SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, addressed the ‘Manak Mohotsav’ organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) on the eve of World Standards Day.
Addressing the faculty, students, and other participants of the event, the Chief Secretary emphasised that this event is an important step towards sustainability. He observed that the period up to 2030 is crucial, during which people worldwide should adopt changes in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because there’s only one Earth.
He stated that each of us has the responsibility to safeguard our environment for the future. He noted that the world’s population is soon going to reach around 9 billion, and if suitable measures are not taken to ensure sustainability, the Earth won’t be able to support this huge population.
Dr Mehta mentioned that the role of BIS is in sync with the SDG framework suggested by the United Nations Organization (UNO).
He said that each of the 17 goals and 169 targets are interrelated in one way or another. He emphasized that humans need to understand the limitations of each system and should not exploit it beyond its resilience. He also highlighted the benefits of having an eco-friendly lifestyle, as the Earth is not only home to humans but millions of other life forms.
Regarding J&K, the Chief Secretary elucidated that the Union Territory has taken dozens of measures to conserve its environment and reduce carbon emissions. He gave examples of the construction of around 2000 Amrit Sarovars, 200 e-buses, planting nearly 1.5 crore saplings last year, and efforts to reduce the use of ‘Single-Use Plastics’ in the UT.
He enumerated that J&K today has many distinctions to its credit for its contributions to environmental sustainability. He noted that the UT is among the top performers in food safety, the Ayushman Bharat health scheme, agricultural income, eco-tourism, the use of renewable energy, and other eco-friendly activities. He said that the administration is committed to doing more to protect the fragile environment for posterity. He urged that each of us has to think globally and act locally to bring about a positive change. (KNO)
