UNION BUDGET 2023-24 FOCUS ON GREEN GROWTH

"We are implementing several green fuel, green energy, green agricultural, green mobility, green buildings, and green equipment programmes, as well as regulations for energy efficiency across many economic sector These green growth activities aid in decreasing the economy's carbon intensity and generate large-scale green job possibilities. “- FM NIRMALA SITHARAMAN

THE EMPHASIS ON GREEN GROWTH HAS BEEN APPLAUDED. ADDITIONALLY, INDIA NEEDS TO:

? Guarantee the financial assistance is focused toward low-carbon technology

? Identify regions of environmental deterioration and the parts of the economy where this has the biggest impact

? Take actions to solve them

SOME NON-GREEN GROWTH INITIATIVES:

? The construction of 50 extra airports.

? Identification of 100 projects to increase last-mile connectivity for industries such as coal and ports.

FURTHERMORE, NO BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR CRITICAL PROGRAMMES SUCH AS

1. The National Climate Change Action Plan

2. The National Adaptation Plan

3. The National Himalayan Studies Mission

(This comes at a time when Joshimath, Nainital and other cities in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand are undergoing land displacement.)

12 KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE FOR “GREEN GROWTH”

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1.??????GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION

?????????With a budget of `19,700 crores, Green Hydrogen Mission will aid in the country's economic transformation to a low carbon one.

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2.??????NET-ZERO AND THE TRANSITION OF ENERGY

??????????`35,000 crores for high-priority capital investments to support net zero and energy transition goals

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3.??????BATTERIES AS ENERGY STORAGE

?????????Systems for battery energy storage with a 4,000 MWH capacity will receive viability gap funding

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4.??????RENEWABLE ENERGY EXIT

?????????An investment of `20,700 crores would be made to build the interstate transmission line from Ladakh, including `8,300 crores from central support.

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5.??????PM-PRANAM

?????????To encourage States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilisers and balanced use of chemical fertilisers, the "PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth" will be introduced.

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6.??????ENSURING CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR

?????????The Environment (Protection) Act will provide notification of the Green Credit Program.

?????????This will encourage businesses and people to take responsible, sustainability conscious actions

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7.??????GOBARdhan – WASTE TO WEALTH

?????????Under the GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources - Dhan) initiative, 500 new "waste to wealth" factories will be built.

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8.??????BHARTIYA PRAKRITIK KHETI BIO-INPUT RESOURCE CENTRES

?????????Encourage 1 crore farmers to adopt natural farming during the next three years.

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9.??????MISHTI

?????????The "Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes," or MISHTI, will be implemented to plant mangroves along the coastline and on salt pan areas, building on India's success in afforestation.

?????????The initiative will be implemented through "collaboration between MGNREGS, Campa Fund, and other sources."

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10.??AMRIT DHAROHAR

?????????A strategy that will be put into action over the following three years in order to promote the best possible use of wetlands, improve biodiversity, carbon storage, ecotourism opportunities, and generate money for local inhabitants.

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11.??COASTAL SHIPPING

?????????Through PPP method with viability gap finance, coastal shipping will be promoted as the more economical and energy efficient form of transportation, both for people and freight.

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12.??VEHICLE REPLACEMENT

?????????Funds set aside for the Central Government's outdated automobiles to be scrapped.???????

?????????States will receive assistance in upgrading their old ambulances and vehicles as well.