News Analysis India

Tag: Ashwini Kumar Choubey

  • Jim Corbett Park may be renamed ‘Ramganga National Park’

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Jim Corbett National Park, a world-renowned tiger reserve in Uttarakhand, may be renamed as Ramganga National Park in the future.

    Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey hinted about the change in name of India’s first national park which is spread over an area of about 521 km.

    He recently mentioned it in a museum guest book on his tour of the park.

    He wrote that the name of Jim Corbett National Park should be changed to Ramganga National Park.

    Jim Corbett National Park Director Rahul confirmed this but declined to comment further.

    However, wildlife lovers have expressed their displeasure over the probable name change.

    Wildlife lover Prakash Kimothi said, “We should focus more on preserving our heritage than changing the name.”

    If Jim Corbett park’s name is changed, it will not be the first time.

    The park, which was named Hailey National Park at its inception in 1936, was renamed after hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett two decades later.

    However, for some time in between, it was also named Ramganga National Park as the Ramganga, a tributary of the Ganga passes through it.

    Most of the park falls in the Nainital district and is renowned for its healthy density of tigers.

  • India will not progress unless NE region is developed: Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey

    By PTI

    KOHIMA: Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey Monday said India will not progress unless the north east region is developed.

    Addressing media persons during his maiden visit to Nagaland, Choubey, the union minister of state for environment and forest climate change, said the Centre is concerned about the north eastern states and consider the region as one of the most important parts of the country.

    It is focussing on the region since the situation has improved to a great extent and there is a possibility for its all round development, he said adding that it is the Centre’s prerogative that development should reach the north east states.

    Referring to the steps taken by the Centre in Nagaland, Choubey said Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned for rehabilitation and for discouraging Jhum (shifting cultivation) in the state as proposed by its government.

    Capital Kohima and Dimapur have been selected for the Nagar Van Scheme which enforces people’s participation and collaboration between the forest department, municipal bodies, NGOs, corporates and local citizens for promotion and development of cleaner and greener enviornment.

    On his arrival, Choubey visited Piphema village to see the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assisted Nagaland Forest Management Project site.

    Plant trees and Save trees’ is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the people, he said and urged the people to plant more and more trees as it will benefit the land, make the state pollution free and provide better climate.

    The Centre is willing to help the state to improve its forest area and assured to enhance the status of the forest personnel and add more facilities for the departments.

    Rio, whom the union minister met, tweeted, “He (Choubey) is in Nagaland to review different forest and consumer affairs departmental projects in the state. Grateful to him for his concern and support for Nagaland.”

  • Children have to be sensitised towards environmental protection: Ashwini Kumar Choubey

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Children are the future and they can play a vital role in the protection of the environment, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said on Tuesday.

    Addressing schoolchildren from across the country at a virtual programme, the minister of state for environment said it is important to sensitise them on the subject from an early age.

    “Children are the future of today, not of tomorrow. Children can play an important role in environmental protection. They have to be sensitised towards environmental protection. So that along with aging brings sensitivity towards the environment,” he said.

    During the interaction, he encouraged them to become brand ambassadors of environmental protection and inspire others.

    “Children should motivate their mother, father, neighbourhood and also everyone in school for planting trees and taking special care on cleanliness,” Choubey said at the programme organised by Routes to Roots organisation on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Sky Day.

    He said that concerted efforts will have to be made to make children socially sensitive from the school level itself.

    “It needs to be made more comprehensive and creative so that children are sensitive towards their social duty,” Choubey said.

    He congratulated Rakesh Gupta, Tina Vachani and Rohit Kumar, founders of the organisation for organising the programme and gave the slogan of ‘Swach Pawan Neel Gagan’.

    Children also asked questions to the minister about the steps taken by the government for environmental protection.

    Choubey administered an oath to the children: “My Earth My Pride. It’s my job to make it clean. It’s our job to make it clean.”

    As many as 19,000 children from Delhi, Assam, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Madhya Pradesh and other states participated in the programme along with children from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Russia.

  • Not easy to ensure development, clean air, climate action for such huge population: Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India’s growing population needs to be controlled, Minister of State (MoS) for Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey said on Friday, while reiterating that it is not easy to ensure development, clean air and climate action in a country with such a huge number of people.

    Speaking at the International Climate Summit 2021 organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) here on the theme of “Powering India’s Hydrogen Ecosystem”, he said, “India’s population has increased and we need to control it as it is not easy for a country with such a huge population to ensure its development and provide clean air to all people, along with keeping in check the impacts of climate change.

    “Such a huge population is not just difficult to handle for developing countries, but for developed ones too.”

    Choubey also informed that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who was supposed to deliver a special address at the summit, could not attend the event as he was travelling out of the city.

    The event had listed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the main speaker and the organisers had even said he would deliver the address physically.

    Finally, they only played the prime minister’s Independence Day speech, in which he had talked about the National Hydrogen Mission.

    “India’s resolute efforts towards green and clean energy instill new confidence in the world. The National Hydrogen Mission is aimed at making India a global hub for green hydrogen production and export. It will also serve as an inspiration for clean energy transition all over the world,” was Modi’s message shared at the event.

    The event was also attended by MoS, Science and Technology Jitender Singh.

    The summit was aimed to propel India towards a carbon-free energy ecosystem and becoming a global key player in renewable energy, the PHDCCI said.

    In his address, Choubey said the country is focussed on lowering its carbon emissions by reducing its dependency on fossil fuel.

    He stressed on the urgency to address climate challenges through a consolidated approach and timely interventions, while emphasising on shifting to cleaner options like green hydrogen as a potential energy source for a more sustainable future.

    “The government is committed and concerned about air pollution for which we have already made a commission. We are also focussed on low carbon and reducing the dependency on fossil fuel. We urge the stakeholders in climate change to work together towards a solution,” the minister said.

    During the event, Choubey released a special knowledge book titled “Self-Reliant India – Harnessing the Power of Hydrogen”, co-authored by Dr Karen Landmark from Greenstat, Norway and JP Gupta, Chair, Environment Committee, PHDCCI.

    Norway was the partner country for the summit, which began with the special address delivered by the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru.

    She said green hydrogen has the potential to realise low to zero emission solutions in the transportation, industry and shipping sectors, thus opening up new opportunities.

    During the event, the National Hydrogen Portal, a repository of all academic and research work related to hydrogen, was launched.

    The event also announced the setting up of “Centres of Excellence” as collaborative hydrogen competence centres, established through a joint effort between government institutions and agencies, industry, research institutions and academia from both Norway and India.