ON JUNE 5, the occasion of World Environment Day, when Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat announced Uttarakhand would be the first state to introduce the Gross Environmental Product (GEP) as a measure of progress, it was a historic moment for the Himalayan state, as well as for environmentalists who have been pushing for GEP for close to a decade now (see ‘Making of GEP’).
“GEP is all about periodically evaluating the status of environment by measuring the growth of natural resources,” says Anil Prakash Joshi, an environmentalist based in Dehradun. Uttarakhand is an ecologically sensitive region. Yet, environmental degradation in the state has gone beyond the acceptable limit over the past few decades, making it prone to disasters and incurring huge losses to humanity. Hence there is an urgent need to monitor the growth of natural resources in parallel to the current development pattern, measured through economic growth, Joshi explains. Such a measure will also help assess the impact of developmental activities on the environment and analyse the extent to which it should be allowed. This will make the economy sustainable over time, he says. However, there is a fear that this concept of environmental growth may be seen and measured from the viewpoint of economic growth or gross domestic product (GDP). “That will dilute the very idea my organisation Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO), and several other environmentalists have been striving for,” Joshi adds (see ‘Long road to...’, p24). His fears are not unfounded.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara