Directs the state administration to identify 75 wetlands in the state for rejuvenation.
Monday, 06 June 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The Uttarakhand government has decided to develop Champawat as the centre for ‘vocal for local’ based economy and ecology. Fresh from his record breaking victory in the by-election of Champawat, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday that Champawat would be developed as a model for the Himalayas with such an endeavour. The CM participated in a programme organised at his camp office to celebrate the world environment day on Sunday. He also planted a sapling and released a book ‘Annual water quality report 2021’ published by the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion Dhami said that the secretariat and Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha would be made plastic free. A sanitation campaign would be taken up and it would commence from Dehradun and later it would be extended in all the cities of the state.
Dhami directed all the district magistrates to identify 75 wetlands in the state for their rejuvenation. He emphasised that the special efforts needed to be done in the rain water harvesting, solar energy and environment friendly tourism. He said that the DMs and CDOs should ensure that the road connectivity in all the remote areas remains in good shape and small projects of connectivity would be taken up on priority.
Stressing the need for collective effort for environmental protection and developing an environmental model, CM said that Uttarakhand has been bestowed by nature and it is full of biodiversity. He said that everyone should take special care of environmental protection and planting of trees to ensure that the coming generations are not deprived of pure air, water and soil. He added that global warming and decrease in ground water level are very critical issues and in projects related to water harvesting and rejuvenation of water sources would be taken up in the state. The CM said that the theme of this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Only one Earth’ and we should understand that mother earth has given us everything. He said that apart from Gross Domestic Production (GDP) we should also assess our Gross Environmental Production (GEP).
Addressing the gathering the forest minister Subodh Uniyal said that everyone should understand his/ her responsibility towards saving the environment since Uttarakhand is a mountainous state. He said that for conservation of forests they should be linked with livelihood. Uniyal added that ecology based employment should be generated and special focus on plantation and conservation should be laid. He opined that different departments should be assigned different tasks for tree plantation and their conservation. The forest minister said that the Van Panchayats in Uttarakhand should be linked with livelihood
Environmentalist and Padma Bhushan recipient Anil Prakash Joshi said that Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi and gods always get associated with nature. He appreciated Dhami’s initiative for linking ecology and economy. Joshi expressed grave concern on melting of glaciers and said that concerted efforts for environmental protection should be undertaken.
Principal secretary R K Sudhanshu, Principal chief conservator of forests Vinod Kumar Singhal, director of UEPPCB S K Subudhi and others attended the programme.
