The theme for this year’s World Environment Day- Melting Ice – Hot Topic focuses on the challenges facing the people and ecosystem that we live in, as a result of rapid environmental and climatic changes. It also links to the wider world where glaciers are sinking and an increasing number of extreme weather events are triggering more frequent droughts, and floods which we are also facing in India. Addressing a function organized by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to celebrate World Environment Day today Shri Paranab Mukherjee, Minister of External Affairs further said that in India we have taken major initiatives including adopting a National Environment Policy (NEP) 2006. Our NEP is a response to our national commitment to clean environment. It synergies environmental and economic policies and appropriate institutional mechanisms to support the integration of three pillars of sustainable development; economic development, social development and environmental protection. Shri Mukherjee said as a signatory to the United Nations framework convention on climate change we are committed to climate friendly sustainable development. The Energy Conservation Act 2001 has set energy consumption norms for each industry.
Regarding National Museum of Natural History, he said it has maintained the spirit to provide an out of school facility for education of children and to promote environmental awareness among the masses. The Minister added it should be remembered that conservation and management of the environment is not the sole responsibility of the Government alone. Individuals, their families, communities and institutions have to come forward for preservation of environment.
Shri Namo Narayan Meena, Miinister of State for Environment and Forests said climate change due to rising levels of carbondioxide in the atmosphere is one of the most serious environmental concerns of our times. General expansion of economic activity, increased population pressure and use of fossil fuels are responsible for emission of Green House Gases, which lead to global warming. He suggested to learn from sound knowledge of the historical adaptive processes that are still functional. He referred to rain water harvesting systems in India including the Havelis of Jodhpur, Bandh and Bandhuna of Satna, Virda of Gujarat, Khadins of Rajasthan, ahar-pynes of Bihar, eri of Tamil Nadu, dhora of Aravalis and other earthworks.
Thiru S.Raghupati, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, said that climate is the most important determinant of vegetation patterns globally and has significant influence on the distribution, structure and ecology of forests. Climate change is likely to force some plants and animals to migrate if they are unable to adapt to their changing environments. This causes a future problem for conservation and biodiversity. We therefore, need to protect and augment our forests resources at all costs.
Secretary, Ms. Meena Gupta, appealed to reduce pollution in each form. Use of mass transportation, saving power, conservation of water and involvement in afforestation activities, will save our planate, she said.
The Environment Day was also a festive occasion for winners for environmental and forest preservation activities.
INDIRA GANDHI PARYAVARAN PURASKAR
The Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, which is given annually in recognition of exceptional and outstanding contributions in the field of environment protection was given to Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak and Ms. Jyotsna Sitling for the years 2003 & 2004 respectively in individual category.
The Garhwal Rifle Regiment Center, Lansdowne and The Malayala Manorama are getting this award in organisational category for the year 2003 & 2004 respectively.
This award was constituted in 1978. The National Award for Prevention of Pollution for the year 2005-2006 is being awarded to M/s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Hazira Plant, Surat, Gujarat. They will receive a silver trophy and citation.
E.K. JANAKI AMMAL NATIONAL AWARD FOR TAXONOMY
The E.K. Janaki Ammal National Award for Taxonomy for the year 2006 have been conferred on Dr. N.P. Balakrishnan for Animal and Professor (Smt.) Veena Tandon for Plant Taxonomy.
Dr. N.P. Balakrishnan has contributed substantially to the understanding of family Euphorbiaceae in the Indian sub-continent. He edited three volumes of ‘Flora of India’, was responsible for establishment of Andaman & Nicobar Circle of Botanical Survey of India and had done considerable work on plant resources of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Dr. Balakrishnan has published 185 scientific articles, authored 10 books and has to his credit 19 taxonomic revisions and five monographic works.
Prof. (Mrs.) Veena Tandon has worked extensively on Taxonomy of helminth parasites in the North Eastern region of India. She has 33 years of Post-Graduate teaching experience, has guided 12 Ph.D. students, authored 122 research papers & two books and is continuing teaching & research in the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong.
This Award consist of a demand draft of Rs. One Lakh, a scroll and a medeallion each.
MEDINI PURASKAR
Under Medini Puraskar scheme, four writers have been selected. Jugnoo Shardeya’s ‘Mohan Pyare Ka Safed Dastavej’ gets first prize of Rs. 31,000/- and a citation. Dr. Badri Vishal Tripathi won second prize of Rs. 25,000/- for his title ‘Bharat me Niyojan evam Prakritik Sampada’. ‘Paryavaraneeye Pradushan’ writer Dr. Vishnu Dutt Shama gets third prize of Rs. 20,000/- Mr. Mukesh Gautam was given consolation prize for his book ‘Vriksha ke Hak man’. All four winners are also getting citation.
