Minister for plan on hazardous materials management

Bangalore, Feb 4 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan today stressed on the need for chalking out a proper action plan for hazardous materials management.

Addressing a national seminar here, Mr Rajasekharan said proper planning was the need of hour as 50 per cent of India's population would be living in metropolitan cities by 2010 exposed to extensive pollution.

Though the Centre had given its highest priority in the 11th Plan for protecting environment and minimising the ill-effects of polluton on human health, there was a need for public-private partnership in creating infrastructure facilities to achieve the mission.

''Haryana and Punjab, which are considered as Food Bowls of India are likely to be affected by global warming in the next 40 years making the country to import wheat and rice in millions of tonne,'' he said.

Mr Rajasekhar also inaugurated the National Institute of Environment and Hazarduous Material Management to provide training in the fields of environment, health and safety and hazardous materials management.

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