UGC TEAM VISITED HIMACHAL PRADESH UNIVERSITY

The UGC committee headed by Prof. Suranjan Das visited the H. P. University, to review the X th plan performance and to assess the XI th plan requirements of the university. The members of the committee also visited Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies. A presentation, highlighting the accomplishments of the Institute and future vision was made before the committee members. Books and publications were also displayed. Prof. Das and other members of the committee interacted with the research and other staff of the Institute and appreciated the research activities of the Institute.

May 15, 2008, Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies organized a lecture on "Environment Management in Himachal Pradesh". The lecture was delivered by Mrs. Daksha Gupta, Principal Scientific Officer in the H. P. State Pollution Control Board. She started her lecture and discussed various acts and rules which govern the environment. Highlighting the main points of environment Protection Act, 1986 she further emphasized on environmental policy of Himachal Pradesh. Mrs. Gupta also stated the purpose of environment policy which is two fold i.e. identification of remedies and interventions as may be required at institutional, regulatory and implementation levels and taking stock of developmental process. She highlighted the status of municipal solid waste, biomedical waste, industrial hazardous waste, environmental issues related to Hydro-electric projects, air quality issues and water quality issues in the state of Himachal Pradesh. In the end she stressed on various control measures which can help in pollution control. Prof. Vidya Sharda, Director of the Institute stressed on the need to conserve environment. She enlightened the audience with the spiritual aspects of conservation mentioned in the Holy Scriptures such as Vedas and Puranas. She stated that human ecology is conditioned by religious thinking about environment. This thinking develop ones outlook towards the relations with material life and to reorient oneself towards the resources of life. The sanctity of tree worship, yajanas, salient sitting and their significance in environment protection were very well explained by Prof. Sharda. She quoted a line from Matsya Purana stating that "He, who plants even one tree, goes directly to Heaven and obtains Moksha". She also stressed that integration of traditional and contemporary principles of environment management can give a better solution to the problem of environmental degradation. Dr. V. K. Santvan gave a brief account of activities of the institute and its concern on research pertaining to environmental issues in the Himachal Himalayas. Faculty members from various department of University, research staff of the institute were present during the lecture. The audience showed interest in the issue and actively interacted with the speaker. The lecture session concluded that the element of environmental sustainability is embedded in one principle i.e. using nature without greed. Once the element of greed is introduced, exploitation starts and utilization of nature for the good of all human beings stops. Though modern means of environment protection are effectively used in the present day world but the underlying principle behind conservation is concealed in the Vedas and Puranas who give importance to environmental protection and insist on safeguarding the earth.

Director IIHS,
HPU,
Shimla