Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla stressed on preservation of mountain ecosystem process and sustainable livelihood issues of the State. He said that development work should be carried forward by undertaking research on the delicate ecology of the area. He was speaking as a Chief Guest in a three-day International Conference organized by Kullu-based Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment on ‘Mountain Ecosystem Processes and Livelihoods’. Earlier, he also inaugurated the guest house and auditorium of the institute.
Emphasizing the importance of the institute for environmental studies in the Himalayan region, he said this institute was making concerted efforts as the lead agency to advance scientific research, develop integrated management strategies and conserve natural resources. He stressed the need for research on the unexpected natural disaster in the State last year and stressed the need to build up strategies based on scientific research for the developmental activities in the hilly areas. He expressed concern over construction along the river banks and said that mountain ecosystem processes and sustainable livelihood issues should be seriously considered.
He said that water and forests would have to be saved, only then the environment to be saved and for this, there was a need to saplings the plants according to the geographical conditions. He asked the organizers to prepare a report on the research statements presented in this three-day International Conference and send it to the State and Central Governments so that the conclusions drawn from here could be considered. On the occasion, the Governor released two publications of the Institute. Shri Sunder Singh Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary welcomed the Governor on the occasion.
He suggested research on the rivers of the State, especially the Beas and Parvati rivers, so that appropriate steps could be taken to prevent damage caused by floods from these rivers. Prof. Sunil Notiyal, Director, Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora welcomed the Governor and detailed about the history and other activities of the Institute. Prof. Lalit Awasthi, Director of National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, Prof. Aarti Kashyap, Expert from National Institute of Technology, Mandi, Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Regional Head of Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Kullu, Rajesh Sharma, Secretary to the Governor, Torul S. Ravish, Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Gokul Chandra Karthike, Superintendent of Police, Scientists, Research Scholars and other prominent people were also present on the occasion.
