Khanduri urges people to help in environment protection

Dehra Dun, June 19 (UNI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri today stressed on the need to build awareness among the people about the adverse impact of climate change on the environment of the state and the measures to counter it.

Speaking at the first-ever Uttarakhand Sustainable Development Summit (USDS) 2008 here today, Mr Khanduri said the state required a ''people friendly and rural oriented model'' of development which which would enable the rural population to progress.

''There are people living in the hilly areas of the state who walk for days to reach a hospital because they have never seen a vehicle...the state had to tap its rich natural resources to lift people from the scourge of poverty,'' he said.

The Chief Minister said he understood the sentiments of the people with regard to the river Ganga and requested Dr R K Pachauri, DG TERI and Chairman IPCC, to discuss with his government a complete plan to save the river.

The two-day summit, organised by the Uttarakhand government and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), was inaugurated by Mr Khanduri and attended by representatives of local government agencies, corporates and researchers to discuss the sustainable development of the state.

The summit aims to look into issues ranging from climate change challenges, agriculture, forestry, water, energy, policy and institutional issues with a focus on market mechanisms for the state and identify a way forward.

UNI PB RR KN2010