Dehradun. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday launched the “Uttarakhand Gross Environmental Product Index” (GEP) at the Secretariat to link ecology with the economy. Uttarakhand is the first state to launch GEP. The Uttarakhand Gross Environmental Product Index has been assessed on the basis of 04 main components water, air, forest and soil.
The Chief Minister said that a cell will be formed for the effective implementation of GEP. The Chief Minister said that implementation of GEP in the state will establish better harmony between ecology and economy. Analysis of the results of this index will help in setting targets in the field of environmental protection in future. People will become more aware about environmental protection.
He said that Uttarakhand has many types of forest wealth provided by nature, there is a need to make good use of them. We have to move forward rapidly in the direction of rejuvenation of water sources along with tree plantation. He said that Uttarakhand works to give direction to the world in the field of environment. The Chief Minister said that work is being done rapidly in the state in the direction of water conservation.
The number of Amrit Sarovars is being increased rapidly in the state. District Magistrates, Forest Department, SARA and other implementing agencies have been instructed to make continuous efforts for their conservation and increasing the water level. He said that a massive tree plantation campaign is being run in the state from 16 July to 15 August. Under this campaign, a target of planting 01 lakh 64 thousand saplings has been set.
A target of planting 50 lakh saplings was set on the day of Harela festival. Tree plantation is also being done with public participation. In the meeting, HASCO organization head Padma Bhushan Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi presented the Gross Environmental Product Index and informed that it is the result of compliance with various developmental schemes, industrial processes and rules made by the government etc.
It is reflected in our local environmental quality overall. If environmental factors like air, water, soil, forest and other factors are improving, then the GEP index increases. This shows that our system is environmentally friendly and despite developmental activities, it is stable and improving.
If our environmental quality is not improving and there is any decline in it or any negativity is seen in it, then the GEP index shows a decline. On this occasion, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal, Vice-Chairman Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vishwas Dabur, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Principal Secretary R. K. Sudhanshu, Chief Forest Conservator Dr. Dhananjay Mohan, Special Secretary Dr. Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Director General UCOST Prof. Durgesh Pant and concerned officials were present.
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