Leh: Expressing confidence about achieving Prime Minister’s vision for “Carbon Neutral Ladakh”, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said that tunnels like Atal Tunnel and ongoing Zoji La Tunnel will reduce carbon emission in the mountain environment.
“Work on connecting remote landscapes by building tunnels like Atal Tunnel and ongoing Zoji La Tunnel will reduce carbon emission in the mountain environment,” Bhupender Yadav said while addressing inaugural session of Sustainable Mountain Development Summit-XI, (SMDS-XI) being held at Leh, Ladakh.
He also suggested that for conserving the cultural and local heritage and for protecting Ladakh’s resources, it is very important to identify and resolve all pending issues.
Responsibility of local tourist guides if deliberated in the summits shall have long lasting impact.
He announced that MoEF&CC has disposed all Wildlife related proposals and applications submitted on Parivesh portal to expedite the development journey of Ladakh.
“The Parivesh portal is further being redesigned to integrate all environmental clearances in a centralized manner,” he said
He assured that MoEF&CC will extend all support to the Ladakh administration for awareness and training of local stakeholder on Forest Rights and other related issues.
He expressed that visiting Ladakh is always refreshing due to its beautiful landscape and magnificent mountains.
Integration of science and policy is to be the core activity of IMI, in light of this, he suggested integration of uniqueness of cultures and environments to become essential part of such summits.
He also highlighted the establishment of G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE) and its one Regional Centre at Leh, under MOEFCC which is particularly mandated on research and development activities for sustainability of the Himalayan environment.
He emphasized that various unique landscapes of the country like the Himalayas, Western Ghats and Thar desert need special attention of the scientific community.
