Dhumal awarded golden peacock award

Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister was conferred the 'Golden Peacock Award for Environmental Leadership-2008' by Shri Ola Ullsten, former Prime Minister Sweden and Chairman World Conference for Corporate Governance, UK at a prestigious function organized at Palampur after Chief Minister inaugurated the Global Convention on Climate Change' –Delivering a Holistic Response to Climate Change' organized by World Environment Foundation today.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal reiterated the resolve of the State Government to make Himachal Pradesh a 'Carbon Neutral' State in the country by reducing Green House Gases emission so as to contribute to the revival of all forms of life as the State Government was processing the preparations for formulation of an objective Environment Policy so as to avoid any conflict with the environment conservation during the pursuit for rapid development . He said that the stay would lay focus on climate change in the State's prospective plans.

Chief Minister said that State has raised the issue of Carbon Credit at national level drawing the attention of the environmentalists towards the genuine demand of the State. He said that Himalayan States were shouldering the responsibilities of protecting the environment of entire country, since all the big rivers originate from Himalayan region. He said that the European countries were compensating the least pollution generating countries with massive developmental funds and purchasing carbon credit certificate to maintain the level of carbon in respective countries.

He said that State had made its legitimate claim to obtain the carbon credit for the developmental activities in compensation of the income State would have generated out of the available forest wealth estimated at about Rs. 1.5 lakh crore. He said that the State had effectively checked the use of recycled polythene bags, which had been most hazardous for the environment of the State. He said that children, the young citizens of the country would be the ambassadors to create mass awareness amongst the people besides educating them about cautious use of the water and check wasteful use of the same since the water was emerging the most precious commodity in yester years and needed to be saved.

Prof. Dhumal said that population growth, industrialization, urbanization were the major factors contributing for climate variation. Per capita dependence on the natural sources has gone up manifolds in proportionate to the population. Demand of natural resources such as water, air, fossil fuel etc. has outweighed the natural supply, thus, disturbing the eco-system beyond redemption. He said that in Himachal towns like Shimla, Kullu, Dalhousie, Dharamsala witness tourist influx even more than our resident population. Estimate reveal that this year alone Himachal is likely to receive 94 lacs of tourists against the resident population
of around 65 lacs. He said that we could well imagine the quantum of environmental burden that the State has to bear and pressure on our natural resources is more than double.

Shri Ola Ullsten, former PM of Sweden and Chairman World Conference for Corporate Governance, UK presented the Golden Peacock Award for Environmental Leadership-2008 to Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister and congratulated him for maintaining the best climatic and environment condition in the State which were essential keeping in mind the emerging climate changes globally.

Prof. V.L. Chopra, Member Planning Commission of India delivered his special address said that temperature was rising faster than time, tropical cyclones to become more intense with heavier precipitation, snow cover likely to contract crop production lost by 10 to 40 per cent. He said that there would be increased water, shelter and energy requirement for livelistock. He said that effective strategies can help reduce negative impacts in short term but to a limited extend. He said that new strategies needed to be practical keeping in view the prevailing conditions.

Dr. Madhav Mehra, President, General World Council of Corporate Governance, besides delivering his thematic address said that Himachal Pradesh deserved compensation for the protection of the forests and environment. He cited numerous examples of climate change the world over and its drastic after-effects over the living beings.

Lt. Gen. J.S. Ahluwalia, Director General World Environment Foundation welcomed the Chief Minister and elaborated the activities of the Foundation directed towards the environment protection in the world. He said that objective of the world conference was to draw the attention of people towards depleting climatic conditions.

Shri Ravinder Ravi, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Shri Kishan Kapoor, Transport and Urban Development Minister, Shri Atma Ram, Shri Vipin Parmar, Shri Praveen Sharma, MLAs, Shri Shiv Kumar and Shri Dulo Ram, former MLAs, Dr. Tej Pratap, Vice Chancellor, CSK University of Agriculture Shri K.K. Pant, Deputy Commissioner, Shri J.R. Katwal, Director, Information and Public Relations, senior officers and environmentalists from different parts of world were present in the inaugural session. .