Environmental Issues Must Be Addressed: Pm

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee yesterday called upon the Union ministries and the state governments to keep in mind environmental concerns while planning developmental activities.

"We need to address environmental concerns while preparing development policies. Policy evaluation should not be based on financial cost-benefit analysis alone. No development activity that severely depletes our natural resources or degrades our environment can ultimately benefit the people," the Prime Minister pointed out.

He said, "Protecting our environment does not mean putting a stop to development activity, nor does it mean stopping progress. We have to look for pragmatic solutions to problems posed by developmental projects. We have to bear in mind their long-term impact on the environment and ecology of the region, the state and the nation", he said inaugurating a two-day conference of the state environment and forest ministers here .

Vajpayee asked the Union and the state governments to adopt a developmental model that ensures a sustainable development. " We have to balance progress and consumption with conservation of resources", he said.

The Prime Minister referred to current droughts and attributed these to the flawed developmental strategies adopted in the name of development and modernity which in turn destroyed the traditional life-sustaining structures and systems, he said.