Govt wakes up to climate study needs

Top Indian environment scientists from across the world would advise the government for developing environmental science in the country, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday.

Top Indian environment scientists from across the world would advise the government for developing environmental science in the country, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday.

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The newly constituted Global Advisory Network Group on Environmental Sciences (Ganges) will advise the government — accused of not supporting environmental research much — on areas where the government can engage in research and the institutions it should collaborate with.

“When this ministry was conceived in the early 1980s by Indira Gandhi, it was conceived as a scientific ministry… Over the years, this scientific focus has got somewhat diluted,” Ramesh said.

Even UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change chairperson Rajendra Pachauri had told HT this week that the government had not supported much research on impact of climate change, especially glaciers.

The group constituting of Indian origin scientists in the US, Canada and Australia will also advise the government on technologies required for sustainable development plan.

To improve scientific capability of the ministry, a committee headed by K. Kasturirangan, a Planning Commission member (in-charge science and environment) has been constituted. The committee will primarily suggest ways to improve scientific manpower and infrastructure in the ministry.

The ministry has decided to start a fellowship programme in the forestry sciences and will start a national forestry knowledge forum. It is also setting up the National Bureau for Forest Germplasm to preserve forestry species in the country.