CHENNAI: Panchayats and nagarpalikas can play a crucial role in managing the climate change at the local level, especially through sharing of information and drawing up of plans, agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminthan said Saturday.

Inaugurating the 2008 Annual Inter-dialogue on ‘Community management of climate change and role of panchayats and nagarpalikas’ organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Foundation here, he said the impact of the climate change on a country such as India would be more pronounced, as it would affect the livelihood of millions of people living in rural areas. So the strategy to meet the challenge should be evolved at the local level. Fortunately the country had a detailed agro-climatic map which, he suggested, could be used for preparing local plans.

Timely information
Dr. Swaminathan felt that panchayats could raise the awareness of local communities by providing timely and reliable information on local weather parameters. This was possible through cable TV, self phones, and FM radios. As a contingency measure, panchayats should preserve crops which could mitigate calamities. In this connection, he said the value of mangroves, which acted as a speed breaker when the tsunami struck, was realised only after the disaster. The panchayats should revive the crops which had become extinct, develop seed and grain banks and enlarge their food baskets. They should prepare a catalogue of drought-prone crops and varieties which could be cultivated after floods. Their plan should include a component for animal welfare too, for they were part of rural people.

Spread of diseases
Another serious consequence of global warming, he said, would be the spread of contagious diseases that called for adequate planning. Unfortunately the panchayats were not empowered either financially or politically. As global warming had occupied the centre stage, the panchayats and nagarpalikas should be actively involved in managing the climate change.

A.A. Nambi of the foundation said there was neither awareness of the impact of climate change nor any action at the local level. The local bodies were at a disadvantage because of their other pressing needs and tight budgets.

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu.