Modi releases 'Vision Document 2010' on Environment Day

Gandhinagar, June 5 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today released a Vision Document on ''Nature and Wildlife 2010'' and said research in biotechnology will be encouraged in the state to enhance greenery in the Kutch desert.

He also gave away awards to two Ankleswar-based industries for following cleaner production norms and inaugurated an Environmental Training Institute, being supported by Gir Foundation, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, and Forest and Environment department of the state government.

Speaking at a function in Inroda Nature Park as part of ''World Environment Day'' celebrations, he said though declining wildlife population in the country was a cause for concern, in Gujarat, there has been a steady increase. ''Leopards, which numbered 999 few years back, are now 1070, similarly bear population has increased from 224 to 247.

Forest produce have also shown a growth rate of 3.3 per cent per annum in the state.

He said research in marine biotechnology will also be promoted across the 1600-km coastline in the state.

In another event in Leelapur village of Ahmedabad district, Rural Development Minister Bharat Barot planted a sapling and spoke to the gathering about the need to conserve nature.

During a day-long programme at the Centre for Environment Education, more than 1000 people including school and college students, NGO workers and the general pubic, participated in various competitions of painting, pottery, clay modelling, quiz, face painting, origami, and others.

Poster exhibitions were also held on dew harvesting, deserts and desertification, and rain water harvesting at the CEE complex.

Lectures and drawing competitions to promote environment awareness and role of remote sensing in understanding and monitoring global environment were also organised by the Indian Society of Remote Sensing here.

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