Environmental protection is responsibility of every citizen: OP Choudhary

Raipur. Housing and Environment Minister OP Choudhary inaugurated the conference ‘Chhattisgarh Vision 2047’ organized by Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board to realize the vision of development alongside environmental protection. The programme was presided over by Chief Minister’s Secretary Rahul Bhagat.

Discussing the roadmap for the next 25 years for development with environment protection, Housing and Environment Minister OP Choudhary stressed the need to adapt to the ever-changing times. “Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai led state government, in its budget for sustainable development, envision a ‘Viksit Chhattisgarh’ alongside ‘Viksit Bharat’ in 2047. For this, the ‘Amritkal Vision Document @ 2047’ is being prepared as a long-term goal, which will be launched on November 1, the State’s Foundation Day”, he said.

Mentioning that industrial development is essential in the state and considerable growth is also taking place in this sector, Minister Shri Choudhary stressed the pressing need to promote growth in the service sector as well. “We are working in this direction, and within the next three years, Nava Raipur will be known as an ‘Innovation and IT Hub’. A new industrial policy will be implemented in Chhattisgarh by establishing harmony between the core sector and the service sector,” he said.

Housing and Environment Minister pointed out that surprisingly, the major cause of pollution in big cities is vehicles on the road rather than industries, further adding that there is a dire need to control it. He emphasized that we all need to change our thinking, and every citizen is responsible for playing an important role in environmental conservation.

Chief Minister’s Secretary and Secretary of Good Governance and Convergence Department Rahul Bhagat stated, “We have to consider what the future will be by the year 2047 if we do not start preparations now. Just as the health of every living human being is important, similarly the good health of trees and plants is crucial for all of us. Life exists within them as well, and our lives are intricately connected with theirs. Today is the era of technology, and it is changing rapidly, but we have to take care of the environment even in the changing times so that we and our future generations can remain healthy and safe.”

Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board Chairman R. Sangeeta, Member Secretary P. Arun Prasad, and Chhattisgarh Housing Board Commissioner Ayyaj Tamboli, along with representatives of integrated steel and sponge iron plants, coal washeries, thermal power plants, coal mines, iron ore mines, major hospitals, sponge iron associations, and members of rolling mill, mini steel plant, and minor mineral associations, as well as commissioners of Raipur, Durg and Bhilai Municipal Corporations, were also present at the conference.