Solan, August 30
Shoolini University and Department of Environment, Science and Technology, Government of Himachal Pradesh, organised a brainstorming session on the “State of Environmental Report” and came out with several recommendations on Tuesday.
Prabodh Saxena, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary Environment Science and Technology to the Government of Himachal Pradesh was the Chief Guest at the event.
Delivering an insightful address, Mr Saxena said that a message needs to be conveyed to the masses to save the environment. He emphasised the importance of focusing on setting steps toward the goals of environmental protection rather than the initial setbacks. “Environment is still not an issue that everyone is concerned about,” he said.
Referring to the successful completion of the Saksharta Mission and other government initiatives. He said these were successful initiative because both the people and the government were concerned about education. He used demolition of the Twin Towers to demonstrate the negative environmental impact. “India and Indians are still on top global positions but we still can’t come up with a plan to revive our nature,” he added.
The event included a discussion of the State Government’s initiative with the World Bank and multilateral agencies. The panel also included brainstorming on agriculture, horticulture, environmental pollution, natural disasters, and key recommendations from the speakers.
The penallists and experts gave their recommendations to improve issues related to the environment. Prof R C Sobti former vice chancellor Panjab University Chandigarh said we should avoid destructive use of environmental minerals.
Prof K R Dhiman, former Vice Chancellor University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, lauded the new government policies for contaminated water and garbage collection facilities by the municipal corporation.
Expert Dr. Karan Avtar Singh IAS (Retd.) former Chairperson, Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority said there should be a chapter on environmental conservation at primary level education with demonstrative seminars.
Dr. SS Minhas, Vice Chancellor, MMU, said we should focus more on improving the environment because diseases caused by inadequate environmental conditions account 25 per cent of all deaths.
Dr. C L Chandan former Vice Chancellor, Cluster University, Mandi said we need to work on rising temperature and cautioned that environmental degradation will also cause food shortages around the globe.
Chancellor Prof. PK Khosla expressed concern about the environment, citing floods and tree cutting around the world as examples. He also cited a recent example of 1000 deaths in Pakistan as a result of a massive flood which is also an environmental catastrophe.
Vice Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla expressed his views on the need to prevent the environment which is one of the most critical agendas of today.
Lalit Jain, IAS, Director Environment, Science and Technology Government of Himachal Pradesh shared the “State of the Environment Reports” (SoER) to provide decision makers and the public with credible, timely, and easily accessible information about the state of the environment.
Pro Chancellor Vishal Anand presented the vote of thanks to all the participants and underlined the urgency to take effective steps for conservation of environment. He said the recommendations from the brain storming session would be studied and appropriate recommendations would be made to the government.
