Conservation and development can coexist, says Javadekar

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has asserted that the country can preserve its rich biodiversity while ensuring the development.
"It is a myth that ecological conservation and development can not coexist. It is not correct to see environment and development as being two ends of a spectrum, where one must be compromised in order to enhance the other," Javadekar said, speaking at an International Biodiversity Day event held in Mumbai last evening.
Concerns of livelihood should be addressed equally while framing policies for environmental protection, he said.
The Centre will formulate a policy for conservation of the rich biodiversity of Western Ghats while ensuring that the livelihood of five crore people residing in the region, spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is not adversely affected, he said.

"India is one of the recognised mega-diverse countries of the world, harbouring nearly 8 per cent of recorded species and representing four biodiversity hotspots," he said.
The minister conceded that 'jan andolan' (peoples' movements) were necessary for biodiversity conservation, and added that many success stories of the environment conservation had not been highlighted by the mainstream media.

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Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress latched on to the faux pas to attack Javadekar for his "lack of knowledge of history" which, it said, emanates from his party BJP not participating in the freedom struggle.
"It is not Javadekar's fault. Since they and their leaders have not taken part in the freedom movement, they are going to talk like this. It (the remark) shows the level of his knowledge of history," state Congress President Arun Yadav said.