The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change has constituted a ‘Professor A N Purohit Himalayan environment and continuous development chair’ to honour the contribution of former Director of GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) Kosi Katarmal in Almora. The director of the institute, P S Dhyani said that the decision in this regard was taken in the 39th meeting of governing council of institute in New Delhi recently. A provision of Rs 20 lakh per annum is made for the chair. Professor Purohit was director of the institute from 1990 to 1995. He is known for his work on the vegetation of higher Himalayas. Professor Purohit is stated to be instrumental in establishing high altitude plant physiology research centre in Garhwal university. He was elected fellow of national science academy in 1995 and in the year 1997 Padma Shree was conferred on him. The famous scientist was the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Garhwal university from 2001-2002.