Environment protection and Development need to be synergized

Environment protection and Development need to be synergized

 

Prakash Javadekar
Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change has said for balanced sustainable development it was extremely vital to bring about a synergy between the parameters of environment protection and development. A synthesis of these objectives would enable achieving the mission of Clean India Green India. At the same time, the new architecture and road map being outlined by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change was taking into account the needs, requirements and contemporary trends of the issues being debated and discussed. The Minister stated this while delivering his address at the 4^th Foundation Day Celebrations of the National Green Tribunal here today.

Elaborating further the Minister said that peoples participation was a prerequisite to address the challenges facing theenvironment. The need of the hour was also to understand issues in a proper perspective and provide practical solutions to problems. The spirit of this principle needed to be applied across the board in order to ensure development balanced with environmental protection. The policy initiatives being undertaken focused on timelines, transparency and accountability. Monitoring processes were being put in place to ensure a comprehensive institutional mechanism to address the issues that required attention.

Shri Javadekar also reiterated the role and relevance of the National Green Tribunal in the current context as it had provided an institutional mechanism and framework to address the needs and concerns pertaining to the environment. During his address the Minister touched upon the recent initiatives undertaken by the Government. Specific reference was made to the initiatives undertaken yesterday regarding the National Air Quality Index, the proposals initiated by the Government on Climate Change during the Budget, the measures pertaining to cleaning of the Ganga and the Himalayan protection initiative.

Secretary, Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Shri Ashok Lavasastated that the mechanism was being streamlined within the Ministry aimed at the preservation of nature and measures conducive to development. The measures also aimed to harmonize the development. The overall objective was the simplification of procedures.
The Foundation Day was also addressed by Honble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Honble Mr. Justice Swatanter Kumar, Chairperson, National Green Tribunal.The function also witnessed the release of the second issue of NGT International Journal on Environment and the launch of new website of National Green Tribunal.
 
CP/GV