The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Administration mulls several measures to protect environment

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Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
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Administration mulls several measures to protect environment

Special Correspondent

Union Territory envisages 13% growth rate in 11th Plan

Puducherry: Science, Technology and Environment Secretary A. Anbarasu said that a lot of initiatives were on the pipeline to protect environment and to promote cleaner technologies. He was distributing certificates on Saturday to those who presented best papers at the technical sessions on the concluding day of the three-day international conference on "Cleaner Technologies and Environmental Management".

The conference was organised by the Departments of Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering of the Pondicherry Engineering College in association with Pondicherry Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers at the college in Pillaichavady near here.

Mr. Anbarasu said that 21st century belonged to India and hence the scientific experiments were being oriented to address the issues of environmental management. Appreciating the college for holding a globally significant conference, Mr. Anbarasu said that with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) being poised to reach higher, there was a greater challenge for policy makers and scientists to ensure that the environment was preserved both through preventive and curative approaches.

There should be free-thinking and effective solutions to tackle the issues of environmental management.

Proactive measures

He said that if policy makers took proactive measures, the future would be bright.

Economic growth and development should not cause a divide between the rich and the poor. He referred to the situation in Nicobar Islands where people lived in communion with nature and learnt lessons to rise to any exigencies. They were known for adding value to environment and also for its protection.

The consensus reached at the three-day meet among the participants could be implemented and Puducherry could be used as a laboratory, he noted. The Secretary said that with Union Territory was aiming to achieve a 13 per cent GDP growth in the 11th plan. A number of initiatives were being finalized and the Department of Science and Technology and Pollution Control Committee here had taken up steps for sustained development and for maintenance of the environment.

Principal of the college T.G. Palanivelu, who presided, said that science and technology were bringing benefits to humanity. At the same time these benefits were created by damaging the environment.

Scientific gadgets

He referred to scientific gadgets that were good for humanity but were posing threat to the environment. Comforts are causing damage. he added.

Professors S. Sundaramoorthy and M.A. Shivashankaran and secretary of the Regional Centre R. Prabhakar were present.

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