Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah with the state budget document.
Credit: CMO
Bengaluru: While acknowledging the challenges and threats posed by climate change, the budget didn't offer any funds or mechanism to back its promise to implement the climate action plan but turned to the private sector while making small allocations to a set of works to patch over the gaping holes.
Taken at face value, the budget's text that the Karnataka State Integrated Climate Change Action Plan "will be implemented in the current year" seems like a major step forward.
However, the fact that the action plan prescribed Rs 20,800 crore climate finance for 2025 and Rs 52,827 crore for 2030, the statement loses sheen.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, instead, said that the Karnataka Forest, Wildlife and Climate Change Mitigation Foundation (KFWCCMF) will be constituted in collaboration with "environmentally conscious corporate bodies" and social reformers.
"This will facilitate environmental development through CSR contributions and donations," the budget said.
Similarly, a carbon credit policy to incentivise agro forestry also relies on the private sector. The announcement comes amid concerns over the carbon credit scheme being used by industries for green washing.
The budget attended to the immediate concerns, including funds for railway barricade around forests by 150 km in the next two years to prevent elephants from straying into human habitations. Rs 60 crore has been set aside for the year 2025-26.
It promised Rs 20 crores to establish a ‘Wild-elephant Soft Release Centre’ in a 20 sq km area within the Bhadra Tiger Reserve. It also enhanced the The ex gratia relief for loss of human life due to wild animal attack from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
There were also allocations that sought to address the crying needs. Rs 200 crore for basic infrastructure for adivasis living in forests and another Rs 120 crore for food security of 47859 families belonging to 12 tribes living in and on the fringes of forest were among them. The allocation comes amid discussions on whether to build more infrastructure in protected areas or to shift the human habitations to safer places.
Major announcements
- Afforestation in 29694 hectare
- Carbon credit policy
- Timber transport reforms
- Monitoring 3000 sewage treatment plants
- Removing invasive weeds through MGNREGS.