NEW DELHI: Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Rajiv Jasrotia, attended State Environment Ministers' Conference followed by a celebration of World Environment Day by United Nation's Environment Programme at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The Conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narinder Modi who was also chief guest at the celebration of World Environment Day programme.
Union Minister's, Chief Ministers of various states, Forest Ministers, environmentalists, academia and several prominent personalities including ambassadors of various countries attended the Conference. On the occasion, State Forest Minister Jasrotia interacted with several dignitaries including Erik Solheim, Executive Director UN Environment programme and invited him to Jammu and Kashmir for mulling further ways and means for forest and environment protection.
He referred to him about biodiversity and rich forests of J&K and their need to be protected to which government is committed. Jasrotia also talked to Grammy award winner Ricky Key and also invited him to J&K and discussed with him idea of making a documentary depicting campaign for the protection of the environment. The Forest Minister, on the occasion, visited an exhibition of stalls themed on World Environment Day and took a keen interest in plastic alternatives, wood substitutes, bamboo articles/furniture floor tiles and besides interacted with entrepreneurs on plastic substitutes.
Later, he also attended a mega function organized by UN Environment programme hosted by Erik Solheim. The State Environment Ministers' Conference comprised six sessions including inaugural session, State action plan on climate change, Environment impact assessment, Waste to wealth, National clean air programme and a concluding session. Pertinently, considering global leadership in environmental protection and climate change sectors the United Nation's Environment Programme had chosen India for the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, 2018.