GUWAHATI, June 5 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today announced that the State Government would constitute an expert committee on environment for initiating comprehensive and scientific measures aimed at checking degradation of the environment. The Chief Minister also assured that all possible steps would be taken to ensure protection of the green belts in the city as well as in other towns of the State.

Speaking at a function on the occasion of World Environment Day held at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Gogoi said that the Government would embark on a massive plantation programme across the State covering open spaces in residential areas and government office campuses.

The Chief Minister further said that the Government would accord priority to promoting nature and agro-based industries including cane and bamboo, medicinal plants, horticulture, etc.

Educationist AK Bhagawati, in his speech, regretted that forests were the worst affected amidst the degradation of the environment taking place across the globe. He appealed to all concerned to join hands in protecting nature and the environment.

Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, in his address, revealed that the Government had a target of planting two crore saplings in the State in the current year. He said that of the 15 lakh saplings planted in 1,100 schools last year, 80 per cent were thriving. He also claimed that the State had a forest cover of 37 per cent as against the norm of 33 per cent.

Hussain said that in a bid to ensure stringent action against poachers and timber mafia, the Government would introduce a proposal to amend the relevant provisions of the State Forest Policy in the coming Assembly session.

AK Dutta, Chairman, Pollution Control Board Assam, also spoke.

Himanta’s call: The pressing need to confront the challenge of global climate change was emphasized at a seminar held in the city today, where State Minister of Information Technology and Science, Himanta Biswa Sarma identified it as a bigger threat than terrorism.

At the seminar marking World Environment Day, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce with Oil India Ltd. and Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), Sarma said that afforestation, renewable energy and eco-friendly transport were tools central to combating the danger.

He mentioned the counter arguments among which was the case of industrial effects on the environment, and developed countries imposing ‘environmental parameters’ on their developing counterparts.

He stated that these counter issues illustrated the complexity of the problem along with the enormity of the danger of climate change and said they need to be ‘confronted’ and ‘balanced’. Calling the urbanites ‘selfish’, he included himself in explaining that all are culpable in this issue.

The minister emphasized the need for ‘productive, useful and acceptable’ solutions for the common people, which are both ‘economical and cost-effective’.

Significantly he referred to distribution of solar lamps to 2000 villages through Assam Energy Development Agency, and plans for the Assam Secretariat to be the nation’s first ‘Green’ secretariat by 2011.

In his address he noted that 23 per cent of land in Guwahati would come under an ‘Eco Sensitive Zone’ and Rs 25 crore would be earmarked for acquisition of land around ‘Deepor Beel’ towards the conservation of the important Ramsar site. The proposed Deepor Beel Conservation Authority would oversee the task.

According to a press release, the technical session of the seminar included presentations on some pertinent issues like ‘Role of Renewable Energy towards Combating Climate Change’ by Mrinal Krishna Chaudhury, additional director in charge, AEDA, ‘Development of Renewable Energy Sector in North East Region’ by Dr DR Das, director, Ministry Of New And Renewable Energy and ‘Mainstreaming Climate Change for Sustainable Development: Focus on North East India and The Petroleum Industry’ by HC Das, of Oil India Ltd, Duliajan. The concluding presentation was ‘Climate Change and Green House Gas Emission with reference to Energy Security’, by Dr Rafiqua Ahmed of Pollution Control Board Assam.

Earlier a cycle rickshaw rally co-organized with the Centre for Rural Development was flagged off in the morning hours by Pratik Hajela, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro). Nearly 300 vehicles of ‘Deep Bahan’ carrying banners and festoons with various slogans on environmental awareness were flagged off.