Development model for Ghats mooted

Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, January 2, 2016

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Y.S. Chowdary has urged scientists to develop a framework for sustainable development of the Western Ghats, based on a better understanding of the evolution and environmental issues of the region.

Delivering the inaugural address at a two-day workshop organised by the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) here on Friday, he stressed the need for scientific studies to understand the role of the Western Ghats as a climate regulator in the Indian subcontinent. He said the rich biodiversity, dense population, and the economic and infrastructure development of the region necessitated a broader understanding of the environmental issues facing the ecologically sensitive region.

Mr. Chowdary urged research institutions like NCESS to set higher targets in research and interact with the government. Underlining the need to utilise the huge talent pool in the country, he said it was time to reverse the brain drain and convert it into a brain gain. He called on the NCESS to seek the support of the State government for the development of the institution and come up with meaningful projects for financial assistance from the Centre.

In his keynote address, Somnath Dasgupta, former Vice Chancellor, Assam University, and chairman, Research Advisory Committee, NCESS, called on scientists to link research programmes with societal issues.

Executive Vice President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Suresh Das highlighted the need to take up studies on the degradation of the Western Ghats and the loss of biodiversity.

Organised in connection with the foundation day celebrations of the NCESS, the workshop is designed to provide a better understanding of the critical knowledge gaps in the geological evolution, geo-environmental issues, and natural resource management of the Western Ghats for future studies of the region. Scientists from research institutions across the country are delivering the lead talks and presentations.