Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma attended the inaugural function of the two-day seminar on environment consciousness and sustainability, organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Lady Keane College, Shillong on June 20.
Speaking on the occasion, Sangma emphasised on the importance of individual contribution towards protection and preservation of the environment.
The chief minister also stressed on the need to promote green business models and encourage entrepreneurial activities that will have minimal impact on the environment while creating opportunities for employment and economic growth.
“By making lifestyle changes at an individual level and use of environmentally friendly products we can create a demand for ‘green’ products which will in turn encourage environmentally conscious businesses to grow,” Sangma said.
The chief minister was impressed with the environment initiatives taken up by the college and the students to sensitise the community on different environmental concerns. He urged the college authorities to extend these initiatives by partnering with other institutions and the government to create a common platform working towards the noble cause of protecting the environment.
Referring to the key note address delivered by the chief conservator of forests CP Marak, Sangma also emphasised on community participation to preserve Meghalaya’s green cover which is one of the highest in the country.
“Community forests are a very critical part of our state’s ecology and it is an example of what we can achieve when all of us get together and participate to work consciously as a group to protect the environment,” he said.
He also urged the citizens of Meghalaya to join in his campaign ‘#walkwithme’ to reduce their carbon footprint.
The two-day national seminar is being organised in association with the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA).
