TN can become carbon neutral state by 2020: Kalam

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu could become a carbon neutral state by 2020 with a combination of hydropower movement, water body creation, biofuel and renewable energy combination for automobile and integrated transport planning in the cities coupled with planting of 100 million trees, according to former president of India A P J Abdul Kalam.

Addressing the valedictory session of the conference on Creating Carbon Neutral Chennai: Planning for Integrated Freight Movement here on Wednesday, Kalam said 100 million trees will absorb two billion kg of carbon dioxide and give to Tamil Nadu 1.4 billion kg of oxygen per year.

He said that improper planning results in intra-city micro-migration and each city even one with a population of five million should be reorganized so that it comprises a city center containing administrative, government and large corporate offices surrounded by satellite micro-cities with less than a million people each.

He said the micro-cities, which should be developed independently and equally, should be well networked within itself with a ring road and high speed bus services. This could curtail wasteful commuting using large number of fossil fuel based transportation.

Interestingly, Kalam stressed on three aspects of urban planning which include mass transit like metros between micro city zones and all major locations, medium scale transport system like mini buses to connect metro network besides provision of bicycling using exclusive bicycling lane like Netherlands and Germany.

Blaming transport sector for about 13 per cent of total emissions worldwide, he said every litre of petrol or diesel burnt in vehicles contributes 2.7 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

He also stressed on the need to use emulsification technology (use of petrol or diesel mixed with 30 to 40 per cent of water by incorporating engines of water body) for erducing the carbon footprint from the transportation system.

He also stressed on the concept of intelligent buildings besides the need for cities to integrate mini-forest zones. He also highlighted the increasing rural to urban migration and stressed on the need for rural empowerment through Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas.