Governor pats HP government for progressive policies

Shimla, Oct 12 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Governor V S Kokje today lauded the Virbhadra Singh Government for its various progressive policies such as the new power policy, ban on the use of polythene bags and environmental and biodiversity guidelines.

''The government has constituted a state level environment assessment and monitoring committee to ensure sustainable development while preserving its ecology,'' he said, while inaugurating the three-day national workshop on Environmental Information System Centres-2006, here.

Mr Kokje said the state government has issued orders to all hydel projects which are set up on the state rivers to ensure 15 per cent water flow to protect the state's biodiversity.

He said the areas which are shrinking under snow, ice, permafrost could seriously alter the flow of water.

The Governor, further, pointed out that the glacial areas of Himachal Pradesh had reduced to 21 per cent since 1962 and if the trend continues all the glaciers in the state would vanish by 2010.

''Though a network of communication lines have been successful in providing electricity to almost all villages of the state, they have also contributed towards accelerated ecological changes," he said,adding, ''the poor, under privileged and marginal farmers, especially in the mountain areas, would be the most vulnerable to the changes.'' He lauded the efforts of the state government fo creating an uniform database and information resources system named ENVIS and called upon the people of the state to join hands in the preservation, promotion, research and development of environmental conservation for planned sustainable development of the state.

''We are living in an era of uncertainty with radical shift in seasons due to global warming and green house effect that was adversely affecting life on earth,'' the Governor added.

Several other senior state government officials were also present on the occasion.

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