Gandhinagar : GPCB took initiative for environment protection and chief minister welcomes and appreciated this initiative. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, in his state level celebration of World Environment Day, has clearly stated that this day is an opportunity to look at our past and pave the way for a bright environment-friendly future by taking necessary measures. He appealed to the people to understand the demands of the times and to protect the right of everyone to live on the earth and to fulfill the social responsibility of doing as little harm as possible to the earth. Addressing a function at Ahmedabad today, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary Leadership has taken a new step in the direction of preserving the environment in the country and has given a new direction to the country to improve land and human health through natural farming. The Prime Minister expressed his determination at the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow to make India a net zero carbon emission country by 2070. To achieve this, the Prime Minister’s goal is to increase the non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030 and to get 50 per cent of the total energy requirement from renewable energy sources, he added. Gujarat is also ready to give its full contribution in fulfilling the resolution of the Prime Minister and with the cooperation of state industries and Gujarat is leading in environment friendly industrial development. Bhupendra Patel also requested the industrial houses of the state to take part in the development of environment by preventing pollution and clearly stated that the government is with the industrial houses in their efforts to save the environment and the door is open for the Chief Minister or Environment Minister for their proper representations.
It may be mentioned here that some initiatives have been taken by GPCB on this occasion. Work is underway to set up a real time online water quality monitoring station at Sabarmati, Mahisagar, Tapi, Damanganga rivers and Kankaria, Thol lake at an estimated cost by GPCB is Rs 5 crore.This will enable real-time monitoring of river-lake water quality and specific steps to improve it. Bringing real time information of online monitoring on different platforms on a single platform with monitoring, checks, warnings – updates to enable the board to be able to control pollution in a more efficient and transparent manner with less manpower. At a cost of Rs 7 crore, planning of Central Command and Control-Secure Center has been undertaken, so that research and development from comparative graphical database will also be accelerated. In addition VLTS- (Vehicle Location Tracking System) has been implemented by the Board. Hazardous waste management can be monitored through close loop of this system. The help desk system started by GPCB has been redesigned with the passage of time. Help desks have also been set up by state chambers at more than 10 industrial associations to provide guidance on legal as well as government regulations. In which guidance will be provided by the officers of the board through video conferencing. This will speed up the resolution of industry issues.
Minister of State for Forests and Environment Jagdish Vishwakarma said that Environment Day is being celebrated with the theme “Only one Earth”. Gujarat is credited with launching a separate “Climate Change” department out of only four states in the country. He further said that it is not enough to just celebrate 5th June as ‘World Environment Day’. We think only of physical facilities but not of conservation of environment. At a time when the celebration of various ‘Days’ in the world today is directly or indirectly linked to ‘Environment Day’, protection of the environment is our top priority, he added. Arun Kumar Solanki, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Forests and Environment, in his welcome address said that the state government is doing a great job in maintaining the balance between industry and environment. The whole world has accepted this. The state’s forest and environment department is committed in this direction, he added. On this occasion, the Chief Minister and dignitaries were honored with letters of commendation by the Chief Minister and dignitaries for their active contribution in the campaign for collection and disposal of plastic waste. On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel planted trees in the premises.
