Environment Minister concludes state-level workshop of media representatives

Bhopal: Environment Planning and Coordination Organisation (EPCO) is soon going to publish a book to warn people against adverse consequences of climate change. The book will contain a collection of articles based on the experiences, opinions, success stories and unique initiatives of journalists writing on ground experiences in the districts of Madhya Pradesh. EPCO has invited articles on ecoevents.epco@gmail.com till January 1, 2018. The writers of articles that are published will be given an honorarium of Rs 5 thousand.

Environment Minister Antar Singh Arya said this while addressing a one-day state-level media workshop on climate change and environment held in Bhopal today. Arya said that efforts are being made for environment conservation by connecting teachers and children with the programme by planting maximum number of trees. Journalists writing on climate change in state took part in the workshop. EPCO Director General and Principal Secretary Environment Anupam Rajan and Political Editor of Dainik Bhaskar, New Delhi Abhilash Khandekar were present on the occasion.

EPCO Director General Rajan said that climate change is a burning issue in the entire world today. Nearly 170 countries have come together so that the Earth’s temperature does not go beyond 2 degrees C. EPCO has imparted training to about 1,000 teachers about climate change and environment conservation to warn the future generation of the dangers of climate change and inspire them to conserve environment. These teachers are making about one lakh children aware through ECO Club. Children will bring about awareness in the environment around them. Rajan assured the media representatives that their suggestions would be implemented. He said that we can contribute to environment conservation through small routine savings of paper, water and electricity. He said that EPCO is being appreciated both nationally and internationally for its work towards environment conservation.

Abhilash Khandekar said that a Directorate of Environment should be set up. Besides, EPCO should open its division-level offices. It was EPCO of Madhya Pradesh that presented the first report of climate change of the country. He said that if felling of trees affects catchment area even the rivers will vanish. This was considered very important by the representatives taking part in the workshop. They said that this has not only given guidance but has also given a chance to share experiences and learn new things.

Journalist from Naidunia Dhar Vijay Patil stressed on employment from sitaphal, Vivekvardhan of Naidunia Khargone mentioned the reduction in temperature due to canals of Indira Sagar while Ajay Khare of Patrika Narsinghpur spoke about the water animals facing danger due to sand mining and water crisis. Harshvardhan Kataria of PTI Indore said the Noorjehan mango that we got from Jhabua district would weigh 7 kgs earlier but after change in climate, it weighs hardly 3.5 kgs. State bird Kharmore is now included in the world’s 100 most endangered species.

Ramendra Pandey of Dainik Alok Rewa said that climate change is the ill-effect of war and development against nature. He blamed mining for the crisis of Sundarja mango, bio-diversity of Vindhya kshetra. Anil Saxena and Raghavendra Chaturvedi of Sehore Zee News, Vinod Dubey of Gwalior Sandesh, Lakhan Sharma of Ashoknagar, Puhup Singh Bharat and Animesh Jain of Times of India, Khargone, Vishnu Yadav of Bhaskar Raisen, Sachin Bondria of Krishak Jagat also put forth several suggestions.

Environment Minister Arya inaugurated the portal climatechange.mp.gov.in started first time by EPCO in the state. The portal will contain information related to climate change, research, report, policy etc which will facilitate researchers, voluntary organizations and policy makers. The portal also provides information for children in a creative way through photographs, stories and comics. The portal will contain the climate change in the last 100 years and the estimated temperature in future. One can see the temperature, rainfall and humidity of any district on the portal. One can also see how the districts will be affected by climate change between 2070 and 2100.-Windowtonews