Government to prepare national plan to deal with climate change

New Delhi, Mar 20 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his Government is preparing a National Action Plan at the highest level to deal with the issues of climate change, including corrective measures for mitigating its impact on food grain production.

Noted scientist and nominated member M.S. Swaminathan raised an issue in the Rajya Sabha and asked whether the Government was drawing contingency plans for dealing with the impact of environment change on specific crops like potato and wheat.

While responding to the issue, Singh said the impact of climate change has gained the attention of the Government and preparing a National Action Plan to deal with the issues of climate change was in the process.

Singh said there was a need for such plans to deal with a situation arising out of wheat being used for feeding the birds and maize being diverted to make ethanol.

Singh also said he had convened a meeting of the concerned ministers in this regard only two days ago.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister N N Meena said the report of an expert committee working under the guidance of the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Changes would submit its report before June this year.

Meena said the Prime Minister has directed both the Department of Agriculture and the Planning Commission to prepare a comprehensive plan to deal with the impact of climate change on foodgrains production.

ANI