United Nations’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) chief R.K. Pachauri on Saturday suggested that a hike in water and power tariff could help in conserving the scarce and precious resource in the city, which is going to face tremendous pressure on its infrastructure in the future. Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said that she supported the suggestion if that was the only solution to limit consumption.
Speaking at a function to mark the World Environment Day, which was also attended by Ms Dikshit, the IPCC chief suggested an increase in power and water tariff to make people understand the value of scarce resources.
Later, speaking on the occasion, Ms Dikshit said that steps would have to be taken to save the environment. She added that there was a need to control wastage of water and power. “If the solution to limit consumption of water and power lies in increasing the tariff...then we support it,” said Ms Dikshit, hinting at Mr Pachauri’s suggestion.
The chief minister further said that the population of the city, which is already around 18 million, was going to increase putting a lot of pressure on its scarce resources.
Ms Dikshit hoped that the state of Environment Report 2010, which was released at the function, would serve as a useful document for policymakers, non-government organisations, civil society and government agencies in policy making and maintaining a balance between development, while conserving natural resources.
Earlier, the CM herself drove the Reva car, which is battery operated, from her residence 3 Motilal Nehru Marg to the Commonwealth Park on Africa Avenue. A rally of bicycles and battery-operated cars was also flagged off on the occasion.