Saturday, 07 October 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Climate change is a phenomenon affecting human life and various developmental activities. This makes sustainable development all the more important. These views were expressed at an interaction on climate change held by the Uttaranchal Press Club along with Climate Trends here on Friday.
Gunjan Jain of Climate Trends said that climate change also affects infrastructure, hydro power projects and tourism. “Can Uttarakhand talk about sustainable development and resilience? Apart from causing loss of life, disasters also cause loss to the GDP. Development is important but sustainability should also be focussed upon,” she said.
The Press Club president Ajay Singh Rana recalled that the Statehood movement was fuelled by the demand of the people for development. He said that development is necessary but it must be carried out scientifically and the locals should also be kept in the loop. The locals are connected to the environment as the water, forests and land sustain them, he added.
Expressing their views, general secretary Vikas Gusain and other journalists opined that development works in Uttarakhand shouldn’t always be criticised though the need to ensure scientific and sustainable development must also be met. Examples of the direct impact of climate change like the lack of snowfall in Dayara Bugyal and fruits like Malta not growing anymore in places where they earlier grew in abundance were also shared in the interaction.
