Conservation no hurdle in development: CM

The Pioneer , Friday, June 20, 2008
Correspondent : Staff Reporter

Chief Minister Maj Gen BC Khanduri stressed on striking a balance between development and conservation while discussing the issue of climate change and natural resource management on the first day of Uttarakhand Sustainable Development Summit being held at ICFRE in Dehradun on Thursday.

He said conservation should not be a hindrance in fulfiling the reasonable developmental aspirations of the people. "The need of locals must be accounted for whenever any policies linked to conservation are framed," he said.

Reiterating his commitment for cleanliness of Ganga, Khanduri said his Government understand people's attachment to Ganga and was committed to its cleaning. He also asked Nobel laureate RK Pachauri to assist the city in the work of Ganga cleaning.

The Chief Minister took the opportunity to raise the issue of compensatory afforestation. He said the funds deposited by the State to the Centre as part of compensatory afforestation are least put into utilisation. He also held that it is least compensated for the greenery it maintains.

TERI Director General RK Pachauri recalled the efforts being made by Teri in Uttarakhand through its centre at Mukteswar. He said the organisation had a key role in introducing the water harvesting in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. He said, "The economic progress of Uttarakhand has been rapid. Hence, it was vital for the State to tread on a path which incorporates a natural resources friendly developmental strategy which also accounts for the impending impacts of climate change."

Further he said, "Today unsustainable development have exceeded the capacity of the State's ecosystem and by ignoring a proper mechanism, not only the State will have to face a major economic loss but the impacts will also be felt by the downstream States which Uttarakhand caters to or which are dependent on the ecosystem of Uttarakhand."

Addressing the issue of sustainable development as the most pertinent issue for this young State, ONGC Chairman RS Sharma said, "Sustainable development for Uttarkhand is critical now and with the major growth which the State will witness in the coming few years, it will be more imperative for the State to formulate a climate change and development strategy."

He further stressed that the State needs to focus on alternative energy options as the viability of the present resources are depleting fast. He assured ONGC's commitment to combat this issue for the State.

The first day of the seminar was based on climate change. Prodipto Ghosh, Fellow Centre for Global Environment Research, the Energy and Resources Institute spoke at length on climate change and sustainable development.

ICFRE Director General Jagdish Kiswan put the onus on opportunities in forestry sector linked to sustainable development. Wildlife Institute Proffesor GS Rawat and Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fibre Development Board Chief Executive Officer STS Lepcha are other key participants in this session. Uttarakhand Forest and Rural Development Principal Secretary and Commissioner Vibha Puri Das compared over the proceedings.

Forest Minister Bansidhar Bhagat and Chief Secretary SK Das were other prominent participants in the inaugural session of the workshop.

The concluding day of the seminar on Friday will focus on water and energy. It will also take up policy and institutional issues with focus on market mechanisms. The two-day seminar is being held under the joint aegis of TERI and Uttarakhand Government.

 
SOURCE : The Pioneer Friday, 20 June 2008
 


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