A two-day seminar on ‘Environment and Development in Eastern India (EI) (Status, Issues and Challenges) is being organized here at Aryabhatta Auditorium on December 17-18, participated by noted environmentalists, development advocates and distinguished stakeholders. Till date more than 200 researchers, students and environmentalists have registered with the organizers.
On the first day, besides inaugural session, the seminar will have two technical sessions where there will be a total of 25 speakers who will give presentation of their papers. On the second day, around 50 speakers will give presentation of their papers during the four technical sessions.
The programme will be inaugurated by Waterman Rajendra Singh where Development Commissioner Amit Khare will also be present. Padma Bhushan awardee Madhav Gadgil will be the main speaker. Food, Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies Minister and Damodar Bachao Movement Chairperson Saryu Roy will preside over the seminar during the session.
There will be special lecture from Governor Droupadi Murmu at 5:30 pm on December 17 following which a cultural programme will be presented by Babu Rao and group.
Roy said that environmental drive should be carried out on the lines of cashless drive being conducted successfully all over the country. The minister, while talking to media persons at his residential office, also said that when noted environmentalists, development advocates and distinguished stakeholders of the country will converge here, they would not only discuss how to make Eastern States a gateway of trade with North-East Asia, but will also discuss how environment and climate of the region could be kept unharmed amid all kinds of unavoidable developments of 21st century,” said Roy.
He further added that eastern states have natural resources, water resources, and forest and fertile land resources and also maintained long sea coasts and harbours.
“Despite all these valuable resources, eastern part of the country is lagging behind rest of the country in terms of development. We have not been able to mobilize and utilize the resources available here in the region. We will try to discuss all these issues of sustainable development during the seminar,” said Roy.
He added that eastern states were having some of the best ports of the country, but they remained largely dysfunctional. “Union government is in process of making east and north east states a gateway of trade between East and North East Asia and India. However, if we remain inactive in terms of our resources, we will miserably miss the chance. But how not to miss this chance and keep environment safe, is a big issue which we all would be discussing during these two days,” said Roy.
The Seminar is being organized by ‘Yugantar Bharti’ in association with Nature Foundation and all the five universities of the state.