The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced Thursday that central government-funded expenditures on energy savings and emission reductions as well as on renewable energies development will total 97.9 billion yuan ($15.5 billion) this year, up 25.1 billion yuan from 2011.

The government's accumulative "green" investment will hit 170 billion yuan in 2012, the MOF said.

Meanwhile, the central government has budgeted 25.5 billion yuan in subsidies for expanding the consumption of energy-saving household electrical appliances this year, according to the MOF.

China will provide financial subsidies of 26.5 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) to stimulate the consumption of energy-saving products, mainly automobiles and household appliances, said the State Council.

The green measure also aims to expand domestic demand in a bid to provide stable growth for the world's second-largest economy. The subsidy will be available for household appliances including air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines for one year.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency plans to add more products under the mandatory energy efficiency labelling drive bringing in water heaters, direct cool refrigerators and television sets.

However, it is yet to finalise the timeline for bringing them into the mandatory products as manufacturers would also need to gear up to make such products.

With the rules for proper disposal and recycling of electronic waste to come into force from May 1, the Tamil Nadu Government has in place the systems and processes, according to the Environment Minister, Mr B.V. Ramanaa.

Addressing the Assembly following the debate on the demand for grants to Environment and Forests, he said the Central Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 which are to come into force next month.

‘’It was informed that there is a growing demand for electricity in both the public and private sectors in Sri Lanka, as a result of post-war booming economy in all the areas including industrial, agriculture and tourism. I also heard that Sri Lankans are interested and concerned about the environment, particularly in energy saving. Therefore, we are proud to introduce the eco-friendly products which offer the new eco-lifestyle to Sri Lankans,’’ the co-host of the event, Yorihisa Shiokawa, Managing Executive Officer-Panasonic Corporation said.

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The manufacturing and use of inefficient electrical appliances, equipment and machinery could become a cognisable offence if parliament passes the energy conservation bill, said a former environment minister.

Former minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi, who is also the chairman of the Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (IPO), said this at the

Shailesh Dobhal