INDIRA PRIYADARSHANI VRIKDHAMITRA AWARD.
This award was instituted in 1986 to recognize the pioneering and innovative contribution made by the individuals and institutions in the field of afforestation/wasteland development. There are 12 categories including individuals authorities or government agencies and institutions. This year 19 awards have been given.
List of IPVM Awardees 2004 and 2005
| Sl No. | Category / Year | Name/Address of Nominee | Remarks | |
| 1 | Individuals 2004 | Mr. T. Sobhindran,Thylaparambath,Kakodi P.O., Kozhikode – 673 611, Kerala. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 2 | - do - | Mr. Shivaji Lotonsingh Rajput, P.O. Bhorkheda, Taluk – Shirpur, Distt. Dhule, Maharashtra | Approved as Second Winner | |
| 3 | Village Panchayat 2004 | Sarpanch,Ozarde, Taluka – Wai,Distt. Satra, Maharashtra | Approved as First Winner | |
| 4 | Voluntary Agency 2004 | Federation of Societies forEnvironmental Protection (FOSEP), Dr. S.M. Das Road, Red Cross Building, Darjeeling – 734 101, West Bengal. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 5 | Government Servant Individual 2004 | Mr. A. Pushpakaran,Forester, Forestry Extension Centre,Mangarai, Coimbatore – 641 108.Tamil Nadu. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 6 | - do - | Mr. S. Kalyanasundaram, IFS Social Forestry Division, 35/A, Alagesan Nagar, Chengalpattu – 603 001, Distt. Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. | Approved as Second Winner | |
| 7 | Educational Institutions 2004 | Mehsana District Education Foundation, Ganpat Vidyanagar, At. Kherva, Distt. Mehsana - 382 711, Gujarat. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 8 | Government Agencies 2004 | Rajasthan Police, Police Headquarters, Jaipur – 302 002, Rajasthan. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 9 | - do - | Deputy Conservator of Forests, Yamuna Nagar, Divisional Forest Office, Jagadhari – Road, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana. | Approved as Second Winner | |
| 10 | Corporate Sector 2004 | Singareni Collieries Company Limited Sri S. Narsing Rao, Chairman & Managing Director, The Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Singareni Bhawan, P.B. No. 18, Red Hills, Khairatabad, Hyderabad – 500 004, Andhra Pradesh. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 11 | Municipal Corporation 2004 | Pune Municipal Corporation, Garden Deptt., J.M. Road, Sambhaji Park, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005, Maharashtra. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 12 | Forest Development Agency (FDA) 2004 | Forest Development Agency, Harur (Tamil Nadu) Thiru. K.K. Kaushal, IFS, Chief Executive Office,r FDA, Harur cum District Forest Officer, Harur Division, Harur, Dharamapuri District – 636 903, Tamil Nadu. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 13 | - do - | Bidar Forest Development Agency, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bidar Forest Division, Bidar – 585 401, Karnataka. | Approved as Second Winner | |
| 1 | Individuals 2005 | Mr. Padmakar Vijaysing Valvi, At Post – Modalpada, Taluka – Taloda, Distt. Nandurbar – 425 413, Maharashtra. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 2 | - do - | Mr. C.N. Ashok, Shalini Convent Road, Mahatma Gandhi Extension, Channarayapatna – 573 116, Distt. Hassan, Karnataka. | Approved as Second Winner | |
| 3 | Government Servant Individual 2005 | Shri Prem Kumar Jha, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer cum Member Secretary & Chief Executive Officer, Forest Development Angul, Orissa. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 4 | Municipal Corporation 2005 | Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan, Dhebarbhai Road, Rajkot – 360 001, Gujarat. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 5 | Forest Development Agencies 2005 | Forest Development Agency, Sepahijala, Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Bishalgarh – 799 102, West Tripura District, Tripura. | Approved as First Winner | |
| 6 | - do - | Ghumsur North Forest Development Agency, Bhajanagar, Ganjam, Orissa – 761 126. | Approved as Second Winner | |
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) also celebrated its foundation day. Winners of different Summer Program activities organized by NMNH received their prizes today. Model nature and Environment, Paint Nature and Environment, Explore Nature and Environment, Young Environmentalist and On the Spot Essay writing competition. 23 students ranging from age group 9-12 to 15-16 years got this prizes.
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