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The Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Shri Namo Narain Meena has stressed the need for promotion of sustainable cities with equitable access to the basic infrastructure and other facilities. Addressing a distinguished audience on the occasion of the World Environment Day and 27th anniversary of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) here today, Shri Meena also called for substantial participation and cooperation of the people in improving the living environment, while adding that with careful planning, our cities can be flagships of sustainable development.
On this occasion, Shri Meena also released a commemorative potage stamp on ‘Green Cities’, - the theme of the World Environment Day 2005 – brought out by the Department of Posts. He further launched a website on e-waste.
Shri Meena also awarded prizes to many children who had shown their talents in writing essays, designing posters and paintings on environmental issues during the NMNH Summer Programme. The Young Environmentalist Award was given to Prashant Sharma.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme of the World Environment Day, eminent professor and Dean of School of Ecology, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Prof. J. S. Singh said that the management of nature does not mean the management of wilderness only. “Cities too need to be managed as protection of local environment is important for the biodiversity, human health and economic stability”, he added.
In his welcome address, Environment & Forests Secretary Dr. Prodipto Ghosh said that an important gap in our environmental regulatory system was finally filled last year when environment impact assessment was made mandatory for large construction projects.
“This has caused some heartburning in the construction industry. This is only natural – nobody likes to be controlled if he was not earlier. Some of their difficulties are genuine, and have to do with the time-factor in obtaining clearances. These are being resolved. However, many of them wish to know what exactly it is that they are required to do?” Dr Ghosh observed, and added “To answer this, we are preparing a comprehensive set of guidelines of good practices. These cover energy conservation, sewage treatment and disposal, noise and air pollution, solid waste management and facilitation of public transport. These guidelines would be available for discussion with the industry next month”.
AKS
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