Maharashtra govt wants aid to protect Mumbai's environment

Aaditya Thackeray. File pic

The Maharashtra government wants reputed financial institutions such as World Bank to invest in the state and city's initiatives to protect the environment. In a closed door meeting of the environment minister with officials of the bank held last week, sources said there is hope of some investment coming in. The BMC will be drafting the Mumbai Climate Action Plan, where the citizens' suggestions and objections have been sought.

The Plan will focus on six types of action paths - sustainable solid waste management, urban greening and biodiversity, flood and water resources management, efficient energy building, clean air quality and sustainable mobility. The six conceptual action plans under the Mumbai Environment Action Plan are expected to be ready by next month, in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). It is for these initiatives that a sufficient investment can be helpful, said officials.

Environment minister Aaditya Thackeray and the BMC signed three MoUs that included Women4Climate, Cities4Forests and the e-Bus Mission under the Climate Action Plan initiative. Thackeray said that 50 per cent of the BEST fleet will be turned into electric vehicles by mid-2023.