The Himachal Government will soon formulate an environment master plan to effectively address sensitive ecological issues and pave the way for sustainable economic development in the fragile hill environment.

Stating this while delivering his presidential address at the Interactive Meet on Governance, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to formulate such a plan in consultation with the environmental experts. He said there was need to undertake a campaign to sensitise the common man about the drastic impact of environmental degradation across the world. Unless there was awakening at the grassroot level, the impact of the climate change and global warming would not become everyone’s concern.

The government had taken several initiatives to make the state carbon neutral and address environment-related issues. It had decided to conduct environment audit of all departments with a view to ensure that no activity hazardous to environment was undertaken by these. The government was also preparing a climate change policy and an action plan. The state had also taken initiative to constitute an “environment fund” to encourage people’s participation in protection of environment. He said 50 per cent of the donations would be spent on the maintenance of environment and reduction of carbon emissions, 25 per cent on creation of infrastructure and 10 per cent on environment education activities and awareness programmes.

Forest and Environment Minister JP Nadda underlined the role of public representatives in furthering the cause of environment by motivating people to join the movement to reduce greenhouse gases. He said payment for environmental services was one of the other issues raised with the Government of India to compensate the state. He said a road map for environment protection had been prepared to undertake various activities in future.

Director of the Centre for Science and Environment Sunita Narain appreciated the initiative taken by the Himachal Government to switch over to low carbon economy and achieve carbon neutrality. It was a big challenge and if successfully met, it would help show the way to others. She emphasised on the need to formulate a plan in association with experts to maintain harmony between development and environment.

Noted geologist Ritesh Arya underlined the need to tap groundwater in mountainous terrain as surface water sources had been overexploited, contaminated and were also drying up due to climate change. He said he had harnessed groundwater in cold desert of Ladakh and it could bring a green revolution in the tribal Lahaul-Spiti district. He said global warming and cooling were cyclic events and instead of raising alarm, effort should be on mitigating its impact.

Principal Secretary (Agriculture) P.C. Kapoor gave a presentation on “Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan, Baagwan Samridhi Yojna for Faster and More Inclusive Growth in Agriculture”. All Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, political thinkers and senior bureaucrats attended the meet.