The Hindu : Karnataka News : Govt. committed to environment protection: Dharam Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Govt. committed to environment protection: Dharam Singh

By Our Staff Reporter

The winners of the Rajiv Gandhi Parisara Prashasthi 2004-05 at the World Environment Day award presentation ceremony in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE, JUNE 5. The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, said today that the State Government would implement an action plan and make available the resources for environmental conservation and sustainable use if stakeholders joined the exercise to draft the plan and help make it effective.

Speaking at a function to mark World Environment Day here, Mr. Singh said with so much development and depletion of natural resources, conservation had become vital. The Government was committed to implement programmes that addressed these issues.

Mr. Singh digressed from a written speech to articulate his views on the environment saying that it was regrettable that trees were being cut down indiscriminately in the name of development. "Perhaps this is the reason why we faced drought and three rainless years," he added.

The Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, said that it was good to see many non-governmental organisations and institutions, and individuals taking to activities that were aimed at conservation and sustainable use of resources. Every citizen had to be responsible and follow environment-friendly practices, since the dictum, "think global, act local", was relevant even today.

Mr. Chaturvedi said institutions and organisations, and the Government should aim at incorporating the lessons from the experience of organisations such as WTO and World Bank which were trying to address environmental degradation.

The "Rajiv Gandhi Parisara Prashasti" for 2004-05 was awarded to five individuals and seven organisations for their contribution to the protection of environment. The awards comprised Rs 1 lakh in cash and a certificate.

The award winners were Mukunda Mygoora of Dharwad, C.S. Ashok of Channarayapatna in Hassan district, Purnima Ashoka Gowruji of Ramadurga in Belgaum district, L. Hanumaiah of Bangalore, Shivamallu of Bharatiya Samaja Seva Trust.

The associations that received the award are Vishwa Seva Mission of Gulbarga, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Chintana Foundation of Tarikere Taluk in Chikmagalur District, Spandana Swayam Seva Sangha of Ramadurga in Belgaum District, Dwani Rural Development Association of Nagamangala taluk in Mandya District, Bangalore Water Supply and Drainage Board (BWSDB), Bangalore and Wheel and Axle Factory, Yelahanka.

Prizes were given away to educational institutions and children who participated in various contests in the run up to the World Environment Day celebrations.

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