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High time to protect flora and fauna: Ansari

Vice-President Hamid Ansari

JAIPUR: The Vice-President Mohammed Hamid Ansari on Sunday called for a renewed assessment of man’s ecological relationship with the flora and fauna with the emphasis on their conservation and an end to environmental imbalances.

Laying the foundation stone of the Regional Centre of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) at Ranthambhore in Sawai Modhpur district of Rajasthan, Dr. Ansari said the younger generation should be apprised of the history of wildlife, forests, vegetation and environment in the same manner as the history of kings and people was taught.

“Unchecked exploitation of nature has led to serious environmental imbalances. It is high time we paid attention to the protection of flora and fauna by planting trees and saving wild animals,” said Dr. Ansari. He added that researchers around the world were working for restoration of man’s healthy relationship with the ecosystem.

The Regional Centre, named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is to be developed at a cost of Rs.25.54 crore at 7.5 acre land situated at Ramsinghpura village in the vicinity of the world famous Ranthambhore National Park.

It will have exhibits depicting flora and fauna of the region and those on ecological relationship between plants and animals, besides providing information on the Aravalli ranges.

Dr. Ansari, on his first visit to Rajasthan after taking over as the country’s Vice-President, expressed the hope that the Regional Centre would cater to the needs of western States for environmental education and research. It is also expected to render help in evolving a suitable biology curriculum in schools in the region.

The Vice-President also planted an Ashoka sapling in the presence of Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Namonarain Meena and Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Sanwarlal Jat.

Mr. Meena, addressing the gathering, said the Central Government was working for promoting people’s participation in the conservation of nature, environment and flora and fauna. He said the Central environment policy had laid emphasis on the protection of biodiversity by establishing a Board headquartered at Chennai.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme had accorded priority to plantation works, while the “Green India” campaign was promoting afforestation at 25 per cent of the land all over the country, said Mr. Meena.

Union Forest and Environment Ministry’s Joint Secretary Sudhir Mittal said the construction of the Regional Centre would be completed in the next three years.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made a promise to establish the NMNH Regional Centre during his visit to the park in April 2005 to discuss the country’s tiger crisis. The Delhi-based NMNH presently has its regional centers in Mysore, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar.

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