By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: A significant discussion on environmental and ecological issues was held with Bihar’s Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary. The meeting was attended by Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Anil Prakash Joshi from Uttarakhand, and environmental activist Pankaj Malviya. These distinguished individuals raised critical concerns of both national and international importance before the minister.
Dr Joshi pointed out that while Bihar has been working earnestly on the conservation of air, soil, forests, and water for the past decade, the state has yet to present concrete data. This lack of figures makes it challenging to measure the contribution made by the government or ministry in improving the ecosystem. He also proposed an innovative idea: to assess a Gross Environmental Product (GEP), akin to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this assessment, the primary parameters would be forests, air, soil, and water.
Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary responded enthusiastically to this suggestion, noting that it could be time for Bihar to adopt such a system. He mentioned that under the Jal Jeevan Hariyali programme, efforts have been made to improve the state’s environmental condition through collaboration with various water-related departments. The minister also emphasised the importance of rivers, stating that attention should be given not only to river cleanliness but also to maintaining their uninterrupted flow, as rivers possess a natural ability to self-cleanse.
Adding to the discussion, Pankaj Malviya praised the government’s ongoing efforts, particularly through the Jal Jeevan Hariyali Mission, and noted that Bihar is progressing towards a healthier ecological state. He suggested that if the concept of Gross Environmental Product were adopted, Bihar would stand in a favourable position compared to other states, owing to its long-standing environmental initiatives. The minister assured that a dedicated meeting on this subject would be convened soon, with participation from relevant stakeholders, including government departments, to advance planning in this direction.
