Balance between development and environment needed: Sena

Itanagar, Sep 29 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Setong Sena has advocated for balancing economic development and environment protection, the main global issues.

''The conservationists and developmentalists have always been at loggerheads on this burning topic,'' Mr Sena told the plenary session of the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in New Delhi.

He said the mankind survives on a fragile environment and hence initiatives should be taken to guide people to improve their economic condition without destroying the forests and environment.

Mr Sena, who is the state commonwealth parliamentary association's (CPA) president, informed that the joint forest management project between the villagers and forest department had been implemented by the concerned department.

The state, with over 82 per cent forest cover, is among the eight richest bio-diversity hotspots in the world and wide range of flora and fauna have drawn researchers and scientists worldwide to this 'repository of nature'.

The plenary session was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil on September 25.

The meeting would further discuss on ''Right to recall as a strategy for enforcing greater accountability of Parliaments to the people''.

UNI