5 lakh farmers will adopt organic farming: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu

Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said nearly 5 lakh farmers in the State would shift to organic farming to cut down the pesticide and fertiliser usage as well as to produce hygienic food.

He was addressing the gathering at NGT's regional conference on environment organised by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) and Telangana State Pollution Control Board at Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Highlights:

• Says this will bring down the usage of pesticides and fertilisers
• Addresses NGT’s regional conference on environment
• 50 per cent of total energy in the State will come from renewable sources by 2029
• Points out that AP has been able to save 30 to 40 per cent energy by installing 40 lakh LED bulbs in villages and municipalities across the State

Explaining to NGT Chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar, Supreme Court Judge RK Agarwal and other important dignitaries about the eco-friendly steps taken by the government, the Chief Minister said 50 per cent of total energy in the State would come from renewable sources by 2029.

"We are taking steps to convince 5 lakh farmers to go for organic farming instead of the conventional method. Moreover, we would also ask them to take up horticulture crops to make profits," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister opined that the commuters would travel in electrical vehicles in the coming days. On the subjects of solid waste management and energy efficiency, he said, AP has been performing well and saved 30 to 40 per cent of energy as 40 lakh LED bulbs were installed in towns, villages and municipalities across the State

. Speaking on the occasion, NGT Chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar said, “Traditions on environment are so high and we have to maintain the values given by ancestors. Believe it or not you need no other protection. Environment is a simple subject and keep it as simple as that so that common man can understand why he/ she will not throw plastic on road.”

He called upon the law students to do internship with the NGT. However, he did not comment on APCRDA case on Amaravati Township Project which has been pending for more than three months. He said there should be a complete ban on the usage of plastic.

Later, Supreme Court Judge Justice R K Agarwal pointed out that after setting up NGT some seven years ago, the issues pertaining to environment have come down. “The intention behind setting up of NGT is to provide specific platform and to expedite the environmental cases as well as dispose them before six months,” he said.

Minister of Environment, Forests and Science and Technology Sidda Raghava Rao and other dignitaries attended the conference.