Talk of Rajapalayam, the first thing that comes to mind is the Rajapalayam Hound, also known as the Polygar Hound or Indian Ghost Hound, a famous Indian dog breed. However, in days to come Rajapalayam Local Planning Area (LPA) that has many textile units will be known for hot topics like ‘Climate Smart’ and ‘Carbon Neutral’ with the Tamil Nadu government to take a series of sustainable and climate-friendly measures for the southern town.
A detailed action plan is being envisaged to decarbonise Rajapalayam in southwestern TN to make the town carbon neutral by 2041, while at the same time, providing a basket of solutions to make the town climate resilient and climate smart.
The Rajapalayam LPA has potential to become a ‘Model and Showcase’ town and a trendsetter for other towns in India to emulate in being both ‘Climate Smart’ and ‘Carbon Neutral’ and with some extra efforts possibly even ‘carbon negative,’ says the Action Plan for Decarbonisation Pathways in Rajapalayam released by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at Tamil Nadu Climate Summit 3.0 in Chennai on Tuesday.
Rajapalayam is the largest consumer of both energy and electricity vis-a-vis the total energy and electricity consumption of the region, accounting to around 70 percent of the electricity and energy consumption.
The plan recommends key strategies such as respiration of Sanjeevi Malai, enhancing urban green spaces, adoption of clean energy sources, sustainable transport and ensuring the integration of climate resilience and adaptation measures with the goal of achieving low carbon development and sustainable economic development.
Surrounded by the Srivilliputhur tiger sanctuary and having its own iconic Sanjeevi Malai, a hillock that has both historical and religious significance attached to it, Rajapalayam is blessed with lush vegetation that can be further enhanced and strengthened with a fairly high carbon sequestration potential. Furthermore, the area being endowed with close to 42 water bodies covering an area of 19.95 sq. km is also an added advantage to the region, the report said.
Being in close proximity to the districts of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, which are the hub for electricity generation from wind, supplying green energy to the Rajapalayam LPA area and the textile industry in particular, by wheeling of electricity from the wind farms is a feasible option and many industries have already opted for this solution.
Current greenhouse gas
The current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Rajapalayam LPA was approximately 6,86,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with the majority of its GHG emissions from the electricity consumption, based on a scope two emissions estimation methodology and accounting for approximately 64 percent of the total GHG emissions of the region in the year 2021.
The second major GHG emitting sector was the waste sector, which includes solid waste, domestic wastewater and agro waste contributing to approximately 20 percent of the total emissions, followed by the transport and cooking sector. Other sectors or sub-sectors contributing to the GHG emissions include the agriculture sector and primarily emissions from rice cultivation.
Factoring in both economic growth as well as the estimated population growth of Rajapalayam LPA, it is projected that the GHG emissions in the year 2041 are likely to be approximately 7,77,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, assuming a business-as-usual scenario. This projection is primarily based on historical emission trends coupled with the assumption that the ongoing policies and programmes of both the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu, which could potentially contribute to decarbonisation, are successfully implemented, the report said.
Keeping this as the baseline scenario, the decarbonisation pathways for Rajapalayam have been developed while factoring in the decarbonisation potentials across various GHG emitting sectors and sub-sectors along with the sequestration potentials, as well as the 2041 masterplan for the Rajapalayam LPA recently adopted by the Rajapalayam Municipality.
For the immediate period, the plan identifies a few priority areas for immediate action. This includes creating additional sinks through eco-restoration activities in both the Sanjeevi Malai corridor as well as in the urban space; addressing the issue of growing emissions from the waste sector; augmenting renewable energy through a combination of ground-mounted solar and solar rooftop in government buildings and high-income consumers, to start off with and electrifying public transport fleet, the report said.
Zero carbon city
“Rajapalayam leads small town India in towards green future. The beautiful city of Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu has developed a masterplan for a zero carbon city. It will inspire cities across India and the globe,” said Erik Solheim, Green politician and Governing Council Member, Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission.
Rajapalayam (200 000 inhabitants) plans to source energy from solar, establish routes with 20 seats electric buses, restore the water level, plant trees, establish parks and a lot more. It will create an amazing green and people centered town, he said in a social media post.