which came into force in February 2005, requires industrialised nations to bring down emission levels by at least five per cent below 1990 levels during the first commitment period of 2008 to 2012, with specific targets varying from one country to another.)

In India, the Union Environment and Forests Ministry is the designated national authority for CDM projects that include renewable energy, rural energy and energy efficiency.

It receives the support of the United Nations Development Programme for this purpose.

Originally, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan were selected for the component of capacity building initiatives.

Two months ago, 10 more States, including Tamil Nadu, were added to the list, official sources say.

The Centre has identified the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) as the State-level agency for developing the small-scale projects. Under the UNDP support, the TEDA will be given Rs. 9,16,800 to set up a CDM cell and develop capacity to support small-scale CDM projects (upto 15 megawatt capacity) in Tamil Nadu. The Agency will develop at least three project design documents, according to an official release issued at a workshop organised by TEDA on CDM for small projects.

Inaugurating the workshop, Surjit K. Chaudhary, State Environment and Forest Secretary, said CDM projects should not be undertaken just for the sake of money. The interests and developmental needs of the country should be kept in mind. Noting that biomass energy projects could be taken up, the Secretary called for more cultivation of plants such as jatropha and eucalyptus in wastelands.

K. Allaudin, chairman and managing director, TEDA, said officials of municipal corporations and transport corporations and representatives of industry including those from sago units took part in the workshop.

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