Public participation necessitates for protection of environment: MoS Ashwini Choubey

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey held a review meeting of the work being done by the Eco Task Force of Territorial Army and called for “public participation” for the protection of the environment.

This was the first review meeting held after minister’s personal initiative, after it was constituted in 1982. 

After the suggestions of the Supreme Court in the year 1982, the Eco Task Force was formed for afforestation, protection and welfare of the environment.

“Along with plantation, efforts should be made to ensure public participation in their promotion and protection” he said, while holding the review meeting here.

Choubey also said that to deal with the global problem like climate change, concrete steps have been taken to fulfill the commitment that India has made at world forum to increase the forest cover area across the country.

In the meeting, there was a detailed discussion on the year wise allocation of the scheme, expenditure details, plantation and their verification. 

Along with this, the tree plantation being done by various institutions with the financial assistance of the Central Government is also being reviewed in the meeting to make proper use of the resources. 

Six such battalions were formed, which was, authorized by the Standing Finance Committee of the Ministry of Finance. 

In the recommendation, the salary and allowances of this force, given by the ministry and the selection of land for afforestation is prescribed by the state governments.

 According to the Ministry, presently 6 such Eco Task Force funded by the Ministry are in Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), Samba (Jammu Kashmir), Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand), Sonitpur (Assam), Kokrajhar (Assam). 

Senior officials of the State Governments and concerned Forest Divisional Officers were present along with top officials of the Ministry.